The Ultimate Guide to Hiking Boot Selection - My Top 5

Man it’s so great to see you getting some joy talking about stuff you love and not just stuck chatting football. Keep up the good work.

GTX Gortex

Good content. Thank you!

I have a pair of Salomons. No idea of the particular model but look like yours. They are the best boots I’ve had. Only hike in the UK a couple of times a year and they have been excellent for a few years now. The thing I like best over my old cheaper boots is the soles and the grip they provide on wet rocks.

I’ve only just started walking and one thing I will say is the £40 pair I got recently are a 1000% increase on wearing normal footwear. So if you are a beginner just wanting to see how you get on then grab a cheap pair and see if it’s for you. Keep up the good work Ste.

This is a total 180° from paddock and i love it. The information hints & tips are spot on. Just want to thank you for inspiring me to get out to the grampian mountains and start walking the munros. Much appreciation!

My go to has always been Lowa gtx.

Just to clarify mate, GTX stands for goretex lined. Boots are classified from B1-B3 with B1 being slightly stiff summer boots (the adidas here are B0) and the Mantas are B2 which are stiff (to take a C1 or C2 crampon) and usually insulated. B3 are like your Scarpa Phantom Tech full alpine mountaineering boots and they will take a C2 or C3 crampon. Just to note on the B2 boots, they have a ledge on the heel which allows a C2 crampon (such as the Grivel G12 to clip on securely. For winter in the UK, you need B2s for all the reasons you stated. But for scrambling and summer stuff all these are quality. Love this stuff mate, UTR

I also have the Quest 4s. Epic boot. Unbelievably light. Almost like trainers in terms of weight and comfort. Nice to see the army made a good decision regarding an issued boot too with the Akus. I have a pair of the Altberg Defenders as a winter boot, but I pretty much never wear them anymore due to their weight. Quest 4s all the way for me.

Been wearing nothing but Salomon's for years. Bought a new pair before I went on my honeymoon and they did me proud for two weeks in the Bornean jungle.

La Sportiva TX4 - comfy out of the box.

I use Merrells boots in winter every time I leave the house, they look like the kind of thing the police and security wear, but strong and light. I don’t go on demanding hikes but these are so comfy and hard wearing. I started using Merrell trainers as they are a great all rounder and as a lazy bastard with a bad back they’re even better as they have elastic non tie laces. Can be chucked in the washer on occasion too without too much trouble. Down side with Merrells is after only about 15 years of literally everyday use expect a blow out around the ball of the foot/toes area. Not technical I know but I love ‘em.

I had a pair of Wind River boots thag lasted me almost 10 years. I did tons of walking in Iceland and Alberta Montana Idaho Oregon Ontario Quebec Washington State and British Columbia. Not to mention used them as winter boots in between all those trips.

I have leather Hi Tec summit I bought them when I began walking to see if I liked hiking since then I’ve had 3 pairs I love them. Also bought some Hoka walking boots last year and they’re unbelievably comfortable but I have found the sole wore through quickly which was disappointing

Love these, as someone who'd love to get into a more outdoor life these are great for me as a beginner.

I love all this type of stuff Ste! I wear the scarpa mistral GTX (goretex) I’ve done over 150 miles in these and there’s not even a mark them, brilliant video!

I got a pair of Hoka hiking boots for hiking the mountain they are very good for people like meself that has wide feet . There was no breaking them in the fit like a glove straight away and have big souls in them so you barely feel any rocks when your walking over them

What a tremendous video. Some of these products are completely new to me. Do a few more reviews on other bits of kit. Thanks.

I always use a scarpa trek gtx great boot and comfy straight out of the box only gripe I’ve had with scarpa is the uk customer service is crap , summer time I use trail runners like the altra loam peak 4 or 5s but looking at getting a pair of norda 001s and giving those a try

I've had a pair of Altberg for a while they're hard wearing comfortable plenty of ankle movement but I've been trekking/hiking even snowmobiling in the they're just a bit heavy on long walks but that weight almost aids me with the walking.