Brasher Men's Hillmaster GTX Walking Boots Reviews

Bought these as my first pair of good boot previous had been very cheap brands, they look great and feel great until you start walking, the first time i walked in them as soon as i got to a hill i could feel the blisters starting to come, i put this down to new boots need wearing in, anyway i have tried them a number of times since and currently have a blister 50p size on both heels two black toes and sore ankles, i have tried 1000 mile socks, doubling socks and appling zinc oxide tape and although they make it better i feel that i should by now have been able to put them on with regular thick socks without getting blisters and i cant. Spoke to Brasher who are really nice and even sent free insoles to help unfortunatly this is not enough and they are going back and hopefully exchanged.

Got my second pair of Hillmasters in April 2011 and the leather across the top of the toe is now cracking after only eight months of not particularly arduous use. They're still waterproof for now but I guess it's only a matter of time. I have conditioned the leather fairly regularly and am somewhat disheartened. My first pair went the same way - but only after two years and a couple of thousand miles, which I thought was fair enough at the time. I'll probably look into other boots for my next pair.

Bought my 1st pair of Brasher Hillmaster GTX in 2000, secondhand not a mark on them. I have broad feet and found that I needed one size up on all other leading brands of boot I tried on but the Brasher was only a 1/2 size up. In 2008 after countless trouble free Hill and Mountain miles cracking appeared across top of boot, but not a drop of water gets through, and thought time for a change tried all other top brands but settled again on Brasher only difference these had the cambrelle lining. In June 2011 I completed Wainwright 192 Mile Coast to Coast walk in 12 days, after approx 12 miles in I got my first ever blister in 11 years of wearing Brasher. I put this down to the cambrelle lining and arranged for my old leather lined boots to be dropped off in Keld and continued the next half of C2C in these on reaching Robin Hoods Bay my feet were perfect and could have turned around and walked back. 1 piece of advise no matter what boots you wear never skimp on your socks always buy the best quality you can afford, its worth it.

I have been using these boots for years. All the people who complain need to realise you should wear walking socks with this boot. My boots are 1 1/2 sizes bigger than my street shoes and I wear two pairs of socks and a liner sock undernaeth . I have walked many thousand of miles in these boots and even had one pair resoled twice. Best in the world !

Has been with it for almost 1 year. Need some time to break in. The performance on muddy trails is impressive, much better than my previous boots with Vibram, BUT, they are definitely not for uphills.

After a few outings, I found these boots started to show signs of splitting. I also found the top eye let's started to come away from the leather.
Don't waste your money.

I choose this boots with Brasher's name being foremost in the world of the walking boot, wish I hadn't, very hard on the feet, can't do much more than 8 miles before my feet numb from discomfort. I had to buy a second pair (not Brasher ) to allow distance walking, much better. well done Keen.

Modern boots should not give blisters. These do! I owned a pair of Hillmasters, with a Cambrelle lining, which were very comfortable, but developed huge holes in the leather where it flexes. But I gave them the benefit of the doubt and bought new Hillmasters. These have a different spec, with a leather liner and were clearly built on a different last. They still cause big heel blisters after several outings and will be going in the bin.

I have a pair of Hillmaster GTX boots for over 10 years. They have never let me down and they are like a pair of comfortable slippers. I have just purchased a new pair from Go Outdoors and were a good price and they are just as good.

My experience is identical to that of rjcardi.Used the boots on a flat 8 mile walk-no problems although not wonderfully comfortable.After a 13 mile hill hike involving steep lengthy climbs both heals rubbed down to the flesh.Only any good for walking the dog round the block.

Bought a pair of these many years ago and have been a perfect fit from day one. I did have a problem with one the lace hooks straightening but boots reolaced under warranty.
Very comfortable and waterproof if care instructions followed and boots cleaned after use.
|Well made and finished with fabulous leather lining and goretex membrane.
Have worn them for Mountain walks and low rambles with no problem. As with all boots taking the time to get right fitting will pay dividends.

background - i do no walking at all, I bought a pair of these boots simply for knocking about in. However, having just completed a 25 mile three peak challenge wearing my Hillmasters I cannot praise them highly enough.

The soles are stiff, which protect your feet from rocks, they remained waterproof, even through bogs (i did my best to not flood them). And they grip! not once did I slide on any surface even when ascending. I got no blisters and they remained tightly fastened all day.

If i could give this boot 10 starts I would.

I bought a pair of these boots in October 2007. After less than two years one of the lace eyelets had broken and a large split had appeared across the top of the boot letting in water. Most people in my walking clubs have also had bad experiences with these boots and will no longer touch them. In short they're rubbish

These boots took a few good walks before the leather was broke in, but after that they have perform brilliantly and are very comfortable, the only downside , which might be due to my feet, was I found the insole a bit poor qual;ity, and bought some sorbathane double strike insoles which hepled me an allfull ot and made the whole boot experinec better.
Dont forget to wear good quality socks though.

Now on my third pair of boots ,been hill walking since 1999 in all conditions , great boots , with the correct socks put them on and away you go
Would recommend

i have had no problem with these boots and have been walking all across Britain for over a year(knock on wood), from summer walks around the lakes and even in deep snow in Scotland my boots have held up great only problem my gravel spiders kept falling off but that might be me. I believe but im not 100% sure the hillmasters are the most popular boot in the uk and after wearing them i can understand why comfy, good looking and the EVA Sole works fantastically. So overall great pair of boots although probably worth keeping an eye on if some of the reviews are to go by.

I bought these boots about a year ago and wore them for the first time on a walk up Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons. Foolish I know not to have worn them in first but they seemed so comfortable. Within an hour I had heel blisters which by the end of the walk were very raw. One year later and many shorter walks later I walked the same mountain route up Pen Y Fan, confident that I would not get a repeat of the awful heel blisters. Alas, by the time I'd reached the summit the boots were rubbing and the blisters were back. Fortunately I'd brought some blister plasters this time. My conclusion is that these boots are fine for rambles over undulating ground, but do not use for walks where there are sustained periods of uphill walking, greater than 1 hour.
I'd hoped these boots would be suitable for all my walking needs but unfortunately not!

Bought my Brashers towards the end of 2007. One year later they started to split along the toe. Then one of the L shaped lace eyes broke. £35 for repair they said. You must be joking I said, so I soldiered on with them. They started to let in water only two years old. Very disappointed and I'm not the only one to feel that way. Every time I mentioned Brasher someone had a tale of woe!

I agree with the previous reviews of them been very soft and cumfy,. but I bought mine just over a year ago, not much wear but the soles are starting to split, just out of warranty! typical!

The boots are extremely comfortable and proved a god send with the winter weather in Jan 2010. The boots are one of the better looking Leather Walking boots are a joy to wear.

I purchased some of these in December 2009 following my visit to the Pudsey store. As a walking novice, I found the staff very knowledgeable that provided guidance to me on with sizes and styles of walking boots they had available.

Overall - I can't praise this boots enough and would recommend them to anyone. 5 out of 5!