Hiking Boots

[Lisa in Ottawa]

I'm wondering what kind of footwear intrepid British walkers use. My hiking boots are looking pretty worn. I'm debating whether to take them or buy a pair in Britain while we're there or buy a new pair here. Do they have different brands?

 

[Pauline]

Buy them in Canada. Shoes and clothes are staggeringly expensive in England (nearly 20% VAT included in the price). A good outdoor shop (do you have Mountain Equipment Coop in your area?) will have as good of a selection than you will find here. When we go back to the US, I always go to REI to get walking shoes, boots, etc.

I am tall and need a US size 10.5 or 11 shoe. That translates to UK 8.5 - which is impossible to find here. Shoe shops carry up to size 8. Three days into our Cotswold Way walk last June, my hiking boots that I had happily been wearing for three years, just gave out. All of a sudden, my feet hurt in them. We took a day off from the walk and went to Cotswold Outdoors (in the Cotswold Water Park area south of Cirencester - the best outdoor shop in our area) and there was one brand of boots only that went to size 8.5 for me. Asolo - and they were a bit too heavy for the summer - but I had to get them.

If you have a smaller foot, then you will do okay here. And there will be a good outdoors shop in Oxford, but I would take care of this before you arrive - so you can hit the trails immediately.

Maybe some good quality walking socks too.

Since you will be here fall/winter, get a medium weight boot, not a light one. You will need a good boot for walking on uneven trails and in mud. The ones I used to wear were Lowa and I liked them. My husband Steve wears Merrells.

We got ourselves new daypacks too - Osprey. All this stuff makes a big difference when you are walking frequently.

 

[Terry]

I will second the Merrells. I bought the Moab boots for our Cotswold trip, and they were fantastic. Served us well in the Dolomites, too, and for hiking around these parts, also.

 

[Lisa in Ottawa]

Thought I'd update on hiking boots quest. Threw out my old ones as truly looked like they were falling apart. After much discussion at one of our local stores, I bought a pair of Salomons. They have a good reputation and felt comfortable. But once I got home I realized I didn't really like the look of them. I wanted to try leather boots. Most shops seem to stock the same brands with a combination of mesh, leather lots of stitching , gortext and light feeling. I'm tired of same old same.
I wanted old style. If leather worked for centuries why not now. So off I went to MEC and again tried on many different boots. It cane down to Zamberlain or Asolo and I went with Asolo. They felt a little more comfortable. It's a very different feel. Heavier, very solid. I'm going to walk around indoors to try them out as I can return if not worn outdoors.
They felt really different than the lighter, non leather Asolos.
If I decide to keep them, I'll post a picture.

 

[Pauline]

When I can find boots that fit, I have a leather pair for winter and a medium weight for summer. I had a wonderful pair of leather Lowa's but they are gone now. Yes, post a photo!

 

[Pauline]

When I can find boots that fit, I like to have a leather pair for winter and a medium weight for summer. I had a wonderful pair of leather Lowa's but they are gone now (they expired on the Cotswold Way last summer).

I was reading Country Walking magazine and they mentioned a UK boot maker - AltBerg from Yorkshire. They have a variety of leather boots. I have not seen these boots, but the good news for me is that they offer larger sizes for women.

 

[Lisa in Ottawa]

When I can find boots that fit, I like to have a leather pair for winter and a medium weight for summer. I had a wonderful pair of leather Lowa's but they are gone now (they expired on the Cotswold Way last summer).

I was reading Country Walking magazine and they mentioned a UK boot maker - AltBerg from Yorkshire. They have a variety of leather boots. I have not seen these boots, but the good news for me is that they offer larger sizes for women.

Believe it or not, I'm still debating which boots to buy. Trying them out in the comfort of my home. So it's between Lowa renegade, light nubuck great reviews. fits well. very expensive and I'm not crazy about nunuck or Asolo classic leather, heavier boot, stiff will probably flex more after wear. Old fashioned look which I like but maybe too heavy for the kind of hiking I do. I don't go for days with a heavy pack. A little cheaper than the Lowas.
Help me decide !

 

[Pauline]

I wore a Lowa Renegade for several years. I got them at Landmark Outdoor Shop in Broadway on one of our trips, when another pair of boots started hurting. I loved them.

I bought a lighter weight Lowa at REI on a trip back to the US and liked them a lot, but they only lasted two years.

Now I have the Asolo, but I don't love them. They were the only ones here that fit me. They are quite heavy and stiff and are taking forever to break in.

 

[Lisa in Ottawa]

I wore a Lowa Renegade for several years. I got them at Landmark Outdoor Shop in Broadway on one of our trips, when another pair of boots started hurting. I loved them.

I bought a lighter weight Lowa at REI on a trip back to the US and liked them a lot, but they only lasted two years.

Now I have the Asolo, but I don't love them. They were the only ones here that fit me. They are quite heavy and stiff and are taking forever to break in.

I couldn't stand the indecision so shortly after I posted the question, I chose the Lowa and went for a walk in them to cement the deal. The lighter weight won out over my dislike of nubuck. The Asolos felt like I was carrying a heavy weight around my ankles and that was just wearing them around the house.

 

[Pauline]

They look great! Now you are set for the footpaths!