The boots were tested under different conditions. Photo: Bob Smith/Grove
First of all, it is useful to explain what we mean by boots for three to four seasons. We see from time to time that this term used to denote boots suitable for use throughout winter conditions, as well as for walking during the rest of the year. But our definition of this test is for boots that can be used year-round, but not under the conditions encountered in the British mountains during the real winter.
To this end, we use the full winter conditions to represent mountainous terrain where the temperature is below zero, where you may encounter ice, hard snow, including névé, and where you should wear crampons and carry ice-an axe.
In this case, we think you should wear a pair of real winter boots, the soles are hard enough to install crampons, and the steps can kick into the hard snow. It is very difficult to design a boot that is both up to the task and suitable for walking in the milder months, and only one type of boot in our test can be safely used with walking crampons.
Therefore, we ask the brand to provide us with boots suitable for use in the hills and mountains of the UK or Europe without complete winter conditions.
Six brands of footwear have been extensively tested under different conditions, from warm and dry days to heavy rains and cold days.
People's feet vary greatly, and boots that are suitable for testers may not be suitable for everyone. Therefore, we always recommend that you try on boots before buying. A good outdoor retailer will make sure to provide you with the model and size that suits your feet.
The size of the tester used in this evaluation is 9½ (44 Euro) feet, with a wider forefoot and a smaller foot.
We now also include a sustainability score in our rating, which is based on the brand's statements about the policies and actions they have taken to reduce the environmental impact of certain models and other products.
None of the tested boots are suitable for vegetarians.
AKU Alterra Lite Mid GTX. Photo: Bob Smith/Grove
AKU Alterra Lite Mid GTX Price: £169.90 Color: Blue Weight: 1,022 g/Double Structure: Suede/Air8000 Synthetic Waterproof: Gore-Tex Extended Comfort Country of Production: Vietnam Sole Hardness: 6 Ladies Version: Yes Size: Ladies 3 -9; Men's 6-13 crampons compatible: No
AKU boots are the lightest in the test, which makes them most suitable for use in the less harsh conditions common in spring, summer and autumn.
As conditions deteriorate, Alterra Lite Mid GTX can also be used occasionally for more technical terrain, but definitely for walking below the snow line. The soles are a little harder than typical summer walking boots, and the toes and heels are well protected, thanks to the hard rubber covering in these areas.
The upper combines suede elements with the branded Air8000 synthetic material on the forefoot, tongue and ankle cuffs. The ankles of these medium-design boots are not very high, which helps the legs move without restriction when walking.
The lacing is operated by four pairs of suede loops and a rubber loop and a pair of metal shackles. The rubber ring uses a thin fiber rope and then extends to the top of the heel area to help hold the item there.
Waterproof comes from Gore-Tex Extended Comfort membrane.
This boot is designed around AKU's Elica system, which claims to contribute to natural stride and asymmetrical outsole lugs and midsole. AKU stated that this follows the natural inclination of the foot.
The upper is soft and does not require any running-in. The forefoot is quite wide and moderate in size. Due to the EVA midsole and partially recycled Ortholite hybrid insole, AKU boots are usually very comfortable and have good foot cushioning. However, for me, there is pressure on the outside of the toe area because it narrows significantly around the fourth and fifth toes.
However, Alterra Lite Mid GTX can block rain and splashing water, just like most boots with fabric areas, it will feel cool when wet, because the waterproof membrane is the only thing that can prevent water from entering.
This boot uses the brand’s Tenuta sole with an asymmetrical pattern, with harder lugs on the outer area of the forefoot and heel, and slightly softer lugs on the inner area.
The performance of AKU boots is very good. Braking and traction on wet grass are very good. On wet rocks, the braking effect is very good and the traction is very good.
Alterra Lite Mid GTX is a good boot suitable for general use in spring, summer and autumn. It is very light, very suitable for long-distance walking, and due to the good sole rigidity and grip performance, it can cope with slightly technical terrain. In winter, it is not suitable, softer uppers are not suitable, such as kicking steps in the snow, it will definitely not bring crampons.
Therefore, for a walker who occasionally wears boots when the temperature drops, it represents an all-rounder at a reasonable price. Just stay below the snow line.
In terms of sustainability, AKU has abandoned the use of acrylic-based glues in favor of water-based formulations. It also uses cardboard for packaging, urging users to recycle used boxes. The footbed is also partly made of recycled materials.
Best use: Trekking in spring, summer and autumn, and occasionally an outing below the snow line in winter; fast and light walking.
