What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects them on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £90 (~$120) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £76 (~$102) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £58 (~$78) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £40 (~$54) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £22 (~$30) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Sizing again, made worse because it varies between a brand’s own lines. Beyond that it is the midsole: polyurethane crumbles with age even on shoes that were never worn.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether hiking boots is worth what is being asked:
- Hydrolysed midsoles, which crumble on old stored boots
- Worn lugs offering no grip
- Delaminated waterproof linings that no longer keep water out
- Cracked leather or split seams at the flex point
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Deep, unworn lugs on the outsole
- Intact waterproof membrane with no delamination
- Recognised makers with resoling support
- Recent manufacture, since midsoles degrade with age
Common faults and fakes
Fakes usually show in the stitching regularity, the finish on the branded hardware, and a box label whose style code does not match the shoe inside.
Ask for the insole length in centimetres rather than the size, plus photographs of the sole, the heel counter and the inside of the shoe.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about hiking boots, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Give an honest estimate based on tread depth and midsole condition. Walkers are buying reliability on a hillside, and an overstated boot is a genuine problem rather than a disappointment.
Say what you actually know from wearing them. Membranes degrade, and a boot that wets out after an hour must not be sold as waterproof.
Flex them and photograph it. Hydrolysis is the failure that catches people out on old stock, and disclosing it is the difference between a spares sale and a complaint.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Flex the sole hard and look for crumbling or separation
- Check the lug depth against a new pair if you can
- Note the manufacture date if it is stamped inside
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The pair side on, standing, whole
- Both soles, showing lug depth and any separation at the welt
- The midsole flexed, so its condition is visible
- The inside label with size and any membrane branding, plus any wear point
Details to confirm before you commit
- Size as marked, with UK and EU equivalents, and whether men’s or women’s fit
- Whether the boot has a waterproof membrane, and whether it still performs
- Approximate mileage or seasons of use, given honestly
- Midsole and tread condition, and whether the boot can be resoled
Live hiking boots listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse shoes & footwear for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Strongest from March to September, with a smaller lift before Christmas. Well-known brands in common sizes sell within a fortnight in season.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have hiking boots sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell hiking boots for what to photograph and how to price, or what hiking boots are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used hiking boots?
Around £16 to £58 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check hiking boots before buying?
Ask for the insole length in centimetres rather than the size, plus photographs of the sole, the heel counter and the inside of the shoe.
Is buying hiking boots second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Sizing again, made worse because it varies between a brand’s own lines. Beyond that it is the midsole: polyurethane crumbles with age even on shoes that were never worn.
See also: all buying guides · hiking boots value guide · selling hiking boots · Shoes & Footwear · condition grades.