[matt green]

last night i decided to go for a moonlit walk across my local patch hoping to see the barn owl,i never saw it but walking home through the wet grass my feet got soaked.

despite my trezzata walking boots having a small brass stud that say's gortex
this did not stop the water leaking in!,a 69p bottle of johnsons baby oil has kept them supple and free from splitting for two years!.apart from the odd clean this is the only treatment they have ever needed.

so...my question is thus

is it possible to get a pair of genuinely waterproof walking boots for around £100?,should i be looking at leather or fabric boots?

matt

[Touty]

Originally Posted by matt green

is it possible to get a pair of genuinely waterproof walking boots for around £100?,should i be looking at leather or fabric boots?

matt

Aw gawd! Less than that. You can get a decent pair for about €50 here (Italy) (PM me, maybe we can work something out). I have a brilliant pair that have a rubber sole and sides with a rubber-lined fabric upper. I don't have them to hand but I'll give you the make ASAP. The only disavantage with any w/p boot is sweat and they get dead slimey... but at least it's warm slime.
The other possibility, costing more, about €100, are Italian hunters' boots. I have a pair and I have to say they aren't much cop for walking but I haven't given them time to 'break them in'. They're like a heavy pair of Doc Martens with solid, heavily-waxed leather uppers and a rigid sole.

[scampo]

Originally Posted by matt green

last night i decided to go for a moonlit walk across my local patch hoping to see the barn owl,i never saw it but walking home through the wet grass my feet got soaked.

despite my trezzata walking boots having a small brass stud that say's gortex
this did not stop the water leaking in!,a 69p bottle of johnsons baby oil has kept them supple and free from splitting for two years!.apart from the odd clean this is the only treatment they have ever needed.

so...my question is thus

is it possible to get a pair of genuinely waterproof walking boots for around £100?,should i be looking at leather or fabric boots?

matt

Just a thought - maybe the baby oil rotted the Goretex membrane? Certainly you should have had years of waterproof use. That said - when waterproof boots do decide to leak, they do it in style - like coats! I use NikWax to waterproof my Brasher boots and have had no problems.

[Tyke]

Googling for your boots got "Trezeta" as the nearest match. These are lightweight boots with suede uppers. I don't think this material will ever make you waterproof in a real soaking. Also the point about Gore-Tex is it's breathability. I have had a Goretex outer coat for years. It doesn't sweat-but in a real downpour it saturates.
Would suggest leather boots-I have worn Zamberlan for yonks-& like Scampo-use NikWax for care & waterproofing.They have never let me down.

In summer and/or dry conditions a lightweight fabric boot is fine. But in winter and/or in wet conditions you will have to accept a bit more weight to keep your tootsies dry!
Colin

[deborah4]

Originally Posted by matt green

so...my question is thus

is it possible to get a pair of genuinely waterproof walking boots for around £100?,should i be looking at leather or fabric boots?

matt

Hi Matt

Since leaving a fantastically waterproof (and much loved!) pair of walking boots at a B&B in the New Forest last year, I've had to replace them with some, I've yet to test for every season. Think my last pair were heavy duty Timberland, but have Karrimor's now. However, so far so good, they appear to be completely waterproof. I don't find them as comfortable to walk in though (bit clumpy and loose for me around the ankles). Advantages, are they are totally breathable and mostly leather, and pretty trash proof ie. hardwearing. Retail around £90-100 but cheaper online.

I use these: http://www.planetfear.com/product_de...=528&p_id=5050

[SiG]

Get a pair of British Army Pro-Boots. Leather outer, goretex lining, high ankle and full bellows tongue. They're what I consider fully waterproof, far more so than fabric walking boots of any kind. Shops around - you can pay £100 for them, but you can also pay a lot less. I had a pair that have had some serious heavy duty wear out after five and half years earlier this year, so stocked up on a couple of pairs of size 14s this year at £55 a pair.

[matt green]

thanks for the advice folks..

as i said ealier my current boots are trezeta,not quite sure which model but they cost around £60 two or three years ago.to be honest they should have been thrown to the skip months ago as they have cracks in the sole and a peeling tread.they do leak a bit but the uppers seem to be in good condition.
they also smell a bit funky and can fill a good sized room with their unique aroma after a good day in the field!.however,they still hold together and are very comfortable!

tempted to break with tradition and go for leather,probably something from brasher or scarpa?

mattius

[Keith Dickinson]

Matt
I have a pair of Brashers and they are the most comfortable boot I have ever worn....no breaking in period at all. They have Goretex panels but are 75% leather uppers, use the brasher waterproofing spray and so far the only wet feet have been when i have fallen in the B streams rather than stepping over them LOL

[Andrew]

Brasher Supalites. The dog's bollox.

Waterproof and I don't sweat in them much. Very light and comfy.

About £100 to £120.

10% discount in Millets and Blacks if you are a YHA member. Get some Brasher cream for keeping them in good condition too.

[Penny Clarke]

Last year my amazing Zamberlan (made in Italy) boots finally died after 15 years!!!!! (these were EXCELLENT boots), so was forced to give them up and look for a new pair.

I bought a pair of Scarpa boots (in sale), very heavy duty, fantastic ankle support, strong, solid, will last as long as Zamberlans, I'm sure.

The Scarpa boots are heavier than my Zamberlan boots, too heavy for hot summer days, so I treated myself aswell!!!! to a pair of Brasher Supalites, the most comfortable light weight boots I have ever worn, but the soles are not going to last for years, I can tell!!!!

So I have 1st class sturdy boots for winter and extremely lightweight dream summer boots as well and they are BOTH waterproof 100% - I use Nikwax (in tin) for the Scarpas and Brasher cream for Brashers.