Performance 32/40 Comfort 24/30 Quality 7/10 Value for money 7/10 Sustainability 6/10 Total score: 76/100
Craghoppers Kiwi Trek. Photo: Bob Smith/Grove
Craghoppers Kiwi Trek Price: £150 Color: Brown Weight: 1,176 g/pair Structure: Leather Waterproof: Aquadry Membrane Manufacturing Country: China Sole Hardness: 4 Ladies Version: None Size: 5-13 Crampons Compatibility: None
Speaking of walking boots, Craghoppers may not be the first brand you think of, but Kiwi Trek looks as traditional as them.
The brown full-grain leather has a stippled pattern on the surface, and the tongue and ankle cuffs are also lined with leather.
The laces are passed through three pairs of metal, loops, then back metal hooks pointing towards the heel, and finally two metal hooks to get the correct tension in the ankle area. Soft leather and padded ankle cuffs make Craghoppers boots very comfortable.
The toe box is reinforced to provide protection in this area, and the heel cup is also reinforced. There is only one stitched joint in the leather, located on the inside of the forefoot. The forefoot is quite wide and moderate in size.
Kiwi Trek uses Craghoppers' Aquadry lining to enhance the waterproofness of the leather. The inner lining uses the brand's NosiLife insect repellent treatment.
The sole unit is quite thin and does not have a lot of cushioning under the feet. The sole is quite flexible, so if you try to kick the stairs, it's not good. Most of the cushioning comes from the EVA midsole and footbed, with good depth in the heel area.
The outsole is a Vibram unit with 5 mm lugs. The heel area flares out a bit to provide wider contact with the ground.
Braking and traction on wet grass are reasonable. Kiwi Trek has very good braking performance on wet rock and good traction on wet rocky terrain.
The boots come with standard brown laces and a pair of extra orange laces, if you want to add vitality to its appearance.
Despite the leather construction, Craghoppers boots are the most competitively priced and second lightest boots in the test. Kiwi Trek are not really suitable for all winter conditions, but their light weight and good water resistance make them a good choice for spring, summer and autumn, even though they do feel warm on days when the temperature rises. They are suitable for occasionally setting foot on the mountain in winter when the terrain is not icy. They are not hard enough to install crampons.
Craghoppers is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative. Its shoes have a two-year warranty, and the company is a member of the Higg Index, which can actually measure the production facilities in its supply chain to assess its environmental sustainability. For more than 10 years, it imported goods from Liverpool instead of the southern port, reducing 400,000 miles of road mileage each year.
Best use: Trekking in spring, summer and fall, and occasional outings on non-frozen terrain in winter. Country trekking throughout the year. Performance 27/40 Comfort 25/30 Quality 7/10 Value for money 8/10 Sustainability 6/10 Total score: 73/100
Dana Pass. Photo: Bob Smith/Grove
Danner Mountain Pass Price: £370 Color: Black Weight: 1,390 g/Double Structure: Full-grain leather, 200 g Thinsulate Insulation Waterproof: Gore-Tex Country of manufacture: USA Sole hardness: 5 Ladies version: Yes Size: Ladies 3½- 8; Men's 6-12 crampons compatible: No
Mountain Pass boots are available in insulated or non-insulated versions.
The pair of models we tested had a layer of Thinsulate insulation built into the structure. The upper is full-grain leather with a dot pattern. Mountain Pass boots also have Gore-Tex waterproof membrane.
This, combined with an outsole designed to provide better grip on wet ice and frozen terrain, marks the boot as an ideal choice when the temperature drops. However, they are not suitable for crampons-the soles are too flexible.
But in wet snow, silt, and generally cool wet and swamp conditions, Danner boots played their part.
The shoe upper adopts a hardened heel cup, and the toe cap is also hardened to provide good protection on the rocky ground. The lacing is completed by five pairs of metal loops and two pairs of upper metal hooks. The tongue and ankle cuffs are all padded leather, and there is an asymmetrical leather overlapping flap on the tongue, stitched to the inside of the foot, and the outside is not connected. When the shoelace is tightened, it sits above the tongue to provide extra protection.
The laces are very short, and there is a tendency to over-tighten the ankle, which can cause discomfort when the tongue and cuff are pressed into the ankle. I found that careful lacing is the key to avoiding this situation. Under proper tension, the boots are very comfortable in this area.
The sole unit is unusual because it is a "stitched" structure, with the sole protruding about 5 mm, protruding the entire upper. This provides a wider footprint for the boots, but does not cause any cutting-edge issues.
