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Over the course of this year, I committed myself to a number of ultra marathon challenges and wanted to gear myself up with the best tools for the job. First on this list and most importantly was footwear… Considering plenty of options I wanted something that provided stability of changing terrain that prioritise comfort over long distances over some more rigid or minimalist. The key features …

I am a self-confessed Hoka fan. Most of my distance walking has been in Hoka since discovering their trail shoes back in 2018. Since 2018 I have used  Speedgoat, Speedgoat Mid, Sky Toa, Sky Kaha, Challenger, Trail Code and Stinson to cover 1000’s of miles. When the original Kaha boot launched back in 2019 I immediately bought a pair. They offered a great …

A number of people in our office are loyal Inov8 fans but I had never tried any of their kit before. However, I was in need of some new footwear and thought this could be the time to see what I was potentially missing out on. Having always gone for footwear with a Vibram sole I had planned, as ever, going to play safe with the same tried and tested but had heard some very positive things abo …

I’ve used these a couple of times on backpacking trips and a day hike in the Lake District during February & March and can verify the comfort claims straight out of the box. La Sportiva explains that the extra volume in the front area of the boot is designed to deliver comfort and this is really apparent as soon as you put the boots on, furthermore, the rest of the boot seems to be …

The original Roclite Pro G 400, released in 2020, and are one of the best pairs of hiking boots I've tried; hard-wearing, supportive and very light. They went on to win the prestigious "Footwear of the Year" category at that year's Outdoor Awards show. So, when Inov8 announced they were revamping the trail shoe for 2023, I was keen to get my hands on a pair. The  Roclite Pro G …

I have been testing the Hoka Women’s Kaha 2 GTX Hiking boot for 4 months, walking regularly in my local woods and on the North York Moors in the depths of winter. They have stomped through mud, snow and ice, winched up steep grassy hillsides and explored rocky sandstone outcrops. The Vibram® Megagrip rubber with Traction Lug design combined with the broad foot print, provide excellent …

Since releasing their first shoe in 2012, Altras popularity has soared - much like the millions of customers who choose to use their products. Nowadays it’s rare for a seemingly unknown brand to enter the somewhat saturated footwear market and make a success of it. But just what were Altra doing that no-one else was? Quite simply, they were offering zero drop running shoes, with …

On a backpacking trip last year, I ended up hiking with an American trio, all ultra-lighters, all experienced “thru-hikers “and all wearing Altras, a brand that is now synonymous with the longer American hikes such as the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. As hikers do, we discussed gear, and they spoke incredibly highly about their footwear. I was keen to try out the Brand for …

The Hoka One One Sky Kaha boot is the closest to a ‘traditional’ hiking boot in the Hoka range but you won’t have experienced this level of comfort in your typical leather hiker. The deep midsole combined with the rocker makes you feel like you are almost floating across the trail. They are part cushioned trail runner and part-leather hiking boots. The upper is nubuck leather with a …

This was not my first use of these boots, I’d been using them for about a year prior to this trip, I’d bought them as a winter boot for days out in the Lake District where I didn’t see the need for big traditional winter boots. They will take a lightweight micro crampon for traversing ice, they are waterproof and warm enough with mid-weight socks for everything I’d be doing during a Lak …

The Haglofs Duality technology is one of a kind; they have an interesting, unique design, aesthetically they look fantastic and the interchangeable midsole aims to offer two shoes in one. The deep midsoles mean that the majority of the support is inside the shoe, which offers incredible comfort. There is a reason they are referred to as midsoles rather than insoles as they are much more …

How do Scarpa describe their new Rush Trek GTX boot? RUSH TRK GTX is the new benchmark for all day long and short mountain hike. It is a boot made in the name of comfort with technologies that reduce foot fatigue during the hike. It represents a culmination of soft comfort, solid stability and a lightweight feel. H …