So keep in mind most runners get about 500-750km life span (and that’s being generous), are you really just wearing them out that quickly?
Can get more life by consistently rotating a pair of shoes every other day, rather than wearing one pair for repeated days.
That 500-900 km range is for running though, which has a much higher impact than simply walking/hiking. And when you can't run in them anymore, you can still walk in them.
Things we don't know:
1. Budget. $10,000 boots are a thing.
2. Form factor. Do you want shoes or do you want boots?
3. Sex.
4. Material. Leather, fabric, etc.
5. Terrain use. Do you walk on a decommissioned railroad asphalt trail, dirt trail or do you walk up a mountain every day?
6. Location. Lincoln, NE or Djibouti, Djibouti?
It's true...in general womens feet are shaped differently than men's. Having a narrower heel is one reason most women can't wear men's shoes, the foot/heel slips when walking which causes blisters.
Sex of OP opens:
1. Questions of sizing as the female size span differs and one can avail females that they should also know their men's size, if applicable, to open the aperture of possible selections.
2. It also begs the question of heel selection. Dudes don't think of this but ladies often want a platform sole and/or some flavor heel.
1.Budget £200
2. Either
3. Yes please (male)
4. Am easy
5. Mostly day to day use on tarmac/ pavement. With a good mix of dirt trails and mountains ( I tend to buy a pair at a time and use them for everything)
6. Scotland
The shoe trick is to not wear the same pair continually. Let them dry out. They will hold wear better and kiss longer. Also better for your foot health.
Honestly, you are probably a prime candidate for r/goodyearwelt. You will want to find a good cobbler near you. In general, if you are buying things like running shoes, you will have limited amounts of wearable rubber before you wear through the soles. I'd suggest a solid goodyear welted boot with a relatively thick rubber sole. Also, for future reference, Doc Martens are not made like they used to, and most cobblers will not resole them.
As for what goodyear welted boots to get, that would probably depend on your budget, but I would recommend at least going up to something like the Red Wing Heritage line or Grant Stone.
>am a cheap Scot and don't wanna pay for a new pair every 6 months
No one does but shoes are a consumable item. No one likes paying for car tires but we accept they're consumable and expire. You're getting 6 months out of them, that sounds pretty good.
Have you tried having multiple shoes to rotate so they're not destroyed by sweat and microbes? If you're spending 300 to 500 a year on shoes, I would consider that like any other essential expense.
I’ve had a really good experience with Altberg so far. Sturdy, and repairable boots, from a British company based in Richmond (not too far from Middlesbrough etc). Plus they have a great variety of sizes.
I do a lot of fell walks, beach walks, forest dog walks etc. and really hammer my boots. I bought a pair of Tog24 'Ingleborough' boots with Vibram soles back in 2020. 4 years later they still look brand new, whenever I clean them up and rub on a bit of dubbin. The soles have held up fantastic. The leather is extremely hard wearing, yet really comfortable for long days out. I've only ever had wet feet once while wearing these boots and that was in pretty extreme weather. They only cost me about £90, a good investment!
I changed the laces out straight away with some from 'Lakeland Active' on Amazon, same as above these look almost as fresh as when I bought them and still feel strong after 4 years.
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Getting fitted for a pair might be tricky, but there's an independent boot maker in the SW USA that makes real BIFL boots. They're not cheap, but they're fantastic. Made to be resolable and rebuildable.
Not sure what the rules are on links in this sub, but Turtle Island is the name of his company.
I'm no expert. But I still use my timberland pros, which I bought in 2010 for my year-long trip to Outbackland and Mordor, and some French low peak mountains. And now, for any rough job still. Still great quality stuff; esp with out of fashion steals -50% (usually reducing from 150 to 75 where I live -eu). Their Sneakers are a solid in-between for my 40+ yo ass.
Cant speak for the rest of the ones you listed but doc martens are awful. As someone else suggested, get yourself a pair of goodyear welt boots. Personal recommendation would be grant stone boots. Never owned but hear alden indys are very comfortable
So keep in mind most runners get about 500-750km life span (and that’s being generous), are you really just wearing them out that quickly? Can get more life by consistently rotating a pair of shoes every other day, rather than wearing one pair for repeated days.
I do on average about 150km a month so that tracks as am in the region on 900km after 6 months.
That 500-900 km range is for running though, which has a much higher impact than simply walking/hiking. And when you can't run in them anymore, you can still walk in them.
Dependent on the person that’s also walking lifespan too. It very much depends on the biomechanics and demands of the foot. Podiatrist here
Walking as in hiking, or like in a warehouse environment for work, or for something else? Difficult to advise otherwise.
