Walking boots are one of the most important items of your outdoor kit. A good quality, well fitted walking boot can make the difference between an enjoyable day in the hills and a less pleasant experience.
Here at Tiso, we often get asked "What are the best walking boots you stock?" This is a hard question for any sales assistant, because the best walking boot for YOU will be very different to the best walking boot for the customer next to you. Choosing a new walking boot is a very individual task, you need to pick a boot that fits your specific foot shape.
Other factors to consider when choosing a new boot are, the type of walking you would like to do? And the amount of use you would like to get out of the boot? Are you planning on bagging Munro’s every weekend, daily dog walking or the occasional family hike?
To make this easier to digest, we have split our Top Pick boots into three categories, detailed below.
Lightweight Walking
Ideal for day walks, dog walking and hotter climates. These boots are light, waterproof and comfortable.
Midweight Walking and Backpacking
These type of boots are designed to be more durable and supportive (and are therefore heavier) than lightweight boots, and are intended for trips over moderate terrain. They are suitable for going cross country and venturing onto steeper and more rugged landscapes.
Top-End Boots
Top-end boots are designed for extended trips, big mountain days and long-term use. They are therefore generally heavier, more rigid, more supportive and durable than the previous types of footwear.
Lightweight Men's Walking Boots
Meindl Men's Respond Mid GORE-TEX Boots - £185
The Meindl Men's Respond Mid GORE-TEX Boots offer more support than a trainer, but are lighter and more flexible than traditional boots.
The Respond is extremely stable, waterproof and comfortable for travelling quickly. The higher ankle gives you more support over uneven terrain while the GORE-TEX® lining ensures your feet stay dry and comfortable all day.
Merrell Men's Moab 3 Mid GORE-TEX Walking Boots - £150
The Men's Moab 3 Mid GORE-TEX® Boots from Merrell are the ultimate when it comes to comfort. With a durable synthetic leather, supportive footbed and Vibram® traction sole, as soon as you put this shoe you will see what all the fuss is about.
The GORE-TEX® waterproof membrane offers exceptional breathability and waterproof performance, while the reinforced cushioning in the heel absorbs the shock when you're speeding along the trails.
Berghaus Men's Explorer Trek GORE-TEX Boots - £170
The Men's Explorer Trek GORE-TEX Walking Boots from Berghaus are a classic suede walking boot designed to offer essential protection on fells, dales, hills and mountain trails.
A durable yet breathable suede and mesh upper is combined with a GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort Footwear Lining to protect you from the elements.
Midweight Men's Walking Boots
Salomon Men's Quest 4 GORE-TEX Boots - £200
The Men's Quest 4 GORE-TEX Boots from Salomon are all about optimum comfort with technologies specifically designed to offer you walking comfort in a lightweight and waterproof boot.
The Quest 4s are light and cushioned yet supportive enough for backpacking or longer treks, they will help to keep your feet happy while you're on the move.
Salewa Men's Mountain Trainer Mid GORE-TEX Walking Boots - £220
Ideal for all kinds of mountain terrain, the Men's MTN Mid GORE-TEX Boot will give you excellent protection and support. The highly wear-resistant upper and GORE-TEX® lining will keep your feet dry and protected from the rough terrain.
The mid height of the boot gives your foot that bit of extra support you will need when tackling uneven ground, with a Flex Collar so you maintain natural movement at the ankles.
Lowa Men's Renegade Evo GORE-TEX Mid Hiking Boots - £220
The Lowa Renegade GORE-TEX Mids feature sturdy uppers of nubuck leather combined with a clever stitching design and an innovative sole construction, and are a classic among multifunctional boots that can be called into duty for a wide variety of needs yet is outstandingly suitable for hikes on groomed trails or paths.
The GORE-TEX® lining keeps the boot absolutely waterproof and offers the best and most comfortable temperature regulation with an all-new Vibram® sole to provide ulimate cushioning and superior traction on paths and trails.
Top-End Men's Walking Boots
Scarpa Men's Terra GORE-TEX Walking Boots - £210
An outstanding bestseller here at Tiso, the Scarpa Terras offer straight-out-of-the-box comfort with improved ankle cushioning that maintains natural movement, a GORE-TEX® lining to keep the elements at bay, and a new Vibram® Energy II sole unit for enhanced durability, stability and traction needed for muddy trails and uphill ascents.
Meindl Men's Bhutan MFS GORE-TEX Walking Boots - £290
Taking Meindl's extensive experience of combining high-quality leather uppers with a GORE-TEX® lining, means this boot is robust and will keep your feet dry from external wetness and will move moisture generated within the boot out with ease.
Ideal for tackling munros in Scotland, or for low level treks in the major mountain ranges.
Zamberlan Men's Vioz GORE-TEX Walking Boots - £270
Crafted with a full grain leather upper for enhanced durability and a waterproof GORE-TEX® membrane lining to seal out the elements, the Vioz Boots offer great grip and exceptional cushioning in the Vibram® 3D sole with a Flex System that allows the boots to flex at the ankle whilst retaining lateral support. All combined, the Vioz Boots are a reliable pair of boots for backpacking and trekking year round.
