Meindl Avis 

Bought a rather expensive (for me) pair of Meindl walking shoes in February 2025.

I do most of my walking on the local bridle paths and canal tow paths, so nothing too strenuous.

I paid more than I would normally pay because the member of staff in the store where I bought them assured me that they were a quality brand and would be long lasting.

Unfortunately, the material inside the heels all split, even though I usually use a shoe horn to put them on and eventually, the toe cap on the left shoe detached completely and part of the soles on both shoes was coming away, rendering them unwearable.

As both the store where I bought them and Meindl only offer a 12 month warranty and I had had the shoes for 16 months, I contacted Meindl simply to provide some feedback.

Meindl asked me to return the shoes and they would assess them.

I eventually received a reply from Mendle who stated that they would repair them.

I have now got the shoes back and am delighted with the repairs they have carried out.

As I had purchased them over 12 months ago and they were no longer in warranty, Meindl weren't under any obligation to do anything, so I am impressed at their customer service.

Only knocked a star off because I didn't quite expect the shoes to disintegrate in the way they did with the type of walking I mainly use them for.

Shockingly poor quality, ridiculously expensive, and they leak.

I bought a pair of Meindl Caracus GTX walking shoes. These are ridiculously expensive, but due to the supposedly good reputation, I foolishly persuaded my partner to also buy some Meindl boots. Both pairs are full leather, with goretex.

Yet despite regularly cleaning them, plus using meindl wax and meindl waterproofing, looking after them better than any other pair in over 40 years…both pairs leak badly. As in a simple walk in wet grass gives wet feet. Not slightly damp…wet. So you take extreme care, you use all the recommended manufacturers products, and you still get wet feet. Both pairs, on both feet.

These are literally the worst shoes and boots we have ever bought. Ever.

I wish I had seen the reviews before I bought my boots! ;-)

Without doubt the poorest quality walking boots (Philadelphia GTX) I have ever bought despite spending almost £200. The stitching around the toe covering unravelled after three months and the soles wore through after less than 400 km on a Camino. Customer service not interested in any feedback and keen to avoid any responsibility.

I find it hard to believe the company is still in business with such poor products and universal negative reviews. Clearly zero repeat business! Make your own decision and avoid this product if you are looking for quality walking shoes.

Well what can i say about these boots!!!?

The one good thing is that they're comfy!!

Other than that the quality is appalling

I bought mine around 2 years ago, cost over £200!! very quickly the stitching started to come apart on the toes.

Now Im not a hiker or a serious walker!! I just wanted a good quality waterproof pair of boots to walk the dog on a flat field near my house.... no rough terrain etc

I emailed Customer Service today...admittedly I should have done so much earlier but Id like to share their response as its pretty laughable when you consider these boots are very expensive and sold as proper walking boots -

Further to your email below, I am sorry to hear that you have experienced issues with your Meindl Journey Mid GTX boots and appreciate your disappointment.

Unfortunately, the boots are now outside of Meindl's manufacturing warranty period. Had they been returned to us earlier, we would likely have been able to arrange a repair under the warranty process.

From our experience, frequent dog walking can place particularly high demands on footwear, especially when boots are worn several times a day in a variety of terrain and weather conditions. For this level of use, particularly during the winter months, we would generally recommend considering a more robust, heavier-duty boot designed for prolonged and intensive wear.

so basically even though these boots cost over £200 and I had genuinely barely worn them before they started falling apart the advice was immediately that I should have bought a heavier more robust boot!!

FYI the boots I have are Meindl MID GTX Goretex Waterproof boots designed for and I quote 'ideal for everyday walking, trails, and leisurely hikes'

Anyway I would never buy this brand again and I would advise checking other online reviews before you pass over your hard earned cash for this extremely poor quality brand.

Avoid. There is no customer service and judging by the reviews I have now read and my own experience the boots are rubbish fell apart in 63km.

For the cost of the shoe I would have expected more - seam broke within a year and the company have refused to refund insisting on repair. I haven’t say I have no faith given my experience to date - poor customer service and poor quality product

A few years ago, I bought some Meindl shows -which were possibly the most expensive footwear I have ever paid for.
They have been OK - but not used heavily - and a few weeks ago, the part that holds the laces broke.
This is clearly poor design.
I asked for help, and I was asked for photos, which were provided - and a receipt - and I made it clear that this may be difficult as they were bought several years ago, but they insisted.
When I reiterated that I would not have a receipt, they said that they only offered a limited warranty up to 2 years and told me to pay for a repair - on a pair of shoes with limited wear, and is something I believe I could repair given the right instructions/ lace retainer - which would cost pence.
Overall, the worst pair of footwear I have had - and certainly not worth the money - and very unhelpful "support".

