Walking boots

Gutted today – my 16 year old Asolo gore tex boots have been condemned by the cobbler.

Need some new walking boots – leather rather than textile, preferably membrane lined. Can’t stretch to £110 these days – plus I do far more biking than hiking.

Any recommendations at 50-60 quid? A pair of Brashers that I looked over a few years back were impressively light for leather boots…..

Asolo on sportpursuit at the moment. Bit more than £60 but then your last pair did last 16 years……

I’ll second Brashers, mega comfortable from the of, had mine in deep water mud snow & not a drop of water in them, on sharp rocks you can feel the soles could do to be a bit tougher but then that may detract from the comfort, love em though.

Bought from a family run shop in Keswick & they do on line too, Rathbones, very knowledgeable & friendly lot.

Alt berg defender, £75ish on ebay. you won’t get anything near the quality at that price. They are military boots sold by surplus re-sellers, you can’t buy the boot from alt berg.

My last boots were £200+ and a pile of ****. I only bought the defender to try out the wide fitment. My only complaint would be the footbeds are a little hard, they do however have alternatives with this in mind.

Go for some second hand army boots off eBay – loads on there ..

Altberg defenders in brown are current issue boots. Can be had for a right good price on ebay. Probably end up getting a pair myself when my Meindls’ fall apart.

Asolo on sportpursuit at the moment. Bit more than £60 but then your last pair did last 16 years……

Which is a good point.

We were up in the Lakes the week before Easter and I ended up walking all week in a pair of trainers (5.10 Approach Shoes). They far exceeded my expectations and for anything where I don’t expect to need Crampons I can’t see myself going back to Walking boots.

I’ve got an almost new pair of Defenders (11) for sale. Worn a couple of times round the block to try the sizing. In the end I stayed with Microlite Altbergs in a smaller size

As footflaps says more options with approach shoes unless you are using crampons…..again textile should not be discounted at all.

Try tk maxx…current boots aku leather bought for 39.99 usually 160 rrp as always just luck to what is in

Rock and run usually have stuff reduced..sometimes scarpa

Those asolo ones look nice, does anyone know how they size up?

Pretty normal IME clobber. I have a pair of fugitives and I love the things.

Can’t believe I’m the first to say this, but I wouldn’t buy anything I intended to do any serious walking in without trying it on first. Free returns being the obvious exception, if you can be bothered with the hassle and be honest with yourself and send them back if they don’t fit perfectly.

What use is a pair of boots that lasts 16 years if they’re not comfortable?

+1 for TK Maxx, I had some nice leather Rohans from there years ago

Some interesting leads and points well made, cheers.

I do use Merrell or Salomon approach shoes for most walks these days – hence not wanting to spend as much on my “big” boots. I de like full leather though for muddy walks and mountain walks with scrambling or scree involved. Fabric boots are also crap for multi-day use if they get wet. Leather will dry in front of the pub fire in an evening.

Fabric boots are also crap for multi-day use if they get wet. Leather will dry in front of the pub fire in an evening.

I’d argue quite the opposite. I have leather scarpas as I only ever do one day walks now, but if I was going back to multi day stuff, I’d go synthetic.

Was previously looking at gore-lined Lowa army surplus boots, hadn’t heard of Altberg. What are they like for weight?

Fabric boots are also crap for multi-day use if they get wet. Leather will dry in front of the pub fire in an evening.

I’ve just come back from the Isle of Skye where we were trudging through ankle-deep bogs, tall, wet grass, stream crossings, walking over uneven, sharp rocks, 10-15km a day, for 11 days, and my Salomon Quest 4Ds were incredible: Not once did my feet get wet or cold, and the boots themselves dried out very quickly. I won’t be bothering with leather boots again.