Can any walkers/hikers help me pick some boots?

[smudgemylife]

I started walking in lock down, initially in my sketchers trainers then when the weather changed my wellibobs.

It's really done a number on my feet, the bridge is sore and my ankles are beginning to feel tender on the sides too.

It's not too bad, but I'm worried I will cause some damage if I carry on like this.

I usually do about 10km, mostly flat, sometimes road, sometimes grass, sometimes rocky, often a bit of mud and sometimes light incline on rocks.

I am on a budget and really don't want to spend a ridiculous amount. I'm a little embarrassed to go into a store and ask for help when I know I don't have the kind of money to buy the boots they offer.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I walk solo and have no one IRL to get advice from on this.

Can I hijack your thread to ask about walking socks? I really need some better socks for walking but there seem to be a baffling array.

Double layer, merino, isocool, lightweight, midweight, walker socks, hiker socks...

I may be overthinking this but I thought I was just going to nip into mountain warehouse or blacks tomorrow & pick up some socks for walking but looking on the websites makes it look complicated.

IME, any sock made by Bridgedale will be fine.

I think it depends if you are cold of foot or walking through mud and long grass etc .
I bought sorrel snow boots that are so amazingly comfy I will be wearing them until it is too warm . I can walk through long grass and mud and today marched trough unexpected boggy forest . I love them .
I will revert to trainers in the height of summer post dew times.
I do suffer with cold feet so have found them invaluable

[quote smudgemylife]@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross I don't mind trainers but just fancied the idea of boots as I hate getting cold feet. One of the bonuses of wellies is I can layer up wooly socks and stay toastie

I'm not far out of Manchester City centre so will most likely have these kind of stores to call into. Defo have a decathlon near by.

What kind of low-end budget am I going to be looking at? I think something around £50-70 would be my absolute top tbh.[/quote]
I'm a Walker. I have Scarpa boots but I don't think you need those. I also have some Adidas walking trainers - they were an old (last year's) style so they were £40 reduced from £60. Worth a look as they are very comfy.

Also, there are a couple of outdoors shops at the Lowry outlet. I've seen walking trainers in there before (think they'll be opening tomorrow). DP has had some good jackets from there.

@NotOnMute

IME, any sock made by Bridgedale will be fine.

Yep. My Bridgedales last years. I was sorting out socks the other day and realised some are now 5 years old and still going strong. I go out hiking every weekend, so they are worn and washed a lot.

I personally prefer boots to walking trainers. I have both but rarely wear the trainers, I prefer the ankle coverage for warmth/puddles etc.

Agree that Decathlon/Go Outdoors is the way to go. I prefer leather style boots, but you get some good lightweight options in the more fabric style. I had some Hi Tec ones that did a good few years (and probably would have done a few more, but I convinced myself I needed shiny new ones ).

Also yes to the bridgedale recommendation for socks.

I have some Salomon walking shoes that cost £70. They look a bit like trainers but more chunky. They have brilliant arch support, good grip and are waterproof. There’s an outlet at Cheshire Oaks if you have easy access to the M56.

Really, you have to try them on, because different brands suit different people.

Will have a look for some bridgedale ones then. Thanks.

Double layer anti blister walking socks are best

Google Grisport walking boots. They have reasonably priced leather waterproof walking boots made in Italy. I have a pair and swear by them.

I did have some double layer ones years & years ago. They were amazing.

That’s what I was looking for when I came upon the huge range of socks available.

I walk every day, all weathers in the New Forest with my dogs.

I could not do this in walking trainers or light weight and flexible goretex boots. I made an expensive mistake with some Merrill boots - absolutely shite. Let the water in. For a few months of the year over winter (and only drying out recently) the New Forest was properly soggy and every step, no matter where you stepped, it was squelchy!

For all weathers and conditions full traditional style leather boots are the way to go (good foot and ankle support too). They may be fugly but comfort and dry feet are important. I have these from Berghaus - not good looking but frankly function before form

I walk a lot with my dog on all kinds of terrain and I wear Woof Wear short yard boots . They are extremely warm and comfortable , not too heavy and best of all Velcro so if you get all mucky you aren’t messing about with muddy laces .

