Hiking boots recommendation

Maidhci · 01-09-2019 3:28pm #1

I need to replace my Ecco Biom Hike Boots and I am looking for suggestions / recommendations please.

They are mainly used for hill and rough terrain walking not serious climbing. The Ecco Biom boots which need to be replaced are only 3 years old with very little mileage but have disintegrated at the point where a rubber band to the top meets the leather at the front of the boot. They were very comfortable but I would have expected a longer life span than 3 years for €220+ boots. My previous boots were Meindl and lasted for more than 10 years.

Any recommendations other than Ecco welcome.

Masala · 01-09-2019 9:01pm

U mentioned them yourself... Meindl. You will get them for €220 +\-

Never thought of Ecco as being an major name in outdoor Boots...

Zenify · 01-09-2019 9:06pm

I used to sell hiking boots. Most important thing is comfort. Try them on and make sure they dont slip. Try different sizes and see which one is best. Obviously you want one that lasts but there's no such thing as the best boot for everyone.

beveragelady · 28-09-2019 11:53am

I thought I'd join this thread rather than start a new one.
I've had Meindl boots for years, always Vakuum gtx. I wear them every day to walk the dogs and I wear them on longer hikes when I get a chance. I used to get two years or more out of a pair before the leather cracked at the crease at the toe. I'd start out diligently treating with sportwax and as the boots got older I'd get less fussy and the the deterioration would speed up. My fault completely.
I bought a pair in July 2018, so I should just be at the point where I'd be slacking off with maintenance. However this pair is showing wear on the sole and the rubber around the top of the sole. I'm going to try to attach a picture.
If anything this pair have had less wear than previous pairs (elderly dogs, less time for adventuring) so I'm disappointed that they don't seem to be holding out. I bought all my previous pairs in a shop locally but I bought this pair on Amazon, but that surely doesn't matter, does it?
Has there been a decline in quality? They're certainly not getting any cheaper!

Zenify · 28-09-2019 1:57pm

beveragelady wrote: »

I thought I'd join this thread rather than start a new one.
I've had Meindl boots for years, always Vakuum gtx. I wear them every day to walk the dogs and I wear them on longer hikes when I get a chance. I used to get two years or more out of a pair before the leather cracked at the crease at the toe. I'd start out diligently treating with sportwax and as the boots got older I'd get less fussy and the the deterioration would speed up. My fault completely.
I bought a pair in July 2019, so I should just be at the point where I'd be slacking off with maintenance. However this pair is showing wear on the sole and the rubber around the top of the sole. I'm going to try to attach a picture.
If anything this pair have had less wear than previous pairs (elderly dogs, less time for adventuring) so I'm disappointed that they don't seem to be holding out. I bought all my previous pairs in a shop locally but I bought this pair on Amazon, but that surely doesn't matter, does it?
Has there been a decline in quality? They're certainly not getting any cheaper!

They are less than 3 months old??? I have a pair of boots 10 years in better shape. Send them back under warranty.

beveragelady · 28-09-2019 2:16pm

Zenify wrote: »

They are less than 3 months old??? I have a pair of boots 10 years in better shape. Send them back under warranty.

Typo! I have fixed my post. They're over a year old!

28-09-2019 2:22pm

I’ve had Meindl but didn’t like the fit , a bit too wide ,
I love Berghaus and have had 2 pairs of leather ones . My current boots are Salomen and are brilliant , very light yet very waterproof.

TimeToShine · 28-09-2019 2:27pm

I have had a pair of Arc’teryx Aerios FL for a while now and they’ve been excellent. A serious step up from your run of the mill outdoor brands in my experience.

beveragelady · 28-09-2019 8:05pm

Has anybody noticed a decline in quality in Meindl leather boots? Did I just get a bad pair or have they been letting things slide?

aristotle25 · 28-09-2019 8:19pm

Salewa have a really good boot, called fire tail evo mid gortex.

It has excellent ankle support, thin wearing so you don’t feel like you are walking with massive boots. But it’s very good for walking on rocks etc, just a great balance between light boot and heavy duty.

Weltsmertz · 28-09-2019 8:25pm

Zenify wrote: »

I used to sell hiking boots. Most important thing is comfort. Try them on and make sure they dont slip. Try different sizes and see which one is best. Obviously you want one that lasts but there's no such thing as the best boot for everyone.

Exactly this. You need to find a brand that suits your foot shape and the only way is to try on different makes till you find one that feels right.
What "brand" it is is secondary.

Alun · 28-09-2019 8:43pm

beveragelady wrote: »

Has anybody noticed a decline in quality in Meindl leather boots? Did I just get a bad pair or have they been letting things slide?

