A guide to buying walking boots

As well as being a rewarding and enjoyable hobby, walking is a fantastic form of exercise.  It allows you to set your own pace and build up your fitness and stamina over time, often in beautiful surroundings.  To find out more about how beneficial walking is for your health, and to get some great advice on building your general fitness by walking and hiking, take a look at this handy guide.

Like all forms of exercise, walking and rambling is going to put pressure on the different parts of the body, particularly your feet and lower legs muscles.  That’s why it’s of the utmost importance that you take your time when you’re choosing walking boots, to ensure that you're wearing something that’s suitable for walking long distances or over difficult terrain.

Here's a few things you should be looking for in a pair of walking boots to ensure that you stay safe, healthy and comfortable on your walking adventures.


Support and Protection

Walking can take you on all sorts of surfaces and terrain, which naturally puts more strain on your feet than walking on surfaces like concrete or asphalt.  It’s because of this difficult terrain that your everyday shoes and trainers just aren't suitable.

When choosing boots, your buzzword should be 'support'.  After all, the reason you're wearing walking boots is to support and protect your feet.  Look for a design that’s high enough to support your ankle, as well as one that incorporates a protective rubber toe and heel-cap.  When you're walking, your heel takes the brunt of each step you make; having sufficient padding in the heel area is important for reducing the risk of injury.

The best walking boots use foam in their design for added support, so pay attention to product descriptions when you're buying boots, to see if they have this essential feature.


Material

As you're walking, friction and the heat released by your muscles can cause the temperature inside your walking boots to quickly build up.  You should choose boots that are made using materials like split suede leather, which prevent an excessive build-up of heat, and are waterproof.

Again, you should pay close attention to product descriptions and particularly look for boots that boast 'thermoregulation' technology; a feature that allows heat to escape.


Grip

You are reliant on your boots to provide adequate grip to the surface you're walking on.  Opt for a boot design with a treaded sole, made from an adhesive material like rubber or EVA, for optimum grip.  You should avoid designs with plastic or PVC soles, which are will be unstable when you're walking.


Weight

Obviously, a pair of walking boots aren't going to be the lightest footwear that you own.  However, you should do your best to look for boots that boast a lightweight design.  Having boots that are heavy and cumbersome will reduce your walking capabilities and the distance you can cover.

Use this guide as much as possible when you're choosing your walking boots, to ensure that you select a product that’s suitable for your chosen pursuit.  Millet Sports have a decent range of walking boots and hiking shoes, which includes all of the big brands like Merrel, Brasher and Salamon.

Remember to check the product descriptions of boots to ensure that the features you are looking for have been incorporated into the design.  If you do this, you shouldn't go far wrong with your choice.

Gear Review - Hi-Tec Sierra Mid walking boots

Being the editor of Walks Around Britain often means I’m surprised.


Surprised when walk I've started out on suddenly changes into another one – like the one through Coombs Dale;  or when a famous person is revealed to be a dedicated walker; or the Hi-Tec Sierra Mid boot.


From first glance, you struggle to see how this this boots are going to be suitable for anything other than walking from the car to work in the middle of town.


But therein lies the surprise… and I’ll come to that side later.





Let’s have a look at the boots.  They feature a leather high-top married to a Vibram sole.  The ones we had are a black upper – which Hi Tec say is Dark Chocolate - with a cream sole, and this provides an attractive contrast between the two.






There’s the option of single and double eyelet lacing combinations, as well as a moisture-wicking lining to keep feet dry.  Inside, there’s an ortholite sock liner will aims to provide long-lasting cushioning, plus anti-odour and anti-microbial properties. The Vibram rubber out sole provides extra flexibility, although don’t expect anything more than a more conventional foot bed here.



So, how are they?

Well, I've been wearing these boots intermittently for the past 4 months, including several low-level walks and one – the Ladybower one from our website – in conditions which were best described as “extremely soggy underfoot”.  And my verdict?  Well, I like them.  Firstly, they are very comfortable.  I've been wearing them all day and I've found them to be really quite suitable both on a walk in the countryside and in the town afterwards.





The extended mountain boot-style ankle support does help provide much needed stability whilst out on the
paths, and the soles, whilst not having the bouncy nature of some other boots do provide good cushioning.

Onto the sole, and the tread is more substantial than a trainer or conventional shoe, but less so than a dedicated mountain boot.  As I said, I wore them out on the Labybower walk in quite soggy conditions and I felt safe and supported throughout – although I did feel slightly nervous as to how long my feet would remain dry for with the endless amount of unavoidable puddles along the way.

 And that’s why I feel that kind of walk is probably the limit to which you should attempt with these.  Silver Howe, Wansfell Pike and the like with rocky outcrops and difficult paths should really be done with more substantial boots.  That said, for what these are designed for, they are super.  Keep them to town and country walking with woodland and low fell treks and you’ll be fine.


The other point to note is because of the fashion styling, you don’t necessarily feel like you've just climbed another Wainwright when you wear them to go to Sainsburys.  The build quality has provide durable after the in-depth wearing I've been doing with them.  The one thing I’m not sure about it whether the side mounted mesh eyelets which are meant to help with breath-ability, actually do much.  One of these has actually fallen off..

Perhaps they should be the first in a new category of boot – a travel boot.  Equally at home on the low-fells, woodland walks and treading around our towns and cities, the other benefit of them is the weight – 800 gram isn't going to break any weight restrictions on travelling to places like the Isle of Man or Jersey.  In fact, I could have done with them when I went to Jersey to walk… but that’s another story.


What's Good

Comfortable, easy-to-wear boots
Low maintenance
Extended ankle support

What's Bad

Mesh eyelets may fall off over time
There's a danger of being too bold with them and getting caught out.