Bought a pair of mens walking boots £185, in July 2025, by Christmas the stitching had come apart and the soles worn out. Took them back to the shop who sent them off for repair - took 5 weeks and they refused to repair the soles as they said it was wear and tear - do not waste your money on buying these boots they are not fit for purpose.

I bought a pair of Meindl MEI Tramin Gtx from Cotswold Outdoor in Jan 2025. So that’s a year of slipping and sliding on anything other that grit and stone. When new these boots weren’t great, after only a year they are useless sliding all over the place .
Please everyone , avoid these boots, they are potentially lethal if you use them away from carpet.

I’ve just bought a pair of Tonale GTX jeans/orange. They’re incredibly comfortable and don’t feel like walking boots at all. So why only one star? There’s one huge disappointment: steel lugs and presumably steel tensioning wires have been used in the build of these boots, which is a bad idea in a product which by definition is going to get wet, repeatedly. I assumed that on a premium product like this, any manufacturer would use phosphor bronze/stainless steel, or something else that doesn’t rust. The first I read about this shortcoming was when I noted in their care notes that I should smear the lugs and eyelets with Vaseline to prevent rust (which I’ve done). How do they propose I do that on the steel tensioning cable, which disappears into the structure of the boots? What they’ve done is deliberately built in a shortened lifespan for this product, which I find appalling in these days where we should ALL be focused on sustainability. These boots are replacing a pair of Brasher’s that I’ve had for 35 years, which had no parts that could rust, and which still don’t leak. So, thanks to this choice of degradable materials, I can only expect these expensive new boots to last a fraction of the time of my previous pair, and I’m really not amused by it. Bad call, Meindl, and you’ve turned delight into disappointment. I should add that only when I contacted their customer services is when I really understood what Meindl means by ‘waterproof’: an immediately defensive and well-rehearsed fob off. Judging by other reviews I’ve now seen here on Trustpilot, I am sure I’ll be regretting this expensive purchase well beyond today.

I bought a pair of ladies boots just under 2 years ago - the most expensive boots I have ever bought.
I don’t hike etc - instead I take my 13year old dog on a daily walk.
After all the dry weather I walked through a field of short wet grass - my left foot was soaking.
Only a 12 month warranty - don’t waste your money

Bought a pair of meindle boots from an outdoor shop . For the past 25 years I’ve used brasher hill master boots very successfully. I was looking for a lightweight boot ,( I’m 67 ) so opted for the meindle brand . These have been my worst decision boot wise , not comfortable, not good for my knees . Just generally not happy with my purchase. Il be going back to hill masters asap

I purchased a pair of Meindl waterproof walking shoes at Go Outdoors in Carlisle in November 2024, thinking they would last longer than a cheaper pair from another brand. Big mistake, after all few months they started falling apart and when I asked for a replacement pair Meindle insisted they would only repair them. At my expense, I sent them off and they were returned 3 weeks later only this time the faulty shoes was no longer waterproof. I complained again and was told once again to send them back for “reassessment”, once again at my expense. When I suggested they simply replace, they didn’t reply to my email and even though I also copied in Meindl in Germany, one week later I have still not received a response. My advice, don’t buy Meindl shoes, buy a cheaper pair.

I bought a pair of Tonale boots some 20 months ago to use for multi day hikes. A week later I crossed a field of long (10cm) grass and my new boots let in water. I treated the suede but that didn’t help so I took them back to where I’d bought them and they sent them back to Meindl for testing. Meindl returned them saying they were fine!! So that was that. I’m left with a very expensive pair of really comfortable but basically useless boots as I can’t risk using them as my only boots for a week. I’ve had Meindl Borneo boots for some 15 years and they are great, though a bit heavy. I think the quality has gone downhill and I will now avoid any more boots from this company. Very disappointed as I thought Meindl were a quality company.

Over the last 25 years I have had three pairs of Meindl boots. The oldest are still going strong, now used only for gardening. The second were binned three years ago because the soles were falling apart. The ones purchased then are going the same way. I use them every day, several thousand steps on fields and streets. So comfortable.