Morning All,
Due to recently joining a MSART and because of the essential need to have a decent pair of boots, Im in the hunt for a pair of warm waterproof boots that are light enough to be worn day to day but will hold their own in the different situations they maybe put through as a member of the MSART.
Ive looked at the following boots and whilst I am going to have to try each set of boots on, I also would like to know if people have any recommendations. The boots so far looked at are: -
1) Lowa Mountain Boot GTX - http://www.rvops.co.uk/mountain-boot-gt ... -2360.html.
2) HanWag Alaska GTX Trek Boot - http://www.armynnavy.com/catalog/catalo ... ts_id/4252
3) Altberg Peacekeeper P1 Aqua - http://www.armynnavy.com/catalog/catalo ... ts_id/5437
4) Asolo Men's Flame GTX Mountain Boots - http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/asolo-mens- ... ts-p107984
Muchos Gracias
CardiffGuy
Boots
Re: Boots
Eeek! Well if the prices are anything to go by then they are all brilliant! 
Saying that, I need a good pair of walking boots too. So if any ladies out there can recommend something then I'd be grateful. I was pondering the merits of walking trainers, but am not sure how robust they would be if I was wearing them day in day out, long-term - God forbid!
Saying that, I need a good pair of walking boots too. So if any ladies out there can recommend something then I'd be grateful. I was pondering the merits of walking trainers, but am not sure how robust they would be if I was wearing them day in day out, long-term - God forbid!
-
PeteM
Re: Boots
CardiffGuy -
They are all reputable brands and good boots. However, those are four-season boots and a would be quite stiff and heavy for day-to-day use.
For my trips to the Lake District, Peak District etc I use the Scarpa Ranger GTX:
http://www.scarpa.co.uk/products/produc ... oductID=21
They're very tough, stiff enough for stony paths and general mountain use but not as hardcore as a four-season boot.
They are all reputable brands and good boots. However, those are four-season boots and a would be quite stiff and heavy for day-to-day use.
For my trips to the Lake District, Peak District etc I use the Scarpa Ranger GTX:
http://www.scarpa.co.uk/products/produc ... oductID=21
They're very tough, stiff enough for stony paths and general mountain use but not as hardcore as a four-season boot.
-
janso
Re: Boots
Boots, boots, boots!!!!
My advice.... get your feet sized up from a reputable retailer; Cotswold Outdoor are very good at this, and its free! Why, you may ask? Well, different brands have different sizing, a German brand like Hanwag or Lowa, size their footwear with a wider footplate; an Italian brand like Scarpa size their footplate on the narrower side with a more compact toebox. I cant recommend how important this is, and you'll realise after spending £150 on a pair of boots which are uncomfortable after a few miles!! Boots will 'break' in over a protracted period, but modern boot materials pretty much abolish this. Leather boots are mainly made by calf leather now instead of full grain; this means that any leather boot (if sized correctly) can pretty much be worn out of the box onto the hill.
A fabric boot requires no real breaking in period as the upper is generally not as stiff. Approach shoes are becoming more and more popular to wear instead as they instantly cut down on the weight you carry. For those who believe that boots provide ankle support; just think about it.
If our ankles need support then why dont we wear supports for our knees or hips? What we really need is ankle strength People generally wear boots because it is traditional, they are more rugged or they are needed for the purpose ,i.e., winter mountaineering, via ferrata. A boot is also desirable if a heavy load is going to be carried, not for the support it brings but the actual build of the boot, footplate and sole to support and carry the body under load.
My advice, firstly, get your feet measured; once you know what size you really are, you'll knnow what brands will match your feet, its not always about length
, the width counts! Get your feet measured late on the afternoon if possible (your feet will have swollen throughout the day revealing your true size, and this will mirror image the foot size when under load) and wear the socks you intend to wear with the boot. If you bought a pair of boots in store, now is also the time to measure up any additional items, e.g, orthotic insoles, etc. Scarpa actually sell padded extras for the front of the foot and heel to make a boot fit more accurate and stop the foot 'wallowing' inside (the foot should have no movement for and aft and the heel should stay in the heel cup, not lift out when you walk) Any movement inside the boot when you walk equals friction, friction equals blisters and hot spots.