The outsole is a Vibram Arctic Grip model with a lug pattern designed to provide good grip on wet snow and ice. Viewed from the toe end of the boot, the outsole has a slight convex profile, which means that the center of the sole in the forefoot area touches the ground more than the outer area. This may be the cause of the obvious stepping noise when the boots pass through the rock. And hard trails.
The midsole is quite soft, but very thin in the forefoot area, providing only moderate foot cushioning. Ortholite footbed has good cushioning at the heel.
The forefoot is quite wide and medium to low in volume. Overall, Danner boots provide good comfort, but they need to be fastened properly and keep my feet warm and dry at all times.
Braking and traction on wet grass are very good. Braking on wet rocks is not very reliable, but the traction on wet rocks is very good.
For an all-leather structure with a good outsole, the Mountain Pass is relatively light, making long-distance travel less tiring in cold and humid conditions. The quality of American-made boots is very good, which is reflected in the price.
Although not suitable for all-mountain winter conditions, Danner boots can cope with almost all other situations. It can resist rain and mud well, can cope with wet snow and melting snow, and provide guarantee on icy trails. It is comfortable and light enough to be an everyday boot in spring, summer and winter, but it may feel overheated in the hot summer. Since crampons are not suitable for winter mountain hikes, Mountain Pass is also suitable for use in typical British wet winter conditions.
Boots come with a one-year warranty. In addition to the inner lining, they can be "re-made", that is, re-sole, stretch and re-stitch. Danner provides support to a number of organizations in the United States, including a primarily African-American organization in his hometown of Portland; a volunteer trail manager in Oregon; a non-profit organization that promotes affordable housing in the United States; and Shan Moose protection project.
Best use: mountaineering and hiking; walking on wet snow and ice; year-round mountain hiking; urban winter walking.
Performance 34/40 Comfort 25/30 Quality 9/10 Value for money 6/10 Sustainability 5/10 Total score: 79/100
Meindl Peru GTX. Photo: Bob Smith/Grove
Meindl Peru GTX Price: £192.50 Color: Light Brown Weight: 1,390 g/Double Structure: Nubuck Waterproof: Gore-Tex Country of Manufacture: Unspecified Sole Hardness: 7 Women's Edition: Yes Size: Women's 3½-8; Men's 6 -12 Crampons compatible: No
Peru GTX is designed for use in the mountains of England, mainly in spring, summer and autumn. Its upper is made of soft nubuck leather, which makes the boots very comfortable and at the same time provides good anti-collision protection.
It can also provide good performance for occasional mountain hikes in winter, but not under full winter conditions that require crampons and kicks.
Meindl boots are moderate in weight and moderate in sole hardness, providing good stability on high-tech terrain. I found it to be a comfortable all-rounder, able to deal with all kinds of conditions, from heavy rains in swamps and swamps to hiking in mixed weather.
Nubuck leather is "soaked", but combined with Gore-Tex lining, it can walk in wet grass and deep mud even on very wet days, keeping rainwater out. On the mountain, the well-designed sole unit can cope well with gravel roads, rocky sections and grass. The leather is soft enough to use right out of the box, and the ankle cuffs have good foam protection and leather lining. The forefoot is wide and of medium volume.
The laces are completed by four pairs of metal loops, a pair of back webbing loops and two pairs of metal hooks in the ankle area. This makes for a good difference in shoelaces between the forefoot and ankle, and there is no heel elevation on the uphill section.
The heel cup is hardened, the toe part is reinforced, and the sole of the front of the boot also has a rubber extension to provide additional protection.
The midsole is very flexible and provides moderate to good foot cushioning. The insole has medium cushioning. The outsole is Meindl's own Duo-Dur III, with 3 mm lugs, mixed with rectangular, circular and oval elements.
Peru GTX is a traditional-looking, reasonable-structured boot with high quality.
In the test, Meindl boots are the most comfortable and are the shoes I wear every day when I go out in wet and cool conditions.
Braking and traction on wet grass are moderately guaranteed. The braking effect is very good on wet rocks, and the traction on wet rocks is very good. The Peruvian GTX is very happy in the mountains and hills of the United Kingdom. As mentioned earlier, it will work in soft snow and melting snow winter conditions, but it is not designed for full winter conditions that may require crampons and pedaling.
As an all-around player in spring, summer and autumn, Meindl boots are hard to beat. They are a good choice for walkers who mainly go out under these conditions and occasionally set foot in colder hills.
Meindl boots can be replaced through the British dealer Bramwell International to replace the soles, and replace the hooks and D-rings. Meindl’s Bavarian plant has switched to energy-saving LED lighting and equipped with air purification filters to reduce emissions far below legal limits. It uses a tannery that meets the LWG gold standard, and its rubber scraps can be reused in the production process.
