{"id":5824,"date":"2011-12-04T16:49:21","date_gmt":"2011-12-04T16:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/?p=5824"},"modified":"2021-01-17T13:13:06","modified_gmt":"2021-01-17T13:13:06","slug":"gear-review-boots-for-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/gear-review-boots-for-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Boots"},"content":{"rendered":"

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. \u00a0Assuming winter walking<\/span> 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 a semi-flexible boot with a B1 rating suitable for this. For more serious crampon use such as repeated front pointing, kicking steps and other ventures into the realms of mountaineering a stiffer-soled B2 or even B3 boot would be required, but this stiffness comes to the detriment of walking comfort.<\/p>\n

There are exceptions, but as a general rule a B1 boot should be paired with a C1 crampon – secured with baskets at toe and heel and a flexible linking bar – which will have something like 8 – 10 points. A stiffer B2 boot can\u00a0accommodate\u00a0C1 crampons as well as more aggressive\/stiffer C2 crampons with a heel bail and probably 12 points. A B3 boot can take the totally rigid C3 crampons as well as C1 and C2. We’ll be looking at crampons in more detail over the coming months.<\/p>\n

It would be great to own a single pair of \u00a0boots suitable for the whole range of UK hillwalking conditions – nice flexible well-ventilated boots for summer trails, a lightweight waterproof boot for shoulder-season bog-hopping and a winter boot for snowy Munros with perhaps a bit of light mountaineering and scrambling thrown in. In reality many hillwalkers make do with just one pair, and I’d suggest a good B1 boot covers the widest spectrum. I’ve focused on that category for this review, with a couple of alternatives for those with more alpine aspirations.<\/p>\n

As fit is the single most important feature, I’m not going to offer a Walkhighlands Recommended<\/em> boot this month. This is probably the only outdoor gear that I wouldn’t consider buying online – it’s important to visit an outdoor shop with staff trained in the Phil Oren Fit System (just ask them) and try on a range of boots from a range of manufacturers. In almost all cases I recommend replacing the included footbed with something more biomechanically-supportive such as something from the Superfeet range (I use Green in my boots).<\/p>\n

Alt-berg Mallerstang RRP: \u00a3180<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>Alt-berg are a traditional bootmaker still making boots in their factory in North Yorkshire. With five width fittings and a custom service this is the company to contact if your feet don’t seem to fit any of the ‘off the shelf’ boots, and their custom service can deal with most minor fit problems \u00a0through steaming, bending or even custom manufacture. To allow for this manipulation the Mallerstang has a one-piece leather upper which has no seams to leak, and a Sympatex waterproof lining just to be sure. The included Leder-Gris wax is a nice touch and there’s something wonderfully\u00a0therapeutic about applying it (to the boot).\u00a0\u00a0As the name suggests, the Vibram\u00ae\u00a0IceTrek outsole is deep,\u00a0aggressive and\u00a0superbly supportive in snow. The footbed is simple foam which offers reasonable heel support. Some will dislike the\u00a0high ankle cuff and traditional styling, but if leather and a waterproof lining \u00a0floats your boat then this is pretty much the perfect year-round walking boot.<\/p>\n

Upper<\/span>: 2.8mm full\u00a0grain leather Sole<\/span>:\u00a0Vibram\u00ae\u00a0IceTrek Weight<\/span>: 1020g Sizes<\/span>:\u00a05 – 13\u00bd (with 5 width fittings)\u00a0Rating<\/span>: B1<\/p>\n

Anatom Q4\u00a0RRP: \u00a3180<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>Anatom have been around for a while, training shop staff in correct boot fitting when they distributed Superfeet. As such, you’d expect their footwear range to reflect this expertise – and I’m pleased to say that it does. Kind of. The Q4 is Anatom’s winter boot, with a B1 rating and a quality, hardwearing suede leather upper and ruggedVibram\u00ae outsole. Again, this leather upper permits an element of customisation through the use of a rubbing bar, and a big rubber rand protects the toe area. Anatom designed this boot in conjunction with an Italian boot designer and manufacture it in Romania. With this pedigree I expected a typically narrow Italian fit, but Anatom’s influence seems to have resulted in a nice British fit. The flat lambswool footbed is interesting. With their Superfeet background Anatom are firm believers in the value of a proper biomechanically-supportive footbed and the supplied footbed, whilst lovely and warm, should be discarded at the earliest opportunity. In fact, some retailers are bundling the Anatom range with Superfeet footbeds – a perfect marriage. This is a lovely, traditional boot that combines quality leather with a\u00a0proprietary\u00a0waterproof lining, and there’s nothing wrong with it – it just adds nothing new to a crowded market.<\/p>\n

Upper<\/span>: 3.0mm Perwanger Suede leather\u00a0Sole<\/span>:\u00a0Vibram\u00ae New Vertige\u00a0Weight<\/span>: 1087g\u00a0Sizes<\/span>: 3.5 – 12.5\u00a0Rating<\/span>: B1<\/p>\n

Brasher Kanaga RRP: \u00a3165<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Another leather boot, but this time with a more modern twist. The profusion of exposed stitching low down on the upper rings alarm bells, but initial forays haven’t given me any cause for concern. An all-round rubber rand protects the lovely oiled nubuck from the worst of the abuse, and the sharp-edged, boxy outsole inspires confidence when edging on both snow and slippery substrate. Brasher have incorporated a Gore-tex liner which might well be necessary if my fears regarding the exposed stitching are realised.\u00a0The leather-lined ankle cuff is comfortable if fully-laced, and very little breaking-in was required. I didn’t even need to replace the included footbed, which is one of the best I’ve seen supplied with a boot. \u00a0 The weight and price are pretty good – and most importantly they’re available in a size 11.5!<\/p>\n

