What a fun week - some time ago, Liz sent me a link to the Kaffe Fassett exhibition at the Fashion & Textile Museum in Bermondsey. Then on Sunday afternoon, messaged and said "Are you free on Wednesday?" So I hopped on a train on Tuesday afternoon, and spent a day and a half enjoying time with family and art appreciation - then came back Thursday. Fabulous!
Once I have all my photos sorted, I shall do a proper post. I only had one problem- as I walked up from Borough Market to Liverpool Street Station, I was aware of a squelching noise from by left foot. It had been raining, the pavements were damp. When I got home, I discovered that my walking boot had holes in the heels and a split across the sole. And my left foot was cold and damp inside my sock.
I really like my boots, they fit comfortably, and they are lovely to walk in [even with my painful verucca] I want to keep walking for the good of my health!
Am I being unreasonable in expecting them to last longer than 15 months? I thought I was buying reasonable quality footwear. [orig price £75, reduced to £45 in sale]
Perhaps, if you are a walker, please can you advise me here!
Perhaps, if you are a walker, please can you advise me here!
I bought Hotter walking boots about 7 years ago, and then bought another pair of them half price in the sale as they were so comfortable ... but I'm still wearing the originals. Fifteen months is not good!!
ReplyDeleteI have a pair of smart Hotter shoes from CS. They are very good. My boots are not from Hotter though.
DeleteMy husband had a pair of walking boots that lasted less than 18 months and he complained to the company, Scarpa, and they replaced them
ReplyDeleteI would expect them to last longer than that. Perhaps you could try an email to the maker reminding them that their reputation is at stake. Here in New Zealand we have a Consumers Guarantee Act and the retailer would be liable in this case. Margaret
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what the guarantee is on these.
DeleteI bought a Hitek pair back in 2009 and they are still going well and another pair in 2013 or14 and they are still fine. To me, that's not good! Kx
ReplyDeleteBob has had two pairs of HiTek boots. Maybe I should have bought them instead
DeleteThat’s a very short time for a pair if walking boots to last especially as you have not used them on rough terrain/done a huge distance. I am on the search for a new pair of lightweight walking boots but so far have been disappointed in those I have tried on. I’ll look forward to reading the outcome of the boots that are not fit for purpose.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'll let you know when I have a response from the company
DeleteI have two pairs of Clarks leather top booties, one about 6-7 years old, the other newer, maybe 4 years old. I wear these all winter, alternatingly. No signs of cracking soles or tops. I don't remember what they cost, but I recall thinking they were expensive. They're holding up well. The exhibit looks interesting. Very colorful and fancy prints.
ReplyDeleteI did consider Clarks - but at the time they were rather expensive.
DeleteMaybe you should email or write to the company and ask for a refund or, at least, a partial refund!
ReplyDeleteI have emailed them - and sent the pictures... We wait and see
DeleteMy Rieke boots have been going for years.
ReplyDeleteAgain, another good brand but a little more expensive.
DeleteI always buy Hi tek, they last me years, over 10 at least and I walk a lot, up to 6 miles a day over rough terrain. Sorry they are poor quality. I went to that Ex. some years ago, his output is just amazing. Sandra.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd gone for HiTek now. These were on offer so a little cheaper
DeleteI would think they should definitely last longer than a year! Maybe they will replace them.
ReplyDeleteYou will see that I have not named the company (yet) I am awaiting their response.
DeleteMy husband goes through at least a pair a year on average, at around the £100 mark. He walks about 3 hours every day though, on rocks, sand, muddy ground and pavement. We don't think that's bad longevity, given they're doing 4-6 miles a day over very mixed terrain (1.5-2.5 thousand miles a year). We've tried much more and less expensive ones and the only cheap ones that lasted more than three months were from Lidl. The expensive ones didn't last much longer than the mid-price ones he buys. I do think they wear down more if you walk on pavements and hard surfaces. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! That's really helpful and detailed information. These ones were £70, reduced to £45 in the sale. But your husband clearly walks much further in his boots than I do (I'm mostly on muddy ground or pavements, occasionally sand, rarely rocks) once I've had a response from the company, I shall carefully consider my next purchase
DeleteI'm a regular long-distance walker (think National Trails such as South West Coast Path) and usually spend £150+ on boots. They don't tend to last much more than 2 years, but they are worn on all terrains and in all weathers and frequently get very muddy! £45 is extremely cheap for walking boots, I'm afraid, even the full price would be considered cheap. However, I suspect you're doing a lot fewer miles than I do. I always go for Vibram soles as they're the toughest, and I don't think that's what you've got. I'm not sure how long I'd expect yours to last, but sadly none of them seem to last that long these days if you wear them frequently. Even if they don't wear out, after a couple of years they are typically no longer waterproof. And I do look after my boots! Pam
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam. Sounds like I need to get better boots if I intend to do more serious walking, and expect to pay more for them!
DeleteIf you have a branch of Cotswold Outdoor near you, then I'd recommend them. It's the only outdoor shop I've found where the staff are actually trained to fit boots and know what they're talking about. You can make an appointment, and they will happily spend an hour or more advising you on which boots to buy. They start by taking detailed measurements of your feet and go from there. Pam
DeleteThank you Pam. There's a Cotswold Outdoors right in the centre of Norwich close to the Market & the Library. I should check them out, following your recommendation.
DeleteGreat! Take your Nat Trust card with you if you have one as it will get you 15% discount. If not, ask what other memberships will get you a discount as there are definitely others.
DeleteI've never felt under pressure to buy anything at Cotswold, even when staff had spent a significant amount of time with me, and have also never had the feeling that they were pushing the most expensive boots.
15% is a significant discount. Will make sure I have my NT card with me
DeleteYour NT card will also get you a discount at Go Outdoors, where I recently bought some Goretex walking shoes (not boots though) that were on offer. Still £90 but very comfortable and very waterproof.
DeleteThere's a big GO in Norwich too. Thanks for the heads up on that discount.
DeleteThis reminds me of the story of the old man who saw his doctor because he had a painful knee. The doctor said "well, you have had it for 90 years', to which the old man replied, I've had the other for 90 years, too, and there is nothing wrong with that one!" So my question is, in what state is the right boot? Is it also nearly done for or is it just the left one that has gone to the dogs?
ReplyDeleteThere's a hole appearing in the right heel too, but no sign of a split across, as there is on the left boof
DeleteAfter you find a replacement, consider buying a second pair that you can air out between wearings.
ReplyDeleteOr have two pairs with different soles:
one for muddy, wet conditions and the other for pavement or sandy, rocky places.
I have a low rugged walking shoe and an ankle boot that I bought bigger to accommodate a thicker wool sock.
I really like a walking boot with a Vibram sole.
~ skye
Thank you Skye - another fan of Vibram soles! I rarely wear my boots two days in a row (this week's London trip was the exception) but I take your point
DeleteThat exhibition is coming to Edinburgh in March. No walking boots here but I'd say that lifespan on yours was way too short. Worth enquiring about replacement.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Do try and get to the show if you can, I think you will love it, a riot of colour and inspiration
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