The Meindl Bhutan boots are a traditional-looking leather all-terrain B-class hiking boot. Designed to keep you sure-footed on demanding hikes, mine have kept me comfortable for miles and miles. I’ve gotten to know these boots very well indeed over the last three years and thought it was about time I shared my long-test review with you.
My Meindl Bhutan hiking boots joined my gear cupboard back in late 2019, thanks to a blog collaboration with Cotswold Outdoor. The team invited me to test out their boot fitting service, during which their fitter at South Cerney recommended these. A combination of how the Bhutans fitted the shape of my feet, and had a specification that matched with the type of hiking I was wanting to do, made these the right choice that evening.
I’ve now lived with these boots for a little over three years, and have hiked hundreds and hundreds of miles in them (and then some). Miles that have included multi day hikes such as the UK coast to coast, plenty of long day hikes such as Red Pike in winter, and heaps of shorter outings such as the recent pair of walks I did on the Dorset coast. With that, they’ve taken me successfully across all kinds of terrain and through all kinds of weather.
A True Long Test
These are the kind of gear reviews I like to read. A true long test of a pair of boots I have lived my outdoor life in for over three years. My actual hiking boots; well used, and highly trusted. Hundreds of miles is no exaggeration, it’s probably thousands by now.
They’re not my only boots (I am fortunate), but they are the ones I reach for most. They are great for when I’m in the hills, where there is mud, bog or rocks, when there will be a bit of scrambling involved, or simply when I know I’m going to be out all day. These are the boots I trust to the extent that I know I won’t need to think about my feet until it’s time to take them off.
All my gear reviews take some time to write – weeks or even months. In part that’s down to blogging about getting outside being my hobby and not my job, so I have to squeeze in both the adventures and the writing in-between everything else going on in my life. But in the main, the reason it takes me time to write reviews is because this isn’t a space for press-release based advertorials. This is a traditional blog, based on my experiences, and if I want to give you a true understanding of something, I must put in the time and effort.
Even then I rarely come back to something I’ve lived with for years. That could be because some kit just doesn’t last that long, sadly even the good stuff doesn’t last forever. In the case of the Meindl Bhutan boots, there are so many options out there I felt it would be useful to share a long-test review. Not least because I do actually love these boots.
The Meindl Bhutan
The Meindl Bhutan is a classic leather hiking boot with a Gore-Tex lining. Highly durable and suitable for year-round use, they are made from Nubuck leather (although I have chosen to wax mine, so they have lost their lovely mustardy colour), have thick soles and chunky lugs, and fit as snugly as you like around the ankle.
In short, they look and feel like a proper hiking boot. Designed as a class B boot, the Meindl Bhutan are ideal for demanding hikes in (low-level) mountains and easy long-distance treks in the major mountain ranges.
When at my boot fitting, the fitter heard my tales of on-the-trail clumsiness, and recommended boots accordingly. One of the reasons we chose these, was because they have a super supportive ankle collar with memory foam that that would mould to my lower leg and keep me from slipping around in the boots – hopefully keeping me much more stable on the trail.
He was right. My foot goes in these and feels secure. Very secure. Helped along by the “Digifix” lacing system, which means it’s easy to get exactly the right fit for all-day wear. They’re not a trainer-like boot, they have some flex thanks to the leather construction, but not much (that’s the class B showing itself), so they feel very solid and safe.
But I’m not restricted in these. Meindl have given the Bhutans a wide toe box. Even though they look narrow, I can wiggle my toes comfortably. And while these are a warm pair of boots, there is technology in the footbed to help get rid of moisture (sweat…) inside the boots (the “air-active footbed”), which means I’ve never swollen out of these (what a thought!). These are a thick boot, but the design means I don’t get uncomfortably hot in these.
Heavy Weight
The one thing that people said to me when I was considering what boots to buy (before I had that fitting appointment), was how traditional hiking boots are far too heavy to be sensible. The technology has moved on, and there are so many boot options which are really light and flexible – my KEEN Terradora Flex boots are an excellent example. Trainer-like boots, and even just trainers, are quite capable of taking you places where a traditional class B boot might have been the only option in the past.
