The Great Outdoors Spring 2019

The Great Outdoors Spring 2019 75

La Sportiva

TX5 GTX

£180 1086g

lightweight

expensive

Uppers: Nubuck leather, synthetic, Gore-Tex
Outer sole: Vibram Megagrip
Mid sole: EVA , injected stabiliser
Flexibility: semi-stiff
Sizes: men 39-47.5, women 36-41.5
lasportiva.com

The lightweight TX5s are surprisingly stiff for

the weight. La Sportiva describes them

as “mid-cut, protective approach shoes

for hikers and backpackers with heavy

loads”. I prefer something more lexible

outside of winter. I could imagine using

these with crampons if they itted me,

but sadly, like many others in the test,

they are too narrow for my feet.

The design is good, with a protective

rubber rand round the leather uppers and

mesh ankles and cuff. The lacing attaches to a

cord running round the back of the boots that

tightens when you pull the laces for a close

it at the ankle. Cushioning seems good and

the Megagrip rubber sole has differentiated

lugs for grip on different terrain. I don't mind

the Gore-Tex bootie as I'd wear these in cold

conditions. The boots combine stiffness and

support well and would suit those who like

solid-feeling boots but not heavy ones. They

are quite expensive though.

Berghaus

Fellmaster Ridge GTX Tech

£150 1338g

price, anti-mud sole

quite heavy

Uppers: oiled nubuck leather
Outer sole: Vibram Opti-Stud
Mid sole: cushioned
Flexibility: semi-stiff
Sizes : men 7-12, women 4-8
berghaus.com

Anyone who remembers the original
Fellmasters under the Brasher label before
Berghaus absorbed it shouldn’t expect these

new Fellmasters to be similar. They’re

not. They’re very different. The old

Fellmasters were lightweight and very

lexible. These are midweight and

semi-stiff. I wish they had a different

name! The old ones were wide and

itted me well. These are just wide

enough worn with light socks, but

the volume is quite low and I can feel

downward pressure across the instep.

The boots are made from pleasant-

feeling smooth leather. There’s a hard toe

and heel counter, good cushioning and

an unusually shaped outsole that grips

ok. Berghaus says it has a new anti-mud

clogging system. It works quite well, certainly

compared with some sole patterns.

The Fellmasters have a Gore-Tex inner.

As with other fairly stiff boots I don’t mind

this as I’d only wear these boots in winter

conditions.

The quality of the Fellmasters is good and

the price reasonable. They are quite heavy

compared to similar boots though.

Haglöfs

Skuta Mid Eco

£120 1018g

environmentally friendly, quite light,

low cost

waterproof membrane

Uppers: luorocarbon-free water repellent
suede, mesh, ProofEco membrane
Outer sole: rubber/AHAR Plus
Mid sole: moulded EVA + GEL
Flexibility: very lexible
Sizes: men 6.5-12.5, women 4-8
haglofs.com

Most footwear companies say little or
nothing about the environmental properties
of their products. As you’d expect with

boots with Eco in the name it’s

different here. The Skuta Mid Eco

are made from luorocarbon-free

leather with a lower environmental

footprint from a tannery audited

by the Leather Working Group, and

have a luorocarbon-free, bluesign-

approved membrane and a recycled

lining. Happily, the boots are well-

designed and functional too. The

grip is good and there’s high abrasion

resistant rubber on the heel to reduce wear.

Cushioning is also good and there’s extra

shock absorption under the heel. The toes

are hardened though not solid and the heel

counters are irm.

Haglöfs say the boots have “a wide

forefoot it for extra comfort”. Other brands

take note! They it me quite well.

The ProofEco membrane is ine in cold

weather. Like other membranes I expect it’ll

make the boots too hot when it’s warm. I’ll

ind out later in the year. Haglöfs say in tests

it lasts for 100,000 steps.

The Skuta Mid Eco boots are lightweight,

and the cost is low. I think they’re ine for all

but serious winter conditions.

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