Buying guides
Buying guides, one product type at a time
Each buying guide covers exactly one type of product and compares a handful of listings on the facts they state.
Walking boots
- Best walking boots with ankle supportSix high and mid cut walking boots from Lowa, Scarpa, La Sportiva, Meindl and Mammut compared by listed cut, upper, membrane and outsole for rough ground.
- Best lightweight walking bootsSix lighter mid walking boots from Scarpa, Lowa, La Sportiva and Salewa compared by listed weight, upper, membrane and outsole, with the trade-offs stated.
- Best walking boots for UK hills and footpathsSeven leather and fabric walking boots from Lowa, Meindl, Scarpa, Hanwag, Salomon, Berghaus and Salewa compared by upper, membrane, sole and lining.
- Best walking boots under £250Eight established walking boots from Salomon, Lowa, Scarpa, Salewa, La Sportiva, Berghaus and Meindl compared by upper, membrane, outsole and lining.
Waterproof boots
- Best leather walking boots for long lifeSeven full leather and nubuck walking boots from Zamberlan, Scarpa, Meindl, Lowa, Millet and Danner compared by leather type, lining, sole and membrane.
- Best waterproof walking boots for menSeven men's Gore-Tex walking boots from Meindl, Scarpa, Lowa, Zamberlan, La Sportiva, Salomon and Salewa compared by upper, lining and listed waterproofing.
- Best waterproof walking boots for womenSeven women's Gore-Tex walking boots from Scarpa, Lowa, Salewa, La Sportiva, Berghaus, Zamberlan and Merrell compared by upper, sole, lining and membrane.
Walking and approach shoes
- Best approach shoes for scramblingFive approach shoes from La Sportiva and Scarpa compared by upper, outsole, membrane and the uses each listing names, for rocky paths and summer scrambles.
- Best walking shoes for hill pathsSeven low-cut walking shoes from Scarpa, Hanwag, La Sportiva, Merrell and Salomon compared by upper, membrane, outsole and the cushioning each listing states.
Boot brands and ranges
- Lowa walking boots range explainedSeven Lowa boots, from Renegade and Renegade Evo to Camino, Tibet, Zephyr, Innox Pro and Taurus Pro, compared by upper, lining, listed cut and membrane.
- Meindl walking boots comparedSeven Meindl boots and shoes, from Burma Pro and Bhutan to Vakuum, Dovre, Borneo, Journey and Mondello, compared by upper, lining, sole and fit.
- Salomon hiking boots comparedSix Salomon boots, from Quest 5 and Quest 4 to X Ultra Mid 4, X Ultra Pioneer, Cross Hike Mid 2 and Quest Element, compared by upper, membrane, insole and cut.
- Scarpa walking boots comparedEight Scarpa boots, from Kinesis Pro, Terra and Ranger to SL Active, Kailash Trek, Rush TRK, Zodiac Tech and Mescalito TRK, compared by upper, sole and lining.