What Walking/Outdoor Shoes do your family have?

[Bootothegoose]

A bit of a boring thread I know but we all need some new outdoor shoes and I'm wondering what everyone has!

Since lockdown I'd say we've become quite outdoorsy, we're out most weekends and I wonder is there a particular brand/type we could look at?

Both DH and I have a heavier pair of Mountain Warehouse boots that are like lead.

I've recently invested in some Adidas Trailmakers and they're brilliant now the weather is turning.

I'm possibly looking into Merrell but they're very expensive and I'm wondering are they worth it?

As for the children (primary age) both had this pair www.mountainwarehouse.com/drift-junior-waterproof-boots-p15896.aspx/grey/ of walking boots last year that were fine but as we've rebought in the size up DD now finds them heavy and DS says they hurt his ankles and they're both reluctant to go walking and wear them. Both have quite flat feet like their Dad and whilst they'd happily wear trainer I want to make sure they've got properly supportive shoes for if they're up and down steep hills/uneven terrain. I've been more inclined to get them boots are they offer more support but I'm wondering are walking shoes better?

I don't mind investing a little more as they'll get so much wear especially over summer but I'm mindful I also don't want to throw good money after bad again.

Thank you all in advance!

Following, as I have walking boots, but want some 'walking trainers'

I have Grisport. DD has some Keens.
Decent quality boots will be more comfortable but it's a pain spending a lot of money when their feet are growing.
What you need are some friends with slightly older children who can pass boots on! But second hand is worth considering, they don't tend to get worn out as kids don't usually get to wear them enough.
I often bought DD Peter Storm stuff from Millets when she was little, decent quality and not too expensive. Looking online they have some in the sale (always a sale in Millets!) for around £30/£40.

We've all get decathlon walking boots - they're really light, totally waterproof and can wear them for hours.

How old are your kids, how long are you out for and what sort of terrain are you going over?

I'd forgotten about Decathlon. (Shouldn't have as DD is wearing their coats at the moment..)
Decathlon is really good for reasonably priced gear for pretty much everything sporty.

I have some north face walking trainers that have stood the test of time. DS had Keens when in child sizes, but has some Karrimor ones now. I bought them begrudgingly though as I hate putting money in the pocket of sports direct owner, but they were a bit of an emergency purchase and no complaints from him on comfort. DH has had merrells in past but they haven't lasted to be honest. He has keens just now.

Sorry just seen that they are primary age.

At that age both ours had Walshes which are a fell running trainer. If it was wet we teamed them with waterproof socks. They did 4-5 miles over the Kinder Plateau in them on a regular basis. Mostly yomping rather than sticking to the paths.

We also had Decathlon walking boots for longer walks - good value.

For walking trainers I use Inov8 mudclaws, Decathlon or Solomon. My boots are also Solomon. Not everyone likes the same boot - you are best going to have a fitting if you are walking a lot.

As adults we have Merrells (shop around online as you can often get decent discounts). DH likes the Moab mid 2 Goretex.

For children with growing feet I’d have them fitted properly in an outdoors store.

Decathlon is good for growing feel. I like Meindl for me.

I have Berghaus boots which are like a dream. Kids have brasher boots - eBay bargains as most kids boots don’t wear out just outgrown. Lot less complaints about waking now with decent footwear!

I love my Merells, I have quite wide feet and they are sooo comfy.

I have Merrell forestbound boots, they're quite comfy but a bit too soft for long walks on hard, rocky paths. I have a high instep and find it hard to get shoes to fit, when possible I prefer wearing trainers for walking eg Asics gel.
DH has Salomon Quest 4d boots, he really likes them (he's quite flat footed)
Eldest dd has cheapish Karrimor boots, she doesn't do much walking.
DD2 has children's Merrell, only bought as they were on sale in Go Outdoors, they're really nice.