Upper<\/span>: nubuck leather\u00a0Sole<\/span>:\u00a0Vibram\u00ae Foura\u00a0Weight<\/span>: 876g\u00a0Sizes<\/span>:\u00a07-12 (inc half sizes) Rating<\/span>: B1<\/p>\n

Garmont Vetta Mnt Plus GTX RRP: \u00a3180<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Garmont Vetta Mnt Plus is the oddity in this review – I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen a mid-height boot capable of accepting a semi-automatic crampon before. \u00a0The unsubtle upper is a mix of leather and synthetic materials protected by a high rubber rand, with lacing down to the toe suggesting a climbing slant. This climbing theme is reflected in the outsole, which has nice sharp edges but relatively shallow tread and a toe climbing zone. There is enough stiffness to make this a great scrambling boot, but even after conversations with the UK agent I’m unsure how to classify it. I’ve settled on a B1.5 but probably wouldn’t use them with C2 crampons. \u00a0A Gore-tex liner helps to keep water at bay, but the low height makes water ingress at the ankle more of a concern.\u00a0The light weight and slight flex in the sole makes this boot a great all-rounder, and ensures that I’ve reached for this boot more than any other in the review.<\/p>\n

Upper<\/span>: 1.8 mm suede leather\u00a0Sole<\/span>:\u00a0Vibram\u00ae Mulaz\u00a0Weight<\/span>: 748g\u00a0Sizes<\/span>:\u00a05-13\u00a0\u00a0Rating<\/span>: B1\/B2<\/p>\n

Meindl Himalaya MFS RRP: \u00a3230<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

German brand Meindl have an enviable reputation for producing quality footwear, and this boot supports that. The rugged, solid boot is styled for performance, with a huge rand protecting the sil-nubuck leather upper. The MFS system comprises of memory foam and other clever materials that mould the boot to your foot – this takes a bit of time and I found that in combination with the stiff sole these were far from comfortable out of the box. The outsole is a familiar pattern, with good all-round performance and a pleasing sharp, snow-penetrating edge. There is a heel ledge to accept a semi-automatic crampon and a general air of quality to the components and materials. A serious Teutonic mountain boot that outperforms its quiet understated looks.<\/p>\n

Upper<\/span>: Sil-Nubuck leather\u00a0Sole<\/span>:\u00a0Vibram\u00ae Multi-Grip\u00a0Weight<\/span>: 1156g\u00a0Sizes<\/span>: 6 – 12\u00a0\u00a0Rating<\/span>: B1<\/p>\n

Berghaus Kibo RRP: \u00a3230<\/span>RRP: \u00a3200<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If a B1 boot isn’t going to be sufficient for your aspirations, it’s time to step up to a B2 boot such as the Berghaus Kibo. The complex upper combines a bewildering array of synthetic materials to create a solid, slightly intimidating mountaineering boot with good protective rand. \u00a0I love the ball bearing lace loops which are coupled with a locking D-ring to keep the lower boot tight whilst concentrating on the upper lacing. The stiff sole is perfect for edging, kicking steps and forming a decent supportive platform in the snow, but takes some getting used to when walking on easier terrain. Despite the rugged components these boots are well-padded – providing insulation as well as making them surprisingly comfortable. You’ll want to break them in first though…<\/p>\n

Upper<\/span>: Leather\/suede\/SCHOELLER\u00ae Keprotec\/Lorica synthetic leather\u00a0Sole<\/span>:\u00a0Vibram\u00ae Granito\u00a0Weight<\/span>: 1120g\u00a0Sizes<\/span>:\u00a06 – 12.5\u00a0Rating: B2<\/p>\n

Salewa Blackbird RRP: \u00a3240 (\u20ac280)<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Where the Berghaus Kibo are modern, rugged and intimidating, the Salewa Blackbird are sleek, subtle and almost friendly. The upper is primarily leather with a flexible cut-out to aid ankle articulation and a neoprene ankle cuff to keep things out. This cuff is high, with three upper lace hooks rather than the usual two, supplementing the nice lacing \u00a0hardware further down the boot. These are obviously aimed at alpinists with a large ‘climbing zone’ on the boxy, sharp-edged outsole, and a heel ledge to accept a semi-automatic crampon. As you’d expect, the sole is stiff and sharp enough to permit edging, kicking and slices through the snow to form a nice platform. The price is high, but the features justify this – there are multiple lasts available and even a very confident “100% Blisterfree” guarantee coupled to the usual Gore-tex guarantee. This is a close-fitting, light B2 boot that is actually comfortable enough to be worn outside the winter months. Well worth a look if you can find a pair on sale and afford the high price tag.<\/p>\n

Upper<\/span>: 2.6mm Suede Perwanger\u00a0Sole<\/span>:\u00a0Vibram\u00ae Teton\u00a0Weight<\/span>: 1049g\u00a0Sizes<\/span>: 6 – 13 (inc half sizes and multiple lasts) \u00a0Rating<\/span>: B2<\/p>\n

**All weights are per boot at UK size 11.5 or 12**<\/p>\n

Agree with Phil? Why not let us know what boots you love for the winter on our forum here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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. \u00a0Assuming 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…<\/span> <\/p>\n

Read more ›<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5828,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-footwear","category-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5824"}],"version-history":[{"count":65,"href":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5824\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23505,"href":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5824\/revisions\/23505"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}