......... probably because the only place for buying boots in 1968 was the Famous Army Stores!

He wouldn't have been able to use Gortex either!

(I had a pair of Hawkins "Scafell" boots then, old fashioned leather, heavy, only marginally waterproof and not a patch on those available today.)

I agree that people who get bisters while wearing boots are probably wearing the wrong size or a pair that doesn't suite their feet.
I never get blisters when wearing boots.
I never get blisters when wearing shoes and walking at my natural pace up to 40 miles.
I get deep heel blisters when wearing shoes and going beyond 40 miles with a camping pack,or when walking faster than normal beyond 40 mileswith a light daysac.
Dave.

No. It was because shoes are lighter than boots...
They still are.

I remember the famous Army Store's, we had one in Stockton on Tees and down the Boro, good shops they were.

I had a pair of Hawkin's, not the Scafell's, may of been the Helvellyn's, good boots, bit on the heavy side.

I have a copy of "The Lakeland Peaks" by Poucher .... my Lake District Bible. He has inside a page or two on equipment. Being a serious, all weather photographer, he has chosen the best gear available, and there are some fascinating photographs of his companions on several tops in winter conditions.

However, the gear he chooses is, by today's standards, quite laughable. No Gortex of course, canvas rucksack, open tongued boots and his camera!!!!! But, during his period it was the best of a very limited choice. People select the best available at the time. nd in the 1960/70 the choice of decent boots was severely restricted.

in the 60's I had a pair of Italian suede fell boots
£2.10 shillings
instructions do not dubin, I gave them a generous coating of dubbin them and they were the best boots I ever had for walking.
They would not have been any good for backpacking though, to light.

John Hillaby: (on boots)
'They give you a leaden, non-springy stride. You can't trot along in boots...' (Journey Through Britain) page4

More up to date, Pacific Crest Trail guru Ray Jardine prefers shoes (of the running variety - though, interestingly, he doesn't have a good word to say about runners) to boots and devotes a whole chapter to the subject in 'Beyond Backpacking'

Along these lines I alternated between trail shoes and sandals on my last c2c and doubt whether choosing boots would have made much difference to the final outcome, though maybe I wouldn't have got as far as I did with boots...

I certasinly move lighter, faster and further during a day out in the hills when wearing shoes, they do make one hell of a difference.
As for twisting ones ankle - some people are more prone to this than others, I have never had problems with this while wearing boots or shoes and I have covered many thousands of miles fell Running and Racing over our highest rocky tops.
Some other have to wear protectors to prevent them spraining their ankles, whilst some simply dont run cross country or the fells as their ankles are too weak.
Walking shoes are also prefered by the ,ajority of the LDWA.
Dave.

Podiatrist told me that the best protection for ankles is strong calf muscles. These are not available in the shops or by implant, so get exercising. Dave/Slogger probably has so little trouble because he's had so much exercise of the right type. That's how I explain my own elegant yet powerfully muscular legs ha ha ha. Boot wearers can still suffer ankle damage, but maybe, just maybe, they don't slip on loose surfaces quite as often as those who wear less rigid footwear.

Got my new Hedgehogs, lovely. Do you people treat them with a protector before wearing them and also which protector do you like to use on them ongoing?