Buying footwear when all the shops are closed...?

[Diddi]

One negative of SportsShoes.com is their returns aren’t as good as they seem. They offer Hermes pickup for cheap, but insured only to £50, so for big orders it’s either a big risk, or useless. They basically state either use this, or send it back via another courier.

However, I see no details of the £50 insurance on the Hermes Returns website, it doesn’t mention insurance at all. A little odd.

I should certainly have checked that more, but it’s definitely put me off using them much in the future.

And can take upto 2 weeks for a return and refund which aint very good if you want to order from somewhrre else.

 

[Geordie Dave]

As well as Sportsshoes, I can recommend Wiggle.
Adidas and Nike do free delivery and returns if you get a good sale.

Dave

 

[JKM]

Both Hoka and Inov-8 do a 30 day test and return.

Inov-8 is only on a few select models
Hoka I believe is on the full range.

I tried the mid weight inov-8 boot (345 or 365?) And although it felt ok at the beginning, after a few days wearing around the house it became apparent it was simply too narrow.

I'm trying some Hokas next, hideous as they may be.

You pay return shipping but at the end of the day I'm not putting fuel in my car to drive to a shop so I really don't care about the £5-10 return costs.

Normally I would either drive to London or Colchester as that's the closest specialist shop so a minimum 1.5hr drive saved anyway.

The Downside is I no longer get to use shoe shopping as an excuse for a delicious lunch and day out in London

 

[Noltae]

Go Outdoors has stayed open - not a huge selection of boots/shoes in stock - but if you need to try on it's an option .

 

[harok11a]

I’ve still been searching for shoes... my feet are truly the worst!

I liked the Inov8 Terraultra 270 G. However, it’s not at all wide and is low volume. It fit well, but was just too small. The returns process for Inov8 was free and worked well though.

I’m currently trying the new Topo Ultraventure Pro.

I’m finding that shoes now only last me ~3 months. Hiking becomes expensive when you use trail runners! It probably costs 20p/km in shoes!

 

[MyHatGandhi]

Amazon Wardrobe items you can get sent for free, try them for 7 days and return with the sticker provided at PO and won't be charged.

I do this with a lot of my brand clothes and shoes (where it's possible).

I just see it as at getting my prime money worth. I almost never buy from Amazon anymore in favour of smaller companies.

Just hastle free try on, and send back

 

[TinTin]

My quest for new footwear to replace may Quest from Salomon is failing. I've now sent back half a dozen pairs of shoes and think I'm going to wait until the shops open and we are allowed to travel to them and go and try some on.

 

[Alf Outdoors]

The most expensive shoes I have ever bought were my Salomon Speed Cross 4's (they were about £85 in Decathlons)...Don't know exactly how far I have walked in them, but it can't be more than 100km, and I recently noticed both outer rear ends of each soul is worn almost completely flat, so only about 1/3 of the original chevron shaped "treads" are still visible...I think that is terrible wear life for how much I paid for them. I'm now looking for something as light, or lighter, that will last a lot longer but will be cheaper...Is that an impossible ask?

 

[Boozawooza]

The most expensive shoes I have ever bought were my Salomon Speed Cross 4's (they were about £85 in Decathlons)...Don't know exactly how far I have walked in them, but it can't be more than 100km, and I recently noticed both outer rear ends of each soul is worn almost completely flat, so only about 1/3 of the original chevron shaped "treads" are still visible...I think that is terrible wear life for how much I paid for them. I'm now looking for something as light, or lighter, that will last a lot longer but will be cheaper...Is that an impossible ask?

Hi-tech silvershadows

 

[Alf Outdoors]

Hi-tech silvershadows

Thanks for the suggestion, but they are not exactly a stealthy colour, and they weigh a whopping 820g each...Speed Cross 4's only weigh 344g each, so any replacement must be about that weight or lighter.

These are more like it...A low key colour scheme, relatively cheap, and "apparently" only 100g each (that weight has to be a mistake as it sounds way too good to be true):
COOJOY Mens Trail Running Shoes Breathable Hiking Trekking Trainers Arch Support Walking Shoes: Amazon.co.uk: Shoes & Bags

 

[Tartanferret]

Ali express sell knock-off speedcross 4's in a similar colour scheme if that helps.
At least you know what the sizing is like having owned Speedcross

 

[Alf Outdoors]

Ali express sell knock-off speedcross 4's in a similar colour scheme if that helps.
At least you know what the sizing is like having owned Speedcross

Yes, I saw those last night, as well as copies of Speedcross 3's and 5's, at affordable prices too, but I am very dubious about buying new shoes from China, even if they are much cheaper, because returning them if I don't like them, or they don't fit, would be so problematic, or maybe even impossible. It really would be taking a gamble.
I saw a couple of pairs I liked which were Chinese brands, not copies, but neither had any info on weight, which is my main gripe.
I might be able to email the sellers, but there is always the risk they won't understand English, or even words written in the Roman alphabet because afterall, you have to remember the sellers are Chinese and live in China. So I gave up.

 

[Calvin]

Considered decathlon own brand? https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/kiprun-trail-tr-men-s-trail-running-shoes/_/R-p-164313
No experience so can't comment on longevity but they're certainly cheap at 35 pounds and light at 310g on size 8.

