New Walking Boots !

[HxH]

Will have to buy some new boots now....thanks guys!

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Cut from the opening thread in the great tidy-up.

Richard

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

May I recommend this amazing independent outdoor shop at Whalley in Lancashire (not far from Skipton though ) …….and their amazing boot fitting service

“Go to this place - they are superb
They do an amazing fitting service which alone takes 60-90 minutes measuring every aspect of your feet (and any conditions you have)
Then they choose to insoles to suit you or specifically make insoles for you
Then you get a boot recommendation from their stock (only some of the boots on sale will be suitable for your feet, however fashionable you think you want)
Then you will get instructions on how to actually lace up your boots and why you have been doing it wrong for years
Finally they will actually steam your new boots to your feet in their cobblers section and use heat & steam to pre ‘break’ in your boots for you
Their service is truly stupendous and my new walking boots are the best I have ever had”

https://www.whalleyoutdoor.co.uk

 

[Barnoe]

Crikey that does sound like they go the extra mile.



What's the catch, their boots start at £800?
Worth a look in, both me and the wife are in the market for new boots.

After many years mine have started to let water in which obviously hasn't effected me recently, but soon will!

 

[casbar]

I am a fan of Taunton Leisure, they still offer the advice and customer care that Cotswold used too! Myself and my other half drove to their Taunton store to buy some new boots last year, brilliant advice and service. Bought a couple of pairs of Altbergs, been very good so far.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Crikey that does sound like they go the extra mile.

View attachment 531028

What's the catch, their boots start at £800?
Worth a look in, both me and the wife are in the market for new boots.

After many years mine have started to let water in which obviously hasn't effected me recently, but soon will!

No, if you buy the boots….. the 60-90 minutes fitting is free and by appointment only

They sell Lowa/Altberg/Scarpa and another few German/Swiss brands, that I had never heard about (they specially import them) - I think 5 in total

They measure every aspect of both your feet (and any conditions or abnormalities) and write it down on a tabular A4 sheet

Standing and sitting

Then they work out which insoles you need and fit those to your feet first - if you need special insoles they make them for you there

Then they pick out 2-3 pairs of boots for you, out of a wall of boots

They explain why only those 2-3 pairs will suit your feet and discount the fancy pair you really want, why they will be totally wrong for you, despite their snazziness

Then they fit them and you try them on your feet

Then they show you how to lace them up properly for your feet and why you have been doing it wrong for 30 years (it’s the opposite of the way you have been doing it all those years) and when lacing, which areas of the boot you should concentrate on lacing properly

Then in their cobblers shop they pre stretch your new boots with steam and old fashioned boot shapers, referring to the measurements already taken and shaping each boot individually

This ‘breaks’ them in for you before your first walk

They also throw in a tub of boot wax foc

My new Lowa Goretex walking boots and special insoles were about £300 all in, with the special insoles too

Absolutely stunning personal service

The insole is actually just (if not more so) as important as your boot choice

 

[Davey B]

They've been good for donkeys years Johnny, a great shop/staff. Bikers may have a slightly different take on the price as most of us appreciate quality and the fact that one pair of £300 boots over 10 yrs is cheaper than 3 pairs of £100 boots that need binning after 3 yrs.....

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

They've been good for donkeys years Johnny, a great shop/staff. Bikers may have a slightly different take on the price as most of us appreciate quality and the fact that one pair of £300 boots over 10 yrs is cheaper than 3 pairs of £100 boots that need binning after 3 yrs.....

Indeed - good shop

Somebody recommended them and I never knew they were there

Well worth the 2.5 hour return journey in June and the best service I have had for boot fitting after my 10 year old Scarpas died

My new Lowa boots are super comfy and supportive from the off

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Crikey that does sound like they go the extra mile.

View attachment 531028

What's the catch, their boots start at £800?
Worth a look in, both me and the wife are in the market for new boots.

