Lightweight waterproof walking boots that are actually waterproof

I’ve had some Timberland ones for a while but they have never been waterproof from day 1.

Any recommendations?

Knee high sealskins or similar and whichever boots are comfiest. Much easier to engineer a waterproof sock that a complicated multi panel boot. Added bonus that the boots generally dry out quicker and wont be too hot in dry conditions as you can wear normal socks.

Lightweight = fabric construction with internal membrane of some sort which will inevitably flex and wear and fail. I think a good lightweight waterproof boot might last a year tops before it starts to leak.

So yeah, waterproof socks, maybe with a thin merino liner for absolute comfort, or something heavy and leather and one-piece like an Altberg Tethera which will shrug off the worst bogs in the Highlands (assuming you have an equally good pair of gaiters of course 🙄)

La sportiva TX4 Mid. Had a pair for around 3 plus years and still doing well. Used them for everything apart from proper winter. I am very surprised they have stayed waterproof so long – they are very soft uppers so assume the membrane never gets pinched and folded.

Haix Tatical mid or high. I have the full leather versions, have been fully waterproof up until recently but they have done a lot of miles – the soles are worn bare.
Very light weight, far grippier than Vibram soles. Made in EU

<p style=”text-align: center;”>Berghaus Supalite 2 for me. Last very nicely and are a good weight.</p>

I can recommend a lot of the Terrex range – if you want waterproof, you’ll need to go goretex.

How lightweight do you mean? lighter than a big leather boot or proper lightweight?

Just ordered a pair of Inov8 lightweight boots. Goretex and £55 in their sale. Ive had a pair before and they were only OK but at £55 couldnt pass it up. I like to move quite quickish when I am walking so they suit me a bit but I like a lot of cushioning in the midsole which they dont have but they will be fine for shorter days on my own when I am walking/running.

You might be surprised how light some of the modern leather boots are.

I have some Scarpa Mistral II boots, they are worn nearly every day when I am walking the dog. Lightweight Goretex and they are still waterproof after about 15 months.

currently on offer at Blacks £104, although when I bought mine they were about £90

Scarpa fit me well, I know others find they don’t

I’m lucky to get more than a year from a pair of lightweight boots before they start leaking – with Inov8 it might be weeks. Got some 2 year old Salomon Crosshikes where the upper is still wearing well, pity the sole has worn too quickly and they stink -Mrs DB keeps threatening to bin them. LaSportiva Mutants are nice – very good grip and cushioning too but sole is wearing quite quickly.

Lowa Renegade GTX Mid

Have lasted me fine, but it’s hard to say anything as we all walk different terrain and weights vary etc.

I also have the La Sportiva, pretty good but not Uber comfortable.

The Adidas Terex Gotetex I have are insanely comfortable but not as waterproof as the La Sportiva.  This is part of the problem with us being all different sizes and weights. What works for one doesn’t for another.

My Adidas Terex Goretex were used for daily very wet dog walking walks, at least 6 miles a day. Super comfy. They’re my go to boot when it’s not very rocky/slippy etc. going on a proper hill walk it’s the La Sportiva, with Sealskin Waterproof socks.

Adidas Terrex GTX for a good balance of light weight and water resistance. Not the absolute lightest and not the absolute most waterproof, but pretty good at both.

On my third pair with 1500+km on each of the previous two pairs.

I find waterproof socks terrible on several counts. One is that they are rarely comfortable as, well, socks compared to really good top-end walking socks with zoned cushioning etc.

The second is that they are not particularly breathable to start with ime, and when they get wet, they become even less breathable, cue sweaty damp feet regardless.

Gore-Tex and similar liners have been hit and miss for me. The Gore-Tex liner is usually a sort of floating internal sock – ironic I know – and surprisingly tough, but can hole if a boot develops a sharp edge internally at a flex point. Again, not also that breathable. I guess if you’re minted you can buy a pair expecting them to last a year or so before the waterproofing goes. I wonder if lighter boots = more flex = more chance of the liner being compromised at a flex point/seam.