I heard that Meindl have recently returned production of their boots to Germany after having outsourced to the far East due to quality problems. Certainly many of the people I walk with have had terrible problems with their stuff recently. It might take a while for the old stock to make way for the new stuff though.

beveragelady · 28-09-2019 9:14pm

Alun wrote: »

I heard that Meindl have recently returned production of their boots to Germany after having outsourced to the far East due to quality problems. Certainly many of the people I walk with have had terrible problems with their stuff recently. It might take a while for the old stock to make way for the new stuff though.

Not what I wanted to hear! I've just bought a pair from Scandinavianoutdoor.com. I'm going to fire off an email and ask them where the boots are made. If they're not made in Germany I'm going to try to cancel the order. It's not possible to buy direct from the Meindl website, is it?

I wish I had the time to shop around and try on other boots. I'm not going to risk buying a different boot on the internet and I live miles from anywhere there's a decent selection.

Masala · 28-09-2019 9:25pm

beveragelady wrote: »

Not what I wanted to hear! I've just bought a pair from Scandinavianoutdoor.com. I'm going to fire off an email and ask them where the boots are made. If they're not made in Germany I'm going to try to cancel the order. It's not possible to buy direct from the Meindl website, is it?

I wish I had the time to shop around and try on other boots. I'm not going to risk buying a different boot on the internet and I live miles from anywhere there's a decent selection.

Wow.... I would never buy shoes / boots off the Internet. I have to physically try them on. An EU41 size could be a size 7 or 7.5 or even on 8 in some makes.

beveragelady · 28-09-2019 9:34pm

Masala wrote: »

Wow.... I would never buy shoes / boots off the Internet. I have to physically try them on. An EU41 size could be a size 7 or 7.5 or even on 8 in some makes.

I found a pair that works and I keep buying the exact same ones. I know exactly what I'm getting so there's no risk.

Alun · 28-09-2019 9:44pm

beveragelady wrote: »

I found a pair that works and I keep buying the exact same ones. I know exactly what I'm getting so there's no risk.

Yes, I did that too until recently with a model of boot by Hanwag that suited me. Bought the first pair in a B&M shop and then bought subsequent pairs off the internet.

They've stopped making that model now so I've switched to a UK based boot maker called Altberg. Not available here and the boot I have is exclusive to one of their premier stockists in the UK so it means traveling over there each time. They're superb boots though, so well worth it.

Alun · 28-09-2019 9:49pm

I should also say that the shop I bought my Altberg boots in also sells Meindl, and recently Meindl put up their wholesale prices by 40%!! They have absorbed as much of that as they can but still, that's a huge increase. Probably due to the move of production location.

Weltsmertz · 28-09-2019 10:22pm

beveragelady wrote: »

I found a pair that works and I keep buying the exact same ones. I know exactly what I'm getting so there's no risk.

Well. There kinda is if you have to they have to keep replavcing them and the lastest have only lasted three summer months. Mine have lasted many years through mud and rain on winter mountains.

Maidhci · 29-09-2019 10:08am

Alun wrote: »

I heard that Meindl have recently returned production of their boots to Germany after having outsourced to the far East due to quality problems. Certainly many of the people I walk with have had terrible problems with their stuff recently. It might take a while for the old stock to make way for the new stuff though.

Interesting - I started this thread as I need to replace my hiking boots. I had made a decision to buy Meindl, as I have had two pairs previously, but now will reconsider until I research this issue. Presumably, the current available stock are products of the outsourced manufacturers, in which case, I will have to reconsider my options. I don't want to end up in a situation down the road similar to the experience with Ecco Biom Hiking boots.

Alun · 29-09-2019 10:49am

Lowa, Hanwag and Scarpa are all made in Germany and Italy.

However as someone pointed out above, wherever they're made, you have to find a boot that fits you and suits your foot shape, regardless of brand. Some brands have a reputation for being on the wide side, others, mainly Italian ones, tend to be narrower.

Alun · 29-09-2019 10:54am

'Nuff said ...

2019-09-29-10-53-04-Meindl-Shoes-For-Actives-Reviews-Read-Customer-Service-Reviews-of-www-meindl.png

CardinalJ · 29-09-2019 11:49am

Alun wrote:

Yes, I did that too until recently with a model of boot by Hanwag that suited me. Bought the first pair in a B&M shop and then bought subsequent pairs off the internet.

What model was it they stopped making? Ive a pair of Hanwag Tatras at the moment. Would buy another pair if I knew they were going to stop making them... probably the best boot ive owned.

