For dry feet on wet Welsh paths, start with the Merrell Moab 3 Mid GTX, a waterproof mid boot sold for men and women.
The men’s boot has a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane, and Merrell says its mid-height cut protects the ankles.
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Men have three boots to choose from here and women have three, and the Merrell is on both lists.
The five boots, at a glance:
- Merrell Moab 3 Mid GTX, men’s, and the women’s version, the first pick for both
- Salomon X-Adventure Recon Mid Gore-Tex, men’s, a listing that describes a wider toe box
- Lowa Renegade GTX Mid, men’s, Gore-Tex with a polyurethane midsole
- Berghaus Explorer Trek Gore-Tex, women’s, a suede and mesh upper with adjustable lacing
- Karrimor Bodmin Mid 5 Weathertite, women’s, Karrimor’s own waterproof lining and a leather upper
| Your day out | What to carry |
|---|---|
| You want one waterproof mid boot, in a men's or a women's version | Merrell Moab 3 Mid GTX |
| You are a man who wants room for the toes | Salomon X-Adventure Recon Mid Gore-Tex |
| You are a man who wants a Gore-Tex boot with a polyurethane midsole | Lowa Renegade GTX Mid |
| You are a woman who wants adjustable lacing and a Vibram sole | Berghaus Explorer Trek Gore-Tex |
| You are a woman who wants a leather boot with a lining that is not Gore-Tex | Karrimor Bodmin Mid 5 Weathertite |
Merrell Moab 3 Mid GTX
You want one waterproof mid boot for Welsh paths, in a men's or a women's version
Merrell Men's Moab 3 Mid GTX Walking Boots Gore-Tex waterproof membranePigskin leather and mesh upper, protective toe cap Read the full specification on Amazon Merrell Women's Moab 3 Mid GTX Walking Boots Waterproof walking bootLeather upper Read the full specification on AmazonIt is the first pick because it is the only boot on this page listed in both a men’s and a women’s version.
Merrell gives the men’s boot a Gore-Tex membrane, a pigskin leather and mesh upper, a protective toe cap and a Vibram TC5+ rubber sole.
The bellows tongue, a tongue joined to the sides of the boot, keeps out debris. The mid-height design protects the ankles.
Merrell’s US store sells a wide-width version of the men’s boot. The women’s boot is sold as waterproof, with a leather upper.
Salomon X-Adventure Recon Mid Gore-Tex
You are a man who wants a Gore-Tex boot with room for the toes
Salomon Men's X-Adventure Recon Mid Gore-Tex Boots Full Gore-Tex membraneWider toe box than standard shoes, reinforced toe cap Read the full specification on AmazonSalomon says the wider toe box allows natural toe splay compared with standard shoes. No other boot here is described with a wider toe box.
It also has a reinforced toe cap, a mudguard, and a full-grain nubuck leather and mesh upper.
The retailer Macpac repeats Salomon’s text: a moulded insert in the outsole gives lateral (side-to-side) support.
The boot draws on Salomon’s XA Pro.
Lowa Renegade GTX Mid
You are a man who wants a Gore-Tex boot with a cushioned polyurethane midsole
Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Walking Boots (Men's) Gore-Tex waterproof and breathablePolyurethane midsole, Vibram outsole Read the full specification on AmazonIt has Gore-Tex, described as waterproof and breathable.
The midsole is polyurethane (a plastic foam) for strength and shock cushioning.
The outsole is Vibram.
Berghaus Explorer Trek Gore-Tex
You are a woman who wants adjustable lacing and a Vibram rubber sole
Berghaus Women's Explorer Trek Gore-Tex Boots Gore-Tex named in the listing titleSuede and mesh upper, adjustable lacing Read the full specification on AmazonBerghaus gives it a suede and mesh upper, a polyurethane midsole with what Berghaus calls an Ergonomic Holding System, and a Vibram rubber sole. The lacing is adjustable.
