Walking boots that don't leak please?

[TheHorticulturalHussy]

My newish Brasher boots are already cracking after around 15 months. I walk miles each day with DDog through long grass and across fields, morning and evening. I wear 2 pairs on rotation - every 2 or 3 weeks they are washed, thoroughly dried and given 2 separate coats of good boot wax, so I don't think that they should be leaking already.
So does anyone have any recommendations please? Happy to pay more for better quality leather.
Thanks for reading 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Merrell are worth every penny. Got some for Christmas and my feet were bone dry even after walking through the water flowing down the beach today. So light and comfortable too.

Second this!

My leather scarpas have done many miles and still going strong had them since 2019. They look used but waterproof.

Waterproof socks.

Second the waterproof socks idea. Waterproof anything will fail after a while, but socks are a lot cheaper to replace than boots.

OP, when you say “thoroughly dried” what do you mean? Direct heat is notoriously bad for boots, so if you’re drying them next to a radiator that might be a cause of the failure.

I'm a Merrell lover too. I have several pairs and they are fabulously waterproof.

I tend to assume that I'll go through a pair of boots a year with dog walking, if you add up the actual miles covered it can be fairly substantial and somewhere between 700-1000 miles total is what I'd expect to get out of a pair of boots before too much wear.

If you want something that will last and can be repaired, and is leather then Altberg would be my suggestion, something like the Malham boot which is more like how Brasher's used to be in the dim and distant past

Meant to add a link to the website

Do they definitely have a waterproof lining, eg Goretex? Leather itself isn't waterproof. If there's a waterproof lining it might have worn in one place or cracked - it doesn't stay intact forever. 15 months doesn't sound long, but I suppose wearing them several times a week rather than for an occasional ramble will speed up their wear.

You might need to reproof them after each time they get wet. What are you using? Something like Nikwax?

I've had two pairs of these:
https://obozfootwear.com/en-gb/product/womens-ousel-mid-waterproof?colorid=2087

The first pair I had for 6 years, then I left them in a holiday let and lost them 😔. I bought a new pair, 2 years ago, and they're still going strong. I wear them most days.
The first pair did leak after 6 months. I took them back to the shop and they replaced them immediately as there was a manufacturing defect. I've never had another leak.

SOREL. Had mine for years.

I have two pairs of Grisport boots - Avenger and Peaklander and I love them. They're made in Italy and are pretty robust construction. Comfiest walking boots I've ever had and no leaks. I live in the West Pennines and it's very wet a lot of the time.

Sorel Merrell or Columbia

Thanks for all the replies and recommendations. Answering the question about drying - no, no direct heat, just sitting in the mud room for a week or so.
Re waterproof lining yes, but I hadn't thought to check for holes because the leather is so badly cracked I'm fairly sure that that's the real problem.
And perhaps I am expecting too much from my boots.

Have owed a Grisport pair for 6 months. They have had plenty of use and are brilliant so far.

I find my leather Scarpas very reliable.

Do you think washing them is part of the problem? Maybe that is contributing to the cracking? I just give mine a wipe when they need it.

How/why are you washing them?
Wear boots , wipe down , don't wear for at least one day to allow boots to air/dry, keep clean use dubbin or waterproof spray to maintain the leather.

Another vote for waterproof socks here too. I've had a number of different types of 'waterproof' boots and none of them have been! Waterproof socks all the way now.

Waterproof socks and Scarpa boots work for me.

Scarpa boots are excellent.

I wear Muck Boots- the ankle version. As comfortable as my walking boots and 100% waterproof

muckbootcompany.co.uk/collections/womens-sale/products/womens-rhs-muckster-ii-ankle-boots-moss

Scarpas. Clean off prefer while still damp. I use Grangers waterproofing, but have heard good things about mink oil.

DO NOT buy Bareback boots.
They are sold as waterproof.

I look after them very well, Dubbin the leather often with their own Dubbin, and they LEAK.

Wet feet for £200??
after a few months summer use - USELESS.

Comfy but expensive waste of money as they are not waterproof. ( I
bought the long waterproof boots)

Do they make ones feet sweat?
that’s why I like leather and Goretex.

It's the holy grail isn't it? I've tried lots of different brands, all different price points, and Merrell waterproof boots definitely perform well, as do Sprayway waterproof boots (they have their own version of Goretex) , which if you're looking for a more affordable pair, might be worth looking at.