Alun · 29-09-2019 12:06pm

CardinalJ wrote: »

What model was it they stopped making? Ive a pair of Hanwag Tatras at the moment. Would buy another pair if I knew they were going to stop making them... probably the best boot ive owned.

They were the Lima GTX, similar to a lower version of the Alaska GTX which they still make.

loobylou · 29-09-2019 3:46pm

Never buying Meindl boots again. Last two pairs had soles that kept peeling away from uppers.

Alun · 29-09-2019 3:49pm

loobylou wrote: »

Never buying Meindl boots again. Last two pairs had soles that kept peeling away from uppers.

A lot of my walking friends have had problems with the rubber rand separating from the boot, especially at the toe.

Masala · 29-09-2019 7:48pm

Alun wrote: »

A lot of my walking friends have had problems with the rubber rand separating from the boot, especially at the toe.

I would take that up with both the retaiker and Meidle. I would embarrass them both on social media to sort. Paying €250++ expects better. Reputation is what is generating these selling prices... unsatisfied customers is not good business

beveragelady · 01-10-2019 5:07pm

I sent an email to the Scandinavianoutdoor website and got this reply:

Hi.
Thank you for your email.

According to manufacturer and importer,
all the hiking boots are made in Germany
or some European countries that are located near Germany.

Good quality, especially in hiking boots, is very importatnt to Meindl people.
Most parts of the Meindl hiking boot is done by hand.
and Meindl have these factories in Europe that can still offer good shoe makers.

All the Meindl products that are in our stock is made in Europe.

Alun · 01-10-2019 6:37pm

Interesting, that's not what I heard. Anyway, the complaints both online, and what I've heard from other people I know would tend to suggest otherwise.

Maidhci · 19-10-2019 12:57pm

Anyone on here know if Meindl Vakuum GTX and Meindl Vakuum Ultra GTX are the same model? It appears that on some websites the soles are different - the Vakuum has a multicoloured sole at the heel, whereas the Vakuum Ultra is black. Just wondering if the Vakuum Ultra is an older model as the price differential is quite significant in some instances?

Thanks.

0gac3yjefb5sv7 · 20-10-2019 1:14pm

Would anyone have any recommendations for a cheap pair around 50 euro? Don't do a lot of hiking but would be nice to get a useful pair.

Masala · 20-10-2019 1:28pm

Pheonix10 wrote: »

Would anyone have any recommendations for a cheap pair around 50 euro? Don't do a lot of hiking but would be nice to get a useful pair.

I seen stuff in Sports Direct shops at €50++ range. They do Gelert stuff

I see Paco outlets doing HiTec boots around that price. A lot of Trespass boots knocking about in local shoe shops etc.

So plenty of choice....

0gac3yjefb5sv7 · 20-10-2019 1:32pm

Masala wrote: »

I seen stuff in Sports Direct shops at €50++ range. They do Gelert stuff

I see Paco outlets doing HiTec boots around that price. A lot of Trespass boots knocking about in local shoe shops etc.

So plenty of choice....

Cheers! Seen a regatta pair for 50ish on Amazon. Would they be decent?

Also is there anything to look out for in terms of grip/waterproof or are they all similar enough.

Masala · 20-10-2019 1:44pm

Pheonix10 wrote: »

Cheers! Seen a regatta pair for 50ish on Amazon. Would they be decent?

Also is there anything to look out for in terms of grip/waterproof or are they all similar enough.

To be honest.... I wouldn't know the specs of same but if u only wearing them casual / to local pitch to watch a match/ up a local trail path / etc I would say no problem.

I have a pair of €220 Meindl boots but find them heavy as casual wear so I bought a pair of trail shoes for casual walking and short trails etc. I bought a pair of Zamberland shoes for €100 in local outdoor shop which are really comfy.

Weltsmertz · 20-10-2019 1:48pm

Regatta, Trespass and Hi Tech are not decent.
They are cheap for a reason and won't stay waterproof for long which is essential in the Irish hills. Comparable quality to the €25 Aldi/Lidl boots.

But if you only want them for walking around the neighborhood than a pair of trail shoes rather than boots are the better option

0gac3yjefb5sv7 · 20-10-2019 2:51pm

Weltsmertz wrote: »

Regatta, Trespass and Hi Tech are not decent.
They are cheap for a reason and won't stay waterproof for long which is essential in the Irish hills. Comparable quality to the €25 Aldi/Lidl boots.

