Teva Riva Peak Mid eVent Womens
RRP: £140
Weight: 1018g (W UK Size 5)
Upper: 2.2mm full grain leather
Sole: Vibram
Sizes: 4 – 8 (Womens) 6 – 12 (Men)
Crampon rating: B0 – not crampon compatible
As so much to do with boots comes down to fit I’ll start there. These 3 season, mid-height walking boots have a generously wide toe with plenty of height, much more in line with the fit of Keen than the relatively narrow last of say Scarpa boots. The heel is narrower and held firmly in place by a shock absorbing insole, this keeps the feet very stable over rocky ground, but if your feet are slightly wider at the heel you might want to replace this with a less fitted insole. I usually end up with bruised and battered toes on long descents so I was really pleased to find plenty of room at the toe end but without the foot being able to slip within the boot so I would recommend these for wider feet.
The upper is made from 2mm leather with a robust toe bumper and lined with a one piece eVent breathable waterproof membrane. Despite having a thicker outer than some lightweight boots the uppers were flexible and comfortable from the start. A single, thorough fitting in an outdoor shop should be enough to let you know whether these will be a good fit for you as breaking-in time will be minimal.
The Vibram sole is supported by a PU midsole and nylon shank which added a fair amount of stiffness and the boots feel very stable on rocky and loose ground. The outer sole has a deep tread which gripped well on all terrain and a design that sheds claggy mud effectively. An 8 mile walk in on tarmac did not leave my feet feeling sore, somewhat bearing out Teva’s claim to bring “flip flop comfort to a walking shoe” which it claims for its Mush (a springy material originally developed for their sandals) infused insole. I’d have liked to see a little more padding on the leather neck around the ankle.
I’ve yet to find a 3 season boot that will keep out the Scottish bogs and rain for long and I was interested to find out how Teva, renowned for their sport sandals, would fair. With less seams that some other makes and a well fitted liner, these have stood the test of boggy day walks so far but more time will be needed to see how the liner stands up to prolonged use. eVent has a good reputation for breathability and I’ve had no problem with sweaty feet so far but I haven’t yet used them in summer conditions.
Weighing in at 1018g (W UK Size 5) these are not lightweight, but then I’d be happy using them for a wide range of hill walks except on icy snow (although not suitable for full crampons, I have used them successfully with flexible Kahtoola crampons in conditions not requiring full crampons). Available in rhubarb red for women and insignia blue for men.