It's the Shoes!

 Taking on any hiking challenge starts with finding the right footwear! It is so obvious yet so easily and often overlooked.  No-one wants to finish a long days hiking with blisters and with a challenge like the three peaks the last thing you want is to miss out on the views because you are in agony.

The three peaks needs proper good hiking boots but if you are starting off looking for hiking boots you might like me find that initially you are at a loss.  I mean trainers, I know, hiking boots, not a clue. Well, that had to change.  I explored the different hiking boots far and wide really considering what was needed. So, what follow is an attempt to share what I found and save you many long hours of trying to select the right pair of boots.

The things that I found were important in boots were: support, waterproofness and breathability.  Over the course of the three peaks you might find yourself moving from rain to boiling hot, from steady ground to rocky and uneven.  A great pair of boots that can adequately perform on each kind of terrain is essential.  For me the choice came down to three pairs.

I ruled out cheaper brands and brands not massively known for hiking as protecting my feet are essential on the trek.  Home brands just didn't cut the standard and were likely to fray and deteriorate. This left me looking at the Scarpa Rush Trk https://amzn.to/42oLFBL, Merrell MOAB https://amzn.to/3JHewZA  and Salamon X Ultra https://amzn.to/3yWDYoF

Now let me start by saying you cant really go wrong with any of these boots.  I mean they are quality pieces of kit.  But, I had to make a choice and I ended up going with the Scarpa Rush Trk.  They do come in slightly more expensive but I figured I would save elsewhere in the end but I couldn't justify saving on footwear.

The Scarpa give amazing support, unbeatability waterproofness and I have found that my feet breath well in them and I can wear them all day comfortably without my feet smelling like a back alley on a Saturday night in a city centre. Further, I never needed to break them in.  I mean, out of the box comfort of the kind I've only ever found with trainers before, literally the best piece of kit I spent money on. I know of walkers who are joining me and the love the MOAB and these definitely have a great following at a reasonable price point but if you can spend a bit more on the Scarpa and save elsewhere I'd do it. 

What about the Salamon's?

Basically because the Salamon's are the middle priced of the bunch I ruled them out. They are not noticably better than the MOAB so you may as well get the MOAB and save a few quid or spend the extra on the Scarpa.  Either way you can't go far wrong with any of these boots and the money you spend now makes a huge difference.