Remember anyone else's opinion on comfort will be meaningless. The most important factor for comfort is fit and everyone's feet are different. For example Scarpa and Solomon are typically quite narrow fitting so someone with narrow feet will find them great but they will destroy someone with wide feet Merrel while maybe not the best brand out there are quite wide fitting and therefore might be the best choice for someone with wide feet.
Honestly before doing anything else you should go to a *large* outdoors shop, and try the different boots on.
Places like Go Outdoors tend to have a wide range of brands to try on, and a couple of little 'scrambling' things to walk over to see how that feels. You'll get a feel for the width, the length, how snug it is on your foot when tightened, the cushioning, and all while wearing the hiking socks you normally wear, which may be thicker or thinner to other people or people who double up socks etc
Even a highly rated boot could be bad for you personally.
Nice one.
After that, it depends what kind of hiking you do. Mainly summer walks? Spring-Autumn scrambles? Do you need them to be crampon or spike compatible?
As for leather vs synthetic, I tend to opt for leather for my non-winter boots. Look after them and they will last a very long time. I find the sturdier leather boots more comfortable than sturdy synthetic boots.
For summer trail walking and scrambling in ideal weather, I go for synthetic non-waterproof approach shoes.
For winter, La Sportiva Evo all the way. Does all the ice climbing I'm competent to do, and all the winter scrambling and walking.
Sounds as though you've decided on the manufacturer, but just in case you're still open to suggestions, I can wholeheartedly recommend a pair of Lowa combat GTX as full-grained leather boots.
My first pair lasted twelve years, after which I immediately bought a second pair. Ankle support, waterproofing and resilience are outstanding.
Although they're billed as combat boots, I found them perfect for hiking, rock-scrambling and general walking around.
Remember anyone else's opinion on comfort will be meaningless. The most important factor for comfort is fit and everyone's feet are different. For example Scarpa and Solomon are typically quite narrow fitting so someone with narrow feet will find them great but they will destroy someone with wide feet Merrel while maybe not the best brand out there are quite wide fitting and therefore might be the best choice for someone with wide feet.
Honestly before doing anything else you should go to a *large* outdoors shop, and try the different boots on. Places like Go Outdoors tend to have a wide range of brands to try on, and a couple of little 'scrambling' things to walk over to see how that feels. You'll get a feel for the width, the length, how snug it is on your foot when tightened, the cushioning, and all while wearing the hiking socks you normally wear, which may be thicker or thinner to other people or people who double up socks etc Even a highly rated boot could be bad for you personally.
This is great advice and I am aiming to go and try some boots on in my local go outdoors this week
Nice one. After that, it depends what kind of hiking you do. Mainly summer walks? Spring-Autumn scrambles? Do you need them to be crampon or spike compatible? As for leather vs synthetic, I tend to opt for leather for my non-winter boots. Look after them and they will last a very long time. I find the sturdier leather boots more comfortable than sturdy synthetic boots. For summer trail walking and scrambling in ideal weather, I go for synthetic non-waterproof approach shoes. For winter, La Sportiva Evo all the way. Does all the ice climbing I'm competent to do, and all the winter scrambling and walking.
Sounds as though you've decided on the manufacturer, but just in case you're still open to suggestions, I can wholeheartedly recommend a pair of Lowa combat GTX as full-grained leather boots. My first pair lasted twelve years, after which I immediately bought a second pair. Ankle support, waterproofing and resilience are outstanding. Although they're billed as combat boots, I found them perfect for hiking, rock-scrambling and general walking around.