[Closed] Walking boots & trousers on a budget

I've seen some nice stuff in Go Outdoors, but in the circumstances you describe I'd still probably go to Decathlon.

Very happy with my Decathlon stuff, but how budget are you willing to go? Aldi have boots at the moment. Sports Direct also reasonably priced.

Army surplus boots FTW, plenty of Altberg, Haix and Meindl on eBay

Sports Direct often have a fair range of walking boots. Blacks and go Outdoors is also worth a look.

So much about whether boots are good or bad is about the fit rather than the cost so if you can get yourself to a bricks and mortar shop and try a few pairs on you might well get yourself a bargain.

Define 'a budget'

Trousers - TKMaxx for Craghoppers or Regatta ftw.

Boots, personally of I'm doing some big days, I want them to fit and last. Currently I look like the honey monster, having splashed £100 on Tiso' Salomon Alp X in Orange...

As per above. Craghopper trousers are good - what size are you I have 3 pairs of medium hardly used ? Decathlon's own brand Quechua is decent for boots

Not like the family in coniston on sunday then. unloading a family of 6 from a new suv thing all opening salomen boxes with brand new boots in.. mrs thought it was a fashion shoot

Trousers - TKMaxx for Craghoppers

Exactly what I was going to say.

Worth looking for boots in TK Maxx as well.

I'm still using some Zamberlans and Rossignols that I bought at 75% off RRP more than 10 years ago, both fit like a glove. If you wore gloves on your feet.

They still had boots last time I looked in the local one, though you have to sift through the crap.

PS. what kind of fabric is favoured for walking trews these days anyway?

Not sure I have the figure to rock a pair of Tracksters any more, and pockets are nice.

Sport Pursuit often have Craghoppers items for sale, and at the moment some, but not all, of the Craghoppers Kiwi trousers are showing on the website at £14, (you'll need to trawl through the website to see what sizes and lengths they actually have available). [url= https://www.sportpursuit.com/clothing/trousers-shorts-tights?lower_body_type=Trousers&sport=Hiking_%26_Outdoors&gender=Male ]Link here, but you will have to sign up to the website to gain access.[/url]

Craghoppers are cheap, so good if you're on a budget. Decathlon also very good

Where are you walking? Cheap boots usually means Karrimor or Hi Tec, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but they are made to a price.

If you're doing low level walks, or basic hill walking, you might be better off in a pair of trail shoes. They're lighter and easier to use I find - I generally only use boots if I'm doing something properly rocky

If you're doing low level walks, or basic hill walking, you might be better off in a pair of trail shoes.

This, definitely. You don't have to rock a pair of big boots for the vast majority of recreational walking in the UK. Cheaper, too.

There's a PSA over on the Bike Forum with a link to an eBay shop for "Portstewart Clothing." Seems they do all sorts of outdoor wear - mainly Dare2Be, Craghoppers and Regatta from the looks of it.

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/psa-clothing-bargains-ebay-content

If you want to keep dry then these are fairly budget... Karrimor isn't what is once was but

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002AKK3RS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I liberally coated in seal fat before wearing... (I don't think you can buy it in the UK but standard stuff works as well)

If you don't mind getting damp

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LIJ2Z6E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I can highly recommend Alt Berg Defender boots on eBay; I've got two pairs, new, on eBay for never more than £50 - squaddies selling them on to get some cash I suppose.

http://www.altberg.co.uk/product/mens-defender-combat-boot-mod-brown-uk-military-issue-boot/

Oh, and Sportpursuit for trouser!

If you're doing low level walks, or basic hill walking, you might be better off in a pair of trail shoes.

Unless it's winter and I might need Crampons, I use trail shoes all year round in the UK.

Cheers for the info everyone.

Blacks and Go Outdoors are at the other side of the city, but I checked TK and Sports Direct without much luck (nothing in my size).

Ended up picking up both from Decathlon. First time I've been (brand snob?) - the entry level kit seemed understandably basic, but their mid range is impressive.
Feels on a par (or better) than the more expensive brands.

Although time will tell - if everything falls apart after Fort Bill this weekend I'll let you know 😛

Also big thanks to Jamba for the offer - unfortunately I'm an awkward shape (broad shoulders, tiny waist) - otherwise they would've been perfect.

Craghoppers trousers are great value for money. In fact not just great value for money, they are great trousers. They are my summer hillwalking trousers of choice, favoured over more expensive ones I've tried.

Ended up picking up both from Decathlon. First time I've been (brand snob?) - the entry level kit seemed understandably basic, but their mid range is impressive.
Feels on a par (or better) than the more expensive brands.

+1 for Decathlon...great kit for reasonable price. Always pop in when in France/Belgium and I was pleasantly surprised by our closest UK one in Crawley (Wasnt so keen on the Croydon branch as focus seemed more on trainers/football but that was a while ago)

Not like the family in coniston on sunday then. unloading a family of 6 from a new suv thing all opening salomen boxes with brand new boots in.. mrs thought it was a fashion shoot

Why the jealousy? If it was a family of 6 the options are SUV, people carrier, 2 separate cars, or the bus I guess. Do they deserve to be criticised for having a 'new' car :roll:?
As for the new boots, okay it's a bit unusual for all of them to be unpacking boxes, but perhaps they decided as a family they wanted to take up a new hobby and that was their first outing. Don't see anything wrong in that. Perhaps they were keeping the boots in boxes to keep the mud out of the car on the way home? Go into almost any high street outdoor shop and Salomon are prevalent. Not a 'boutique' brand at all, and easy to find discounted. Certainly a big step up from (Sportsdirect era) Karrimor, but decidedly mid-range (and hardly outlandish like you are insinuating) in the overall scheme of things. Misplaced inverse snobbery.

I bought a pair of these a while back, because I needed something cheap and comfy for work, and they're great:
https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/trek-mens-trousers-p16170.aspx/black
I'm going to get a couple more pairs.

Salomon 'soft', low-rise goretex boots for me when I can afford them. Covered 100s of miles in Scottish mountains. Paired with gaiters they're every bit as good as my big boots (from SportPursuit).

They're a sort of crossover between proper boots and wear all day bouncy trainers.

Mountain warehouse branded stuff is good value i find.I also use it as work wear ,working in social care can at times be quite demanding on clothing and it holds up well.

Those Mountain Warehouse trousers, being synthetic material, dry really quickly, which is a great advantage, and they're not too hot even on a warm day, plus they can be turned into shorts, if circumstance permits: sadly, my work doesn't, I'm even supposed to wear a tie, although that's gone out the window, metaphorically speaking... 😀

Decathlon is the place to go. Go Outdoors is OK but its low-end stuff isn't a match for Decathlon's. And GO quickly moves into the premium brand stuff that I'd really prefer to go to an independent for.

When my 'brand snob' feelings pop up I just look at the stuff and realise that even the low priced stuff is way better than anything I had as a kid and more advanced than the stuff old-school explorers had. It's where we go for walking boots for the children: waterproof, lightweight, cheaper than school shoes. Though visiting Decathlon always ends up like 'just popping into' CostCo or Aldi: I leave with more than I needed.

Regatta trj331 trousers, can be had for about 13 quid, really good showerproofish lightweight trews.

Another vote for decathlon. It's excellent stuff, and my go to place for kit these days.