CONISTON TO KESWICK MOUNTAIN MARATHON

Although looking specifically for boots for our Mountain Marathon walk we have been using all these different boots over quite a long period of time on a daily basis.

First the Cons:- Generally there are two main problems with Saloman footware in our opinion and that of others who we have spoken to, including some retailers. A big problem is with the sizing and secondly with the durability of the goretex lining. 

Sizing:- Every pair of Saloman boots that we have used over the past couple of years has caused a problem due to Salomans

sizing measurements in comparison to most other manufacturers generally they are half a size or more different from everybody elses measurements. This means you will need half a size or even a full size larger than you would normally need. This has been our experience and from what we have read in various personal reviews. On a few occassions the boots have even been mis-matched despite having the same size on the label in both. The way to identify this when buying Saloman boots or shoes is to wear them in the shop and back the heels up to a skirting board to see if one is longer than the other and whether the patterns mis-match on the uppers.

Waterproof durability:- Again, every pair of Saloman Goretex boots that we have tried has failed after half a dozen outings and has been a real problem, especially with the Manilla Mids. Personally, we have resigned ourselves to the fact that this is always going to happen and buy the boots purely for their comfort and support.

Now the Pro's:- Salomans contragrip sole has proved very effective on variable terrain year round. Most of the soles with deep lugs (cleats) prove to be very effective at providing good grip and are quite durable. However, the exception to this is on the Manilla Mids and the Cherokee as we found that while the grip is good, the sole pattern wears down very quickly, especially when used on hard ground. The Quest, the Cosmic and the X Ultra heel cup and underfoot cradle provides stability to the foot when on uneven ground therefore aleviating some of the stress experienced on long walks over difficult terrain while carrying a heavy pack.

To use an analogy, when buying footwear generally is like buying tyres for a vehicle. Depending on the use determines the type of tyre you buy for it and it is the same with footwear, long gone are the days when one pair of boots did everything and lasted for ten or more years. In my case, I regularly replace footwear every two months after having used them on the mountains nearly every day and I know they can be expensive as I have several pairs of different footwear for different uses. 

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These are our own personal views of the footwear we have used, although we have taken into consideration other peoples views as well. The fact that we are still using Saloman footwear after many, many years, despite having a few problems with them, shows that we still consider them to be among the most practical for the various uses we put them to.