pamela wrote
john bently wrote

Now i have retired I would like to start walking. Would anyone know of a good place to see some *critical* reviews of
the different walking boots available please? Apparently the last consumers association review was done way back in
april 2006.

Or would anyone know of some boots (preferably not too expensive)
that are generally believed by many people to be a good buy? Thanks
for any advice.

Buying a hiking boot from a review is like buying a dog from a review.

Nothing like in fact.

Fit is essential between your foot shape and your hiking boot choice.

Yes, but it does make sense to get a boot that has good reviews
on its design detail and THEN make sure it fits well too.

You can get a great boot that doesn't fit your feet, and pretend that you have made the best choice.

Some people buy a dog based on how they and the dog get along together.

Thats very difficult to do with very young puppys particularly.

That is probably a better match than a dog from a breed that experts like.

Or you could have enough of a clue to work out what breed you
want from the breed characteristics and then work out which of
the dogs that are available from the breed you like and then you
will be more likely to end up with the sort of dog you want,
given the behaviour that particular breed is known for etc.

The common wisdom being passed around today is that fit is most important.

Yes, but its is also important that the design is well done too and its well made etc as well.

After that there are some other things like getting a rugged boot for rugged conditions, or not getting a boot with a
sole that is slick
when wet. Those are things that boot reviews can be good for.

And for other things like how well it lasts and how well made it is etc.

I bought a well known brand of boot that was slick as snail snot when wet, and threw them out after the second fall. A
review might have helped me avoid that.

It might indeed.

Magazines aren't good places for gear reviews anymore, as publishers hate to give an advertiser a lousy review. That
can be bad for the publication business.

You might try http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/

They (backpackgeartest.com) accept samples from industry and volunteer/users provide reviews of the equipment.

But its less clear how many of them are competant reviewers
and whether they will use them the way you plan to etc.

In addition, owners of gear have been known to submit their own reviews of equipment they have purchased.

Trouble with those, they arent likely to have tried too many alternatives.

I have also heard of http://gearjunkie.com/