Boots

[Morgan]

Morning.
I used to work in a specialist outdoor shop as a boot fitter and the only thing I can say to people when they ask "What boot do you recommend?" Is... What ever is comfortable for your feet.

Far too many people are swayed by reviews in magazines and recommendations. Scarpa and La Sportiva boots, are great boots, some of the best on the market in fact... If you have really narrow feet. Meindel, Lowa, Han Wag... All great (German) boots, for people with big wide feet.

The average British foot, tends to be wider at the front and narrow at the heel, so a good neutral last is advisable. Karrimor, Berghaus, Saloman, Raichle, Lundhag, Brasher... All use typically neutral lasts in the constrcution.

Go to a good outdoor shop where they have fitters, try on loads of boots, they wont mind it's their job, and just get the ones that fit the best. You will be surprised at how many fall into your budget as well, especially if you go for "last years model".

Also, although it's getting harder now to find any boots, even leather ones, without a Goretex membrane in them, all boots have a massive hole in them, at the top. If you get a lot of water in goretex lined boots, it does not come out any where near as fast as if you have natural, or leather lined boots. A good pair of well waxed and polished leather only boots, will outlast and be more comfortable than any goretex lined boot and will let water in the exact same place as the goretex boot, at the top. But they dry out a lot faster.

Not a goretex fan by the way, it's very good at keeping you dry, but it rustles like a crisp bag and will never cope with the humidity of the British Isles.