For your actual needs, you may find that two pairs of boots are needed. Firstly decide if you want them goretex lined or not. Goretex is good but need care! Once water enters the inside of the boot, it wont drain out (the boots stop water entering and exiting), if you dont keep your toenails short, they can abrade the lining (If you have wholes in your socks, its probably down to the toenail wearing the sock away against the inside of your footwear), once a the lining is punctured by a thorn, nail (through the sole, on a 2 season boot) then water gets in. What Goretex boots are good for is getting rid of the heat vapour and sweat from the feet (in conjunction with good technical socks) to alleviate friction through moisture. As much as they are good to get for winter months, without care and maintenance (the lining will need cleaning as well as the outer) they will fail. Any boot that I cant get at least 5-6 years out of aren't worth the money. Without Goretex, a leather boot can be waterproofed by leather products (yes, dubbin still works) and if they get wet on the inside, a change of socks and taking the insoles out generally helps the water to escape. Non- Goretex also doesn't suffer from problems with the lining getting punctured. Remember, they still need to be looked after with a leather conditioner to keep the leather supple and able to breath.
So for the task at hand...... a pair for summer use and a pair for winter use may be the answer. Depending on your foot sizing, Lowa and Hanwag are great, as are most military 'mountain' boot, I still wear Hanwags most of the time for callouts due to the comfort. For winter use, they still operate fine down here but I also use a blackened pair of Scarpa mantas from yesteryear if out on the moor; coupled with the yeti gaiter, they work fine in the wet (they are non-goretex). If you find yourself doing more steep slope work and technical rescue (and with snow and ice) then you may want to look at a 3 season boot minimum or maybe a 4 season technical boot for mountaineering that has a rigid footplate for crampon use. Again, Scarpa are very good if they fit as well as La Sportiva and Mammut.
To end this novel I'm writing; chat to the other folk on the team for advice, what they wear through the year and why. They'll know the mix of terrain you'll be working in and the conditions, bear in mind you may be called out to support a neighbouring team on the Beacons in mid winter on the Fan or just as likely providing rescue cover for a charity event on the Pembrokeshire coast path in the summer. I'm sure you'll get a more accurate answer, but at the least get your feet measured.
With those measurements, its easier to shop around, even for a pair on fleabay - I did, and spent £120 on an unused pair of Scarpas that retail for £270 for winter mountaineering in Scotland!!
Good luck with it, and remember the team are there to ask about kit to wear or buy, their collective knowledge is worth its weight!!
Hope it helps......
My advice.... get your feet sized up from a reputable retailer; Cotswold Outdoor are very good at this, and its free! Why, you may ask? Well, different brands have different sizing, a German brand like Hanwag or Lowa, size their footwear with a wider footplate; an Italian brand like Scarpa size their footplate on the narrower side with a more compact toebox. I cant recommend how important this is, and you'll realise after spending £150 on a pair of boots which are uncomfortable after a few miles!! Boots will 'break' in over a protracted period, but modern boot materials pretty much abolish this. Leather boots are mainly made by calf leather now instead of full grain; this means that any leather boot (if sized correctly) can pretty much be worn out of the box onto the hill.
A fabric boot requires no real breaking in period as the upper is generally not as stiff. Approach shoes are becoming more and more popular to wear instead as they instantly cut down on the weight you carry. For those who believe that boots provide ankle support; just think about it.
If our ankles need support then why dont we wear supports for our knees or hips? What we really need is ankle strength People generally wear boots because it is traditional, they are more rugged or they are needed for the purpose ,i.e., winter mountaineering, via ferrata. A boot is also desirable if a heavy load is going to be carried, not for the support it brings but the actual build of the boot, footplate and sole to support and carry the body under load.
My advice, firstly, get your feet measured; once you know what size you really are, you'll knnow what brands will match your feet, its not always about length
, the width counts! Get your feet measured late on the afternoon if possible (your feet will have swollen throughout the day revealing your true size, and this will mirror image the foot size when under load) and wear the socks you intend to wear with the boot. If you bought a pair of boots in store, now is also the time to measure up any additional items, e.g, orthotic insoles, etc. Scarpa actually sell padded extras for the front of the foot and heel to make a boot fit more accurate and stop the foot 'wallowing' inside (the foot should have no movement for and aft and the heel should stay in the heel cup, not lift out when you walk) Any movement inside the boot when you walk equals friction, friction equals blisters and hot spots.For your actual needs, you may find that two pairs of boots are needed. Firstly decide if you want them goretex lined or not. Goretex is good but need care! Once water enters the inside of the boot, it wont drain out (the boots stop water entering and exiting), if you dont keep your toenails short, they can abrade the lining (If you have wholes in your socks, its probably down to the toenail wearing the sock away against the inside of your footwear), once a the lining is punctured by a thorn, nail (through the sole, on a 2 season boot) then water gets in. What Goretex boots are good for is getting rid of the heat vapour and sweat from the feet (in conjunction with good technical socks) to alleviate friction through moisture. As much as they are good to get for winter months, without care and maintenance (the lining will need cleaning as well as the outer) they will fail. Any boot that I cant get at least 5-6 years out of aren't worth the money. Without Goretex, a leather boot can be waterproofed by leather products (yes, dubbin still works) and if they get wet on the inside, a change of socks and taking the insoles out generally helps the water to escape. Non- Goretex also doesn't suffer from problems with the lining getting punctured. Remember, they still need to be looked after with a leather conditioner to keep the leather supple and able to breath.
