Walking and Wheeling!

Hi Patroll22
We to enjoy bush walking and agree, the two do go hand in hand.
We are after new boot and going for HiTec. My son is a surveyor and is in the field all of the time, on his second set and recommends they are the most comfortable boots for walking all day.

Cheers

Stephen

Nathan has had his scarpia's for as long as i can remember, ive known him for 8yrs.., and hasnt worn them enought for them to be worn in properly but he loves them and they are comfy as a pillow he reckons!

I have, i think...HiTec....they are brilliant and very comfy. Have given them a workout over the years when my blundstones wouldnt be comfy enough......

I am well out of the walking boot market but I will say make sure you wear them in before you go, you can make sure they are comfortable and have softened up. Out on a walk is no place to run them in......
My first boots were Rossi falcons, they only blistered me once, the time I only had 1 pair of socks, otherwise they were good. I got another pair of boots, different brand, which were shocking, I can't find them now... it is like most things, a personal thing
Nick

Walking boots really need to be fitted by a specialist. My advice is to go to someone who does this, such as a good outdoors shop. What is a great boot for my foot may well be torture for yours. Get your foot measured for length, width etc then get the right and most comfortable boot you can. The process may take a whole day in the city, going from shop to shop to compare the different brands sold by different shops.

Once you've found those that appear to be comfortable, the best was to wear them in is to put them on, stand in a bucket of luke warm water and go for a long walk. Do this a couple of times, but in between, very careful drying in cool conditions (no heat) and use some waterproofing substance on them (if they are leather..ie Scarpa). I find Nikwax to be the best. Synthetic boots such as Hi-Tec etc are easier to 'break in' but will still benefit from this treatment (except the Nikwax).

Whilst walking carry a couple of plastic safeway bags to help prevent blisters. The most common spot for blisters is on the back of the heel and if you can arrange the plastic bag as a couple of layers to 'wrap' around the heel the bag rubs against itself and prevents friction on the foot and thus prevents blisters. Do this as SOON as you feel the slight 'hot spot' and it works a treat. Much better than the old Leukoplast tape method which gets sticky stuff all over your socks and damages them. I still use this method for ski touring as the boots are very heavy leather and with a heavy pack, blisters are inevitable.

This comes from 12 years experience as an outdoor education teacher with literally hundreds of students bushwalking and ski touring.

Hope this is all helpful.

Cheers,

Mark

Pete,

I agree with Mark re an outdoor specialist. Make sure you get them fitted up properly by someone that knows about walking boots. Spend some time shopping around. Go to as many different outdoor shops as you can find, but steer clear from alot of the big franchise outdoor stores such as BCF, Anaconda etc where teenagers that have never walked a day in their life work. They may be an option for purchase once you have sourced your desired shoe of choice properly, as sometimes their prices are can be better. stick to places suc as mountain designs, paddy pallin etc where the employees are generally pretty active in the outdoors.

Many boots now days use materials such as gortex, therfore offer great level of waterproofness and breathability, but dont require the addition of waterproofing agents.

From my personal experience, Iv had only a couple of pairs of walking boots (as they have lasted that long that is all that I have needed.) I can not remember all, but my last pair of boots was a pair of Rossi hiking boots, I had heard good reviews- chucked after a 3 day hike. Found them heavy, uncomfortable (even after a lengthy wear in) and caused too many blisters for my liking. I know have a pair of mountain designs gortex boots. No problems. Ive had them for about 4 years, have used them camping and walking, and have been a friend ever since.

Another tip, if doing a longish walk and you are one that gets blisters quite easily, you need to hard up... just kidding, use some fixamol on your toes to assist. Fixomol is available at chemists, and comes in roles. It is stretchable, so will sit over toe ends nicely.

I come from the Rob Bredl school of bush walking.

Both Rob and myself hate shoe's, I have walked the bush my whole life barefoot, I do own a pair of Tevas that I wear on tour or for formal wear, the wife and kid prefer Crocs , although Philip is more like his Dad.

I am a staunch believer that our clients wear proper foot wear on tour.

Cheers Steve, who believes you should free the feet.

Make sure you get proper arch support, either in the shoe already or with orthotic inserts.

I did a lot of walking (on a treadmill) with sports shoes which I thought were OK but developed plantar fasciitis (heel spurs) because of insufficient arch support.

It's a shocker. Wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Gday,
Ive always been a fan of the old Dunlop thong, (and not the type that goes up your freckle!).
But you have to get the double pluged version or you spend half your walk fixing blow outs.
Although these days I have to try and keep up with the trends (for the kids sake) so I have opted for the ADIDAS thong. The're light and comfortable with a thicker strap over the top of you foot which provides much more protection.
The're vey comfortable once worn in and can be easily removed when you get that little hot coal between your toes while staggeing arount the fire late at night.

Cheers
Hairy

Thanks everyone....I guess the plan is to take a walk around Paddy Pallin and the like to get properly fitted before making a choice. I have noticed though that some of the top names eg Scarpa are awfully stiff in the uppers.

Pete

If you've got the money, have a look at 'Raichle'. The boot is made in Switzerland and well known to hikers and mountaineers.

Regards

Kim

G'day Patrol22,

pretty good advice about checking a specialist b/walking shop. I've done a fair bit of walking in my time - reckon the best way to "break in" (leather) boots is to fill them with water when new - leave long enough (overnight) for water to soak in properly - then put them on, and walk (1/2 to 1 day) in them until they are dry again. I've been through many pairs, and have never gotten a blister from any that I've treated this way.

When boots are dried out, use a waterproofing agent (Nikwax or Snoseal - NOT Dubbin - it rots the stitches) on the boots - a hairdryer is helpful to make sure the "wax" penetrates the pores in the leather.

All good boots are pretty stiff when new - it is the ankle support they provide - but the above treatment effectively "moulds" each boot to your feet.

Lightweight boots (eg Hi Tec) are pretty good in hot conditions, although not quite as durable as leather which I prefer if I'm walking in "rough" country.

regards
Terry

Thanks everyone...lots of food for thought here.

Cheers
Pete