That sounds very disappointing, Liz

I get 2,000 miles out my Scarpa Nepals. When I heard they were to be discontinued I nipped in and bought another pair.

No GoreTex - beautiful cream leather lining.

My Meindl Burmas are two years old now, they've done one and 2/3 Challenges, three two day backpacking trips and various walks and hills. They show little sign of wear and are still completely watertight. Worth getting in touch with Meindl perhaps? I think yours should have lasted longer than that. I love mine! I'll be so sad when they eventually fail.

Like Alan I've a pair of Scarpa Nepals, which must be eight years old now and are still pretty much mint. Whilst I started using "sieves" (love it!) a few years back on the Challenge, the Nepals still get a lot of use in tougher conditions. I replaced the footbeds with Supafeet, and have never had even a whisper of a blister. Keep them clean, proof them regularly and they'll be your friends.

Liz, it seems like your Burmas are defective, failing after so little use. Send them back to the store (that's who you have a contract with, as a consumer) and ask for a full refund!

Also the Burmas have the dreaded Goretex lining, which some feel to be a recipe for endless foot troubles. The Nepals have none of this - they'll dry out quicker should you be unfortunate enough to get water over the top. Also remember that your feet can pump out as much as 500ml of sweat over a hard day - and a Goretex liner certainly won't help wick that away.

I also use Burmas but they tend to last much longer than that - and I give mine a hell of a hammering.

I suspect the goretex liner is playing silly-buggers inside the boots and there's been a failure there.

Do as Humphrey says - and DON'T get fobbed off by the retailer telling you that they're out of guarantee:

From Trading Standards, found on t'interweb:

"EU Directive 1999/44/EC states that all European Union member states must allow consumers to make a claim for faulty or misdescribed goods under their consumer rights for a minimum of two years. English law already allows you to make a claim for up to six years from the date you bought the goods and for up to five years in Scotland. Therefore if you buy any goods from any other EU member state, you can assume that you can make a claim for faulty or misdescribed goods for at least two years after."

I shouldn't go in with all guns blazing - you might be pleasantly surprised at the response you get from the retailer. On the other hand.....

Good luck!

JJ

Thanks to all for taken the time to respond. Looks like a bit of retail follow up is called for.

Anyone got a Vango Force 10 Helium carbon out there? How do you rate it? I just bought one, loved the 2 man tent but fancied a solo. Really disappointed. Can't get the flysheet taut, and the inner sags to the point of brushing against the foot of my precious down sleeping bag - not good when there is condensation (most of the time).

Considering I'm 5ft nothing, what would it be like for a 6footer!!

Any feedback?

Liz