It provides employees with free work buses, distributes meal vouchers for local food retailers, and provides jobs for low-skilled workers, refugees, and people with learning disabilities. The company is a member of the Friends of the Bavarian Academy of Nature Conservation and Landscape Management.
Meindl is improving its solvent-free adhesives for shoe soles and is shortening supplier transportation routes and optimizing transportation to make the most of trucks.
Best use: British mountain walking, autumn walking, spring, summer and autumn country walking; occasional walking in winter when crampons are needed; low-level mountain walking. Performance 34/40 Comfort 27/30 Quality 8/10 Value for money 7/10 Sustainability 7/10 Total score: 83/100
Scarpa SL is active. Photo: Bob Smith/Grove
Scarpa SL Active Price: £260 Color: Brown Weight: 1,806 g/pair Structure: Leather Waterproof: Non-manufacturing country: Italy Sole hardness: 8 Ladies version: Yes size: Ladies 4-8; Men's crampons compatible with size 7-14: Yes, walking crampons (C1)
This version of Scarpa SL is the ninth version in the long history of its popular mountain boots.
The SL Active is the heaviest boot in the test and immediately feels very strong. The upper is made of Scarpa's 2.8 mm Sherpa full-grain leather and impregnated with the brand's HS12 silicone cream. There is no waterproof membrane, but the thick leather plus treatment can prevent rain when hiking for a long time in humid weather.
The weight and stiff sole means you will know that you have been wearing SL after a long day on the mountain, but the added underfoot cushioning in this latest version does mean that the feet are a lot less than the previous days. There is little padding there Things.
It almost feels a bit overkill to wear Scarpa boots on a trolley in the wilderness, but they can cope well with mud, puddles, swamps and all the other underfoot terrain here. But when you get to the mountain, SL really feels at home. The hard sole and 6 mm deep lugs ensure advancement on the technical ground, with very good stability on the rocky part.
The leather upper is covered with a deep and hard rubber rand at the bottom, which extends at the toe and is hardened so that it can be kicked in the ice and snow. The heel cup is also hardened to protect the area.
The tie is passed through a pair of metal D-rings, then three pairs of hinged metal rings, and finally three pairs of metal lock rings. The ankle cuffs and tongue are well padded and lined with soft leather. The main leather upper at the ankle also has cutouts and a matte area with pads to allow bending. The trunk lining is leather, and the rest is breathable Cocona with air cushion. The ankle cuffs are high. When you put on the SL, it feels like a very close-fitting boot with a lining that wraps the foot.
The forefoot is of moderate width and volume. I find that tying the shoelaces correctly is essential for comfort. Too tight forefoot and boots can cause some discomfort. Reducing the tension of this part of the lace can eliminate this situation. However, due to the hard sole and the shape of the heel cup, unless the boot is firmly fixed to the first locking hook, there will be a tendency for the heel to rise in the uphill section. Keeping the ankle cuffs tightly fastened by the two hooks at the top also helps.
The only device is Vibram's biometric trekking model, designed to provide good and stable support when carrying heavy objects. There is a fairly thick midsole, especially at the heel, combined with some padding in the footbed, to provide a comfortable foot cushion.
The outsole is well done. The aggressive heel brakes help the SL perform very well on wet grass, and they also provide very good traction on this type of terrain.
On wet rocks, braking and traction are very good.
Scarpa SL feels very bulletproof. You can confidently go mountain hikes in all four seasons in the UK, including all winter conditions if you wear C1 crampons for walking. The stability on the technical terrain is very good, and the thick leather can well prevent impact and abrasion. Ankle protection is also very good.
If you can only buy a pair of boots and you plan to go to the mountains in winter, then Scarpa SL is a good choice. But keep in mind that they will feel heavy when used for long distances, and will be slightly over-designed when walking along the river bank. However, despite the lack of a waterproof membrane, the boots withstood the worst weather in the UK. In summer conditions, I find them very warm, mainly due to the thickness of the leather, although the lining can absorb moisture well.
I found that SL needs to be carefully laced to avoid heel elevation and pinching on both sides of the forefoot, but once achieved, they are very comfortable.
Scarpa has installed photovoltaic cells on its buildings, which can reduce about 320 tons of carbon dioxide each year. Under strict regulatory standards, 90% of its manufacturing and material supply come from Europe. It has launched an employee plan to provide its employees with tools and knowledge to promote its sustainable development strategy. SL can be readjusted.
Best use: mountain walking, mountain walking, winter mountain walking, hiking.