Sub-consciously, I think, I’ve simply stopped expecting lightweight walking boots to be durably waterproof. I’m usually surprised if they last and not very surprised when they do start leaking. I’m not sure there’s really an answer out there if you expect to be able to walking through near ankle-deep water regularly without leakage. Rain generally less of an issue.

Another vote for something from the Adidas GoreTex range.
My two year old trainers are pretty worn out after a lot of use but still waterproof.

Whenever boots come up, I have to recommend Salomon Quest 4 GTX, purely because they are so blummin comfy

I wouldn’t touch Scarpa again after I dug deep into the budget and bought a pair which started leaking a few months later. Quite a row with Cotswolds to get them refunded. Unfunnily enough, the first review on Cotswold’s website is “these boots leaked”.

I’ve had countless pairs of (Gore-tex) Salomons though, and the soles wear down over a couple of years of daily use, but not one pair has ever leaked.

I wouldn’t touch Scarpa again after I dug deep into the budget and bought a pair which started leaking a few months later.

I had the same experience with a set of Meindl boots 25 years ago, except that they leaked the first time I got them wet. Unfortunately that happened in my first week in Australia and I didn’t get home for six months. I sent Cotswold a letter ( pre-email) and when I returned they gave me a full refund even though I had had to carry on wearing them for the entire RtW trip. But that was before they were bought out by private equity- things have definitely been more difficult since then

I replaced them with a pair of Scarpa Manta’s followed by a pair of SL’s and I have had three other Scarpa GTX lightweight boots since. None have leaked, the soles failed on one of the GTX pairs after about four years.

I have never considered Meindl’s since, so I guess one bad experience does put one off a brand

My Adidas Terrex boots weren’t robust. They’re probably ok for dog walking but if you’re going up munros or similar rocky stuff they don’t seem tough enough – mine tore at the toe after not very long.

I’ve tried bunch last were some Merrell lightweight boots, totally not waterproof, or amazingly comfortable. I have some leather Scarpa which I’ll use in winter and will add some new footbeds to this year. They do a good job in winter, but aren’t as good on a warmer spring or autumn day.

I might try some glass slippers next, I’m pretty fussy!

Edit: what’s with the broken bold tag on android/chrome people …

I too have only ever had GoreTex shoes or boots give up after a couple of years of hard use.
I tend to buy Salomon, Adidas, Innov8 or Brooks as they fit my feet.

I do find that cleaning them helps a lot, and I regularly treat with Nikwax Fabric and Leather proof or Nikwax Nubuck and Suede also helps a lot – my 5 year old Salomon boots will head up nicely for most of a day out still, even in heavy rain, therefore the membrane is doing less work.

If someone is recommending Berghaus Supalite II, then that would get my vote, I have the original Brasher Supalite still going strong (resoled) and still waterproof and comfortable at 18 years old. My daughter has those Salomen Quest and they are very good too.

You might have to define what you mean by lightweight, as you can get some really lightweight shoes that will be waterproof… at first, but then the fragile waterproof membrane is easily worn through after a few uses. So it’s about finding a balance between lightweight and durability!

I also have a pair of the Salomon Quests, so far they have been a good balance between lightweight and durable, but you can’t expect them to last as long as a leather boot- I tend to get a season at least, but not much more

My opinion is that if you want more durability, then a leather upper is the way to go. I haven’t tried Scarpa Terra X yet, but I’ve been tempted to when I’ve thought about having a boot that lasted longer with a less of a weight penalty than other leather boots

I had a pair of Berghaus goretex ones not mad money £120 or so, lasted ten years. Perfectly waterproof the whole time, but not too sweaty.

Thanks for all the comments so far.

I’ve had sealskinz socks. And find them pretty uncomfortable so would rather have a waterproof boot. They don’t need to be really light but good cushioning is important