Where to buy Good Boots

[Jason L]

Went to anaconda and rays today looking for hiking boots. Nothing felt comfy at all, so I am looking for shops in melb to buy good quality boots at a descent price. I have searched the forum but couldn't find any posts on boots if there is one could someone direct me please. I tried Merrell, Hi Tec, Keen and North Face.

[GPSGuided]

Stores tend to carry different brands and as such, you'll just have to visit all the different stores. Paddy Pallins, Mountain Design, Moutain Equipment, Snowgum, Anaconda, MacPac to boutique outdoor stores. Coincidentally, I saw some Aku boots at Snowgum today. Have not really seen them before but looked very nice.

[wayno]

yeah i wouldnt rule out any shops, even kathmandu. just don't trust the advice you are given..... give the footwear a good walk around in the shop for comfort and fit, test it for how flexible it is or isnt in the sole.
even better fill your pack with rocks, and dirt, throw it on the floor and walk on it...

[GPSGuided]

...test it for how flexible it is or isnt in the sole...

Good and important point! Sole's flex matters a lot in my experience and much of it relates to the type of ground one will be on. Many of the softer, more flexible soles are great on my local walks where the ground is relatively smooth and soft but my feet dies on coarse gravel paths common further from home. For those big chunky gravel paths, nothing beats stiffness. Then the question is, how stiff. Only experience can tell.

[wayno]

also depends how heavy a pack you're carrying, and how rough the terrain is, varies what people prefer, i prefer stiffer on rougher terrain with a heavy pack,
flexible is ok under easier conditions for me

[Avatar]

Try Mountain Designs Clearance in Smith St Collingwood. Good range - brands, models, sizing and pricing. I found some awesome lightweight Montrail trail shoes (700g) and Columbia light boots (980g) there - I went back and bought spare pairs of each. Check the model has the right torsional stiffness sole. They have a few new brands now. You'll need a bit of time to explore the stock on offer - allow 2 or 3 hours.

Aku is really nice. Italian made. I bought some Aku Taiga boots (1370g) from a Snowgum sale a couple of years back - really comfortable, good fit and sturdy. Lighter than the old Scarpa Attaks (1720g) The Taiga uses composite construction.

Note: The composite Montrails are more than a pound lighter per foot than the leather Scarpas.

[wayno]

feet pare pretty unique, different people fit different brands differently, try as many different models as you can froma variety of brands and make your own mind up in the end,

[frenchy_84]

The best knowledge and customer service is at Bogong Equipment, the lady I had when I was buying a new pair knew what she was talking about (it was Asolos for me). Rays and Anaconda are a waste of time, they are more outdoor rec shops then bushwalking shops. So if you can make it to little burke street you will find all the good bushwalking shops.

[metastable]

feet pare pretty unique, different people fit different brands differently, try as many different models as you can froma variety of brands and make your own mind up in the end,

+10

I seem to fit Garmont exclusively. Everything else for me is either too big, too much volume in the shoe or whatever. I tried to convince myself for years that I could wear Scarpas, but it was just not going to happen. Try on as many brands and styles as possible.

[Jason L]

Thank you all so much for the advice, looks like I need to make some time and head to Melb for the day. My pack weighs in at 18kg and my terrain is rocky hills and mostly very uneven tracks. So from all your advice I will be looking for a stiffer type sole. Thanks again.

[roysta]

I tried to convince myself for years that I could wear Scarpas

I was the other way and found after all these years that Scarpa mountain boots have me written all over them.
Better late than never I guess.

[nq111]

also depends how heavy a pack you're carrying, and how rough the terrain is, varies what people prefer, i prefer stiffer on rougher terrain with a heavy pack,
flexible is ok under easier conditions for me

It is also possible to get flexible soles with a good rock plate - which can be good enough for loads on rough tracks. But stiff soles are good for edging on rock and kicking steps in snow.

[wildernesswanderer]

Yep try as many different ones as possible, I tried every boot I could find, ended up with a Scarpa Trek Pro as they were the only ones that made a wide fitting that felt conformable. All other boots felt to narrow or were to sloppy feeling. IE Keens for instance. So try as many as possible. I went from the city stores to Smith St then back to the city stores again, I bought mine from Paddy Pallin

[Gusto]

There's a cluster of Outdoor store in Moorabbin (20 mins from city). You'll find a good variety of shoes accross the stores there

[Pongo]

There's a cluster of Outdoor store in Moorabbin (20 mins from city). You'll find a good variety of shoes accross the stores there

Pop into Outsports if you head out Moorabbin way. I found Leanne there very friendly and helpful.