Let’s acknowledge this. The Meindl Bhutan is a heavy boot. They are full-on leather hikers with big fat soles, thick uppers, and deep lugs. And so yes, I am sure that at the end of a hiking day my legs feel the weight of these boots more than they might feel a lightweight textile boot.
But with that solid construction comes support, stability, and warmth. They are a solid boot and, most importantly for outdoor footwear, I completely trust them. And while I might have to carry a bit of extra weight on each foot, I don’t have to worry about blisters, soreness, or injury that I might end up with thanks to something less supportive. Especially when I’m asking my feet to hike day after day.
All-Terrain Support
Quite simply, weight is a price I’m willing to pay. A decision I have made to make sure I am surefooted and happy on the trail.
And in all seriousness… I don’t know any hiker who gets to the end of a long day in the hills – whether wearing heavy boots like these or the lightest of boots on the market – who doesn’t enjoy the pleasure of unlacing and removing their footwear when they’re done. Wear the boots that do the job you need of them, and don’t worry about the weight.
Thinking about hiking the UK coast to coast (gear-focused post coming soon about that – feel free to drop any related questions in the comments), I was so pleased for these on that trail. I trusted them completely, and was grateful for the structure and support. And the waterproofing, of course.
There was one particular afternoon when we hiked across the moors to Blakey Ridge, when I wished I was wearing a pair of cushioned and flexible trainers rather than these boots. But that wasn’t even a whole day of regret – just a few hours in the afternoon. Every single other day, these were absolutely the right boot for the job.
Taking Care
Longevity is another benefit of a top-quality pair of leather boots – they really do last; I can’t think of any pair of textile boots I’ve had that have lasted as well as these have.
Despite putting these boots through pretty much everything in the last three years, they are only now just starting to show signs of wear. The leather is a bit scratched in places, and there’s the tiniest amount of separation from the binding. It’s really nothing; the soles are still most excellent, and the uppers have plenty of life left in them.
I gently wash and wax them as needed, especially after they’ve got very wet, as recommended by Meindl. Conditioning with wax and applying a proofing spray keeps the nubuck leather protected. Waxing has changed the appearance of the leather, making it smoother and darker, but I don’t see that as a downside.
Where Next?
I’ve been giving some serious thought to what to wear when I hike the Cotswold Way this spring (have you read my 2023 goals post?). I almost certainly don’t need the heavyweight stability and support of my Meindl Bhutans, the terrain just doesn’t require it. But, having worn these for all my long hikes for three years, it’s hard to see past that all important trust.
I guess I’ll keep mulling that one over, probably until the day we start the trail!
These will definitely be my boots of choice for the Cumbria Way (ish!) in the summer, as even though it’ll be warm (I hope!), I feel so secure in these heading up the big hills.
And in the meantime, well these are the boots that will be taking me on one-day explore of Offa’s Dyke this weekend, and out into the Cotswolds the following weekend. There are still hundreds of miles left in them yet!
Choosing Boots Wisely
I know that the Meindl Bhutans will not be the right boot for everyone reading this post. I mean, they might have turned out to be a fantastic pair of boots for me, but that bulk and weight – or even the shape and fit – may not work for you.
When choosing the right boots for your outdoor adventures, you should do two things. The first is start with the kind of activity you want to do, and look for footwear specifically recommended for that. I wrote this post with some advice on that topic.
Then, when you have an idea of the type of boot you’re after (or even before if you’re very unsure), I recommend getting boots properly fitted, using a service like that provided by Cotswold Outdoor and in many independent outdoor gear stores. Some brands will fit your feet, others won’t, and a fitting service will help you discover which boots will work, and which would be a waste of money. Remember, you aren’t obliged to buy anything – any outdoor retailer worth their salt will be more than happy for you to use the service as an opportunity to fact find.
But, if you are looking for a pair of truly all terrain boots that will keep you comfortable for miles and miles (and then some…), then you should at least try the Meindl Bhutans on.
You’ll find them at Meindl, at Cotswold Outdoor, at Blacks, and at Go Outdoors.
Notes…
My Meindl Bhutans were originally gifted thanks to that collaboration with Cotswold Outdoor, but the miles walked in these are all my own, and my feet and mind are genuinely happy with them all this time later. You can’t buy trust like this.
Want to see more long-test reviews on Splodz Blogz? Let me know if you spot me using something you’re interested in, and I’ll let you know what I think about it!