A decent pair of walking boots?

Discussion in 'WW2 Battlefields Today' started by Owen, Oct 14, 2008.

  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Wore them the next morning on a two hour walk from my mate's house in Yorkshire & they felt really comfey, only think is a very slight rubbing on my right ankle.
    Think that more to do with not wearing boots for ages.
    Had my old army socks on that have been in my drawer for 20 years.
     
  2. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    Nice to see you got sorted out at last mate. Many long miles of happiness in them!!!
     
  3. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist

    I wear Chinese made boots called Grafters; 13 eyelets, steel toecaps, soles about 3 inches thick, Chambrelle lined. Got them in my local Army surplus store about 4 years ago, wear them constantly up hills and various archaeological sites, and still haven't managed to wear them out yet! :lol:
    Absolutely brilliant gear.
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    only think is a very slight rubbing on my right ankle.


    A bit of vasoline on the ankle will stop that mate :D I said Ankle !
     
  5. phylo_roadking

    phylo_roadking Very Senior Member

    I agree with the earlier comments about the ex-German para boots. But they have to be the MkIIIs, with the double-layered leather support around the ankle, and the sole composed of a layer of shock-absorbing crepe rubber between a neoprene top and bottom layer...which comes in the standard "commando" tread pattern. The later MkIVs are absolute rubbish compared to these.
     
  6. Steve G

    Steve G Senior Member

    Had my old army socks on that have been in my drawer for 20 years.


    I've just this minute taken my boots and socks off, oddly enough; Just before finding this Thread! My boots are by " Scarpa ". Mate in a mountain surviving branch of the Royal Navy :)huh:) got them for me.

    I was checking a rather authoritative boots review site out, looking for some boots for another mate of mine, and came across my own Scarpa's. They were dead on, ye know! Described them as a top quality boot. Great all round support 'n all that. Suitable for some Really vile, rock craggy, ankle twisty terrain. But, probably a bit much for just a stiff cross country hike. Reassuringly expensive.

    I agree whole heartedly. My last boots were Berghausse. Gortex lined, man made materials throughout. Soft. Comfortable. I could walk up a stream all day in them, summer or winter. Then come home and leave them on As slippers. (That was their undoing. I fell alseep with my feet in the hearth and melted the soles! :unsure:) £75.00 in Millets, about four years ago. I'd as soon have those again now, for what I do most of - which doesn't concern mountains.


    Army socks though? I habitually wear the ones sold everywhere, with the " Commando " label on. As far as my eye can tell, these might be the same ones I saw amongst a pukka Royal Marine's kit. I honestly don't reckon these socks can be beaten. Surely one of the best pieces of personal kit the 'Army' has ever provided?

    I once kept a pair of boots on for Nine Months. Never even unlaced them in that period. I had my 'army socks' on inside them and those socks just took it in their stride and I never had an uncomfortable foot / day.

    I sometimes think I could sell that story to " Commando " brand for advertising their socks. But then I consider the image I might portray, of the sort of head case who wears their goods ..... and then there's the 'After' photographs ..... Perhaps Benneton ....? :unsure:
     
  7. raider

    raider Temporarily Suspended account.

    Hi I use my old army boots , kept mine for the day i pop my clog`s nice an warm and comfy they are well broken in an still water proof i use vipits not lace,s ....

    raider....... for our today they gave there tomorrow ..
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  9. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Pull yourself together and make a choice like a man.
    Poor old Dave/Croonaert will be spinning in his grave/urn at 14 years of chaps talking about shoes.

    As long as you own no more than 4 pairs of any sort of footwear, myself and the ghost of Dave (probably) will let you off...
     
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  10. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    What's the first advert I see when looking at Facebook this morning ?

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    Attached Files:

  11. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Tried both, but find both give a squeak when walking - wet or dry - on pavements. Thought it was the way I walk, but one is an outer right heel squeaker and the other a left of left midsole squeaker. Wearing a mix of the non-squeaking partners is not an option! Apart from that, I think the latter brand are a bit sturdier - no hassle on the clints and grikes at Malham Cove, or the testing screes of Gordale Scar recently - and more waterproof. If you are prone to heel blisters, go for a style without a central heel seam.
     
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  12. Osborne2

    Osborne2 Well-Known Member

    Berghaus/brasher boots declined in quality after Berghaus take over in my humble op, having bought pairs before and after.
    I recommend Hanwag boots. Also looked at Altberg, GB company at Richmond. Both manufacture for the NATO military. On the day, got Hanwag because they had a boot for those of us in the bunion union in stock. Get walking boots half size bigger than normal shoe and wear thick socks. You don't get quality for washers, pay your money and take your choice. Don't buy on line , try them out in a store with a steep walking slope in the kind of socks you will wear on a walk.
     
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  13. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    I would go to a very large sports shop and try on the boots they have in stock you might find something for your requirement

    As stated buying on line for shoe type stuff is hit and miss

    Handbags on the other hand ,it is simpler to style and buy on line
     
  14. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I was looking for a pair of surplus Altbergs at the Military Odyssey show we went to in August but as I have size 12 feet I couldn't find any to fit.
    Did buy a smaller pair for Father-in-law to wear on his motorbikes.
    Not going to buy surplus off ebay as I want to try them on.
    The Cotswolds shop is a few miles up the A419 from us so will go there at the weekend.
    Eldest son does like his Merrells he got there awhile back.

    Edit: I like the reviews on these. Will try these , spending more £.
    Mens Terra GTX Boots
     
  15. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    One website says re spec thickness of leather ( i am overthinking)

    Upper Material:
    Water resistant 1.8 mm leather


    the other

    • Upper: 2mm Leather
     
  16. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Reading some reviews they look good, others rubbish.
     
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  17. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    Hear hear. Analogy:

    Once upon a time you could buy a throwaway camera which was in a plastic case, could take underwater photos down to 5 metres. Very cheap.

    To waterproof a proper camera in a case was then about ten times the price.

    Same with shoes, the very cheapest can be very comfortable. I buy "desert boots" for less than £30 from a shop in Strutton Ground, London, off Victoria Street. Hit and miss, but can be very good. Flat soles or chunky. I have to buy more than usual size to fit my wide feet.

    As for cobblers, an investment increasingly worth making to spare sore feet and maintain mobility ?

    Interesting, but old, article here:

    A working life: Sole survivor
     
  18. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    yep best try on and not go with reviews, one mans meat is another mans poison
     
  19. chrisgrove

    chrisgrove Senior Member

    Have to admit that my Hanwag boots, bought many moons ago in Germany. were the most comfortable I have ever worn, but on investigating a resupply, I found that they only seem to make high boots now which do not suit me. Unfortunately, they were so good that I went on wearing them until the stage where they were too far gone to be resoled!
    Chris
     
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  20. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    You don't want to see my boot inventory...

    Also, do slaps count as shoes?
     

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