Walking boots, mud and water

[webweaver]

Right...my trusty old DMs that served me well through the wet years of 97, 98 and 2005 have finally cracked. So I need some new boots and have decided to go for a pair of proper walking boots - figured I could make more use of them outside festivals. I've got Reading next week and am planning on going to Glasto next year...so now is an ideal opportunity to get some. I usually just wear old trainers when it's dry but got to plan ahead.

Anyway, what are other people's experiences with muddy/wet Glastos - did you have walking boots that go above the ankles or were lighter waterproof walking shoes adequate? I know nothing is likely to be 100% waterproof but were they enough to keep your feet dry when moving from stage to stage? Also, were your ankles supported enough? Any recommendations?

Been a lurker for ages and not posted...but figured this might be a very useful place to ask the above. Hello anyway!

[grumpyhack]

A good pair of walking boots are a great festival investment. Dry feet make a lot of difference. Look after them and they'll last years. (Boots and feet).

Edited August 20, 2009 by grumpyhack

[OneLittleFish]

I took both wellies and walking boots to Glasto this year - one day in wellies - never again. By feet were in absolute agony by the time Neil Young had finished up.

[Billy09]

Army boots are great, waterproof, and laced for ease of dancing. Cheap too.

[norainplease]

Walking boots and gaters will make the over the ankle mud easier to deal with. I went for these last year as in 2008 I had injured my hip and could barely walk after doing all day in wellies on the friday!

Walking boots are bliss!! Mine were about £99.99 in the sale and gaters were £25.99 - both are Gortex and kept me feet nice and dry and comfy! I would go for boots for the ankle suport too!

Once you've tried them, you'll never go back to wellies!!

[Cassius]

Army boots are great, waterproof, and laced for ease of dancing. Cheap too.

[Niblet]

After getting a horrible blood blister in 2004 by a pair of DM's, ruining the Sunday, I bought a pair of Berghaus boots:-

They were instantly comfortable and not too heavy. A friend of mine overdosed on Sambuca in 2005 during Fatboy Slim and me and my mate had to carry him back from the Other Stage to Kidney Mead through ankle deep mud, a straight yomp without having time or inclination to worry about where we were walking. The next day I checked my boots and they were caked in mud, as were my trouser up to the waist, my boots were only slightly damp inside, they have been on every walk, festival, muddy place since and they are absolutely great, my wife bought a lightweight pair of Berghaus boots this year for Glasto and she said they were brilliant, not wearing in needed.

I am a Berghaus convert

I've taken wellies as a backup since 2005* but never worn them.

*I didn't go to Glasto 2007 so can't verify how they would hold out to a constant 5 day deluge!

Edited August 21, 2009 by Niblet

[ferraristu]

I wear walking boots every day !! Cannot recommend Salomon boots highly enough - you do need to spend £100 upwards though

[reni]

After getting a horrible blood blister in 2004 by a pair of DM's, ruining the Sunday, I bought a pair of Berghaus boots:-

They were instantly comfortable and not too heavy. A friend of mine overdosed on Sambuca in 2005 during Fatboy Slim and me and my mate had to carry him back from the Other Stage to Kidney Mead through ankle deep mud, a straight yomp without having time or inclination to worry about where we were walking. The next day I checked my boots and they were caked in mud, as were my trouser up to the waist, my boots were only slightly damp inside, they have been on every walk, festival, muddy place since and they are absolutely great, my wife bought a lightweight pair of Berghaus boots this year for Glasto and she said they were brilliant, not wearing in needed.

I am a Berghaus convert

I've taken wellies as a backup since 2005* but never worn them.

*I didn't go to Glasto 2007 so can't verify how they would hold out to a constant 5 day deluge!

[crimsonking]

I wore my Timberland Earthkeeper boots most of the time, once worn in and kept properly waterproofed they are amazingly comfy and water and mud proof, bit pricey but highly recommended.

[Niblet]

I've got a pair of these but I aint impressed!!

The lace holders at the toe end are right above the "knuckle" of the big toe.They took the skin off no matter what socks I wore.

In addition they aren't particularly lightweight .I actually found a cheaper Hi -Tec much more comfy for a fraction of the price(£29.99) .You do need to keep them reproofed though.

Would not but Berghaus boots again even though their other kit is great.

[Scouse Andy]

I have a pair of work boots, no brand name, free while I worked in a warehouse.

Cost the company £40, steel toe caps, solid soles and water proof uppers. kept me dry and not too smelly for 4 days this year including the hill of death on monday morning. Also made stomping around at night easy without worrying about where I was walking

I followed some advice on here - but some gel insoles, make a big difference and wear 2 pairs of socks. 1 pair of trainer socks and a proper pair of walking socks.