Performance 38/40 Comfort 25/30 Quality 9/10 Value for money 7/10 Sustainability 5/10 Total score: 84/100
Zamberlan Virtex GTX RR. Photo: Bob Smith/Grove
Zamberlan Virtex GTX RR Price: £190 Color: Brown Weight: 1,720g/Double Structure: Leather Waterproof: Gore-Tex Performance Comfort Manufacturing Country: Italy Sole Hardness: 6 Ladies Version: None Size: 4-12 Crampons Compatibility: None
Virtex GTX RR is designed by an Italian brand specifically for the UK market, which is more prone to wet environments.
The upper is made of the company's Hydrobloc full-grain leather to enhance water resistance. Zamberlan boots also come with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane. I used my boots under some very heavy rain conditions and my feet became dry.
The leather on the upper is quite soft, and the boots look very comfortable from the outside, although the sharp toe box on the outer edge does pinch my little toe a bit during long walks.
There is a tailored curved area at the ankle cuff. On older models of this boot, they have Cordura embedded, but in this latest version, it is a softer padded leather, which means that the entire upper can block rain and dirt. The heel cup hardens, the toe box hardens, and it also has a rubber cover to prevent wear.
The Virtex boots have a fairly high ankle, and the cuffs and the top of the tongue are well padded. The shoe has a pair of metal D-rings and then four pairs of metal rings. A pair of locking metal hooks can apply good tension to prevent the heel from lifting, and then there are two pairs of metal hooks that can apply individual ankle tension.
There are ventilation holes on the ankle cuffs and the top of the cushion on the tongue. The rest of the lining is a fabric that can absorb moisture well.
The midsole of Zamberlan boots is the brand's Z-Flex GT, which is quite sturdy. Nevertheless, Virtex GTX RR has good sole cushioning, thanks to the insole and outsole lugs also have a little help when landing.
The Vibram Schwarzwald outsole has 5 mm lugs that can be dug into the mud well. Boots have quite good braking and traction on wet grass, but braking on wet rocks is not the best, although traction on this type of terrain is better.
Virtex GTX RR is not really a boot that can be connected to crampons, because the sole has too much curvature. But it is a real mountain boot, on the rocky terrain like in a wilderness swamp, giving people a feeling of being at home. The stability in more technical aspects is very good, and the prevention of knocks is also very good. Regrettably, its grip on wet rocks disappointed it a bit.
But for a full-featured mountain boot, it is very comfortable, even at longer distances. It is quite heavy—the second heaviest in the test—but its good cushioning and soft leather upper are suitable for trouble-free outings.
As long as you don't go to névé and ice in winter, it may be the closest candidate for the year. The Gore-Tex lining makes it ideal for walking in summer, but it can cope with dry trails, marshland routes, rainy weather, and rugged mountain roads.
All Zamberlan boots made in Italy, including Virtex GTX RR, can be resoled. This accounts for 95% of the company's output.
It says that the longevity of boots is the core of the responsible use of outdoor sports enthusiasts. Concentrating most of its production in Italy, reducing the transportation impact on its main markets in continental Europe and the United Kingdom.
Best use: mountain climbing in spring, summer and autumn; winter mountain walking under the snow line; walking in the countryside and wilderness.
Performance 35/40 Comfort 26/30 Quality 8/10 Value for money 8/10 Sustainability 4/10 Total score: 81/100
Comfort is at the top of the list of priorities. Photo: Bob Smith/Grove
Scarpa SL Active was among the best in our test. Excellent materials and manufacturing quality, coupled with good design, make it our first choice. You can also use Scarpa boots with flexible walking crampons, making them suitable for hiking throughout the winter. However, compared to some boots, it is very heavy-for those long-distance hikes and multi-day hikes need to keep this in mind.
Close behind is Meindl Peru GTX, which is the most comfortable boot for me. Although you can't expect German boots to protect you in the mountains in winter, Peru is suitable for almost all other conditions, and my feet are still very happy after a long journey.
Zamberlan Virtex GTX RR feels like at home on the mountain, with good protection and stability, while coping with the typical British mix of rain, mud, rocks and swamps.
Danner Mountain Pass boots are fun and look more like work boots. They are designed to cope with the cold and humid conditions rarely encountered in the UK. The quality of American-made footwear is very good, but the price is the highest.
AKU Alterra Lite Mid GTX will appeal to those who like to move fast but still need good sole stability.
Craghoppers Kiwi Trek is a leather structure boot, with good water resistance and extra insect protection, great value for money. They are also light enough to be worn on long journeys without increasing fatigue.
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