Best waterproof walking boots and clothing
 

We have fairly recently equipped ourselves with supposedly waterproof boots and jackets from Mountain Warehouse. All were their top of the range ones.

Sadly, their definition of 'waterproof' for boots (from their website) means that they are, but only up to 20mm from the top of the sole. Consequently, my £80, guaranteed for 3 years, boots leaked after ten minutes walking in wet grass last week. I'm already on my second pair after the first ones went back for the same thing in late May.

And my wife's 'waterproof' jacket is leaking after only a couple of months of light use. Further research has found loads of complaints on the internet about them.

I've come to the conclusion that all their stuff is "not fit for purpose" (ahem), and now it's time to equip ourselves with something that is.

We previously had Clarks best Goretex boots, but they leaked fairly early on as well.

Money no object (walking's our main hobby these days), from experience, can anyone recommend the best waterproof walking boots and jackets please?

Thanks for any help.

Can't say about boots but I have this jacket and does the job perfectly fine. Fits really well too.

http://www.tessuti.co.uk/product/can...jacket/019586/

That looks great, thanks, but, er, money might slightly be an object then (£600...! We're only walking in England, not Nepal!)

Outdoor gear seems to be increasingly iffy these days, and annoyingly the price tag does not reflect the quality.

The two most water proof coats I've had was one from Aldi (I kid you not, it's ace...unfortunately I've left it in a hotel in Lyon :facepalm: ) and a Timberland that was on discount which bought to knock about in but proved to a damn good coat until I wore it out.

One thing with coats is sometimes the outer shell has a internal layer that makes it waterproof...washing at the wrong temperature with suds (should be cold wash and minimal non-bio), or putting it in a tumble dryer will wreck them....they look fine, fit fine, wear fine...but leak like a sieve afterwards.

Shoes, God knows, I struggle finding ones with the right soles and inner cushioning that doesn't break down from my sweaty feet within 50kms of walking. The most waterproof ones I've had are a pair of Lomer full leather boots...the most agonisingly uncomfortable boots I've ever had as in the leather upper was so stiff it would not break in and the inner liners broke down from the sweat...but they were very water proof...I still have them, they are wearable now, probably took me 200kms of walking combined with various insoles to break them in, so they are fairly comfy now...problem is the leather is now cracking and the soles are worn out :lol1:

Mountain Warehouse is basically their own brand sh!te.

I do a lot of walking in the Lakes. I basically wear either RAB or North face clothing. RAB is expensive depending on your budget, but it's quality gear. Winter clothing is a lot thinner that the competition, but also much warmer.

Foot wear, I mostly wear `Merrell` and have found them very comfortable and hard wearing.

Buy my stuff from Cotsworld or George Fisher.

Berghaus Hillmaster ll GTX. Perfect for wet English country walks through fields and single track paths etc. I recently climbed 500m up a Scottish mountain too with them. Great reviews.

Thanks folks. I'll look into those.

I use Keela waterproofs, and Brasher boots.

Buffalo kit is great in cold/wet weather but a bit of an acquired taste. Goretex boots will always leak, just a matter of when. Leather boots regularly treated with Nikwax will be waterproof, and it can be applied to wet boots so great to carry with you on a trek of several days.

Berghaus and Brashers are the same company now I think. The new Berghaus Hillmaster is full leather so won't wear like the half fabric style of walking boots, plus the full leather is much more robust and can be really easily cleaned and re-conditioned/waterproofed.

Surely an inch plus will go in through laces , whatever theyre made of ??

I suspect there's large variation on what's termed " waterproof" for clothing. Quite apart from the seams

I know cloth I use for covers varies in waterproofness according the number column inches it can stand up to before letting go through.

No leaks through the boot laces as the tongue is an integral part of the boot, not open like a normal shoe.

Yep:

With leather boots it is important to look at the upper construction...basically the least parts and less stitching, the more waterproof...if the stitching is between the upper and sole...guess what....it'll leak in a puddle....water will eventually ingress through stitching. This should be obvious seeing you have a needle punching holes through it when its made....but it seems lost on some expensive shoe manufacturers LOL.

Two or one piece piece upper with intergrated tongue and no stitching on the featherline is the most waterproof. The problem, as I have found...if its leather, the trade off of one-piece leather boots is it can make them alot more rigid, sweaty and consequentially uncomfy.

I think that for normal use the leather boot is the winner provided it's properly maintained. But in my earlier life it was my fate to spend a lot of time out in all weathers and on all terrains and I have to say there is nothing that works perfectly. After a day out on wet ground in pouring rain you are going to get wet, end of!

If you want possibly the best waterproof clothing but don't mind looking silly, get Vass-Tex 550 :lol1: It's what I use on the farm when power washing inside sheds and what fishermen wear on the trawlers out at sea. Even after a 4 hour complete soaking I'm bone dry still- I've yet to have water make it through :).

I wonder if that's made by old customer mine - he supplied oiles to fishing people , based in Dundee - this was 25 years ago .

you must sweat like lobster in fear being boiled alive

What you wants a pair taylor woodrow , 6th the price ;)






Sorry this is a joke that went around when I was crewing racing yachts .

Newcomer crew would turn up having spent 900 quid on the latest gear

I got laughed at for turning up to a hike in these, one funny fvcker said "did you not get the email, we are going up a mountain, not down a mine". 3 days into some cold, wet, snowy ground conditions and I was the only one laughing!


https://northseaworkwear.com/st355-j...etal-free.html


My preference for waterproof gear is Paramo - I stick with their cascada range because it has yet to let me down.

We believe it or not I walk quite a bit with my local rambling group. I know people who spend quite a bit on their kit and some who also complain about it too.

For me I purchased a set of full leather walking boots from Sports Direct and gave them a polish which helps with the waterproofing - they don't leak and I have been up to my show laces in water many times.

For my jacket I also purchased on recently from Sports Direct - £20 for a 3 in 1 and so far it seems to be very good (the inner jacket isn't water proof but good for dry windy days)

It may also be worth buying some additional waterproofing liquid to apply onto your equipment - especially where any stitching is present as this is where it usually leaks..

You do not have to spend a lot of money to get good kit, more look after it and treat it right.

Scarpa make the best walking boots.

http://www.scarpa.co.uk/

Expensive, but you did say money no object!

I've got two pairs of Scarpa boots but they are typical of Italian footwear, too narrow for anyone with a wide foot and ultimately uncomfortable (for me) over a full day in the hills. Both have been mechanically stretched but considering what they cost this is not satisfactory. They are well made and waterproof though.

But price seems to be no guarantee of effectiveness. My most comfortable and most waterproof leather boots are a pair of cheapo Hi Gear from Go Outdoors; jut £45 with a super grippy sole too!

Loads for me to go at there folks, thanks very much one and all.