After many years mine have started to let water in which obviously hasn't effected me recently, but soon will!

Worth the trip

But you have to boot an appointment for boot fitting service

 

[glenn2926]

Thanks JB, I will probably get new walking boots next year and this place looks very good. I’m fancying Meindl as I have a couple of pairs of their chainsaw boots and they are very well made. Much better than my current Altberg boots. The fitting service sounds to be exactly what I need too.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Thanks JB, I will probably get new walking boots next year and this place looks very good. I’m fancying Meindl as I have a couple of pairs of their chainsaw boots and they are very well made. Much better than my current Altberg boots. The fitting service sounds to be exactly what I need too.

I have bought bought boots from Cotswold (in the old days) and other independent shops, but the service from this shop was on another level

The fitting service where they even measure toe length and length/width of your footbed and height/shape of your arches and why each foot has a different arch shape etc …..was amazing

Plus even before any boots were handled, you were fitted for specific insoles (then the ones that come with the boots were discarded) and this took 2/3 pairs of insoles , before the correct ones were selected by the fitter

Then they handed you 2-3 pairs of boots to try on and those only were suitable for your feet, despite what you thought you fancied

Having a cobblers shop in the place was the finishing touch and the fitter spent 5 -10 mins steaming each boot with different metal shapers

Plus they repair boots too

 

[casbar]

Thanks JB, I will probably get new walking boots next year and this place looks very good. I’m fancying Meindl as I have a couple of pairs of their chainsaw boots and they are very well made. Much better than my current Altberg boots. The fitting service sounds to be exactly what I need too.

What is the issue with your Altberg boots? Just interested as I have have Altberg motorcycle, military and their walking boots and have never had an issue. The walking boots are far better than top of the range Scarpa, which the soles used to fall off every 1-2 years.

 

[casbar]

I have bought bought boots from Cotswold (in the old days) and other independent shops, but the service from this shop was on another level

The fitting service where they even measure toe length and length/width of your footbed and height/shape of your arches and why each foot has a different arch shape etc …..was amazing

Plus even before any boots were handled, you were fitted for specific insoles (then the ones that come with the boots were discarded) and this took 2/3 pairs of insoles , before the correct ones were selected by the fitter

Then they handed you 2-3 pairs of boots to try on and those only were suitable for your feet, despite what you thought you fancied

Having a cobblers shop in the place was the finishing touch and the fitter spent 5 -10 mins steaming each boot with different metal shapers

Plus they repair boots too

Sounds good, shop is a Long way from the South though I never use the insoles provided with boots, first thing I bin, always fit superior insoles.

 

[Morety]

A rarity amongst boot retailers for sure. The importance of not just getting the right boots for you but ones that actually fit comfortably, offer the support and cushioning needed (we are all different and boots are a very personal choice) cannot be over stressed, especially allowing for foot swell and toebox room on extended descents. What might fit comfortably in a shop might become a painful nightmare on an extended hilly walk.

Taunton were very good with me when I was looking for boots and when I provided my foot measurements and needs sent me several pairs of Altbergs so I could try various sole designs and lasts. I ended up buying some Altberg Tethera 's in extra wide (they have 5 foot width options) and they have given me 10 years sterling service before I switched to lighter boots. They're not worth resoling as the EVA mid soles have compressed anyway and I find them too heavy and tiring when walking more than 10 miles now. As I've aged, I've found for me personally, I'll never go back to heavy leather boots and no-matter what you pay for any boot, the midsole EVA will compress and lose comfort after around 3 years regular use, so these days, I'm prepared to buy new boots every 3 or 4 years and have settled on Inov8 boots as the lightest, most comfortable and grippy boots I've ever used.

 

[MartinK]

My last set of Altberg hill walking boots did my last few Corbett's, and then ALL the Wainwrights! All of them! Some in crampons even! That's about 250 mountains, in all weathers!

