Walking / Climbing Boot Recommendations?

[Wildfisher]

I am looking to buy a pair of walking / climbing boots that will take a Yeti Attack gaiter, that won't rip my feet to bits, will need next to no breaking in and won't cost a fortune.

Any recommendations?

[hopper]

Get down to your old stomping ground Fred  and go to the outdoor and walking shop  in Arbroath the owner knows his stuff ex marine and has a good selection at not a bad price.

[Fishtales]

No-one makes the Attack sole anymore, Fred, as far as I know. You need a boot with a slightly stiff sole, so that there isn't too much flexing as you walk, and look for a slight bulge under the toe and heel where it joins the sole, helps to hold the rand on. Cut off the small cross strap that goes across the sole, on an ordinary sole it will break eventually anyway, and put a little Bostik All Purpose Gel at the bottom inside of the rand at the toe and the corresponding area on the boot. This will stop the rand slipping up and off the toe. I did this on mine this year and the cover on the toe stayed put and is still holding It used to slip up before but only on the right foot for some reason.

[Wildfisher]

Scarpa SL's have a serious pedigree, about £180, just checked and they are on sale at GO outdoors for £69.99

Great deal, sadly GO won't do them mail order. Store collection only. Closest store to me is Inverness   

[Bobfly]

Do have a look at Meindle Burma Pro boots. I do not know anyone with a pair of these who would not recommend them as a great all round hill boot. Would certainly take Yeti gaiters.

[Buanán]

I have a pair of Meindle's these days, don't know the model name but their leather inner and outer with gortex membrane, fantastic. Best to go try them on in a shop that stocks plenty of them as Meindle do their footwear in a variety of width sizes, so finding the perfect size is easy provided the shop stocks all the sizes..

[Bobfly]

Pleased to see another firm recommendation for Meindle boots. They are a German family firm and do make good quality range of boots including taller hunting boots. A point worth bearing in mind regarding Scarpa SL or any other Scarpa model is that they tend to have a narrower last fitting for their length size than most makes. Broader fittings would be Meindle.

[Craigie17]

Have you got a preference for all-leather upper or fabric? I presume the reason for the fit-to-Yeti is because you like using them, rather than them just being the gaiters you have.

You'll know yourself that boots are so personal, and that fit to your feet is everything. Some of the European manufacturers (e.g. Scarpa, Asolo, La Sportiva) build on a European last, which tends to fit narrow to normal width feet better than wide feet, although occasionally you'll get a wide fit version. Other companies have different fits, and UK bootmakers like Altberg build on more UK-specific lasts.

I've had great use out of 5 different pairs of Scarpas over the last 12 or 13 years, but I know a mate who has had nothing but trouble.

For full leather uppers Scarpa SL, Mammut Mt. Trail Gtx, Meindl Burmas or - if you're looking for something different - I have a pair of Meindl Dovre Extremes which I use for deerstalking.

For fabric/synthetic, I really like the Scarpa Charmoz and the La Sportiva Trango S Evo. Both are stiff soled and take a crampon (which may not be of interest to you) but even as summer boots they are wonderfully comfortable and about as light as it comes.

Cotswolds and Tiso both have sales on at the moment, so might be a good time to buy

[corsican dave]

I am looking to buy a pair of walking / climbing boots that will take a Yeti Attack gaiter, that won't rip my feet to bits, will need next to no breaking in and won't cost a fortune.

Any recommendations?

go to a proper shop (ie a specialist independent) and have them professionally fitted. no one can guarantee a fit by mail order. why independent? because their livelihood depends on getting these things right. oh, and don't endear yourself to the fitter by quibbling about price....

craigie's points are very valid. i could wax long and lyrical about boot manufacture (ie why meindls are generally wider than scarpas and why you should go to japan if you REALLY want a pair of la sportivas for your wide feet) as i've been dealing with outdoor footwear for over 30 years.

[Fishtales]

I would always try boots before buying. My first boots were an Italian make, can't remember the name though, that fitted like a glove. When they wore out I got a pair of Scarpa Asolo which lasted for years. The pair I have now are Zamberlain. All the previous boots were a size 8, my shoes are all size 8, these are a 9 and I only wear one pair of socks. If I had bought them without trying them first I wouldn't have been able to get them on