The Meindl Respond Lady GTX is a well-proven model which we have offered for many years. It has Meindl's regular fit and has a sturdy build to cope with hill walks and lower countryside too.
As one of Meindl's best selling walking shoes in the UK, the Respond Lady GTX is an excellent all-rounder. The walking shoe features a combination of velour and mesh uppers making it a lighter weight option for everyday wear or lower level walking. They have been developed with a GORE-TEX lining for breathability and waterproofing, while the Meindl Contragrip sole (developed with Salomon) gives excellent traction on mixed terrain. Being a renowned brand with over 300 years of experience in crafting high quality walking boots, Meindl has created the Respond GTX to be a reliable walking shoe with a secure fit.
Features:
Velour leathers and mesh uppers
GORE-TEX lining
Air-Active footbed
Contagrip Trail sole
Cupped heel stabiliser and toe protector
Waterproof protection
Shoe care:
Conditioning and proofing spray keeps nubuck leather and suede protected. The boots can be treated when the uppers aren’t quite dry – it ensures they’ll remain supple. Applying a little wax to the hooks and eyelets will protect them from corrosion.
Meindl Respond Lady GTX Review:
"The Respond series are Meindl's attempt at creating a shoe to please everybody, from trail runners to fast and light walkers, to climbers looking for an approach shoe, and more or less anyone else who spends time off pavement. While trying to do too much with a single product sometimes leads to a one-size-doesn't-really-fit-anybody kind of approach, these shoes actually seem to tick an impressive number of boxes.
Running:
"I bought a pair for trail running and a couple of months in, I'm pretty pleased. They are stable and supportive enough to let me relax and run without worrying too much about turning an ankle, and not much heavier than my last pair of Montrails. At around 400g for size 8 they're certainly light enough to go the distance without making your run any harder than it needs to be.
However, the lugs aren't quite as aggressive as the ones on most specialist fell shoes. They are fine on grass and get plenty of grip on wet rock but on steep muddy slopes a little more purchase would be nice".
Approach:
"As a crag shoe, the Respond GTX is great. They're waterproof (very important for South Wales climbing- while the rock may be dry, the quarry floor usually isn't) and unlike a lot of similar shoes, outer mesh is kept to a minimum so mud brushes off easily. The lacing system is quick and secure so you won't spend forever getting them on and off in between climbs.
The soles have a harder edge than most trainers, which makes them good for easy scrambles into and out of climbing venues."
Walking:
"The first time I took these for a walk there was a foot of snow on the hills. Had I brought gaiters, like a sensible person? Of course not. It might not be a concern very often, but I was pleased with the relatively mild level of dampness that got into the shoes. They have a fairly close profile and wrap snugly around the ankle. My feet didn't get nearly as wet as I thought they would.
After a few months and half a dozen walks in the Brecon Beacons they aren't quite so bright orange as they were straight out of the box, but so far the Respond GTX has served me very well as walking shoes. The slight stiffness in the sole is good when carrying a hefty rucksack and they've stood up to scree slopes, brambles, and abrasion on rock without showing any major sign of wear."
Jess Spate is a former Up and Under staff member. She writes for South Wales Parks and Gardens when not lurking in a local climbing venue.