 

[Foxster]

Considered decathlon own brand? https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/kiprun-trail-tr-men-s-trail-running-shoes/_/R-p-164313
No experience so can't comment on longevity but they're certainly cheap at 35 pounds and light at 310g on size 8.

I have a lot of time for Decathlon, their own stuff tends to be good, especially for the price.

However, those shoes wouldn't be 'luggy' enough for me. Probably fine on hard trails and tracks though. They do others though designed for longer runs / rougher terrain.

 

[Roo]

I have had a pair of Decathlon Quechua snow boots for nearly 8 years now. Only recently that the waterproof membrane has started leaking slightly in the toe seam. I used them for all of winter and half of spring and autumn every year, and I think they cost me about 60 quid. I just can't get over what a good deal they were and if I could replace them with identical ones, I would. (Apparently their stock has changed in the last 8 years?! Poor show! )

I know that trail runners are different but I guess I'm trying to say that I have a great deal of confidence in Decathlon's footwear after this experience.

 

[Alf Outdoors]

Unfortunately, every shoe I have closely examined in Decathlon has a completely flat inner sole, with no arch support at all...Exactly the sort of shoes I am trying to avoid.
In fact that is the main reason why I won't buy shoes online, as I want to confirm with my own eyes that any shoes I am interested in have arch support built in before I buy, but online sellers rarely, if ever, mention if their shoes have arch support or not.
The COOLJOY trail runners I linked to earlier are one of the rare exceptions as they specifically state that they have arch support built in, in the description for them.
None of the shoes on Aliexpress I looked at mention it either.
You would think that the more you pay for a shoe, the more chance it will have arch support, but in my experience that is simply not the case...Even very expensive trail runners can have flat inner soles, and that can lead to all sorts of pain and foot problems if your planning on doing long distance hiking in them.
As most of the shops are closed due to lockdown, it certainly makes shopping for suitable shoes more challenging...

 

[edh]

With most trail shoes the included footbeds are sh*te - I tend to think of these as arch support...I always replace mine with whatever suits my feet better.

Currently Sole footbeds.

You are adding £30+ to the price this way....

...but you only have one pair of feet; and I find mine handy for walking

 

[Alf Outdoors]

Well, I decided to have another look on aliexpress and low and behold I managed to find the exact same COOLJOY trail runners, with the arch support, that I found on amazon, only almost half the price.
On amazon they were £38.99 with free postage, but on AE they were $28.07, including $4.68 tax with free postage...That works out to be £20.35, or a saving of £18.64 over getting them from amazon.

Mesh Men Shoes Lightweight Outdoor Sneakers Men Fashion Casual Walking Shoes Breathable Lace up Mens Trainers Zapatillas Hombre|Men's Casual Shoes| - AliExpress

 

[harok11a]

After all these months I'll report back on my struggles...!

It was a minor nightmare. My feet are strange. I tried many, many trail runners. When I say this I mean I tried everything in my local outdoor shop that was my size and nothing worked, and I tried multiple options from online stores and returned them. I'm probably talking 20+ different shoes.

Anyway, after all that I found that I get on fairly well with the Topo Ultraventure Pro shoes. They weren't great to begin with, but I've learned how to make them work for me (lacing change and taping/sock changes). I now find them very comfy and can easily do fairly long distances in them with no issues. I now have 4 pairs of them. I bought every pair in my size I could find online in the UK.

 

[Mole]

After all these months I'll report back on my struggles...!

It was a minor nightmare. My feet are strange. I tried many, many trail runners. When I say this I mean I tried everything in my local outdoor shop that was my size and nothing worked, and I tried multiple options from online stores and returned them. I'm probably talking 20+ different shoes.

Anyway, after all that I found that I get on fairly well with the Topo Ultraventure Pro shoes. They weren't great to begin with, but I've learned how to make them work for me (lacing change and taping/sock changes). I now find them very comfy and can easily do fairly long distances in them with no issues. I now have 4 pairs of them. I bought every pair in my size I could find online in the UK.

I am similar.
Did the same last year.
I'm sure most trail shoes brands have got less roomy in the toebox. I still have 2 pairs of Inov8 Roclite 295 and Terrocs I use for work in summer. They were perfect for my feet. Nothing inov8 do seem to fit me nowadays. One pair did,l feel wide enough but the toe rand was so low that my toe nails kept catching on the seam where it joined the fabric top, so no good.

Ended up with Topo Ultraventure too.
Not perfect, as quite soft and thin underfoot, but roomy toebox.

If I buy a general cheap trainer brand in my size like Sketchers or Karrimor, they often fit ok.

It's outdoor companies. like how some Brands ( Montane are a culprit), often "athleticise" the cut of jackets and tops to the point where they are unwearable in the standard sizing by the average Joe.

 

[harok11a]

It's outdoor companies. like how some Brands ( Montane are a culprit), often "athleticise" the cut of jackets and tops to the point where they are unwearable in the standard sizing by the average Joe.

I am 190cm (6ft 3) and slim so also have problems finding jackets that fit. The only brand that consistently works for me is Arcteryx. Everything else seems made for much shorter people. Sport t-shirts are also a big problem as they are usually ridiculously short.

Back to shoes… I’m hoping the Topo Terraventure 3 is out soon in the UK. I’d like to try them.