your recommendations please.
Scarpa Manta.
My FIL rates his Zamberlan boots. Had them for years, and only changed recently as they were starting to pinch (his age, rather than the boots).
Walking boot you say?
The ones that fit your feet best!
I've always gone for Scarpas good fit and take years of abuse.
snaps, i meant to email you, but i forgot who i had promised the boots to.
the miendels had been in my shed for so long, that when i got them out they had pretty much rotted away, all the rubber had cracked/split.
sorry mate.
Scarpa Manta
although I have now have a pair of Meindl Air Revolution, Very comfy.
No problem, I want to try a pair as my mate raves about his lasting 8 years & being like slippers when doing the WHW.
I'm currently using Contour Victors (they're a discontinued model) http://www.contourboots.vividcreative.co.uk/
as per j_me - whatever fits. I really wanted some Zamberlans, btu they didn't fit. where as my Meindls do.
Now hand-made custom boots, there's a thing of beauty.
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I fancy a pair of those with Shimano MT91 soles for the ultimate mtb boot.
If you have to ask the price, [url= http://www.taylormadeshoes.co.uk/bespoke_faqs.htm#q4 ]you can't afford it![/url]
whatever fits your feet. recommendations are totally pointless, with the possible exception of quality in which case Scarpa and Meindl are still good. Salomon are getting better, but aren't as good. Even still you should buy a Salomon if they are more confortable. You get the point.
For value and comfort, Berghaus Explorer GTXs in leather are hard to beat. Mine just keep on going and going...
Had Scarpa Manta, had Zamberlan and Trezeta, all fitted my foot best at the time I bought them, none let me down. Now on Brasher Supalites, and they are great, but the leather is a bit soft for scree and scrambling, but the lightness more than makes up for that for me. I've usually kept a pair of cheaper fabric boots going simultaneously for days I know I'm going to a mudfest or put them underwater a lot, and don't expect the fabric to last.
What ever fits - honestly, nothing else matters.
ALT-BERG
In my experience these are the best boots out there, made in Richmond N Yorks, lots of different styles and most importantly they work.
as above for quality I love my Scarpa SL (wide fitting). Got in a sale for £50! fluke to get a good fit too.
Altbergs come in five different widths so in theory should fit anyone quite well
Second Scarpa LS (think that's what Stoner meant!). Things of beauty - mine are from the last year (2005?) where they were made from just one piece of hand-crafted leather!
That's a bit like saying "what bike for everything?" 😆
+1 for Zamberlan. The pair I bought the Mrs are still going strong after nearly 20 years.
+1 for Scarpa too. I've just about killed mine after about 10 years service.
Of course, the real answer has to be [b]Galibier[/b] (Google 'em).
I'm fortunate enough to still have a mint pair that I wear occasionally in the depths of winter.
Edit - [url= http://www.trailspace.com/gear/galibier/super-guide/ ]Beat this for reviews![/url]
Another vote for Altberg Tony,
If you fancy a trip out, then I'd pick you up en route...
They will do custom fit too..
Used them all the time in the Mob, and would get another pair tomorrow...
http://www.altberg.co.uk/Web/services.jsp
£1595? ir_bandito I want your job
meindl lhotse, had mine for about 8 years now. brilliant boot.
ones that fit your feet the best...
gonna go down to ellis brighams tonight and try a load on.
cheers all.
stevo - definitely Scarpa SLs not LSs. Got mine about the same time as you though, 2005 ish I think.
£1595!!! I was expecting a fair whack but jimminy!
When you consider the durability, quality, comfort and standard of individual fit, these shoes represent true value for money.
Hmmm
Altbergs
They'll even rebuild them for you when they're getting worn or damaged.
I've use Field and Fell day in day out for 9 hours a day minimum, for 10 years, and I've had 3 pairs; every pair have felt like slippers after a bit of wearing in.
Yorkshire Boots for Yorkshire people!
It really is all about fit, different boot brands use different lasts [foot model], you need to find the one which is closest to your foot shape. There are plenty of good brands out there - Scarpa, Meindl, Mammut (used to be Raichle), Aku, Zamberlan, Brasher are all good, as are others like La Sportiva, Asolo etc.
A boot that doesn't fit your foot is instant misery. Go to a well-stocked outdoor shop, in the afternoon as your feet swell by up to half a size over the course of a day, take your own socks, try lots of different brands and buy the one that fits you.
If you have odd-shaped feet, a good boot fitter can modify the shape of the boot to suit using rubbing bars, inserts and so on, Altberg will do this, but they're not the only option.
If your feet are a particularly weird shape, Altberg can make a custom boot for you, but it's heinously expensive and most people will fit into a standard boot, maybe with some modification.