The paddy palling store in Hawthorn have a little wooden ramp you can use to test your boots (not sure if the city store has one). If you get access to something like that, walk down them whilst kicking the sole to the ground to simulate the motion of going down steep terrain. Try to avoid boot bang where your toes ram into the front and be mindful of heel rubbing which might cause blisters. Happy to be disputed on this, but it's worked well for me.

If you're a bit of a book worm this book had a good section of how to fit boots: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140005 ... UTF8&psc=1

I've also had luck with a pair of scarpas.

[Gusto]

The staff in Snowgum next door to Outsports are well trained in Shoes too.

[Wingnut]

Go to Bogong @ Little Bourke St...they know their *&%$#!...

[Jason L]

I have been doing heaps of internet research these last couple of days, and have come up with two boots that are my try on list the Scarpa Kinesis Pro GTX and the Scarpa Delta GTX both look like fantastic boots and have some great reviews. If anyone has either of these two boots could they give me there opinion please.

[Strider]

I have been doing heaps of internet research these last couple of days, and have come up with two boots that are my try on list the Scarpa Kinesis Pro GTX and the Scarpa Delta GTX both look like fantastic boots and have some great reviews. If anyone has either of these two boots could they give me there opinion please.

I think boots are the one item where reviews simply don't apply - they can only really inform you about construction quality, but that's usually a known factor anyway according to the reputations of whatever brands you're dealing with.

[wayno]

what fits one, doesnt fit another

[Jason L]

I have two more boots to add to the try on list Asolo - Powermatic and the Saloman - Quest. Going to hit the shops in melb on Thursday .

[Finnigan]

Go to Bogong @ Little Bourke St...they know their *&%$#!...

Yep go to Bogong shop in Melbourne city,
You wont get wet feet with Asolo's.
I have got Vasque they leek like sieves , oh well i live with it.

[slparker]

IRT Asolo powermatic: the Bogong store states on their website that they only stock the narrow... this is an Italian boot, narrow means narrow.

The wide fitting is available elsewhere in Oz. or here http://www.zappos.com/asolo-power-matic ... st=fcl%3A0

[Stibb]

I have been doing heaps of internet research these last couple of days, and have come up with two boots that are my try on list the Scarpa Kinesis Pro GTX and the Scarpa Delta GTX both look like fantastic boots and have some great reviews. If anyone has either of these two boots could they give me there opinion please.

I have the Deltas. I really wanted to get my feet to like Zamberlan Vioz but they just didn't. The Delta was the only boot I could find that fitted my feet so that's what I got. They have only done some daytripping so far but I'm VERY happy with them. Quite expensive in Oz, much cheaper in UK...

[Joomy]

Bogong/Mountain Equipment/K2/Mainpeak/Mont etc. (the formerly-Intertrek buying group) for La Sportiva & Asolo

Paddy's and Macpac for Scarpa (Paddy's have more range)

Mountain Designs for Zamberlan

[Jason L]

Went and tried boots on today went to pinnacle, bogong and paddy pallin all 3 shops were very helpful. Tried Asolo, Salomon and Scarpa. The guy at Bogong was great tried on several different pairs but nothing fit perfect, he said to me go to paddy pallin as the Scarpa would fit my foot shape. Which I think is great he didn't try and push a boot that didn't suit. Went to paddy pallin and great advice tried on the Scarpa Kinesis Pro, Scarpa Delta, Scarpa something can't remember and a Salomon. The winner is the Scarpa Kinesis Pro it fit perfectly. Thanks to all the great advice from the people on this sight.

[wayno]

good score man... you're welcome, i think a lot of us have made purchase mistakes in the past or been the victim of bad shop staff, something we dont want anyone else to repeat... let us know how your walks go in the boots, sounds like it should be all good, start out with short walks in them or do what some do and wear them around the house first, before taking on a multi dayer

[GPSGuided]

Hear hear!