The outsole has additional stiffening elements in front of the heel section which provided extra torsional stability in what is a fairly pliable shoe. The Belorado II is a European-made trail shoe with fabric and suede uppers with the addition of Gore-Tex waterproofing. The eyelets are made of leather with a nylon reinforcement on the inside. The Vibram MegaGrip sole construction is stiff. The front flex point is where it should be: Centered under the forefoot. The sole is extremely torsional stiff and the shoes can be resoled. In the shoe you will find a breathable and waterproof membrane from Gore-Tex. In particular, the transition from the Gore-Tex material to the padding around the ankles is very nicely made. The laces run through eyelets from rope that also pulls the heel counter forwards. Shoe entry

The midsole uses expanded polyurethane and, combined with the foam insole, provided a medium amount of underfoot cushioning. The Keen shoes were very comfortable and cool and were a good choice on hot and warm days. They don’t shout ‘outdoors’ so are good for use in the urban environment as well as out on the trail. They are medium weight, tipping the scales at less than a kilo for a pair of 9½s. Best use: technical terrain, scrambling, via ferrata, mountain paths, maintained trails, urban walks. The La Sportiva TX5 GTX is an approach shoe designed for those carrying heavy loads or heading on longer hikes into the hills.However, even after the most rigorous assessment and testing, there is no better way to be absolutely sure than to have the boots on your feet for an extended period of time. We therefore offer our Home Trial Period which gives you the opportunity to wear the boots around your house to give you an indication of how they feel before you venture outside. We recommend that during the Home Trial Period that you wear the boots for as long as possible and at different times of the day, wear them up and down stairs, when moving around and when resting, you can even sleep in them if you want. The uppers of the European-made Salewa shoe are 1.6mm suede with an overlay containing the brand’s 3F system that links the top of the lacing area with the shoe’s heel and arch area, providing a good stable hold on the rear of the foot.

The forefoot is quite broad and is medium volume, but the toe section narrows at the edges, which felt a little pinched for my feet. There was also a slight discomfort from time to time at the flex point at the base of the toes. The Danner Trail 2650 is a nicely styled shoe that doesn’t look out of place on the street, but which has technical features for trail and hillwalking. The comfort of the Scarpa shoes was very good. The forefoot is quite broad and medium volume. Although the toe area down narrow, it didn’t feel to be pinching my feet. After a day on the hill, despite its technical capabilities, the comfort was maintained.The main part of the uppers is made from polyamide, and there are suede sections at the toe, rand, heel and tongue areas. The toe box has an added rubberised overlay, with a small outsole extension at the very front of the shoe. La Sportiva’s TX5 GORE-TEX gives a perfect blend of approach shoe grip and hiking boot protection. Derived from their iconic Trango series, the high-cut ankle cuff is supportive and protective, enhanced by the 3D Flex system for optimal freedom of movement. Stable and comfortable, it’s ideal if you’re carrying heavier loads on those mountain paths. Featuring waterproof GORE-TEX up top and Vibram Megagrip rubber underfoot, the TX5 GTX achieves sure-footed performance in both the wet and dry.

This test will tell you if the shape of the internal heel cup matches your heel to ensure it holds you securely, especially when ascending steep ground. We are trying to eliminate the dreaded heel blister. The Venture Vent is a neutral-design shoe that doesn’t look out of place on the High Street but is equally at home on the trail. Comfort around the ankle and heel were good too. The Boreal shoe has a short inbuilt gaiter as the rear section of the ankle padding, which gave good flexibility for the ankle. The tongue had just the right amount of padding, but the gusset is quite thin and had a tendency to wrinkle a little if the shoe wasn’t laced carefully, introducing a little discomfort on the side of the foot. The gusset only comes half-way up the lacing, which allowed water to get into the shoe on deeper bogs and puddles.Over an extended period of testing, the Danner shoes were very comfortable, and performed well in a variety of settings, from everyday street use to trail walking and country footpaths.