Hi-Tec Men's Ravine Lite Wp Walking Shoe

Product Information

The third iteration in the popular Quest series, this is a boot designed for fast and light hiking on technical terrain – think trail walking in the Pyrenees or scrambling in Snowdonia. Salomon say it was developed with running shoe-adapted technology, the evidence of this being a slightly flexible chassis and a low-ish overall weight. Overall, there is a lot to appreciate here if you require a boot that puts performance over style. The all-brown design and simple leather construction aren’t eye-catching but it is practical. You should be able to get out in bad weather for good walks in comfort.

Selected for our Outdoor 100 2021/22. Read our full Halti Fara Mid 2 Women’s Walking Boot review BUY NOW: HALTI.COM If you decide after your first dozen hikes that this is something that you’re wanting to keep up with, a higher quality pair of hiking boots will be a good next investment. However, much like hiking, you can cross that bridge when you get to it! There is a nylon midsole insert to provide better cushioning and just enough padding around the top of the boot.

I really liked the way the boots lace and I found them to be amazingly comfortable. The way the eyelets work give you effectively two different lacing ‘zones’. I personally prefer my boots nice and tight both over the top of my foot and around my ankle, so the lacing system on these boots is ideal for me. The recessed eyelet halfway up allows you to change the tightness of lacing in that area if you want to. I keep mine nice and tight, and found it really came in handy when I took a tumble – and I was very thankful that the good ankle support provided by the boots meant no sprained ankle! For once, let’s start with the downsides: with more of a trainer than boot feel, the Peakfreaks don’t offer especially firm protection or stability for the ankle, and the lightweight materials aren’t as tough or rugged as all-leather boots. But, with the Peakfreaks, the numerous positives far outweigh the negatives. Columbia’s Outdry technology is a one-piece membrane that seals the stitching and any other water ingress vulnerabilities. This ensures excellent waterproofing and breathability for these lightweight boots. Meanwhile the Omni Grip outsoles have multi-directional lugs for good grip out on the trail. If you’re wanting to get into walking and fancy yourself as the next Arthur Wainwright, there’s only one way to find out if you’re cut from the tough stuff – by buying a cheap pair of walking boots and heading out into the hills.

The smooth lacing system provides volume adjustment flexibility, and the lacing eyelets are all made from a solid metal which are shaped to capture the laces securely – the middle eyelet even has little gripping teeth. One of the interesting things about this women’s shoe is how rugged and smart it is. There is the look of a more high-end masculine boot here, but you still have the shape and sizes needed for women’s feet. As long as you are careful with the sizing and remember that they may feel a little heavier at first, the Hi-Tec walking boots should cause too many problems.The springy Techlite midsole provides good cushioning and impact absorption. I found the Peakfreaks extremely comfortable straight out of the box, so much so that I enjoyed wearing them out and about post-adventure. I felt extremely light on my feet, testing them out during fast, energetic Munro-bagging trips in Scotland. So, if light and fast is your thing – with the added bonus of reliable waterproofing – Columbia’s Peakfreak Mids are the ideal choice for any of you peak freaks out there. BUY NOW: COLUMBIASPORTSWEAR.CO.UK

Because they are leather, they don’t look like your standard walking boots, which means they look good with more than just your normal walking gear. With my old walking boots, and even in my snowboarding boots, I find I get slight heel rise/rubbing, but with these boots, my feet stay in place, which means no rubbing and no painful blisters. Made from tough full-grain leather, with a cushioned footbed and CMEVA midsole, gusseted tongue and metal lace eyelets, the Snowdon IIs are designed to ‘keep your feet dry and comfortable on all-day treks’, according to Hi-Gear. We found them surprisingly comfortable, with the leather build proving soft and supple where we wanted it to be, but reassuringly strong and sturdy at the toe and heel, while the rubber outsole had decent traction on some pretty wild mountain terrain.Even after our longest, most challenging walk (just under 8 hours across various different types of terrain), my feet still felt good in these boots. The boots coped excellently even when I was walking through streams, and across boggy land and I simply would not be without them. So what do I like about these walking boots? Actually, that’s a pretty easy question to answer, because I haven’t really got anything at all negative to say about them. They provided a snug, but comfortable fit from the first time I wore them, and after months of wear, I am pleased to report not a single sore point or blister. The ankle is cut quite high for a fast and light boot, measuring about 6 inches from the insole to the top of the collar, and this gives a decent amount of support without feeling too constricting. Designed for people who are freaks for the peaks (see what they did there?), Columbia’s Peakfreak Mids – or, to use their full name, the Peakfreak XCRSN II Xcel Mid Outdry – are ultra-lightweight, waterproof and attractive-looking boots. They are primarily designed for fast and light mountain adventures.