Recommended Price: £121 Weight: 710g (Pair women’s size 5.5) Mens version available These traditional-looking trail shoes from Aku provide a more robust alternative to lighter, more flexible alternatives. The Montera Low GTX is made in Italy. The uppper is primarily seude with soft elasticated material at the cuff which should elimate rubbing on the achilles area and similar material for the tongue which helps the shoe flex without forming creases and pressure points. The gore-tex lining makes this a waterproof shoe great for muddy trails and wet grass but combined with the fairly thick upper material I found my feet…

Whilst these lightweight low-cut shoes are firmly aimed at trail runners – and ultra long distance ones at that – I’m always looking for comfortable and robust footwear that enables me to discard my heavier shoes and boots for summer Scottish routes. As with all footwear, fit is key. These were instantly very comfortable on my wide feet with no pinch points, the toe box is reasonably wide with plenty of give in the mesh uppers, they may be slightly on the short side as I fit a UK size 6 when a 5.5 is usually my choice (men’s version…

Recommended Price: £180 Weight: 670g AKU may be an unfamiliar brand name to UK walkers, but the Italian company has 30 years experience making boots. Although based in Treviso, Aku also have a second production base in Romania where these Alterra GTX boots are manufactured. AKU Alterra GTX boots are full-height boots that actually sit somewhere between the lightness and flexibility of trail shoes and the support of heavier boots. Much of the uppers are made from suede, with a stretchy synthetic material used for the ankle cuff and the tongue. This stretchiness means no tongue gusset is needed and…