These are for dog walking, mainly hard surfaces, pavements, paths, light trails.
I need a wide toe and my usual go to is the Meindl Comfort range, specifically the Veneto GTX.
My issue however is that at around 5-7 miles a day, they are wearing out the relatively soft heel area of the sole every months, and at £200 pair I need to find a better value option.
any recommendations please ?
I have seen these, which are a lot cheaper and seem to get good reviews, bar one which says the sole wears quickly…not what I want to hear !
https://www.grisport.co.uk//walking-boots-c78/glencoe-green-walking-boot-p921/s10218
Altberg Tethera or Mallerstang. They come in 5 width fittings and sizes from tiny to Yeti
I wear 12 Wide in a Tethera and 11.5 in Meindl comfort fit.
Another option is Lowa wide fit or Hanwag wide or bunion fit.
They won't be under £200 unless you're lucky but they will be harder wearing
Thanks, will have a look. I actually have a pair of Lowa Renegade ones for proper walks with thicker socks, but they are a size big for popping on for 45 mins out the door in normal socks.
6 Best Hiking Shoes With A Wide Toebox in 2025 | RunRepeat
Ive seen the boot version of these merrels Moab Speed 2 gtx for about £60 online recently, read good reviews too. My moab 2s last a good while, apart from the waterproofing
At least some Altberg's you can replace the sole, not sure how much that costs but could be economical in the long run despite their initial expense.
Yeah, Altberg. Mine seem to be utterly bombproof and you'll not find anything more waterproof or that remains waterproof, it's basically a single piece of leather with no stitches!
My only regret is that mine now seem a tiny bit small, I they've lasted so long my feet have outgrown them as I age! 😆
£50 to resole last I checked.
Altberg. Mine seem to be utterly bombproof
Yup, had a pair for about 6 years, they are excellent.
Even though they are not my long distance boots, they have done a fairly high mileage,haven't had to resole them yet.
I would also suggest cutting the laces back and fitting toggles, makes it less faff when you are in and out the house a lot.
There is enough slack with the two sets of hooks at the top to get them on and off.
You're welcome 😊
I have had some Grisport Peaklander boots for a few years now and they still look great. They were comfortable straight away. They don't use Vibram for this boot but these have been better than any Vibram boot I have had. The soles still look pretty new and I have never had issues with grip.
https://www.grisport.co.uk/walking-boots-c78/peaklander-brown-hiking-boot-p927
One Amazon review calls them Zombie boots they will not die
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grisport-CMG607-Unisex-Adults-Hiking/dp/B002IIE5LW/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1&psc=1
Meindl also do the Guffert, which with my hugely wide feet are the only boots I'll buy. As for wear, yes, they wear out on the heel eventually, if you spend most of your life on tarmac or tracks, but the sole is replaceable at specialist repairers. Just as well at the price of the boots! My current pair are getting on for three years old, and I also walk on tracks a lot, and so far they seem to be holding up well.
I see the mention above re "bunion fit" Hanwags, but I went trotting along to a specialist boot fitter to enquire, and he told me that the bunion fit is actually more designed for women's feet, as women climbers tend to be susceptible to bunions. At Whalley Warm and Dry the guys there will fit the boots for you, and even steam the toebox to stretch it around a bunion. Best thing I ever did. I'll never buy boots on recommendation, and will pay the premium for expert advice and fitting.
It's worth trying Altbergs as well, as they also do various width fittings, but the ones I tried just weren't as comfortable as the Meindls.
Can you not get your Meindl resoled. Would be much cheaper than a new pair of boots. Someone like Feet First Resoles in Chesterfield (resoles.co.uk) could probably add a harder wearing sole for you.
Thanks, some great ideas
Keen do wide toeboxed shoes and boots. It's classed as their Original Fit. I've their Newport sandals which had the same fitting and they were great for space. The Targhee 4s might be useful.
You could try some safety boots from Ambler's, 40 or 50 squids would see a good waterproof pair that would easily last a year or two.
What size? I've got some Altberg in XW that I've not worn since getting them resoled. Keep meaning to put them on eBay as I've gone full barefoot shoes now
^^ 45, and need a wide toe box but narrowish mid and heel. However, I’ve found a place I think that will resole my Meindl’s which I know fit great, so hopefully sorted 🤞
I think walking boots are generally just not cut out for continuous walking on hard surfaces. I find the tread wears away to fast.
Work boots, army surplus boots tend to have firmer more resilient soles. My current mucky winter dog walkers are german para boots. Tough as... Old boots. much taller than an ankle boots so more warmerer and waterproof all the way up.
I stocked up on Haix High liability military boots for doggo duties. Goretex, available in a wide fitting, brilliant grippy sole - far better than Vibram. I paid ~£35 for new boxed when they first got cast/sold off. I've just checked and unfortunately they are selling for a lot more now. Good boots.
Can you not get your Meindl resoled. Would be much cheaper than a new pair of boots. Someone like Feet First Resoles in Chesterfield (resoles.co.uk) could probably add a harder wearing sole for you.
They did a complete resole of a pair of Meindle Desert Fox army issue boots, where the air midsole had completely disintegrated, turning to powder, and I’d never even worn them! I bought several pairs cheap from eBay, none more than £40, a couple hadn’t even been worn, so I kept them stashed in a wardrobe, to wear when the others got completely worn out, and then discovered the problem with the midsole. Feet First did a fantastic job, replacing the entire sole unit, and I’m wearing them most days now. The other unworn pair will get sent off early next year.
Cost £90, but the boots new are around £170, and the ones I wore out I had resoled and I reckon I easily had over ten years wear from them, wearing them for work, out doing country walks, to the pub…
Easily the most comfortable boots I’ve ever worn.
Meindle clearly realised there’s an issue with the midsole, because the newer boots are a darker tobacco brown suede leather with a completely different sole structure.
I’ve done searches on eBay for the earlier sand coloured ones, like mine, and they’re now selling for a lot more than I ever paid, and a close look at the photos shows the midsole with holes in, where the material is disintegrating.
To reiterate, Feet First did an amazing job of my boots, with excellent service, I highly recommend them.
polyurethane foam rot is just a fact of PU foam soles.
And unlike most things it accelerates if they are unused and boxed away.
I stocked up on Haix High liability military boots for doggo duties. Goretex, available in a wide fitting, brilliant grippy sole - far better than Vibram. I paid ~£35 for new boxed when they first got cast/sold off. I've just checked and unfortunately they are selling for a lot more now. Good boots.
Altberg Defenders beong the other high liability boots.
They're both brown aswell so don't give off the same stop the boats vibes
I stocked up on Haix High liability military boots for doggo duties. Goretex, available in a wide fitting, brilliant grippy sole - far better than Vibram. I paid ~£35 for new boxed when they first got cast/sold off. I've just checked and unfortunately they are selling for a lot more now. Good boots.
Altberg Defenders beong the other high liability boots.
They're both brown aswell so don't give off the same stop the boats vibes
Another one for resoling boots that are super comfy and leather in good condition. I and a friend used
in Stockton Heath, nr Warrington, early last year to resole walking boots. Mine were >10yr old Altbergs. Really pleased with the resoled boots and used a lot since with no issues. I am happy to highly recommend them.
They will replace the sole, midsole or heel to suit
To which you will need to add £15 or 20 for a new rand if required and £5 postage. Give them a ring if there is anything you are unsure about. I think normal turn around is 5 days but they do flag on the website if it’s any different.
TBH I have no idea why Vibram are the de facto soles these days.