Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

Snap up North Face’s top-rated walking boots in the January sales and embrace the great outdoors

Stomp into the New Year in style with a pair of sturdy shoes designed to tackle rugged terrain

Sarah Young
Tuesday 05 January 2021 08:31 GMT
<p>Whether you’re going on a nature-filled&nbsp;getaway&nbsp;from the city or simply in the market for new boots, these practical hiking shoes are a great choice for winter</p>

Whether you’re going on a nature-filled getaway from the city or simply in the market for new boots, these practical hiking shoes are a great choice for winter

Christmas and Boxing Day have come and gone for another year, meaning that savvy consumers can now turn their attention to the next big shopping event of the year: the January sales.

The New Year is a great time to bag a bargain on a range of items as brands slash prices on everything from coffee machines and iPads to beauty gadgets. So, if you’ve had your eye on something for a while, and it didn’t quite make it into your present pile, now is the time to invest.

There’s no shortage of deals online this month, with retailers like John Lewis & Partners, Currys, Amazon and Boots joining in on the action, but if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed and need some guidance on where to find the best savings, you’re in the right place.

At this time of year, fashion fans specifically are in for a real treat with big-named brands amping up their discounts across a number of categories and one area that has seen particularly impressive discounts so far is walking boots.

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic saw millions of people swap gyms and exercise classes for the great outdoors, with a surge in the number of people taking up hiking as a hobby in a bid to fulfil their fitness goals and take care of their mental health. The hiking boot style also experienced a boom in fashion circles, with chunky, heavy duty walking shoes having been spotted on everyone from Bella Hadid to the Duchess of Cambridge.

Whether you’re a serious hiker, weekend rambler or simply want to get out and about a bit more this year, a great pair of boots are a must to keep you walking in comfort and the good news is we’ve found a great deal you won’t want to miss out on.

Read on for more details about the sturdy and supportive footwear you won’t regret investing in, with expert insight from our team of reviewers.

Our IndyBest team hand-picks every deal we feature. We may earn some commission from the links in this article, but our selections have been made independently and without bias. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

The North Face, women’s activist futurelight mid boots: Was £140, now £112, The North Face

If you’re planning on going for a relaxed country ramble, your favourite pair of trainers are unlikely to hack it off road, so you’ll need to up your protection.

The men’s pair of these boots from The North Face featured in our round-up of the best walking boots for men and the women’s version currently have a saving of £28. Our reviewer described the boots as a “nicely crafted shoe that is designed to keep the water out without turning the inside of the boot into a horribly humid sweatbox.”

They continued: “It does this very effectively thanks to the brand’s ‘futurelight’ membrane that is as breathable as it is watertight. Cushioned and supportive footbeds combine with an anti-clogging outsole to ensure sure-footedness across a range of trails and open ground.” Available in sizes 3 to 9.

Buy now

Salomon outline mid gore-tex: Was £135, now £94.50, Salomon

While we think The North Face boots can  be worn by anyone, if you’re looking for a pair specifically for women we suggest the Salomon outline mid gore-tex, which featured in our round-up of the best women’s walking boots.

Sporty, lightweight and rather like trainers in both looks and feel, these are a great choice if you’re in the market for a fabric boot. These light-as-a-feather shoes seem almost flimsy when compared to chunky traditional hiking boots, but still pack in Gore-Tex waterproofing, grippy rubber soles and cushiony OrthoLite foam insoles.

The outline boot is very flexible and mould quickly to your feet – you’ll hardly notice you’re wearing them, even over long distances. They don’t offer much warmth and are best worn for lightweight warm weather hiking or for packing in your rucksack when travelling. Available in sizes 3.5 to 10.5.

Buy now

For more deals, visit our round-up of the best fashion and beauty deals on offer

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in