Columbia's Peakfreak Mid is the big brother of the similarly named trail shoe we reviewed a couple of issues back, and it's considerably better looking - and with an attractive full grain leather and suede upper is better suited for taking a few hard knocks.
It uses Columbia's 'Outdry' waterproof/breathable technology, which features a one-piece component to seal the stitching and any other possible water entry points so your feet stay dry in wet conditions but are also able to breathe in warm conditions.
A springy 'Techlite' lightweight midsole provides good cushioning, and Columbia's 'Omni-Grip' soles have multi-directional lugs, which certainly worked well in the mainly dry conditions in which we used it.
Heel retention and arch support is very good, and there's decent ankle support and protection from the 'mid' cut; no real breaking in is required of the Peakfreak, and the light weight (920g/pair) and rugged, yet relatively understated looks mean you can wear this boot for casual use pretty much as readily as on the trails.
The Peakfreak probably won't appeal if you're looking to do more serious walking, or want to include more technical activities like scrambling and via ferrata in your days in the hills, but for less challenging walking this is a good option at a decent price.
