Hiking Boots Season

It’s cold, it’s wet and it’s time for hiking boots. We look at the latest hiking boots on the outdoors market.

Now that the weather’s turned chilly and we’ve had an especially wet weekend, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at the latest hiking boots on the market and give them the once over.

Hiking boots by their very nature need to be comfy and tough with suitably chunky treads for traversing all types of terrain while battling the elements with breathable and moisture wicking linings as well as full on waterproof protection.

So with these ideals in mind, we’ve picked four of the best new hiking boots and decided to compare them on looks, price, comfort and protection.

First up is the new Hi-Tec V-Lite Altitude Ultra WPi. Proof that Hi-Tec can be so much more than an affordable outdoors brand, the V-Lite Altitude Ultra WPi doesn’t pull any punches! The leading boot in their ‘Wet is Dry’ WPi range, these boots have been selling like hot cakes and it’s clear to see why with their lightweight V-Lite construction, full grain leather uppers and Ion-Mask waterproof technology.

Your feet are instantly surrounded with softness, so these boots need very little breaking in. Meanwhile a moisture wicking lining removes any excess moisture and an exclusive Vibram outsole provides excellent grip with nice and chunky treads.

So you get a fully featured hiking boot that’s lightweight and very comfortable with classic good looks, chunky treads and full waterproof protection.

New on the outdoors scene, Carn has modified their Carn Storm Chaser eVent outdoor shoes with an extended collar design to provide extra ankle support and additional protection against the elements.

The Carn Storm Chaser eV Mid is a simple, but great looking hiking boot with eVent waterproofing, AEGIS and Trek-DRY anti-bacterial and moisture wicking linings, as well as a Carn exclusive uTRX sole unit for tackling the most versatile of terrains.

For a new brand, Carn have really set the bar high with their products and as a result, these boots are incredibly comfortable and offer all the support you could ever want while being hard wearing and completely waterproof.

However, they are on the expensive side compared to the technical boots of other brands like Merrell and Salomon. It doesn’t help that the Carn Storm Chaser eV Mid bears a close resemblance to the considerably cheaper Hi-Tec Eurotrek.

Funnily enough, our third hiking boot is the Hi-Tec Eurotrek! These are considerably cheaper than the Hi-Tec WPi and the Carn Storm Chaser and lack a lot of the extra features and advanced technologies, but have the same basic essentials, such as good looks, chunky treads and a soft sockliner for additional cushioning.

These are also made with waterproof leather, but without the usual Gore-Tex, eVent or Ion-Mask technology to keep the elements out. More water resistant than waterproof, but excellent value for money all the same.

Our fourth and final hiking boot is the new Merrell Chameleon3 Ventilator Mid GTX, a lightweight hiking boot designed for maximum breathability and comfort with an aggressive grip to conquer all terrains.

As their price would indicate, these are some very special, high performance, incredibly technical hiking boots. The Merrell Chameleon3 Ventilator Mid GTX features a breathable mesh upper and a stable heel fit to keep you walking more comfortably for longer.

There is a huge list of features to offer premium quality cushioning, support, fit and grip, including an Ortholite footbed and the latest Vibram Chameleon3 outsole featuring an aggressive 5mm lug depth. And of course, there’s a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane as indicated by the GTX in the name.

These are just a selection of the huge range of hiking boots available from fitnessfootwear – the web’s widest choice of sports and outdoor shoes with Free UK delivery.

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