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I’m just not getting in with my Scarpa mid boots so looking for recommendations on some others to look at.
I’m not after full on walking boots for mountain climbing etc just something that I can hike in and wear walking the dog etc.
I think the new new shoes/boots require:
gortex lined
light weight
wide toe box to stop toes rubbing
under £100 if possible.
Any recommendations to have a look at and try on ?
thanks all
I have just bought some of these. You can get them for £120 with 10% off first order.
Men's Roclite Pro G 400 Gore-tex Waterproof Hiking Boot | inov-8 UK
I am very impressed with them. The best grip of any boot I have ever owned. Really light without loosing the stability of a good walking boot, but at the same time not stiff.
The only thing I dont like is that the tongue feels quite flimsy (but isnt) and can be a bit faffy to fit properly and do up at the top.
Really nice boots though.
Nike Pegasus Trail GTX
Or
AdidasTerrex Tracerocker 2 GTX
The former is a trail running shoe but is very comfy and supportive, it's my dog walking shoe of choice. The latter is a bit heavier and has better grip, gets used for slightly more interesting terrain.
Can you get down to a Go Outdoors to try a few on?
I must have ordered and returned 3 or 4 pairs of walking shoes before finally settling on some cheapy Regatta ones that actually fit me. Should've just gone to a shop.
I have just bought some of these. You can get them for £120 with 10% off first order.
Men’s Roclite Pro G 400 Gore-tex Waterproof Hiking Boot | inov-8 UK
Mrs_OAB has a pair. Claims they are the most comfy boots she has ever had.
I am wearing a lighter version - G345 - and is very comfy and light. It is less comfy in big rocks, it is just a tad too flexible.
Interesting on the inov8 recommendations.
I was reading up on the 345 last night. It says they have a mid sized toe box. How do they fit you MrOAB?
I then read up on the 400 and they apparently have a slightly wider toe box.
I’ve been into loads of shops when trying the Scarpa. They felt great initially but have become horrid to walk in for some reason.
Im a massive fan of Salewa boots ,, I have big wide feet and struggle with sizings and the sizings companys use. I took a punt on a pair for Repace gtx b2s . I would wear these all year round , they are fantastic, they have seen minus 10 and 5 foot snow in the Highlands and Crib goch scrambling. Ok a little to much for normal hiking so I bought a pair of their mountain lite .. equaly brilliant, straight out of the box on Thursday a 12 mile Scramble arounf Bowfel and the Langdales.
I also have the 345s and find them very comfortable. Use them for just the scenarios you describe, just chuck on and walk. Very comfy, nice and light and reasonably weatherproof. I have reasonably wide feet and find they have plenty of toe wiggle room. Laces are crap though! 🙂
I was reading up on the 345 last night. It says they have a mid sized toe box. How do they fit you MrOAB?
They are about as narrow as I can go - my feet have spread since I was nothing but a skinny Salomon and Asolo foot shape. Although both those brands have now started widening the fit I think - my main 'big day' boots are Salomon X-Alp Mountain Mid. The Innov8's are a nicer fit for me, but less well made. They are good, but I am not sure how long they will remain good.
I then read up on the 400 and they apparently have a slightly wider toe box.
I tried a pair - they are wider than the 345's I think. And the step up in chunkiness - for me they are too close the the X-Alp's, so the 345's made more sense. For mrs_oab they are her only pair of boots - so far done some wet, damp days and one snowy day with ice spikes on.
I have just bought some of these. You can get them for £120 with 10% off first order.
Men’s Roclite Pro G 400 Gore-tex Waterproof Hiking Boot | inov-8 UK
I've used both these and, I think, an earlier version of the 345. My take is that the 400s are more of a lightened-up conventional walking boot, the 345s are much closer to a mid-ankled running shoe and a little less protective underfoot. The one thing I found with the 400s is that they're very high volume, which I fixed by using a set of Superfeet volume reducers under the OE footbed - basically just a flat layer of dense foam. Also found the Gore-Tex liner in the 400 leaked, but that's probably just a one-off with the boots I have. The 345s are more a scaled up running shoe rather than a conventional boot. I really like them, but if you like more protection underfoot, you might not.
In the end, it all comes down to fit and your best bet is to try and bunch of shoes and see what fits your foot. Keen tends to have quite a wide forefoot, ditto what used to be Brasher and is now the leather element of the Berghaus boot range, Salomon seems to work for lots of folk, but not as broad in the forefoot.
What don't you like about the Scarpas?
Another vote for the Inov8 G400s - I'm on my second pair for my big wide feet with muckle weird toes. Toe box is generous and very comfortable.
Downside - last pair only lasted 2yrs of, tbf, pretty heavy use in walking the dog, hill climbing, scout camps etc etc - the right sole became squeaky, then the left, then the goretex gave up the grips had worn off the soles.
But, I loved them, so bought another pair. If you are a STW member you get a 20% discount too.
Keen for the widest fit/toebox for me. My right foot is so wide I really struggle to find any comfortable shoes these days. By luck, I took a punt on some Altra trainers just before Xmas, and they are a lovely fit, if a bit weird to get used to. My proper hiking boots are Altberg, which I had a 'fitting' for. Well worth it, and I'd probably look at their walking shoes too if I needed some.
I’ve got wide feet and like Altra’s foot like shape. These aren’t Goretex but use eVent which is breathable/waterproof
Same boot more sizes, slightly more expensive
I’m very happy with my Merrell MQM Flex boots, on offer at Balcks at the moment if you’re a size 7! they have released a newer version since I think.
https://www.blacks.co.uk/15986771/merrell-mens-mqm-flex-2-gore-tex-mid-shoes-15986771
Mrs_OAB has a pair. Claims they are the most comfy boots she has ever had.
Ive a pair of teb Inov Pro G 400s, and for me, yes, the most comfortable walking boots ive ever had.
A fail on the price, but my usual recommendation - Salomon Quest 4 GTX
So comfy
keen targhee are super wide and slipper comfy.
Re Salomon - I’ve always been a fan of Salomon stuff, but the quality and fit has gone downhill IMO over the past few years
The Inov 8 shoes remind me of salomon of old
I was a Scarpa wearer for years, but started having foot problems (plantar fasciitis and cramping) that meant walking boots became unbearable. Scarpa walking shoes were expensive and had crap unreplaceable soles.
Recently moved to some Grisport (Datrmoor) shoes that are basically low versions of a walking boot and am massively impressed, really comfy.
Edit to be clear on use, have used these to replace Scarpa sl boots on proper mountain walks. Apart from bits of bracken and gorse getting in, and having to avoid deep bogs, I see no downsides.
I'd counter the Keen Targhee recommendation with the fact I have just had to repair my warranty replacement pair after 5 months after the soles were coming off again.
The material around the sides was also cracking and falling to bits.
Look on Amazon reviews for photos.
I suspect Keen quality has fallen off a cliff for some reason as the older pair i have (Explore model i think) were fine until i wore the sole down.
I probably wear my boots more than most as I'm out with the dog for 1-2 hours a day in them, but still.
Regatta Samaris mid are my local wandering boots, made much comfier once I'd put my superfeet insoles in.
Don't last forever but light and paid about £55 online. The even cheaper Holcombe ones didn't seem half as good.