Loved it!,

[grumpyhack]

My boots are Peter Storm leather. They need regular cleaning and lashings of dubbin but with walking socks (quite cheap jobbies from ASDAs) they've remained waterproof and my feet have stayed dry and confortable.

We may have differing views on boots but the one thing we are all agreed on they beat wellies hands down.

[MIXFEST]

I've got a pair of these but I aint impressed!!

The lace holders at the toe end are right above the "knuckle" of the big toe.They took the skin off no matter what socks I wore.

In addition they aren't particularly lightweight .I actually found a cheaper Hi -Tec much more comfy for a fraction of the price(£29.99) .You do need to keep them reproofed though.

Would not but Berghaus boots again even though their other kit is great.

[amfy]

How interesting that now we are in the days of the festival diehards, there doesn't seem to be a single person who favours wellies!

In the run up to Glastonbury everyone seems to be falling over themselves to tell you that only wellies will keep the mud out, and that walking boots are useless in a muddy year.

Walking boots all the way for me - mine were £14.99 from FAS and have bee fantastic since 1998!

[anoldhippie@60]

Hi, You have convinced me. I went to Glasto for the first time this year and wore wellies after the Thursday rain and my feet were killing me after a few hours even with inner soles. As a vegetarian I do not wear leather, can anybody recommend a non leather pair of walking boots. Thanks in advance.

See you at the cider bus.

[cejx]

Hi, You have convinced me. I went to Glasto for the first time this year and wore wellies after the Thursday rain and my feet were killing me after a few hours even with inner soles. As a vegetarian I do not wear leather, can anybody recommend a non leather pair of walking boots. Thanks in advance.

See you at the cider bus.

[Jon who was I]

I've been wearing various army boots since college (15 years ago). The best I've had so far are my trusty Lowa combat boots. They are expensive (£150) but my current pair is still fine except for the tread wearing a bit thin after wearing every day for the last 18 months.

They are amazingly water proof, I can still stand in a steam up to the ankles for hours on end without socks even getting damp. And unlike any other army /walking boot I've tried they don't need breaking in. Survived the last 2 glasto's without a single blister or sore.

Edited August 24, 2009 by I am Jon

[Billy09]

I've been wearing various army boots since college (15 years ago). The best I've had so far are my trusty Lowa combat boots. They are expensive (£150) but my current pair is still fine except for the tread wearing a bit thin after wearing every day for the last 18 months.

They are amazingly water proof, I can still stand in a steam up to the ankles for hours on end without socks even getting damp. And unlike any other army /walking boot I've tried they don't need breaking in. Survived the last 2 glasto's without a single blister or sore.

[amfy]

Mine are canvas and fine in all but proper standing water (like 2005). They didn't need breaking in and are still going strong after more than 10 years.

Even in water (98) I just wore carrier bags outside my socks and inside the boots and tied them round my knees! Still more comfortable than wellies! (Although obviously not as "Kate Moss" cool!)

The thing at Glastonbury is with the clay soil, the first layer of mud waterproofs them anyway!

[anoldhippie@60]

I swear by North Face and Husband swears by Salomon.

http://www.salomonsports.com/uk/?#/footwea...tx-fotwear-ss09

depends on your feet shape I guess!

all shoes are cow friendly.

[grumpyhack]

The consensus with proper walking boots seems to be that you get what you pay for. But look after them and they'll last you for years. And forget wellies.

I have a friend who works for Festival Medical Services who told me that during the year of the Great Floods the biggest problem they had to deal with was 'Wellie Rash.'

Once the rain stopped there was mud everywhere but glorious sunshine, so people were wearing shorts and wellies. Where the tops of the wellies rubbed against the legs people were getting Wellie Rash. A problem you won't get with walking boots and socks.

[Billy09]

The consensus with proper walking boots seems to be that you get what you pay for. But look after them and they'll last you for years. And forget wellies.

I have a friend who works for Festival Medical Services who told me that during the year of the Great Floods the biggest problem they had to deal with was 'Wellie Rash.'

Once the rain stopped there was mud everywhere but glorious sunshine, so people were wearing shorts and wellies. Where the tops of the wellies rubbed against the legs people were getting Wellie Rash. A problem you won't get with walking boots and socks.

[madspaceangel]

My OH bought a pair of Brasher leather walking boots the week before Glasto. I don't think they are waterproof though, but the totally waterproof ones he tried on were instant sweat cabins.

Even without any breaking in he said they were really comfortable and despite getting caught in the torrential downpour (thurday night I think) his feet stayed warm and dry.

We just waited for the mud to dry and bashed it all off when we got home.

They cost about £100 but they offer a really good warranty, so if they need any repair etc you just send them off and Brasher do it for free or replace them. The bloke in the camping shop has the same pair and couldn't recommend them highly enough.

[port]

i've had a pair oh hitec hiking boots for over ten years , wear them to festivals every year, and my feet have never been wet in them, and you can get then for under £40.