Hi-Tec Sierra Mid walking boots - Rough Price £50

Walks Around Britain rating 8/10

For more information, visit the Hi-Tec website here.

Gear Review – Vango Deluxe Walking Pole

Vango might well be a name you’d more associate with tents, but they make a range of items to help us walkers – and the Deluxe Walking Pole is one of those.

Now, there seems to be a debate about whether walking poles provide any benefit to walking… some people swear by them, while others would never use them.  I've used several walking poles over the years to review them for magazines and for the Walks Around Britain blog, and I must say I've become quite a convert towards them.  I don’t often use them whilst I’m filming the video walks on our site, as I quite enough kit to look after and carry, but when I’m on a walk when I’m not filming, I do use them.  So when the Vango Deluxe Walking Poles dropped through my letterbox, I was very eager to try them out.

So let’s have a look at the pole.  Vango say it is a “strong durable alloy 3-part pole with contoured handle and lower sleeve that offers superb grip and comfort.  Anti-shock on/off feature for shock impact on hard terrain.”





Well, after several trips out with the pole, I’d agree with the strong and durable bit.

The locking extended sections work easily and the pole still extends comfortably even after being subjected to several muddy puddles Peppa Pig would be proud of…

The pole extends to 140 cm, which should cater for even the tallest of walkers – and still feels ridged and stable extended to this length.  Minimum height is 70 cm, which allows my 9 year old daughter to use it, and therefore feel like a “proper walker” – her words…



The pole is made from “T-7075 alloy”, which presumably means something to somebody – possibly that it is strong, and coming in at 320 grams certainly means it is not a heavyweight piece of kit.





The grip is a Bi-injected 2-tone rubber with lower neoprene sleeve, which basically means it minimises that nasty feeling of material falling off into your hand after several trips out.  For adult hands, it’s a comfortable grip which gives you confidence to stride out.





The tip on any walking pole is very important – will it rust over time when exposed to so many muddy puddles… Well I’m happy to report the tungsten tip of the Deluxe Walking Pole helps ensure that doesn't happen.  And after many trips out and pushing that tip into boggy ground, there is no hint of rust or any other problems.




So, overhaul, I’m very impressed with this pole, and with a cost of £13.00 direct from the Vango website, it’s a great price too.  If you are a walker who has had walking poles recommended to them, or if you've been tempted to try one to see what all the fuss is about, then this certainly won’t disappoint you.


What’s good

Strong and durable
Lightweight
Great price
Seemingly rust-resistant tip


What’s Bad

Could be a tad more comfortable on the grip but otherwise nothing at this price bracket

Vango Deluxe Walking Pole - Rough Price - £13

Walks Around Britain rating  9/10

Find out more on the Vango website here.

Gear Review - Men's Wool Ultra Socks- 2-3 Season

To say these have been a lifesaver would be a tad of an over statement – but my trip to Jersey would have certainly been more painful without them...

For reasons best left to another blog post, on my recent trip to film and experience walks on Jersey I discovered at Doncaster Airport I had left my walking boots at home.  I know, as I said, the reasons are best left to another blog post…

So, I was down on the itinerary to go on a “Moonwalk” along the coast during low tide, a walk through some the green lanes of Jersey and a challenging hike along the north coast part of the Channel Islands Way.

Now, for the Moonwalk, the crocs were a must, and they were fine for the roads and paths of the green lane walk – but for the north coast part of the Channel Islands Way – with its rocky coast, undulating paths and steep climbs, crocs certainly wouldn't have been my choice…  Brasher Fellmasters yes, crocs a definite no.

I had visions of blisters; of broken nails; of rubbed feet unable to convey me around the rest of my trip to this fabulous island.

So, having these socks in my kit back to review, I decided to save them for my coastal jaunt – and I'm glad I did.

First impressions are good.  The light grey colouring is one I don't mind people seeing between my trousers and my boots when I sit down, and it makes a change from the various shades of brown people who buy me socks for Christmas always seem to find.  (Seriously, how many shades of brown can there be in sock wool?)

Upon putting them on, it’s clear they are a great fit – not too big, which is always my bug-bear with walking socks.  This means all the parts of the sock is in contact with the areas they are supposed to on the foot.  The elastic around the top of the sock is judged well – not too tight as to stop the circulation to the foot, but not too loose that they fall down all the time.

So, I took them out for a road test along that north Jersey section of the Channel Island Way.  It’s strange attempting a path which, at times, can get quite challenging in crocs, but the socks certainly helped.  Obviously, socks with crocs provides nowhere near the support wearing a proper set of walking boots does but I was able to do the whole walk I'd planned without having feet throbbing like in a cartoon.  And when you think I’m walking around double the length of the 5 miles of the planned route to allow for the filming, that is no mean feat.

I can happily tell you that although they aren't necessarily designed to be waterproof, they do seem to resist water quite well.  Now, this might not be too important when you haven't got sidetracked and are wearing sensible walking boots, but when you're walking one of the most beautiful coastal paths in the world in crocs, it is good to know…  (note to self, always check footwear in future)  And when they get wet, they dry out quickly.

Subsequent wares of the socks inside proper walking boots have shown them to be most comfortable, and, during walks in the cooler temperatures of late autumn, fairly warm too.

So, in conclusion, they are a great ware and I certainly would recommend them for serious walkers everywhere... not just on Jersey.


What's good...
Great fit
Warm without being too sweaty

What's bad...
Started to go a tad bobbly after several washes

Brasher Men's Wool Ultra Socks- 2-3 Season - Rough price - £12

Walks Around Britain rating 8/10