Review of Hi-Tec Natal Mid WP Boots - tested on the hill

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that the folks at FitnessFootwear.com had sent me some walking boots to try out and to review.

They were not really suitable for the heat of walking in Andalucia - my  trail shoes did me fine there - so I didn't take them on holiday with me. Today though I was back in Scotland and I gave them an outing on one of my favourite hills - wee Ben A'an just outside of Callendar.

Hi-Tec Natal Mid WP Boots from Fitness Footwear

They are Hi-Tec Natal Mid WP Boots (like these).  Now some context is needed here - you see I've gone off boots in recent years.  I was finding them increasingly uncomfortable and I have been influenced by lots of writers that are finding that lighter more minimal footwear is actually better.  Ray Jardine was one of the first of those that pointed me in that direction in his book Beyond Backpacking,  but recently there has been a lot written about the barefoot approach.  Anyway I've tended to walk most of my hills in inov8 trail shoes -  light flexible and comfortable, though sometimes not as durable as I might like.  Hence I was a but wary of trying out boots and getting some of the sore feet that they used to produce.

I got these boots on this morning with thin socks - Alpkit Coolmax ones -  and the fit was good.  Stable enough in the heel but with sufficient space around the toes.

There is a good flex in the sole, although I would also like more of a torsional twist too. 

Still, better than the stiff soled boots that I've worn previously that meant my feet, calves and Achilles were often tender after a long walk. 

Showing the flex in the sole

In terms of build they are solidly put together.  Years ago Hi Tec were a bit of a budget brand so I'd never looked too closely.  These are well constructed in suded and mesh with an MDT carbon rubber sole.    The overly padded collar around hte ankle is a bit full on but it was not too constrictive and the "mid" idea of the boot was fine.

So that was it then, boots on and off to the car for the drive to Ben A'an.  I decided to drive in them too as that is something else that can be a give away - stiff boots are a nightmare.

Parking at the bottom of the hill, I wandered through mud and puddles to the small lochan, getting the new boots nice and muddy!  The waterproofing worked fine.

Then it was up the hill.  I hadn't realised it but it was the September holiday in the West of Scotland - or parts of it at least  - so there were lots of families out.

The path is a steep one through trees before it opens up for a brief view of Ben Venue, then the peak of Ben A'an rises in front.  So - for the boots - it was mud, tree roots, dry rock and slippy wet rock.  The sole was sufficiently grippy on everything and I felt mobile and agile enough in them.  Not as agile as in lighter trail shoes, but fine.  The one complaint was that the rubber of the sole was not that sticky on wet rock.  The sole on the Roclites I use is great - really adhesive - these were a bit less so, but still fine.



There was an appropriate amount of cushioning too -  could still feel the variations in the ground which I like, so my feet and senses were not too isolated from the environment.

Actually I soon forgot about the boots and just concentrated on getting up the hill.  I used to have this aim of 30 minutes to the top - but then I used to run sections of it.  Still 38 minutes was not too bad.

I sat at the top and munched an apple, looking out into the gloom.  I contemplated a different way down, as I had done on a previous trip, but in the cloud it held little attraction so I returned the way I came, overtaking lots of the families I'd passed on the way up.

Interestingly on the way down the boots were still ok.  Going down if there is a dodgy fit your toes can get smashed as your feet slide to the front - in these boots my toes were fine and they were light enough for me to jog some sections of the path.

Back to the car and some photos of the boots were taken.  I tried not to look too odd to the other people in the car park as I attempted to arrange the boots on the ground and compose a photo.

Overall I was pleased with the boots - I will definitely wear them again on the hill as the weather gets colder.  They were comfortable and light enough with a decent grip.  My preference is still for trail shoes, but these will definitely get worn lots more!

Thanks to the guys at FitnessFootwear  for giving me the chance to try them out.