The Great Outdoors Spring 2019

78 The Great Outdoors Spring 2019

Mammut

Mercury III Low GTX

£139 884g

lightweight, low pollution leather

Gore-Tex

Uppers: Terracare leather, Gore-Tex
Outer sole: Vibram Frog Grip
Mid sole: E VA
Flexibility: lexible
Sizes: m en 6 -1 2
uk.mammut.com

These smart-looking shoes are made
from a leather produced in Germany with
low energy consumption, reduced water

consumption, and as few

chemicals as possible. They

have hard toes and heel

counter, good cushioning

and a tread pattern of

studs and cleats that

grips well. The uppers

are reinforced with

strips of rubber to

protect against abrasion.

The Mercury III shoes are

lightweight and reasonably priced.

Unfortunately, they have the ubiquitous

Gore-Tex inner. In cold weather this shouldn’t

be a problem, but these aren’t shoes for

winter hillsides. In summer I expect they’ll

be too hot for me, as well as slow-drying

when wet.

The it is too narrow for me unless I

remove the insoles. If they it and you’re

happy with the Gore-Tex, they’re a functional

pair of walking shoes.

Anatom

VI Glenmore

£100 972g

lightweight, low cost

membrane

Uppers: Ballistic polyester, suede, tri.aria membrane
Outer sole: Vibram Moraine
Mid sole: shock-absorbing
Flexibility: semi-stiff
Sizes: 41- 47
anatomfootwear.co.uk

The Glenmore shoes are another pair of
shoes that I think would work best without

a waterproof/breathable

membrane. When I’ve used this

in other Anatom footwear I have

found it too hot in warm weather.

Otherwise, these are a functional

pair of trail shoes with good grip

and cushioning and a hard toe

bumper and heel counter. The

ballistic polyester on the upper

should prove hardwearing.

The it is too narrow for my feet,

something that sadly I’ve written too often

in this review! They are just ok if I remove

the insoles, but this reduces the cushioning.

If they do it, they’re an adequate pair of

hillwalking shoes that are lightweight and

low cost – if the waterproof membrane

works for you. A neat touch is that they

come with a small bottle of Nikwax Fabric

& Leather Proof.

Scarpa

Z5 Trek GTX

£200 1348g

grip, rolling last

expensive, quite heavy

Uppers: thermo-embossed suede, fabric, Gore-Tex
Outer sole: Vibram Salix Trek
Mid sole: shock-absorbing
Flexibility: semi-stiff
Sizes: men 42-46, women 37-42
scarpa.co.uk

These are the most expensive boots
reviewed and also some of the heaviest.
As you’d expect from Scarpa, the quality
is excellent. They’re designed “for moving

quickly and easily on mountain trails”

and have a pronounced rocker sole to

give “a more natural and comfortable

gait compared to conventional walking

boots”. I haven’t really been able to test

this as the boots are too narrow even

with the insoles removed so I can’t walk

far in them. Rocker soles are generally

more comfortable in stiffer boots, so I

expect they will be with these.

The outsole grips well and the

midsole has two different cushioning

layers, which can be seen as different

colours and felt by pressing them. This

seems to work well.

The uppers are fairly stiff too and

very supportive. The toes and heels

are rigid. I’d be happy to kick steps in these.

Indeed, I’d wear them as winter boots, in

which case the Gore-Tex inner wouldn't be

an issue.

Gear comparative review