The Bottom Line
The Lomer Pelmo is a great pair of tough, rugged trekking boots. With proper care they will last, and keep you comfortable and dry in all conditions. I’ve owned mine for four years and they really couldn’t be better: they’re still going strong and are fully waterproof.
(5 / 5)
- Very comfortable
- Durable, tough leather
- Totally waterproof
- Solid construction
- Microfibre-lined removable insoles
Purchasing
These boots are available direct from Lomer, or from a range of other UK websites (a quick search will show up availability) and occasionally from Amazon. They cost approximately £200, although this does vary.
I bought mine after my Lomer Keswicks (review here) turned out not to be waterproof. Despite my not having bought them through Lomer, their fantastic customer service helped me find the problem, and agreed to give me a discount on these new boots as a replacement.
Comfort
These boots are very comfortable. Because of their stiff, rugged design they flex less than the Keswicks I mentioned above, and this makes them slightly less comfortable for me. Despite this, the Pelmos have never given me blisters or sore feet, even after really long, tiring days. Their rugged Vibram soles give me excellent grip on almost all surfaces.
Care
As with any leather boots, care is key. If well looked after, these boots will last years – but if left persistently untreated they will dry and crack. I use Dubbin to treat mine regularly, and definitely before and after any longer trips. This not only keeps them supple and stops them cracking, but also gives them a beautiful dark sheen. I’m no expert in leather treatment, and Dubbin is simply what I’ve always used – I’m sure there are better/more suitable products out there (I would be glad of any suggestions), but Dubbin works for me.
Quality
These boots are excellently made. Every detail is well finished and the final result is amazing. My one criticism here would be with the rubber lip around the base of the boot: at the point where my foot bends, the rubber can start to peel off. This is easily solved with a dab of carefully-applied contact adhesive (see our guide on how to do this here), and is probably inevitable given the amount of wear those areas receive, but this is not a problem I’ve had on other boots.
General Comment
These are a really great pair of boots. Being trekking boots, they are thicker and heavier than I normally like: I do prefer my more flexible Lomer Keswicks (review here) for shorter, dryer walks, but for any difficult terrain or long walks the Lomer Pelmo is, in my view, unbeatable. They are sold as a trekking boot, and I think anyone buying them for shorter walks may be disappointed because they simply are so rugged – but for what I use them for they are perfect.