I meant to add OP, walking in wellies is bad for your feet as you have discovered. I have plantar fasciitis (currently under control) and my podiatrist told me never to do walk in wellies

Of course some people walk in wellies and never have issues, a bit like some smokers avoid lung cancer, but in other people it does lead to foot and ankle problems

I think the best thing is to know what sort of walking you intend to do.
I like walking, and have walked several of the Long Distance Footpaths such as the West Highland Way, the Cumbria Way, etc.
In some cases, this involves climbing, but this is not mountain climbing as such.
So, I am walking mainly footpaths, stony, often muddy, some climbing, etc
The best boots I had were Mendl Half Boots, which lasted several years until they wore out.
They still gave ankle support, a lovely thick springy sole, but not too heavy for walking.
So, my next pair is likely to be a half boot.
Gneraly consider weight. I once had some that were far too heavy, made walking difficult

Not all wellies are equal! I have the Fitflop WonderWelly (well, I have two of them - one for each foot) and they are amazing. More comfortable than my walking trainers and definitely a lot more waterproof. I got the calf-length version so they don't feel too restrictive. Can walk 10k along the beach/river in them and there's no soreness whatsoever. Didn't even get any rubbing/blistering the very first time I wore them (which was for a two-hour brisk walk).

Not sure I'd wear them to climb a mountain, but I am a beach/river/canal towpath kind of walker rather than a hiker. And the Fitflops are just perfect for me.

They're not cheap, £75 direct from Fitflop I think. But you can usually find a 20% discount, and/or hunt on Amazon for an older colourway. I think I paid £50.

Another vote for Bridgedale socks.

Sounds like you have some great opportunities on your doorstep so with this in mind, and in prospect of perhaps expanding your range - I would save for a pair of proper leather boots. You can get lightweight ones now. My Scarpas are great although need replacing shortly as the leather is splitting from prolonged contact with acidic peat. ( my fault, should have looked after them properly.)

Honestly tho ditch the wellies immediately. Better to have wet and muddy feet than be out of action for weeks with foot problems. Even trivial issues can be very painful and take forever to settle. ( bitter experience speaking.)

In the meantime follow other folks' recommendations re outdoor shops and the cheaper fabric / gore tex boots.

If you like walking solo, Inntravel walking holidays are fantastic.

I usually buy cheap boots from mountain warehouse and they were fine (20-30). Last time I spent £60 about 3-4 years ago now. They fit really well and are lasting really well. So for your budget you will have no issues going into mountain warehouse and being 'picky'.

Dh and I just replaced out hiking boots/walking shoes today in Sports direct. I found the closest thing to my old ones that lasted since 2013. they are Karrimor low ones waterproof and I tried them out this evening on a walk, worked great. here
Dh has gone through loads in the last few years, some fancy expensive some cheap as chips. Hates them all, they leak or rub or something. So he got the mid top mens version of the same as me, we'll see how he does.

Seriously OP, go and get fitted. A good outdoor shop will have stuff to suit any budget and advise accordingly. It will completely change your (walking) life, especially as you have already had issues.

Cotswold Outdoor are the better of the big chains, I have found. Winfields out Haslingden way is worth a look for some good prices too, although you might need to ask a few people for advice to find the right person.

And don't do trainers (unless walking ones) for uneven, muddy walks. The soles get much slipper quickly and consider whether ankle support would get required if you slip on a rock (for me it's key as I have weak ankles)

I wear leather walking boots and have done a lot of hillwalking. I know you are thinking about trainers but it is still important to find the right socks if you are going to walk any distance. Buy the socks first & wear them when you go to choose the trainers. I wear socks from the local army surplus stores. They have a high merino content and are thick (you may need a larger size shoe than usual), cushioning your feet and taking up the sweat so that your feet stay dry and do not overheat. They won't smell either! Available in olive green or black.

www.survivalaids.com/norwegian-army-sock-olive-green

@FedUpAtHomeTroels, snap!
Got the same ones but in blue, having worn the old pair in lockdowns.

I do lots of walking and just go to any outdoor shop and see what’s comfortable in their sale. Currently I have some Mountain Warehouse boots that were half price at £35 ish. The only socks I wear are thin merino ones, not designed for walking, from John Lewis. I find thicker socks uncomfortable, and if my feet are dry they stay warm in the thin ones.

I bought mine from Decathlon. Ordered lots of pairs online as I wasn’t sure about style and size. They are the comfiest boots ever. It was important to me that they were waterproof and they are!