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 Robust sole, wide fit at toes Breathable membrane won’t last forever 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…

Yorkshire boot manufacturer Alt-Berg has spent over three years developing the new A-Forme boots, which are designed for a different foot shape to the existing Alt-Berg range and the majority of boots from other manufacturers. Not only do the new Yan Tan boots feature this new last, they also represent a radical departure from Alt-Berg’s standard range of traditional leather boots. Alt-Berg Yan Tan Price: £170 weight, fit, build quality price   The Last Alt-Berg suggest that standard boot shapes tend to push the big toe inwards. Alt-Berg’s new A-Forme last adopts the asymmetric shape which  accepts the existing toe…

There are some situations where a strong, rigid boot is almost essential – ice-climbing immediately springs to mind – but for a lot of the time there is no need to lug a pair of boots around. Footwear is an area where personal choice and fit over-rules any review, but during the summer months I’ll be wearing a pair of lightweight trail shoes for my hillwalking. I prefer a pair of shoes designed for trail running, which tend to be lightweight, flexible, quick drying and – importantly – quick draining. A flexible sole provides feedback from the terrain, important for…

Having spent years engaged in a perpetual foot versus stiff boot struggle, I became an evangelical convert to the world of trail shoes after completing a long distance route in footwear strongly resembling my old school trainers. Since then trail shoe design has moved on with the new minimal breed looking very interesting and creating a real divide with the more substantial, and sometimes waterproof lined versions – the colours are getting more lurid too! All of these women’s shoes are available in a men’s version and the majority of the men’s ones reviewed by Phil here are also available…

While most other outdoor gear can be improvised, begged, borrowed or stolen until funds or inclination are favourable, your shoes need a bit more thought. Many people complete epic feats (feets?) in their favourite trainers all year round, but in this review I’m going to look at something a bit more suitable for the rigours of winter mountain walking.  Assuming winter walking rather than mountaineering or climbing, a hillwalking boot needs to be stiff enough to cut through snow to form a stable platform, accept some form of crampon and have a tread pattern designed to shift snow. I find…