I've had Lowa brand boots, which I had for over ten years, and now I've got Scarpa brand boots, which I've had for five years (and lots of wear still left). Both pairs were expensive, prob around the £120 mark, but they fit very well, never had a blister from either pair and keep my feet completely dry, so I think it's worth spending extra, especially when you take into account how much wear you get out of them.
Different brands work for different foot shapes though, so it's worth going to a good outdoor shop where you can try on a range and get fitting advice. I've had good service at Ellis Briggs and Cotswold Outdoors - at Cotswold you can get 10 or 15% discount with various membership cards - YHA only costs £15 a year, so it might be worth becoming a member of you are planning on kitting out the family.

I have Alfa (ds is growing out of his Alfa, and I think has a pair of Timberlands) dds have Merell and Scarpa and dh has Mammut currently.

Following

At the moment DH and DD have Merrills and I have Jack Wolfskin ones. I. had Merrill in the. past and really liked them.

DD also had. Salomon ones but they are cut quite narrow and don't fit me.

I found not. all. brands fit each feet shape. so we normally go. to places like Cotswolds Outdoor or Ellis. Brigham who do really good fittings.

I have Salomon mids, DH has Salomon boots, and ds has Meindl boots. DS has very wide and high feet, and is very hard to fit, but Cotswold outdoors found him these

Columbia for me - they go up to U.K. size 10 which is essential. DH has a pair of Mountain Warehouse. Both are more trekking shoes/extremely sturdy trainers rather than proper hiking boots.

I have quite narrow feet and bought some Propet walking boots through one of the narrow fitting shoe websites. I was a bit dubious as they are suede but they have been a revelation, and whatever they were treated with really works. My feet have been bone dry through a lot of mud and wet grass. I am thinking of some New Balance trail shoes for summer walking but might stick with Propet.
My adult DS bought some Peter Storm boots which he is pleased with.

I found not. all. brands fit each feet shape. so we normally go. to places like Cotswolds Outdoor or Ellis. Brigham who do really good fittings.

I can not emphasise this enough.

But, on a budget, with growing children, Decathlon kit is superb for the price. I rate it far more than Mountain Warehouse.

Different boots fit differently.

I have New Balance trail shoes for summer walking - not waterproof so no good for mud, but good for wide feet and seem to have good arch support.

I’ve got some new Meindl boots which were expensive but they fit my v v wide feet so perfectly. The guy in Cotswold outdoors did the fitting and he was pretty much a magician. I was so impressed.

DH has some Merrill boots and mountain warehouse walking shoes - he prefers the shoes as they’re a better fit for him.
We had a lot of walking boot trial and error for the boys over lockdown - ordering things online and sending back etc. DS13 likes walking boots and currently has some Peter Storm ones from millets - I think the brand isn’t necessarily that great for longevity but we’ve had a few pairs for the kids from there and they’ve always grown out of them before anything has gone wrong with the boots so works for growing feet.
And DS11 is more fussy about footwear and complained about the last pair of boots rubbing his ankles, so we went with nice sturdy walking shoes (Peter Storm as well) this time, and he really likes them. He’s more inclined to wear them instead of trainers, as they’re easier to get on and just feel and look like good sturdy shoes, rather than all out walking boots. He really likes them. Heading up to the lakes with them soon and I reckon they’ll be fine.

I would add that I tried some of the decathlon boots when I was doing my boot shop recently and I was v impressed- especially if you are wide of foot, they seemed to be cut very well, and I’m def going to look there next time the growing teens need new boots.

After trying on a gazillion pairs of walking shoes I finally settls for a pair of skechers Trail hiking shoes. I find most walking shoes and boots too hard and uncomfortable, but these fit the bill perfectly. They are water repellant as well.

Merrells feel super comfy, I've tried a few on but my budget doesn't stretch that far at the mo, as a pp said the Moabs are pretty good. I've got a pair of karrimoor at the moment and got my eye on a pair of funky purple trainers for the summer that they do, not that I need another pair!
I got mine from Winfield's and it's always been the cheapest whenever I look around apart from clearance ones which never have my size!

I've got quite wide feet due to a bunion. I find that the mens shoes fit me better. All the women's styles seem to taper in at the end.