Bought a new set for my next round of the Munros, currently 50-odd on this round. Don't think they'll make the full round (not sure my knees and hips will, either ) so last time I was at Altberg (getting the Mrs some Clubman motorbike boots) I bought another set of hillwalking boots.
Hoggs are awesome on the bike, I used them all thru winter on Blood Bike duties (often a lot of walking involved) and they're fab too!

I hope Altberg stay doing what they do (the owner must be 75 now!), altho I now have spare boots for hillwalking and M/C's...

Agree with JB tho, it's hard to find a good knowledgeable retailer these days!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

What is the issue with your Altberg boots? Just interested as I have have Altberg motorcycle, military and their walking boots and have never had an issue. The walking boots are far better than top of the range Scarpa, which the soles used to fall off every 1-2 years.

Depends if the Altbergs fit your feet?
After my bespoke fitting, I was told Altberg range they had would be unsuitable for my feet's shape.........no matter how much I wanted a pair and the Lowa would be more suitable, for some reason (toe box IIRC)

 

[glenn2926]

What is the issue with your Altberg boots? Just interested as I have have Altberg motorcycle, military and their walking boots and have never had an issue. The walking boots are far better than top of the range Scarpa, which the soles used to fall off every 1-2 years.

I have had them resoled three times in two years, the leather on both boots cracked within the first year, new taller rand fitted to cover up the cracks. I complained to Altberg and was told I was walking too much in them!!! They’re fecking walking boots for god’s sake. Very comfortable from the start but the quality is nowhere near Meindl quality.
My first Meindl chainsaw boots are now 5 years old and just starting to wear out. They get used far, far more often than my Altberg walking boots and are in much better condition. My old Scarpa lasted for over 20 years before finally falling apart. In all that time they got resoled around 5-6 times. I won’t be spending my money on Altberg again.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

Maybe I'm an oddity, but I tend to know if a boot fits me or not by trying it on.

 

[walkingpictures]

I'm on my second pair of Meindl Bhutan boots,both pairs have been comfortable from day one,I had the first pair resoled and repaired by Craggs shoe repairs in Leeds but eventually they started letting water in so gave up and bought another pair,really pleased with them.For sure people will also recommend other brands.

Kimbo

 

[casbar]

I have had them resoled three times in two years, the leather on both boots cracked within the first year, new taller rand fitted to cover up the cracks. I complained to Altberg and was told I was walking too much in them!!! They’re fecking walking boots for god’s sake. Very comfortable from the start but the quality is nowhere near Meindl quality.
My first Meindl chainsaw boots are now 5 years old and just starting to wear out. They get used far, far more often than my Altberg walking boots and are in much better condition. My old Scarpa lasted for over 20 years before finally falling apart. In all that time they got resoled around 5-6 times. I won’t be spending my money on Altberg again.

Interesting, not my experience at all with Altberg. Only ever had motorcycle boots resoled and had a good service. Military boots, just binned them and replaced when worn out.

Soles fell off my Scarpa regularly every 2 years or so. Took the last pair back to Cotswold, asked about resoling, told to contact a recommended repair specialist as sending back to Italy is no longer worth it and they won't do it.

Never had Meindl boots, but hopefully my Altbergs have a few years in them.

 

[MartinK]

Still got some Meindl's for sale

For Sale Thread 'Mountaineering Boots - Meindl Super Crack - Size 11'

Jan 5, 2026

Wore these on Saturday for some winter mountaineering in the Cairngorms, but my feet seem to have got wider, and the boots were sore on my toes (Meindl boots are quite a narrow fit and I have wide feet)
Good condition, only minor signs of wear.
Anyone looking for boots like these will already know what they are about - not for easy walks (far too rigid) but for winter/alpine mountaineering where Crampons are likely and on snow/ice...
Size 11
I still have the box!
Some wear, but as you would expect from a boot mostly used in snow, the soles are almost unmarked!
Offers around £100 posted to UK

• MartinK
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