Aku Who? While the brand may be a little unknown at the moment, the small Italian company have actually been boot making for over 30 years and it shows. Although a little larger than some other lightweight boots currently on the market, the Aku Alterra GTX has a great fit and performs well on the hills and trails. Features include a deep lugged Vibram Megagrip sole, a Gore-Tex waterproof liner sock, stretch fit tongue and simple but well designed lacing system that offers even distribution over the forefoot. The Elica mid-sole is designed to spread the load evenly over the foot in an effort to eliminate hot spots.
Pitched at the trekking market the Alterra GTX certainly fulfils that role, and will serve you well in snow-free UK hills on reasonable ground. It's definitely not for rocky peaks however so make sure you keep things on the smoother side of rough. The wider toe box and lack of solid heel support make the Alterra GTX a little imprecise on technical ground and at £180, this definitely puts them on the pricey side for a good trail boot.
Aku may not be that well-known in the UK at the moment but the brand have a large and excellent looking range of product. The Alterra GTX is a fine example of a well made boot which does its job well, but is best left at home if you're venturing into rocky, icy or steep terrain. If you adhere to those rules stepping into the Alterra GTX will make your first strides into the realm of lightweight hiking boots a comfortable journey.