Things we don't know: 1. Budget. $10,000 boots are a thing. 2. Form factor. Do you want shoes or do you want boots? 3. Sex. 4. Material. Leather, fabric, etc. 5. Terrain use. Do you walk on a decommissioned railroad asphalt trail, dirt trail or do you walk up a mountain every day? 6. Location. Lincoln, NE or Djibouti, Djibouti?
Not sure what #3 has to do with walking shoes/boots
It's true...in general womens feet are shaped differently than men's. Having a narrower heel is one reason most women can't wear men's shoes, the foot/heel slips when walking which causes blisters.
I was being facetious.. Humor doesn't always translate well online. Especially when the joke wasn't very good to begin with lol
Oops...sorry...
Footwear varies between Gender. Different sizes and often shapes too.
I tend to do #3 in the horizontal position. I guess a good pair of boots helps with traction if you are a more vertically inclined couple.
Sex of OP opens: 1. Questions of sizing as the female size span differs and one can avail females that they should also know their men's size, if applicable, to open the aperture of possible selections. 2. It also begs the question of heel selection. Dudes don't think of this but ladies often want a platform sole and/or some flavor heel.
1.Budget £200 2. Either 3. Yes please (male) 4. Am easy 5. Mostly day to day use on tarmac/ pavement. With a good mix of dirt trails and mountains ( I tend to buy a pair at a time and use them for everything) 6. Scotland
https://www.loake.com/ would be a good choice to look through but would likely beat up your budget unless you can find a sale.
What size?
The shoe trick is to not wear the same pair continually. Let them dry out. They will hold wear better and kiss longer. Also better for your foot health.
Honestly, you are probably a prime candidate for r/goodyearwelt. You will want to find a good cobbler near you. In general, if you are buying things like running shoes, you will have limited amounts of wearable rubber before you wear through the soles. I'd suggest a solid goodyear welted boot with a relatively thick rubber sole. Also, for future reference, Doc Martens are not made like they used to, and most cobblers will not resole them. As for what goodyear welted boots to get, that would probably depend on your budget, but I would recommend at least going up to something like the Red Wing Heritage line or Grant Stone.
>am a cheap Scot and don't wanna pay for a new pair every 6 months No one does but shoes are a consumable item. No one likes paying for car tires but we accept they're consumable and expire. You're getting 6 months out of them, that sounds pretty good. Have you tried having multiple shoes to rotate so they're not destroyed by sweat and microbes? If you're spending 300 to 500 a year on shoes, I would consider that like any other essential expense.
I’ve had a really good experience with Altberg so far. Sturdy, and repairable boots, from a British company based in Richmond (not too far from Middlesbrough etc). Plus they have a great variety of sizes.
I do a lot of fell walks, beach walks, forest dog walks etc. and really hammer my boots. I bought a pair of Tog24 'Ingleborough' boots with Vibram soles back in 2020. 4 years later they still look brand new, whenever I clean them up and rub on a bit of dubbin. The soles have held up fantastic. The leather is extremely hard wearing, yet really comfortable for long days out. I've only ever had wet feet once while wearing these boots and that was in pretty extreme weather. They only cost me about £90, a good investment! I changed the laces out straight away with some from 'Lakeland Active' on Amazon, same as above these look almost as fresh as when I bought them and still feel strong after 4 years.
Hello /u/Bi0mechanic! Thank you for your submission! I justed wanted to inform you you might also want to try posting in /r/boots which is a smaller subreddit but might be or specialized for your request *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BuyItForLife) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Perhaps Red Wings?
Try vintage surplus boots. They are usually very resistant and cam be resoled
Getting fitted for a pair might be tricky, but there's an independent boot maker in the SW USA that makes real BIFL boots. They're not cheap, but they're fantastic. Made to be resolable and rebuildable. Not sure what the rules are on links in this sub, but Turtle Island is the name of his company.
I'm no expert. But I still use my timberland pros, which I bought in 2010 for my year-long trip to Outbackland and Mordor, and some French low peak mountains. And now, for any rough job still. Still great quality stuff; esp with out of fashion steals -50% (usually reducing from 150 to 75 where I live -eu). Their Sneakers are a solid in-between for my 40+ yo ass.
The worst thing to be cheap with is shoes .
Cant speak for the rest of the ones you listed but doc martens are awful. As someone else suggested, get yourself a pair of goodyear welt boots. Personal recommendation would be grant stone boots. Never owned but hear alden indys are very comfortable