Need new boots?? (1 Viewer)

[DGRW]

Oh yes Phil - Karrimor

There was once a very good local climbing equipment shop not very far from me.....and then it was unfortunately brought out by Karrimor and turned into one of their very limited apparent fashion shops.

I must own up to owning a Karrimor day-sack that I brought for my son several years ago and that I now use for carrying my sandwiches and flask of tea from one end of a reserve to another....that's about all it's good for though.

My old Deltas looked after me up to 16,000ft in the Andes a couple of years ago and their altitude cousins; my old Scarpa Vega were good up to 20,000ft. I think that they could manage another 8,000ft or possibly a trip to the South Pole, unfortunately I wouldn't like to make the same kind of guarantee for my feeble corpse. My new Mantas are still practically unmarked after around thirty Munro's, a trip to the Alps and a lot of lesser tiffling.

I suppose that it is just possible however that a plastic high altitude boot with an insulated inner boot fitted with Yeti gaiters is a tad over the top for Potteric Carr.

My ten year old Delta's are just the job for that so long as it's not icy as they have very little left in the way of grip. Tryfan in winter is an interesting little scramble whilst wearing them though.

Karrimor....Huh....pish

I suppose it's inevitable that a certain percentage of the population will become Boot Nerds.


PS: I suppose that we should really revert to talking about boots that are practical for birding rather than boots that are great for preventing your toes from falling off at minus fifty. They might have some practical application for winter plumage Ptarmigan of course....

 

[griffin]

One brand I would avoid like the plague is Karrimor. One boot of a pair of KSB 300s once started falling apart on me after 2 days walking in the Pyrenees and the sole started to split.

I have had a completely different experience of KSB300 Events. I have the cloth ones and bought them in March 06 and they are still going strong and expect them to last until March 08. Two years (heavy) use is beyond my expectations for such a boot and with the use it gets. Other boots have lasted six-nine months.

The cloth on the sides frayed pretty quickly as I walk through a lot of rank heather and brash but the boots are still completely waterproof - I photographed some Northern Blues at Dinnet ankle deep in water last week and my socks were still dry.

I like the narrow fit of these boots (as I have narrow feet!), a USP of Karrimor I believe. That and they are a Brit company AFAICT.

I like the sound of these Scarpa's though and may investigate next season !

Linz

 

[Big Phil]

I have had a completely different experience of KSB300 Events.

It was more the attitude of the company I objected to. Everyone produces the odd faulty item. The good companies face up to it and sort you out. Karrimor's attitude stunk.

 

[DGRW]

I like the sound of these Scarpa's though and may investigate next season

Scarpa tend to be quite a narrow fitting boot as well Griffin.

 

[Big Phil]

Somewhat poetically, after my slagging of a ropey pair of Karrimors up thread, some stitching on my new Raichles went after a couple of light outings!.

No drama this time, Tiso replaced them without question and the new pair just survived a good hammering on a backpacking trip round the Cairngorms over the last couple of days and nights...

 

[andrew_b]

Why not take them back to the shop? I know that you've worn them but if they are that uncomfortable then they are clearly not fit for purpose and the shop should take them back. I did exactly this with a pair of shoes a year or so back, the shop were surprisingly helpful and refunded me without question.

I wouldn't recommend the "fit for purpose" approach, as a boot fitter for the last 15 years the two are not connected.

I would be honest and explain that although they were initially comfortable, after extended wear it proved to be incorrect. If they say no it is unlucky but they have done nothing wrong. The only person that can be sure about whether the boot fits 100% is the person in the boots.

 

[MacGee]

Probably got 20 miles out of them before the tongue really started to cause problems, however I've been using them again today and they seem to be breaking in 'slowly'.

I think I'll give'm another week or so before I give them the boot (sorry):-O

How did they turn out in the end, Matt? I've recently bought a pair myself and though I'm still finding the best way to tie them, I've not really had to break them in, which is miraculous for me, because I have weird feet (according to my wife) and normally can't find any boots of any kind anywhere to fit me. In fact my wife is urging me to go and buy a second pair while I can.

Michael

 

[bitterntwisted]

Just wanted to put a word in for Zamberlan - had never heard of them prior to buying a pair of these - http://www.zamberlan.com/catalog/index.php?lang=en&pg=prod&idprod=39 - but the staff in the serious walking shop I got from them have all switched to Zamberlan from Meindl or Scarpa so I figured they were a good buy.

I've worn them constantly for three months, including some Pyreneen trekking, calf-deep in a welsh bog etc and not only are they superbly comfortable they still look mint enough to wear down the pub. Sample size of one, but I'll be buying some of these for the winter...http://www.zamberlan.com/catalog/index.php?lang=en&pg=prod&idprod=11 as my Timberlands are finally dead.

 

[Penny Clarke]

Just wanted to put a word in for Zamberlan - had never heard of them prior to buying a pair of these - http://www.zamberlan.com/catalog/index.php?lang=en&pg=prod&idprod=39 - but the staff in the serious walking shop I got from them have all switched to Zamberlan from Meindl or Scarpa so I figured they were a good buy.

I've worn them constantly for three months, including some Pyreneen trekking, calf-deep in a welsh bog etc and not only are they superbly comfortable they still look mint enough to wear down the pub. Sample size of one, but I'll be buying some of these for the winter...http://www.zamberlan.com/catalog/index.php?lang=en&pg=prod&idprod=11 as my Timberlands are finally dead.

I STRONGLY recommend Zamberlan boots too - I don't own a pair now, but I had a pair for 15 years!!!!!!. When they finally died I ended up buying a pair of Scarpas for winter (it will be interesting to see if these last 15 years!), brasher lights for summer and recently bought a fantastic pair of Northface 'Hedgehog' with gortex etc with vibram soles which are the lightest most comfortable trainers I have ever owned.

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[creyldor]

Threadus Resurectum,

Its 2025 and I bought my Skiddaws in 2007 around the time of this thread, I have used them for hiking in the dales, lake district, peak district, in the winter in snow and ice walking 5 or 6 miles to work and back (yeah I'm him), and I have just come to lace them up again for the shop and an eyelet (on the speed lace part) has popped out. With regular prooving my boots have always stayed dry (bar once in abslutely appalling conditions in the lakes) and I couldn't be happier, I read reviews of people having had these 6 months and needing to replace them, Well I also use these every day walking the dog come rain sun or shine and thats also about 3 or 4 miles a day, for the money I paid they are the best boots ever, the vibram soles are only just getting started. The fact is the only bit I'd criticise is that they didn't grip as well in a stream, seeing as this walking boot is long since discontinued its probably academic, I just brought some mens rivelin Walking boots, very similar but I suspect they won't last as long as these have.