Gear

I've started to think that my berghaus ladies moreno GTXs are just a bit too small for me. They are size 4.5 but when my feet are warm and swollen and especially on downhills (obviously) my toes are getting a bit crushed. I love the boots so I would just buy them in a larger size but they aren't a current model and I can't find any in the right size for sale. So on the lookout for new ones!

 Willing to pay up to around £100, need them to be waterproof but fairly breathable (although my feet don't sweat too much) and reasonably lightweight but able to tackle pretty rough terrain at times too. Don't need them to be suitable for crampon attachment. 

 Suggestions? 

The normal suggestion to such a request is 'get yourself down to a decent outdoors gear shop and get fitted out with a suitable pair that fit you properly'.

Since everyone's feet are different, it's very difficult to recommend particular boots, but things to bear in mind are: gtx liners are pretty ubiquitous in boots, but lead to sweatier feet than boots with no liner; you might find event or some manufacturers' proprietry liners are more comfortable for you than gtx, or might prefer unlined footwear.

Also, leather or fabric boots? Again, personal preference comes in here, though fit is paramount. Go shopping in the afternoon when your feet should be a bit larger, take your normal walking socks / sock combo. Walk around a lot in the shop, use the artificial hillock in the shop to feel what walking downhill's like, then wear them round the house for a while to check the fit's good. If a shop won't let you return them after only walking around the house, then don't bother to buy from them.

Sorry if this is a grandmothers and eggs response.

I know I really just need to try ones on, but sometimes suggestions from others work too. That way if I have a general idea of what might be good IF they fit well I can go to those shops that stock them.

I prefer fabric to leather boots and usually find gtx liners are ok and my feet dont get to sweaty. I don't think I've ever tried eVent lined boots, which brands make them?

Time isn't on my side as I'm studying for my uni exams and I leave for my hiking trip in France just after that but I will try and get myself into Bakewell this weekend as theres lots of shops nice and close together there.

Beanie,

It is rare for any boots to be "not good" these days - but how an individual sees them is so personal (case in point, Scarpa Mantas have the name as about the best 3 season boot - not for me though as my feet dont fit the last) that it makes any specific suggestions inaccurate.

And - by definition - if a pair of boots have been given a good road test, they must be a year or two old.

Best advice - go to a shop with an open mind. Decent shop will measure your feet and ask lots of questions about your walking/usage etc etc etc...then offer a number of options.

Simon Barry wrote (see)

Beanie,

It is rare for any boots to be "not good" these days - but how an individual sees them is so personal (case in point, Scarpa Mantas have the name as about the best 3 season boot - not for me though as my feet dont fit the last) that it makes any specific suggestions inaccurate.

Manta 3-season? 4, surely. they're as stiff as Stiff Jack McStiff and C2 compatible.

These are my walking "boots" and my recommendation

Edit (can't edit above or link would be broken)

My recommendation just shows how varied people's opinions are and that you really *must* just go in a good shop and pootle around and try on as many as possible for as long as possible. I have a non-GoreTex pair for summer and a GTX pair for winter - only wear boots for snow, atrocious weather and really horrible bogs.