The Bhutan Lady MFS are quite weighty hiking boots, however they are also the most durable by some margin. Think of these a bit like an original Landrover Defender pitted against newer, racier four-wheel drive vehicles. This boot has been one of Meindl’s bestsellers for over 10 years and it’s easy to see why. The upper is tough nubuck, there’s a Gore-Tex lining for waterproofing and the MFS in the name stands for Memory Foam System which features at the ankle for extra comfort. A rugged Vibram double-density sole unit finishes the package, and claims to be self-cleaning, shedding mud rather than hanging on to it.
Lara Dunn’s Highly recommended
These are a bit like an original Landrover Defender pitted against newer, racier four-wheel drive vehicles. This boot has been one of Meindl’s bestsellers for over 10 years and it’s easy to see why.- Repairable
- Supportive
- Well-made
- Pricey
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £279.99 Weight: 1368g (for size UK6) Materials: Nubuck leather, Gore-Tex lining, Meindl Multigrip Vibram rubber outsole Features: Memory Foam System in ankle area, Digafix lacing system for superior hold and fit adjustment Sizes: UK3.5-UK9 (including half sizes)/EU36-43 Women’s/Men’s Version: Women’s (men’s direct equivalent available) www.meindl.co.uk |
With half sizes throughout the size range, it’s straightforward to get the right fit and the shape allows for good comfort for an averagely shaped foot. The ankle support area is superbly comfortable from new, enhanced as it is by the memory foam and there’s enough flexibility to encourage a natural gait, with or without a load.
I’ve worn the Bhutan Lady MFS on a 10-day long summer trek of the Kungsleden in Arctic Sweden, and it coped with torrential rain, duck boards, rock, gravel, mud and snow fields for 15km days with a 23kg pack without giving me a single problem. This newer incarnation feels no different and even on a longish day in the hills, it delivers reliable comfort, support, grip and protection. It’s far from being a lightweight boot but graded as B, it’s designed to be stiff enough to tackle all but high mountain and winter conditions.
Meindl’s approach to boots, and one which arguably helps to justify the high price, is that they are repairable for long term wear. So, when the outsole gets too smooth for adequate grip, or the rand starts to get tatty, the boots can be sent off to Meindl UK, who in turn send them off to Germany where they are rejuvenated. It’s not cheap, but surely this is genuine sustainability – to keep one already highly durable and well-loved pair of comfortable boots going indefinitely? It gets my vote and I did just that.
