Brasher Fellmaster Gtx

Paul Mitchell 3
Reviewed: 30 March 2009

1ST PAIR WONDERFUL, 2ND A DISASTER.

Comfort (1st pair) and good waterproofing.

2nd pair are a blister factory.

My first pair of these boots was the most comfortable pair of walking boots I've ever worn. No break-in needed and better ankle support than you'd expect. They were so good that I bought a second pair which I've kept in storage, feeling smug that I had a spare pair for when the old ones wore out. The second pair look and feel the same when I put them on, but after a year of trying, they still rip my heel to pieces within 4 miles. I've just admitted defeat and passed them on to a charity shop. So a mixed bag and average scores.

Raybo67
Reviewed: 19 November 2006

GOOD BOOTS - SHAME THEY STOPPED MAKING THEM

lightweight; comfortable straight from the box; kept me blister free, on many a walk, especialy on a couple of longer backpcking trips.

low ankle cuff, but not really designed for high mountains

good boots, would buy them again for the comfort of being "blister-free"

Don Thompson
Reviewed: 17 March 2006

FABULOUSLY COMFORTABLE

Like slippers straight from box.
Had two pairs - Only boots I've ever owned that didn't give me any blisters on heels!
Very lightweight.

When goretex lining fails you might as well bin them. also, don't give good ankle support - I've "turned" an ankle on a few occasions in them.

If any body knows anywhere that still have some size 9.5's in stock, please let me know as I would buy them again and again for the freedom from blisters.

Tony S
Reviewed: 28 February 2006

THEY'VE BEEN GREAT

Very comfortable boots
Lovely leather lining
Lightweight

Not much ankle support

I've had these boots for about 5 years, and though they're not really intended to be mountain walking boots, mine have taken me up and down Snowdon, up trails in the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, including above the snowline, even trudging around in knee-deep snow on the top of Pikes Peak (though I did go up by train for that one !). As well as many, many miles of walking on Exmoor, coast paths, Wales, Cornwall, North Yorkshire, Dartmoor - all 'off-road'

They've never let me down in any way. They've stayed waterproof and comfortable. A previous reviewer mentioned the interior leather lining becoming brittle. Maybe an occasional application of leather conditioning cream might have prevented that which is all I've done. In fact that leather lining is one of my favourite parts about the boot.

I maintained the nubuck outer finish for a while, but then started to treat it with Nikwax liquid wax waterproofing. This just turns the nubuck into a normal leather finish, but who cares.
Maybe I've been lucky but I've never experienced any of the problems other reviewers have mentioned about eyelets or stitching or anything.

The treads on these shed mud very easily. Often a quick splash in a puddle will get rid of any mud. The downside is that the grip is not fantastic on wet rock, and the tread on mine is now beginning to wear a bit thin. Again I've never had any serious problems though.

The one area which is now making me think about getting some different boots is the ankle support. This is very low on these boots, and I feel I need more for higher level walking on rocky paths. As I'm getting older, I don't want to risk turning my ankles too much ! However, the Brashers still have some life left in them, and even if I get new boots I'm sure I'll still use these for easier, more level walks for some time to come yet.

All in all, these boots have been excellent for me, and are like old friends ! :o)

Bozle
Reviewed: 25 February 2006

LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM...I LOVE THEM.

Instantly worn-in.
Very breathable.
Well designed- fabric joins have all been placed away from high-stress areas; The sole units around the ball of the foot are still in one peice.
Very good cushioning.
Can now be found at cutprice outlet stores~£40.

Narrow heel.
High heels-an inch or so.
The bottom 4 eyelets on both boots have sheared off completely-they seem to have been designed around levers.

Brasher were nearly on a winner with these but it seems they have been let down by the details and the sole materials. Like others I felt a little let down when eyes started popping off mine after a year, however now at the three year mark the soles are still going strong even with the tread worn down to nothing, (the sole collapsing around the ball of the foot at the one year mark is how most boots of mine have died so this is impressive). The outer fabric is also in one peice and still completely waterproof even with no retreatement.

As has been noted these are not mountain boots, and don't handle rough ground particularly well. They are on the other hand an excellent pair of mud and wet grass boots and keep feet very comfy both hot and very bad weather.