Drat! Oh drat! Oh DRAT! Why did I wait until last night to watch the pre-Christmas Gadget Show Winter Special - including a whole section on walking boots? Just occasionally, the ability to save shows on Sky+ can work against you!

Susie’s top pick turned out to be the gorgeous North Face ChillKat II‘s which were only £69.99, nearly £20 less than the beautiful Pampas Tactical boots I’d spent the last month trying to get hold of from Zalando’s. Although, thinking about it further now, my initial annoyance is slowly being replaced with the realisation that, however beautiful the ChillKat’s are, they are winter boots rather than hot-weather jungle/desert boots that I need for my upcoming expedition. On the other hand, to go online just now and find out that the Pampas Tactical’s are now being sold for only £65 is gut wrenching to say the least!! Aaaargh!!

In search of the perfect desert boot

I am usually the first person to recommend online shopping and wouldn’t consider doing my weekly food shop any other way. I mean, why would you elect to drive all the way to an out-of-town superstore, spend hours traipsing up and down the aisles to then stand at a till, unload all your goods onto the conveyor belt, bag them, pack them back into your trolley to push them to your car, where you have to load them into the boot, only to unload them half an hour later when you get home, before you can unpack them and put them all away… Why? Instead, simply sit in the comfort of your armchair and click a few buttons. Then wait until a lovely delivery chap rings on your doorbell. Then choose whether he takes your bags all the way to your kitchen, or if you prefer, leaves them on your doorstep so you don’t have to have him enter your house. A quick unpack and store and you’re done! Why wouldn’t you??

However, when it came to buying a new pair of walking boots, the process of getting the oh-so-critical fit right turned online shopping into a disaster. It took no less than three failed attempts – and three annoying missed parcel deliveries resulting in my having to drive to the mail depot to collect – before I got boots that fit. Needless to say, I will not be recommending the online purchase of boots and shoes. In this case it is far more sensible to take a single trip to a good shoe shop and try on before you buy.

I do love my new boots though

Having had my moan. I do need to now say that I LOVE my new boots. They are simply glorious to wear and make me look pretty cool if I do say so myself. I have really enjoyed the last few days when I’ve actually worn them to work to ‘wear them in’. They make me feel like a real adventurer! I can’t wait to test them out in Bardia this April.

No one has compensated me in any way for writing this post or to saying particular things in it. On the other hand, I remain open to offers!