So for the task at hand...... a pair for summer use and a pair for winter use may be the answer. Depending on your foot sizing, Lowa and Hanwag are great, as are most military 'mountain' boot, I still wear Hanwags most of the time for callouts due to the comfort. For winter use, they still operate fine down here but I also use a blackened pair of Scarpa mantas from yesteryear if out on the moor; coupled with the yeti gaiter, they work fine in the wet (they are non-goretex). If you find yourself doing more steep slope work and technical rescue (and with snow and ice) then you may want to look at a 3 season boot minimum or maybe a 4 season technical boot for mountaineering that has a rigid footplate for crampon use. Again, Scarpa are very good if they fit as well as La Sportiva and Mammut.
To end this novel I'm writing; chat to the other folk on the team for advice, what they wear through the year and why. They'll know the mix of terrain you'll be working in and the conditions, bear in mind you may be called out to support a neighbouring team on the Beacons in mid winter on the Fan or just as likely providing rescue cover for a charity event on the Pembrokeshire coast path in the summer. I'm sure you'll get a more accurate answer, but at the least get your feet measured.
With those measurements, its easier to shop around, even for a pair on fleabay - I did, and spent £120 on an unused pair of Scarpas that retail for £270 for winter mountaineering in Scotland!!
Good luck with it, and remember the team are there to ask about kit to wear or buy, their collective knowledge is worth its weight!!
Hope it helps......
-
CardiffGuy
Re: Boots
Janso,
Many thanks for the informative advice its much appreciated and dont worry about novels, I like reading
Ive also found out I can get discount with alot of places including cotswold's so will be paying a visit tomorrow during my lunchbreak to get my feet measured - feel like a kid going to clarks again(yes most of us got dragged there as a child).
CardiffGuy
Many thanks for the informative advice its much appreciated and dont worry about novels, I like reading
Ive also found out I can get discount with alot of places including cotswold's so will be paying a visit tomorrow during my lunchbreak to get my feet measured - feel like a kid going to clarks again(yes most of us got dragged there as a child).
CardiffGuy
-
preppingsu
Re: Boots
Do they do gait analysis? Or is that just for running? I think thats worth considering when going for any footwear. How do you walk??? (and I don't mean just putting one foot in front of the other, before any of you wise arses start on me!!!CardiffGuy wrote:Janso,
Many thanks for the informative advice its much appreciated and dont worry about novels, I like reading
Ive also found out I can get discount with alot of places including cotswold's so will be paying a visit tomorrow during my lunchbreak to get my feet measured - feel like a kid going to clarks again(yes most of us got dragged there as a child).
CardiffGuy
)-
CardiffGuy
Re: Boots
Preppingsu,preppingsu wrote:Do they do gait analysis? Or is that just for running? I think thats worth considering when going for any footwear. How do you walk??? (and I don't mean just putting one foot in front of the other, before any of you wise arses start on me!!!CardiffGuy wrote:Janso,
Many thanks for the informative advice its much appreciated and dont worry about novels, I like reading
Ive also found out I can get discount with alot of places including cotswold's so will be paying a visit tomorrow during my lunchbreak to get my feet measured - feel like a kid going to clarks again(yes most of us got dragged there as a child).
CardiffGuy
With regards to how do I walk, whilst I am 5ft 9ins, I walk at a quick pace and with a largish stride, I'm also one of these people who actually picks up their feet when walking(hate people who drag their feet).
Flat footedness(if thats a word) runs in my family, Im the lucky one to have normal, healthy, well kept and looked after feet.
-
pol76
Re: Boots
Cardiff I use the Altberg as my daily patrol boot at work this is my second pair in 8years they are great and the service from the company is spot on may be cheaper from the Altberg site
I also use these http://www.scarpa.co.uk/Products/Produc ... oductId=29 when out and about cannot fault them
The pair of Lowa boots I have are just getting broke in so cannot make a comment on then yet but still prefer my Altbergs
Boots are one item I do not scrimp on you get what you pay for I have found and any good walking shop will measure you up right and allow you to try the boots on they usualy have a loaded rucsac to try on with the boots
max
I also use these http://www.scarpa.co.uk/Products/Produc ... oductId=29 when out and about cannot fault them
The pair of Lowa boots I have are just getting broke in so cannot make a comment on then yet but still prefer my Altbergs
Boots are one item I do not scrimp on you get what you pay for I have found and any good walking shop will measure you up right and allow you to try the boots on they usualy have a loaded rucsac to try on with the boots
max