Personally, unless you're going to wear crampons with them, I'd opt for something light and reaonably flexible, but some folk - generally those with the foot placement skills of a hippo - prefer really stiff-soled boots so they can step on anything without thinking 😉
Lowa Combat GTX here
might go for a drive to the altberg shop too at the weekend.
cant ride, but can spend as much on boots as bikes it seems..... 😉
+1 on Altberg. They'll measure your foot properly and get the boot which actually fits you, whether it's one of their own boots or not (they have a normal shop there too). They'll also choose the right boot for the walking you'll do. It sounds silly, but they'll also teach you how to tie your shoelaces properly.
It's best to book ahead for a fitting. We turned up and just about got served, but they ribbed us mercilessly throughout! Still, they're from Yorkshire so you'd expect nothing less.
Alternatively, get some lightweight walking or running shoes (Innov-8s or similar) and don't bother with boots. It does work unless you're on top of a mountain in winter.
Another vote for Altberg - had looked at them and found miraculously a local dealer in Northwich. Had them 2 years, great boots. The umpteen width fittings were what initially attracted me to them and very pleased with them.
Why do they have to be leather?
cg.........cos my feet sweat too much in manmade stuff.
ones that fit of course! i had some zamberlan leather gtx fitted properly 8 years ago, still going. i look after them and only use them on big walks. short walks/hot places; keen targhee.
cos my feet sweat too much in manmade stuff.
/tannoy [BadlyWiredDog to the Forum again please] /tannoy
Fabric are easier to look after but I really don't know about breathability hence the tannoy ^
jools - I never said I could affiord them either!
Liking the look of the Alt-Bergs. Can't wait for my existing boots to wear out now so I can get some.
Leather rocks. Waterproof liners don't work when they're full of water as they only "breathe" vapour, they're no better than a plastic bag when full of liquid. Whereas leather will let water seep through and dry out eventually.
Been wearing Lundhags for years.
love em! no other boot that seems to put up with the abuse of day in, day out outdoor use and getting soaked through, yet still come back for more.
I can't speak for the other makes, but my Meindl "Burma's" have just worn in enough to not crucify my feet every time I go for a hill walk.
Took about 130 miles, though.
Well, I seem to have got through a few pairs over the years and was certainly not impressed with Brasher's (leather) or Lowe Alpine (fabric).
A few years ago I bought some leather Meindl's (think they're called Burma) and are too big. Eventually bought some Meindl Mid-GTX fabric ones and am very pleased with those.
Actually, buying boots is like buying bikes - nightmare sizing. 🙄
and i want some cashmere socks to go with them.........any good deals anywhere?
Smartwool socks - the very best there is.
What do you want to wear the boots for? Anything remotely serious and you might be best looking at 3/4 shank boots. Given your over-average weight, you put far more pressure on boots. Someone your weight would find 3/4 boots flex about as much as normal boots do for normal people. I've always found 'normal' boots feel too soft for me and the additional stiffness in stronger boots makes them feel far more comfortable. My old Grivel leather mountain boots are still the most comfortable footwear I have. Scarpa aren't a patch on what they used to be.
Smartwool socks - the very best there is.
Prefer Teko myself for general stuff. Same feel but last much longer than Smart Wool. Hard to beat Smart Wool Mountaineering for warmth though to be fair.
Second Scarpa LS (think that's what Stoner meant!). Things of beauty - mine are from the last year (2005?) where they were made from just one piece of hand-crafted leather!
It's definitely SL.
I still walk with a pari of Scarpa Trionic from 1985. Great boots.
Choose the ones that fit best.
I have been a Asolo user for years, but now have a pair of Raichle's (Mammut) and they have an ace walking 'roll' to them as well as being comfy.
If you go for Scarpa Mantas you'll be a bit "overbooted" for most trails in the UK, they're sort of the equivalent of a 6" travel bike with 2.5" tyres I would say. Definitely "All Mountain" footware.
Personally, plastic Scarpa Alphas for Freeride winter and icy stuff and Meindl Nepal for XC rambling.
Seriously though, whatever fits best - the only answer, there's no "best".
Best boots i have found are Lowa Combat GTX.
I'm a Salomon man. They're the only boot I can get to fit my feet. Luckily, they are also well-made and long-lasting.
Another Scarpa fan. I think Scarpa boots tend to fit people with wider feet, Salomon/la Sportiva are usually narrower.
ton - Memberscarpa manta's are not leather tho??
eh? They look leather to me, Crosta Leather ankle and presumably reverse Anfibio Leather Uppers (I presume reverse leather because they're hairy). They've also got a rubber rand, which is always a good thing in my experience. If you intend to go winter hill walking then I don't think the Manta is OTT.
Scarpa Manta if you need winter crampon capable
ZG10 for a general walking boot. Best boots I've ever owned
I want to be buried in my Lowa Combat GTX, I wish they'd let me take them down to Lympstone when I do my marine training