Best Wishes Penny

[matt green]

the brashers seem very popular..

a bonus as i can think of three or four specialist shops in norwich where most of the brasher range are available..will investigate further.

matt

[BobCesme]

I am still wearing a seven year old pair of VERY waterproof,very comfortable Timberlands,a briliant boot.

[Paul Jarvis]

I use a pair of Berghaus suede and mesh boots which are very comfortable also Gore-tex lined and are very good IMO they cost 90.00 from Blacks which is a fair price.

[szekiat]

Couple of things,
I seem to recall Goretex does offer a lifetime warranty on all products with their tag on them when it comes to waterproofing issues. Perhaps its time to call them up on that?

Secondly, no matter how well water proofed a pair of boots are, water can always seep in from the top of the boots (where they open to let your legs out!). Point to note when i was in borneo recently and missed a step and ended up emerging my entire leg into the river. No saving me there!

Thirdly, do consider options from kathmandu as well. I personally love my kathmandu boots and they've travelled the world with me. Been hiking in spain, in forests in malaysia and indonesia and its got layers of caked dirt on various bits to prove it. Still going strong and their sympatex coating means i get relatively dry feet in a tropical storm. They go for about £60 when on discount so check out for them.

If weight is an issue, consider getting a pair of montreals. Those buggers are light as hell, really comfortable, and waterproof! Take faith in gortex, its great for when u need to sweat it out. Keeps the feet nice smelling!

[mav12]

i have a pair pf brasher fellmaster gtx which are waterproof goretex lined dont rate them that much for hillwalking but they are comfy for general use.

also consider anglers feild boots there are a lot on the market now

[Keith Reeder]

Waterproof socks - Sealskinz or Porelle Drys - would be my suggestion, then you can where whatever footwear you like.

[jedku]

Originally Posted by matt green

last night i decided to go for a moonlit walk across my local patch hoping to see the barn owl,i never saw it but walking home through the wet grass my feet got soaked.....
is it possible to get a pair of genuinely waterproof walking boots for around £100?,should I be looking at leather or fabric boots?

Why does noone here mention farm boots for Matt? Are they called "wellies" in Britain? They are almost knee high. The best ones are soft light weight rubber of green color. They have thick inserts in the inside to insulate the bottom of the foot from cold ground. Nothing is more convenient and comfortable for walking through wet tall grass or farm mud. just rinse them off. They cost ALOT less than $200!

[saluki]

Originally Posted by jedku

Why does noone here mention farm boots for Matt? Are they called "wellies" in Britain? They are almost knee high. The best ones are soft light weight rubber of green color. They have thick inserts in the inside to insulate the bottom of the foot from cold ground. Nothing is more convenient and comfortable for walking through wet tall grass or farm mud. just rinse them off. They cost ALOT less than $200!

I agree entirely, though I'd perhaps draw the line at the steel toe-capped, heavy, ill-fitting farmers wellies we have in the UK!. If Matt intends wandering around fields at midnight then a pair of decent 'Hunter'-clone wellingtons are ideal. I've been doing the same thing for many years when lamping, anyone who's accompanied me wearing boots has usually gone home with wet feet. Wear boots if one's intending to walk all day, but for a quick mooch around the fields, wellingtons are a far dryer, more convenient and cheaper option.

Jonathan

[matt green]

Originally Posted by saluki

I agree entirely, though I'd perhaps draw the line at the steel toe-capped, heavy, ill-fitting farmers wellies we have in the UK!. If Matt intends wandering around fields at midnight then a pair of decent 'Hunter'-clone wellingtons are ideal. I've been doing the same thing for many years when lamping, anyone who's accompanied me wearing boots has usually gone home with wet feet. Wear boots if one's intending to walk all day, but for a quick mooch around the fields, wellingtons are a far dryer, more convenient and cheaper option.

Jonathan

Hi all

And thanks for all the suggestions,I did actually promise myself i'd never wear
wellies again after slipping from a wet foot bridge and fell into a drainage ditch full of water,however I don't think it's really possible to complete a winters worth of birding on norfolk farmland without them,the mud here is often termed as norfolk boulder clay,it sticks like glue,is very heavy and setts like concrete!

When it's not quite so wet i'm currently pottering around in some cheapo
regatta walking boots,they seem comfortable enough but they aint waterproof
like they say they are on the box..surprise surprise.

When I can i'll try a quality pair of hunters or somesuch.

Matt

[trealawboy]

I've got a pair of neoprene-lined Aigle wellies. Cost me £100 about 18 months ago. They're brilliant winter boots. Warm, watertight and very comfortable to walk miles in.

[jurek]

Hi,

older goretex may break. But on wet grass, water goes from the top. No boots will protect you without waterproof trousers.

[James Eaton]

Originally Posted by jurek

Hi,

older goretex may break. But on wet grass, water goes from the top. No boots will protect you without waterproof trousers.

You beat me to it Jurek...

I've just decided now that if I'm walking through/over wet vegetation without waterproof trousers I may aswell wear a comfortable pair of regular, quick drying, trainers. This system has worked out best for me for the past 18 months.

Until the impossible is achieved, blocking up the top of your boots I don't believe waterproof boots exist...

[bkrownd]

Originally Posted by James Eaton

Until the impossible is achieved, blocking up the top of your boots I don't believe waterproof boots exist...

Overtopping is user error, not the boots' fault. When I generously Sno-Seal my leather (non-goretex) boots I can stand in an appropriately deep stream nice and dry.

[Stranger]

Berghaus boots and Yeti gaiters have seen me through Dartmoor,the Black mountains,Llangattock plateau and Snowdonia in winter without ever getting wet feet.

[mattie]

brasher hillmasters had mine ages now just the minimum maintainence and me feet stay dry