walkhighlands

Footwear

Gear Review: The best walking socks (2023)

Socks are one of the most important bits of outdoor kit. Too often they are overlooked or poorly cared for – something of an afterthought. They can help enormously to keep feet warm, dry and blister free, essential for a comfortable day. Prices and technical features have been creeping up in recent years and with most people wanting a range of socks for different conditions/footwear, it’s important to get the choice right. Socks should fit well so that they don’t ruckle, and seams should be flat, or the sock should be as seam-free as possible to avoid rubbing points. Confusingly,

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Gear Review: Trail Shoes

Outside of the snowy season, more and more walkers are opting for trailshoes over boots these days. With lower weight and increased flexibility comes more comfort… though the low rise compromises waterproofing. As usual, we’d recommend trying on in a shop rather than buying online, as fit is the most important factor with footwear. Many people find they are wearing a size too small, which can’t be fixed; if the shoes are big enough you can easily adjust with footbeds/socks/lacing. All weights are per pair; the women’s shoes were tested by Helen and the men’s by Paul, so be careful

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Gear review: Keen Targhee III boots

Recommended Retail Price: £119.99Weight (size 10.5): 575g per boot I’ve bought many pairs of Keen Targhee’s over the last decade or so, which should tell you a great deal about how I find these boots. Firstly that I like them as I find no other boots quite so comfortable – both in the personal fit and the generous padding. The compromise, as is usually the case with comfier or lighter footwear, is that they are not the most durable. I’ve never reviewed a pair of Targhees on Walkhighlands, so the introduction of the latest model – the Targhee III –

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Gear Review: Hanwag Banks SF GTX boots

Recommended price: £210Weight: 1060g pair (women’s size 5.5) I have wide feet and often struggle finding suitable stiffer boots, ending up either with pinched toes or a larger size with a loose hill grip that let my feet slide forwards when walking downhill. German company Hanwag has a reputation for making boots in a range of fits so I’ve been trying out the Banks, which comes in 3 different fits for women. This is a traditional looking boot in navy nubuck leather with mesh fabric tongue and ankle cuff. There is a good amount of extra reinforcement around the heel

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Gear Review: Black Diamond Mission LT Approach shoe

Recommended Price: £130Weight: 600g (Pair, UK size 6 womens) The Mission LT is one of series of new shoes by Black Diamond aimed firmly at climbers but as this model is also supposed to be suitable for a longer walk in, I was interested to test it for day walks and scrambles. I’d been wearing it for a couple of months on any dry day walks prior to lockdown and since then it’s been my shoe of choice for shorter local walks – so it has also seen a fair bit of pavement pounding. The all-in-one knitted sock structure of

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Gear reivew: Hoka One One Sky Toa mid boots

Recommended price: £160Weight: 720g (pair, women’s size 5.5) French company Hoka One One (the name comes from Maori meaning “to fly over the earth”) is well known for it’s running shoes, often favoured by ultra distance competitors and characterised by the outsize midsole and deep layered cushioning. Hoka have now added 5 walking boots to their stock as a lightweight alternative to lower profile trail shoes. I’ve been testing out the women’s Sky Toa since late summer and through the autumn. First thing to mention is the bulky outline – the large midsole gives Hoka’s a distinctive bulbous look. The

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Gear review: Hanwag Alta Bunion GTX boots

Recommended Price: £195Weight: 1510g (Pair, size 10.5) I’ve long been interested in trying out footwear from Hanwag, since hearing that they make some models on a special last suitable for people with bunions. Though less known in the UK, German company Hanwag have a long pedigree, having been founded in Bavaria in 1921. The Alta is a pretty sturdy but fairly lightweight traditional full height leather hiking boot. The uppers are nubuck leather with a waterproof gore-tex lining, and the sole is a Vibram unit with a decent tread, providing good grip. The ankle cuffs are lined with soft leather,

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Gear Review: Salomon Outline GTX women’s hiking shoe

RRP: £115 (currently on offer with some retailers)Weight: 280 grams per shoe (UK size 6) For summer walking I always prefer to wear lightweight boots or shoes if conditions are dry enough. This year those days have been few and far between but there was a hot week in May and some drier days in between when I’ve been out and about testing these trail shoes from Salomon. Given the rain we’ve had recently I’ve been grateful for the Goretex lining. Designed on a running last, these lean towards lightweight trainers rather than being at the stout hiking shoe end

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Posted in Footwear, Gear reviews

Gear review – Keen Venture mid hiking boots

Recommended Price: £129.99Weight: 550g per boot (mens’ size 10) I’ve usually found boots and shoes from Keen to be a good match for my relatively wide feet, with a roomy toe-box. So I was interested to try out the new Venture model – available as both a low hiking shoe and as a mid boot, as seen here. They represent a move into lighter weight footwear for Keen. The Venture mids were comfy from the first outing, requiring next to no breaking in, which is as I’ve come to expect from the brand; the lighter weight of these is a

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Gear review: Keen Karraig boots

Paul tries out the latest new boots from Keen. Even the name Karraig suggests something that might have been aimed specifically at the Scottish market…

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Posted in Footwear, Gear reviews, Magazine


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You should always carry a backup means of navigation and not rely on a single phone, app or map. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is every walker's responsibility to check it and to navigate safely.