Suggestions for new walking boots

[whenemmafallsinlove]

I want to get some new boots in time for our holiday later this year. For some boggy hill walking mostly. I'm looking for lightweight and waterproof and with great ankle support as both ankles are shot basically and i roll over on them quite a lot. I have wide feet, basically square. I've got time to shop around. Any ideas? I'm not too fussed re budget if we can find the boot of dreams.

La Sportiva do excellent mountain boots, as do Scarpa. Those two brands would be my starting point.

FWIW, I was taught by a climbing/mountaineering instructor a few years ago that ankle support in boots is largely a myth. You need something as tight and rigid as ski boots to provide any real ankle support - and that wouldn’t be very nice to walk in. Instead, what people perceive as ankle support generally comes down to good insoles (consider buying these separately rather than using the flimsy ones included in the boot), a stiff sole, and proper lacing (tight over the forefoot, not just at the ankle - look on YouTube to learn some good lacing techniques to help with this).

A lot of serious hikers and summer mountaineers, including professionals, are wearing mountain shoes now instead of boots, for these reasons.

There are also good ankle strength exercises you can do if your problem is just general lack of strength, rather than a specific injury.

DH's feet are wide, he has a pair from Meindl from this site: www.backcountryuk.com/walking-boots/wide-fitting

I second scarpa. Bought some last year in the sales at go outdoors and I bloody love them.

If you’re in the NW then visit this shop

https://www.whalleyoutdoor.co.uk/

I just bought Merrell Moab wide fit. I got the trainer type ,but they also come as a boot. I have wide feet and an orthotic heel lift in one. I love them so much. They are beautiful and really supportive. They have changed my life.

Keens
https://www.amazon.co.uk/KEEN-Womens-Pyrenees-Hiking-Legion/dp/B09P4289XV?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1
They look like giant toddler boots, which is apparently exactly what I needed.

Also, I had to go up one size, Addas https://www.sportsdirect.com/adidas-terrex-free-h-ld99-180041#colcode=18004118

Need a shoe horn to get the feckers on, once that is conquered, they are wide and really comfy.

Another one for Scarpa. I love mine,so comfy,I'll still have mine on an hour after I get home.Didn't even need breaking in. No blisters or sore spots. Done a couple of thousand miles+ in mine and still looking and feeling good.

Merrell or Berghaus work for me

Meindl comfort fit.

Grisport Lady Glide. Brilliant boots, waterproof, comfortable from day one - no need to break in.

Go to an outdoor shop and try them on until you find one you like. I went thinking I'd get a good pair, but by far the most comfortable were the cheapest own brand ones.

Great tips! Thanks all!

Try Altra or Topo which have square toe boxes. Very lightweight and various different types.

I prefer Altra over Topo.

I have these:
https://www.aku.co.uk/item/76/Aku/AKU-Conero-GTX-NBK-400-Browndark-Brown.html
I have never loved any footwear as much.
Complete comfort, fantastic support, and I think they’re utterly beautiful.

If you can get yourself to a shop that sells Altberg walking boots then in my experience they are the very very best. Not cheap, mine were £230 but they will last you forever!

www.altberg.co.uk

I have skechers discover arch fit. Also very crap ankles. I love them. They are so comfortable.

I have the Merrell Moab in both boot & shoe. I’ve worn my boots to death, they are incredibly comfortable. I’ve probably done well in excess of 3000km in them. I’m trying wear the shoe version more because of the poor state of the boots but I don’t think they’re quite as comfortable. I went up a full size, wear thick socks and I have carbon fibre insoles in there too.

.

You need to visit a proper outdoor shop - or several - and try everything on that meets your needs. We can all recommend good, durable brands, but no-one can tell you what will work for your feet. I wear Salomon and DH wears Meindl. We’ve each tried the other’s brand but they just don’t fit.

For people with normal ankles that is true. If your ankles are bust, it's a terrible idea. The sides don't hold your ankles tight, but give just enough support to push them back over if it's a mild wobble, same as wearing a brace but much more comfortable.

I have a pair of La Sportiva high alpine boots for winter which have great ankles support, but are for narrower feet and will be too warm in summer. Meindl are a bit wider and have a lot of choice. Salomon seem to be the recommended for wide feet

If you can't get to a shop, try phoning Alpine Trek to talk about what you're looking for. I got great advice, you can then order a few pairs to try on at home and return what you don't want.

https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/

Keen are definitely wide fitting, my husband loves his. I get too much heel slip.

I’ve got square feet and Meindl comfort fit are the best thing to happen to them in years.

My son has giant square feet also and after trying many many pairs on in Cotswold outdoors (if you can get to any shop I recommend this one) he went with merrell moab and is v happy.

Other wider fit option brands he tried:
Meindl (he didn’t get on with them, was surprised, but he needed a bigger shoe overall than their largest size)
Keen (good options)
Saloman (not as wide as they said they were)
Jack Wolfskin - surprisingly excellent. I’d considered them a bit of a style over substance brand but my DH recently got a fantastic 3 in 1 waterproof / fleece thing from them, and their walking boots were excellent.

What saved a lot of time for us was ordering lots of pairs to be delivered to a Cotswold outdoors and then going and trying them all on in store, and immediately returning all the ones that didn’t fit. Their fitters are a lot more well trained and knowledgeable about shoe options than other places I’ve tried overall.