Walking boots ...... Advice needed - thanks

Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell

Well-Known Forumite
I'm wondering if anyone on here has sound knowledge of good walking boots (or trainers??).

I've been googeling it and one says leather, then fabric .....

Basically I need a good set of footwear for a 100 mile walk - the ground is flat (not hill climbing etc) - so really I would have thought I need something lightweight ...

Does anyone have experience in footwear ?? Thanks in advance ...
 
Catabatic

Catabatic

Well-Known Forumite
Water proof fabric (gore-tex or similar) works for me, lighter than leather, you may need a bit of ankle support, depending on terrain - flat ground can still be rocky and knobbly and the higher sides would help with wet grass or boggy ground. I personally like Merrell as a brand.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
What sort of terrain? Pavement or natural surfaces? Will it be boggy ground?

Flossietoo did the Ridgeway this year.....
 
Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell

Well-Known Forumite
Thanks catabatic - I've just been looking at the merrell website - looks like the sort of thing

It's going to be flat road surface - but height of summer so will be hot :( and probably walking about 8 hours a day - which is why I need the correct boot x
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Run them ( and your feet ) in and work your way up to it. How many miles a day are you expecting to do? Carrying how much?
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
In the circumstances that you describe, the military-style jungle boot can be beneficial. The eyelets that are really there to allow the drainage of swamp-water have a secondary ventilation role in hot, dry weather, almost 'pumping' air through the boot with each step. Worth considering.

jungle-boots-side-vents.jpg
 
Ecker

Ecker

Well-Known Forumite
I can't praise North Face walking trainers enough. Unhappily however I had
to go to Birmingham for them from the Snow and Rock shop; here's their website:

http://www.snowandrock.com/

Then use the Store Finder

The folk at Snow and Rock are excellent, they even have folk who specialise in fitting
boots and trainers. If you want a fitter's help, they ask that you ring them first to
make sure someone is available for you.

Enjoy the walk!!
 
Darren

Darren

Well-Known Forumite
These http://www.thenorthface.co.uk/tnf-uk-en/men-s-chilkat-ii-boots/p51658.html are a great boot, i saw them on the gadget show a few years ago and they came out on top so i bought a pair, for hiking in the wet and cold they are perfect, it feels like pillows have been wrapped around your feet there water proof to, a bit to warm a boot for summer though.
These trainers if you can get your head around the colors are great http://www.magnumboots.com/uk/news/magnums-new-trainer-endorsed-by-help-for-heroes.html they are the lightest sturdiest trainers i have ever had.
 
flossietoo

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
Line 7 made the most amazing walking boots which were comfortable straight away. I bought a pair in 1996 and had worn them for only about an hour before I went trekking in Nepal with so much as a single blister.

I still have my Line 7 boots and look after them very carefully because in 2000 the company was taken over by Aigle and you can't get the same boots. Several times when I have been wearing them, people have stopped me to ask where I got them, thinking I must have found a residual stash. Always women - I think maybe these boots were particularly good for women's feet.

Very occasionally a pair appear on Ebay. Look for the green and brown ones and buy a size up. Aigle, aware of the popularity of the brand, have brought out 'Aigle Line 7' boots. I haven't had to try these as my own are, fingers crossed, still going strong. If you see some Aigle Line 7 when you visit Cotswold Outdoor or Snow + Rock, it would be worth trying them on, in case they have that same brilliant fit.

John is right about trying them on a sloped ramp. Being a novice when I bought my boots, I felt a bit of an idiot when it was suggested I get on the ramp but it was incredible how boots which felt fine on the flat of the store floor, turned into devices of torture as soon as my foot was shoved against the shoe wall on an incline.

100 miles seems a waste without a spaniel. Good luck!
 
Goldilox

Goldilox

How do I edit this?
I got a pair of Scarpa SLs when I was about 17 that are still going strong after 15 or so years of abusive, if sporadic use. I'm sure lightweight boots have improved over the years, but I suspect in terms of sheer longevity you'll struggle to beat the classic leather 3-4 season designs.

Mine are certainly comfortable too, more comfortable than a pair of lightweight Salomon trekking shoes I had, which they have also outlived by a long way.
 
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