UKC

We're off to the Corsica GR20 and some hot weather trekking in the Balkans.

Yes, I know this one has been thrashed out on here before but I've got a couple of trips coming up and I can't find what I want so hopefully the members here might be able to help. I'd rather spare us the chatter on Goretex marketting and why it's so hard to find boots without membranes, we all know what's going on with that and we all know membranes in heavy mountaineering boots are fine.

I need a mid cut boot, not a low trainer. Nothing with a toe box that pinches too much. Prefer a rubber rand above the sole. Leather rather than synthetic. Nothing too heavy or clumpy like the Altberg or Scarpa SL/Meindl Borneo. 

Simply a mid weight boot with no membrane that scrambles reasonably well and won't fall to bits on a 2 week trek. There is a market for this product, where is it????

Can't really help with a suggestion, however we found the GR20 terrain very tough on footwear longevity. Trashed some early Inov8s in 12 days. Great walk though.

Agree Goretex would be madness.

Somebody has recommended a pair of 'Lundhags Berg Mid', never heard of them. Just waiting to hear back from Bestard boots as well.

Does anyone remember what the brand is that makes the modern British military desert boots? They look like old KSBs and I don't think have a membrane. They look surprisingly sensible and might be the type of thing you are looking for.

I noticed on the Scarpa website you can select the "none" option on the waterproof membrane filter. https://www.scarpa.co.uk/collections/all-mens-boots-and-shoes?sort_by=manua... Not that many but the Mescalito does come up. I bought a pair before going on holiday at Easter so used them almost fresh out of the box for a surprisingly tough walk along the Great Wall with great success. Perfectly comfy for days of touristing about in cities where we did actually do a lot of walking. They are not a "boot" but they are a very substantial shoe - I'm going to use the for summer UK scrambles now. Mine were on good sale as well from Joe Brown's/Climber's Shop. Heartily recommended. 

I caught a reference on Reddit on that one and there was a reply saying they had stopped making them. Loads of hikers wanting this product.

A problem I personally have with the trainer, low cut finish is that I end up with lots of stones in my shoes due to the way I kick out when I walk. I can't seem to correct this so I'm stuck with a mid finish. I can't find a Mescalito mid cut without a membrane. I already have a pair with the membrane which I got for the Cuillin and they were great until the temps went up and started sweating. Not a deal breaker for a couple of days but 2 weeks of sweating in boots brings on athletes foot and general discomfort. 

This one's for 2 very specific long distance trips rather than the weekend jaunt most of us go on for a quick hit. Thanks for throwing in some input though. 

You can get mini trail running gaters, which should keep the stones out of low shoes and they are super lightweight so shouldn't add any warmth 

If your primary objection to shoes is that they let grit and stones in, rather than say a desire for ankle support then as GM suggests ankle gaiters are a good suggestion.

All my multi-day hikes for the last 20 years have been in shoes; Inov8, La Sportiva or Altra, sometimes with dust gaiters depending on the terrain.

If your primary objection to shoes is that they let grit and stones in, rather than say a desire for ankle support then as GM suggests ankle gaiters are a good suggestion.

All my multi-day hikes for the last 20 years have been in shoes; Inov8, La Sportiva or Altra, sometimes with dust gaiters depending on the terrain.

To add I've just completed six days on the Pennine Way where it coincides with Hadrian's Wall. The number of walkers in boots, crippled with blisters was disheartening to see. Old habits appear to die slowly.

Are you thinking of the AKU Pilgrims from Trekitt?

Even if not, there is one without a membrane that might suit the OP...

Military style jungle or desert boots is what you’re looking for I think. I think Meindl and Lowa make some, and I think whatever brand currently supplies the UK military should also have some. 

I don’t know if these count as too clumpy, but altberg do make hot weather boots:

https://www.altberg.co.uk/boots/hot-weather-boots10/base-boot1

Alltberg Base Trekking boot. 
 

Designed for Botswana?

I sympathise. It sounds like what you're looking for is a non-membrane version of the Sportiva TX4 mid, which sadly doesn't exist.

Sportiva do make a non-membrane mid version of their other heavyweight approach shoe, the Boulder X, but assuming it's the same last as the original low cut shoe it's a much narrower forefoot, more climbing-oriented fit than the TX4. Not something I'd want to hike in for two weeks.

The Grisport Dartmoor has been my go to trekking boot for some time now.

https://www.grisport.co.uk/walking-shoes-c79/dartmoor-brown-walking-shoe-p1...

I first wore them for trekking in Nepal back in 96 and have worn them ever since. On my second pair now.

Very comfortable and light for a leather walking shoe and very hard wearing.

Pretty much this, yes. I've gone through the rosters of a good few boot makers and the TX4 mid without the membrane is THE missing model. Pinchy toe boxes as you quite rightly say are no good for long treks.

Hanwag make a couple of boots but like a lot of brands, they look a bit heavy and clumpy.

Thanks for all the posts so far.

As far as I know Borneos are the lightest unlined leather boots you will find (I have more than one pair just in case Meindl discontinue them).

I do most of my hiking in trail runners these days but if I was doing the GR20 again I'd probably wear my Borneos. I did it in a pair of light fabric boots and regretted it as I had to glue them together midway through the hike, and saw several other boots fail while I was there (including a guy who had both soles come off at the summit of Monte Rotondo (a very worthwhile side trip btw)).

Thanks for the insight on the GR20, it seems to follow pretty much what I'm hearing that the stoney terrain eats footwear. 

There are a good few unlined leather boots out there that do come in a fair bit lighter than the Borneo's, some of the Lowa/Hanwag ones do but this type of boot is a bit on the heavy side for what I'm after. Girlymonkeys idea of a pair of runners and ankle gaiters could work. I also had a pair of Hagloffs trousers that had a lace hook on the front that kept the rubbish out.

As always the info on here has been excellent.

In reply to Trant99:

Can't find any record of this boots existance using search engines. Pantagon boots do show up.

I reckon Aku Spiders look good but I haven't tried them.

You might have just cracked it. Watched a vid on them and they look mega breathable. Thanks for the post.

Aku?

The pilgrim is more durable and good for scrambling at least up to Inn Pinn standard.  available in non goretex

I've not seen Zamberlan mentioned - I have a pair of lightish-weight leather hiking boots which have been excellent. Really comfortable and hardwearing. The second pair I've had. They don't have a Goretex liner. I've had a look at their site and they still produce similar boots.

If you get them give us a bit of a review.

Salomon do some really good hiking shoes but it seems like all the non-waterproof options on their website are low shoes and all the hi-tops have some kind of waterproofing. 

I'd agree with others in that if your primary reason for getting hi-tops is to keep stones out, then a light pair of gaiters and a low-cut shoe would be better. Certainly a lot less sweaty. 

I had this setup for hiking the Appalachian Trail and it worked really well. Was pretty economical and very functional. If shoes got wet, they dried very quickly. Goretex would have been a total trench-foot nightmare. 

I used Dirty Girl Gaiters but there are now many brands mimiking these, and any sort of lightweight spandex running gaiter will do. Mine just had some stick-on velcro patch for the back and a single lace-hook for the front. Put on like a sock, prior to the shoe. The velcro quickly came off but the elasticity of the gaiter kept it exactly where it needed to be on the shoe. Kept all manner of stone and sand/dust out. 

Shoe was the Eskape Aero and although not available any more, it looked very similar to a lot of their current offerings. 

I think at the time I paid less than £50 for the shoes and about £20 for the gaiters. Bet that's gone up a bit! I got over 2000 miles out of 2 pairs of the shoes and a single pair of the gaiters.