The dry and hard conditions were a mixed bag really, making challenging walking on some of the more formal sections of the Gritstone Trail where stretches of tarmac and gravel-made paths can really take it out of your feet and really testing the breathability of the Gore-Tex liner. The results, also, were a mixed bag but definitely high on the positive side.

The Altai GTX, in common with Brasher's other new fabric boots, are designed around comfort with memory foam padding around the ankle and the tri-fit footbed that combines a shock absorber under the heel with stabilising and support. In practice the Altai is comfortable to wear straight from the box and the footbed and memory foam combine with the dual density footbed give as comfortable a day on hard or uneven ground as we've ever had. Tarmac and gravel are not ideal surfaces for boots, but with the heel securely held in place the Altai's shock absorption takes up the strain.

Off the more formal paths and heading across country the Vibram Winkler offers the expected levels of grip and the beefed up suede and fabric uppers (compared to the lighter Kenai and Kiso) offer increased durability. With extra protection to the toe area and a well secured heel the Altai feels considerably more substantial than its lighter weight siblings, a feeling that's helped by the lateral stiffness.

If there was a downside with the Altai GTX it was more down to the conditions than the boot itself, with the hot dry weather really crying out for something a little lighter in weight. While the GoreTex lining coped to its expected levels when we put it to the test in streams it did start to get a little warm in the heat of the sun at lower levels, although on the higher ridges the wind did seem to counterbalance this. Under normal circumstances we'd have picked a lighter weight boot like the Kenai for these conditions but then we wouldn't have had the benefit of the beefed up shock absorption and extra lateral stiffness that made walking on harder and more uneven surfaces almost a pleasure.

Price: £135.00

Weight: 1381g

Colour: Grey/Red (men) Grey / Salmon (women)

Features:

• Lace-up
• Padded ankle collar
• Toe cap protection
• Waterproof GORE-TEX lining
• Abrasion resistant suede upper
• EVA midsole
• Vibram Winkler sole unit

Pros: Tri-fit footbed and heel cup, memory foam ankle, lateral stiffness

Cons: