TGO Rating: 2.5
A lightweight, mid-volume boot that just covers the ankle, this is not ideal for year-round hillwalking. Suede and fabric uppers are soft, low and flexible.
TGO Rating: 4
Berghaus are now making women’s boots for small sizes: yippee! Explorer Ridge are neat little leather boots with fabric ankle cuffs. With an ankle-skimming cut, they feel lightweight, flexible and comfortable on my feet.
I’ve worn Lithium for almost a year, on day hikes and multi-day routes. They have a cavernous forefoot but a feminine, well-shaped back section that secures the foot.
German boot brand Hanwag have a strong reputation in the military sector, for quality and boot longevity. I wouldn’t quibble with that: these boots are beautifully constructed from top quality materials.
TGO Rating: 3
I was eager to try these, as my first Ion Mask boots. The technology certainly seems to work, keeping my feet dry and trapping less heat than conventional linings, but was let down by the actual boot.
TGO Rating: 4.5
This is a superb boot, if your emphasis is on year-round mountain walking. For lower level or easy terrain, it’s rather beefy in construction, although not in weight.
TGO Rating: 3.5
I’ve worn these in a wide range of conditions, and have mixed feelings. They feel like slippers, with a ready sole flex and low uppers which make them lightweight and easy to wear.
If you mainly walk in Britain in summer, turn the page. But if you are into scrambling, via ferrata, alpine or winter walking, Trango is a treat. It feels lightweight and intuitive on the feet, albeit stiff for a ‘walking boot’.
Previously branded Raichle, this is a genuine all-rounder for tough terrain. The one-piece leather upper includes leather padding around the ankle and tongue, plus Memory Foam in the ankle area.
TGO Rating: 5
A lightweight fabric boot with suede randing, side and ankle support and an excellent sole unit – these are top-notch boots for year-round use. They are high volume (size 3.5 felt as roomy as a 4 from other brands) with a wide forefoot and neat heelbox.