But if you only want them for walking around the neighborhood than a pair of trail shoes rather than boots are the better option

But for 3/4 hikes a year like Craogh Patrick etc, they should be fine?

elperello · 20-10-2019 3:02pm

Pheonix10 wrote: »

Would anyone have any recommendations for a cheap pair around 50 euro? Don't do a lot of hiking but would be nice to get a useful pair.

Hi-Tec are grand for a fine day walker.
I also find Regatta Holcombe Low are good for everyday use.

Losty Dublin · 08-11-2019 1:16am

Pheonix10 wrote: »

But for 3/4 hikes a year like Craogh Patrick etc, they should be fine?

Absolutely yes they are fine; better at times than some dearer brands. Hi Tec products tend to get a lot of good write ups from reviewers so it's not like you are buying a pup here.

ebayissues · 28-11-2019 10:34pm

Can anyone recoomend me good winter boots maybe not specifically for hiking?

I'm heading to moscow and then oslo. It would help if I could use it there.

jamfer · 29-11-2019 1:10am

These Timberlands would be perfect for the job. Team them with a marino Bridgedale sock and you would be set for anything thrown at you.

derra · 01-12-2019 2:26pm

I got a pair of Meindl Peru boots recently. As much as they are a great fit and keep my feet dry, they are incredibly slippy.
At first i was hoping after a while it wouldn't be a bother with a bit of wear and tear, but yesterday i nearly broke my neck in them on the Spinc boardwalk. On wet surfaces they are treacherous.

If anyone knows of a good spray or something that can be done then let me know.

Be sure to ask about the grips when buying, it wasn't something i considered as it was my first pair of boots like this and was just concerned about right fit and waterproofing.

freak scence · 02-12-2019 9:12pm

derra wrote: »

I got a pair of Meindl Peru boots recently. As much as they are a great fit and keep my feet dry, they are incredibly slippy.
At first i was hoping after a while it wouldn't be a bother with a bit of wear and tear, but yesterday i nearly broke my neck in them on the Spinc boardwalk. On wet surfaces they are treacherous.

If anyone knows of a good spray or something that can be done then let me know.

Be sure to ask about the grips when buying, it wasn't something i considered as it was my first pair of boots like this and was just concerned about right fit and waterproofing.

Meindl have gone to **** surprised great outdoors and 53 still stock them , far better boots out there not made in china

Antoninus · 29-12-2021 9:25am

I'd previously used Berghaus, so bought a pair Baltra Trek goretex boots late summer 2020. They had already lost water resistance by this summer. I'm looking for new boots and prefer the fabric types because I know I'll lapse when it comes to waxing and maintaining leather ones. I'm considering the Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX, but I question if they'll be sufficiently water resistant for traipsing across the Bluestacks and the Sperrins. If anyone has any non-leather suggestions that would be great.

Discodog · 29-12-2021 9:34am

I had problems with sole separation on work boots. The manufacturer told me that they had to change the adhesive due to environmental regulations. I have since found out that this is why there are so many reports, of previously good brands, failing.

HazeDoll · 27-11-2022 1:13am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119926558#Comment_119926558

I wear a 4.5 or 5 and I have been wearing Meindl for years. Very comfy, great weatherproofing, and take a lot of punishment.

johnytwentyten · 06-01-2023 6:49pm

I bought these boots in the summer of 2021, only did about 3 serious hikes, rest of the time was walking the dog up the side of a hill every day, about a 45 minute walk, sole now coming away, they were very comfortable, never let in a drop in a drop of water, but gutted in how quickly they gave out,

Anyone have any recommendations? Mate has a pair of asolo boots which he seems happy with but I've seen some reviews of those giving out pretty quick as well

elperello · 06-01-2023 7:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120075189#Comment_120075189

Depending on how bad they are a good cobbler might be able to patch them.

HeidiHeidi · 07-01-2023 3:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120075189#Comment_120075189

I'd have said over 18 months of daily cross-country wear was ok going for a pair of boots!

The boots I have I've had for years, but they're not daily wear - if they were I'd fully expect them to be falling apart.

As someone else said above, if the uppers are still good, see if they can be re-soled.

Fudge82 · 07-01-2023 3:48pm

Another important factor regardless of which brand you buy which is relevant for use in the wet Irish climate is to try to get a model with the least amount of stitching. Many good pairs will be designed for use with much dryer climates in mind. In Ireland with our boggy mountains every hole in the leather is a possible way through for water to pass through to clog up the internal breathable liner (if there is one) or worse a path straight to the inside of the boot. The less stitching the better.

johnytwentyten · 10-01-2023 9:03am

Ok thanks, was thinking about this, constantly walking through bog where I am, not much in the way of dusty trails

Hiking boots recommendation

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