Hanwag Canyon Wide GTX
£165
hanwag.com
AS the name suggests, the Canyon has a wide fit, making these the most comfortable boots on test. They also felt surprisingly light.
The wider toebox provides plenty of room for your forefoot in thick socks, there’s excellent arch and ankle support and these boots are just the job for anything other than demanding hikes or winter work. That said the Gore-Tex GTX membrane will keep your feet dry and comfortable and we’d have no hesitation in using the Canyons for lower level winter hiking too.
The Vibram Ultragrip soles do what they say they will and can be resoled too.
All in all, a really nice boot which will provide great comfort for anyone with wider feet – and there’s a regular model for ‘normal’ feet too.
Score: 4.5/5
Keen Gypsum Mid
£124.99
keenfootwear.com
THE Gypsum is comfortable and light straight out of the box, and ideal for summer hill walking.
Comfort is good, with firm heel support, giving the sensation of a slight rolling movement as you walk on level ground along with plenty of stability on rough ground.
The uppers are made from waterproof nubuck and this combined with a waterproof and breathable membrane keeps the weather on the outside and your feet dry and comfy on the inside.
We don’t think we’d use the Gypsum in winter but for the other three seasons it’s a very comfortable, good looking boot and one that’s highly recommended.
Score: 4.5/5
Merrell Grassbow
£80
merrell.com
It’s not always necessary to wear full-on boots for summer walking – which is why the Merrell Grassbow is worth a once over if you want to keep things minimalist.
It utilises a Gore-Tex breathable air mesh upper, which apart from helping to keep the weight down to 354g per shoe also assists in keeping your feet cool and sweat free.
This obviously adds to the comfort, as does the Grassbow’s flexible forefoot shock absorption pad and heel air cushion, while the sticky rubber outsoles are deeply lugged and grip in all terrains.
A good option if you want really lightweight footwear this summer.
Score: 4.5/5
Teva Riva Peak
£140
teva.com
IF you’re buying a pair of boots on looks alone it might be the Riva Peak – the midnight blue waterproof leather uppers look lovely.
Thankfully, the Riva Peak boot also performs. The Vibram soles feature deep, aggressive lugs which work well in both wet and dry conditions, and above this are a nylon shank for stability and a very effective heel stabiliser and shock pad which you can literally feel providing shock absorption as you stride along.
Your feet are kept warm and dry by a waterproof and breathable eVent membrane combined with a full grain leather lining and very comfy insole, all of which makes for a lovely boot for summer walking – and one which looks good enough to wear down the pub after your day in the hills.
Score: 4/5
Salomon Quest 4d GTX
£155
salomon.com
Salomon have used their successful and popular advanced trail running technology in the Quest to produce a lightweight and nimble backpacking/trail walking boot that’s ideal for summer.
It features a Gore-tex lining for added comfort, and the high gusseted tongue and protective rubber heel and toe cap protect against knocks along the way.
Grippy soles ensure you stay on your feet in both rough, dry terrain and slippery wet conditions, and the Quest looks good as well as feeling good in use.
Score: 4/5
Asolo Reston GV
£145
asolo.com
Asolo have apparently done a lot of research into walking on mixed terrain – just like the stuff you get in the UK in summer – and come up with the Reston.
It’s designed to mirror the shape of your foot, and it does indeed feel like it moulds itself around your feet. These good looking boots feel surprisingly supportive given their relatively low volume/low profile design, and the suede and fabric upper (along with a tough rubber toe rand) helps keep the weight low.
Weather protection comes in the form of a Gore-tex lining, and your heels are well supported once you’re on the move, whilst traction is very good thanks to a splendidly high-tech outsole that even has self-cleaning lugs.
In terms of design and quality the Reston was one of the nicest boots we tested – but try before you buy as the sizing is rather on the snug side.
Score: 5/5
Alt-berg Malham
£160
altberg.co.uk
The the top-quality full-grain leather outers of the Malham help give the boots a nice, supple feel, which is enhanced by a three-season Tri-flex midsole and a sticky Vibram outsole.
Add a Sympatex lining and a full-length rubber rand for protection and you have a boot that can be used with confidence for at least three seasons of the year.
The low ankle doesn’t give as much support as some might like, so you’re advised to try them first; and if this isn’t an issue, you’ll almost certainly find a very comfortable fit since Alt-berg offer five width fitting options. And they’re made in Yorkshire – in fact you can get a custom fitted boot if you go to their factory in Richmond.
Score: 4/5
Mammut Ridge High GTX
£160
mammut.ch
The Ridge High has been designed specifically for via ferrata (no longer such a niche activity as it once was) which means the low profile ‘IronGrip’ sole features flexible ribs and lugs and rubber designed to grip better on a via ferrata’s iron rungs.
That’s not to say you can’t use them for anything else, in fact their light weight (1248g/pair), close fit and highly supportive uppers make them great for more demanding summer walking and scrambling.
Build quality is excellent – the velour/textile upper has a Gore-tex lining and the boots feature integrated ‘Memo Foam’ for added comfort, plus there’s a generous rubber toe rand for protection, and whilst you will need to give the High Ridge some initial breaking in (and they may not suit if you have wider feet) this is an excellent option if you’re planning some outings on via ferrata and scrambling this summer.
Score: 4.5/5
Anatom V2 Light Hiking
£90
anatom.co.uk
THE V2 feels very light in use thanks to a combination of suede and fabric uppers – which are specifically designed to be treated with Nikwax products – and Anatom’s lightweight Hill-Grip 1 outsole, which is deeply lugged and provides a comfortable rolling gait in use on the mountains.
Your feet are kept warm thanks to a high loft lamb’s wool insole and kept dry by the boot’s ‘tri.aria’ waterproof, breathable membrane. For summer use the V2 is a very decent value lightweight boot that will also stretch to use in both spring and autumn – even winter for low level walking.
We like the light and nimble feel of the boot although it was initially a little stiff across the upper forefoot. But this soon eases with use, and although not the prettiest of boots it is well worth trying on if performance means more to you than looks.
Score: 4/5
Scarpa Baltoro
£149.99
scarpa.co.uk
The Baltoros feel great across the forefoot with the fabric and suede upper providing just the right amount of protection but with no extra weight penalty, whilst a Gore-Tex XR membrane ensures your feet stay dry and comfortable in all conditions.
Perhaps our favourite feature of the boots other than their light weight (1260g/pair) is the rugged, well-lugged Vibram sole, which has excellent sticky grip on most surfaces. This, combined with great underfoot cushioning, make the Baltoro a really superb boot for your summer adventures.
Score: 5/5