It carries a “DofE Recommended Kit” label. DofE is the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Karrimor Bodmin Mid 5 Weathertite
You are a woman who wants a leather boot with a waterproof lining that is not Gore-Tex
Karrimor Women's Bodmin Mid 5 Weathertite Boots Karrimor weathertite waterproof liningFull grain leather upper, 2.2 to 2.4 mm Read the full specification on AmazonKarrimor’s weathertite is its own waterproof and breathable lining. It is the only lining here that is not Gore-Tex.
The upper is full grain leather (leather from the outer layer of the hide).
It is 2.2 to 2.4 mm thick.
Fit comes first: how to try a boot on
Ordnance Survey, Britain’s national mapping agency, calls fit the number one must in any walking footwear.
The British Mountaineering Council, the national body for climbers and hill walkers, calls a good fit crucial for comfort.
- Try them on in the afternoon. Ordnance Survey says feet may be slightly larger after a day on them. That shows how the boot feels after a couple of hours on the trail.
- Wear the socks you will walk in. Ordnance Survey says sock thickness changes the fit.
- Look for movement. The British Mountaineering Council says a loose fit can leave room for movement, which causes blisters.
- Check the toes. It says a boot too tight at the toe can cause bruising on downhill slopes.
- Check the ankle. It says badly fitting boots can cause painful pressure around the ankle.
- Think about half a size up. Ordnance Survey suggests trying half a size bigger for longer walks or thick socks.
- Wear them indoors first. Both bodies suggest wearing them around the house before you walk outside.
The British Mountaineering Council adds that most retailers allow returns over this test period if the boots have not been used outside.
Check the seller’s returns terms before you order.
For a wide foot, only one maker’s listing here mentions a wide fit.
Merrell’s US store sells a wide-width Moab 3 Mid for men, so ask your seller whether it stocks that width.
Salomon describes a wider toe box than standard shoes.
The listings for the other boots, and for the women’s Merrell, do not mention a wide fit.
For your first walk in new boots, the British Mountaineering Council advises an easy day with a blister kit.
What a waterproof membrane gives and costs
A membrane is a thin waterproof layer inside the boot.
Gore-Tex is the best-known one, and Ordnance Survey says it keeps feet dry, which suits puddles and wet paths.
The cost is drying time and breathability.
Ordnance Survey says a waterproof boot that does get wet takes much longer to dry than one made from a more breathable material.
It also says waterproof footwear is less breathable, so feet may sweat in warm weather.
The British Mountaineering Council names two more limits:
- A waterproof liner will not stop water coming in over the top of the boot.
- A sharp stone can puncture the liner.
Ordnance Survey says gaiters (cloth sleeves over the boot top) keep water and debris out of the opening.
Leather is the other route to dry feet.
The council says leather is not actually waterproof but is very water resistant.
Thick leather with a good tanning treatment keeps water out all day, it says.
Ordnance Survey says leather boots need regular re-proofing to keep their waterproofing, and slow drying so the leather does not crack.
Ankle height and sole grip
The British Mountaineering Council says the main difference between walking boots is height at the ankle and stiffness in the insole.
The steeper and rockier the ground, the higher and stiffer the boot needs to be.
Most makers rate boots on a B0 to B3 scale, the council says, with B0 for the easiest ground.
If your walking varies, it advises buying for the harder end and keeping a second pair for lower-level days.
Four of the five boots here have “Mid” in their name.
The Berghaus name and listing do not give a height, so ask the seller for the cuff height.
The council says no footwear suits every season, and advises comfortable boots with a good grip.
The listings name a Vibram sole on the men’s Merrell, the Lowa and the Berghaus, and an all-terrain outsole on the Salomon.
We compile and explain public route and safety information. We guide nobody and sell nothing on the hill.
Try them on late in the day, in your own socks
A boot you already own that fits and keeps your feet dry does not need replacing. New boots are worth buying when the old pair leaks, rubs or has worn through.
For the question of boots against trainers, read boots or trainers for Snowdon before you choose.
The Merrell Moab 3 Mid GTX is the boot to try first, in the men’s or the women’s cut.
Take your walking socks and try the boots on in the afternoon. Then wear them indoors for a day or two before you take them up a path.
