Have a read through and hopefully you can a find a shoe that fits your needs.

Lowa Innox Pro GTX Mid

It has been a summer of mixed weather, severe heat and a fair bit of rain, I took these mid boots out with the thought that my feet were going to get too hot, but I was pleasantly surprised! My feet stayed cool and dry throughout the day, which I can owe to the lightweight breathable upper material and breathable Gore-Tex lining. As someone who often goes over their ankles, I appreciated the upper ankle support a lot, particularly when walking over slippery wet rocks heading up Haystacks in the Lake District (which you can see in the photo). Although I would say I have quite narrow feet I didn’t notice the extra room around the toe box, even though it says these are designed for medium width. The Synthetic fabric used makes this boot super lightweight, especially for a mid boot, so if making sure all your kit is lightweight is the name of the game these comfy mids would be a good option.

All the details on Lowa’s site here

Best for: Hiking (2-3 season weather) and trails

Berghaus VC22 GTX Low

A very sleek-looking shoe, toeing the line between the outdoor walking shoe and fashionable trainer. It has a very comfortable insole and decent ankle support for a low-rise trainer with the firm fabric around the back ensuring no ankle slip. Very lightweight and fairly breathable, the Gore-Tex liner held up through a solid morning and afternoon of rain and walking through long wet grass.
This shoe could be used for a variety of activities, hiking, trails, a light scramble and even some running. The fit around the toe box is suited for medium to wide feet, which was a little too wide for my narrow feet, I did notice some extra room at the top, although this didn’t have any adverse effects. The firm ankle support around the back I imagine needs some breaking in, as I did find I got a lot of rubbing after wearing them for a few hours, maybe longer socks are required.

The VC22 GTX Low’s also come in a mid. All the details on Berghaus’s site here

Best for: Walking, cycling and trails

Danner Trail 2650 Campo GTX

My first thoughts were that these shoes are very sturdy and well made and very lightweight. I wore these on quite a rocky trail and the Vibram Megagrip sole really lived up to its name as I felt I could scramble easily trusting my shoes even when wet. These are fully waterproof with the Gore-Tex invisible fit liner, although as these aren’t boots water can spill over the top if you’re not careful, and you don’t get the bonus of upper ankle support of a boot.
A concern I had from the first time I tried these on was that these weren’t deep enough and my ankle was going to slip out at the back, the fit felt quite shallow, and if you don’t get your lacing tight enough your ankle will slip out the back when you walk, which isn’t an ideal scenario when up a mountain. However, these are made very well and tick several other boxes, so if they fit your feet they could be the perfect shoe.

All the details on Danner’s site here

Best for: Approach and trails

Keen NXIS Speed Hiking Shoes

Initial thoughts were that they felt supportive and the insole was comfortable. Keen has been known for its wider toe box, which is better suited to people with wider feet, I didn’t notice much slipping or discomfort even though I have quite narrow feet although these are less wide than the Berghaus shoe. This shoe could be considered a street trainer with its more urban and simple colour palette than its Keen brothers and sisters, making it more suitable for a wider range of activities, whether that be the comfortable commute to work or hike up a summery Munro trail. The thick rubber around the front of the shoe provides an element of hard-wearing toe protection (or as they call it - stubbed toe protection), which should increase the longevity of the shoe.
They felt very grippy on different types of terrain, but I would advise a tight double knot as the laces are somehow “slippery” and have a higher tendency to untie themselves. This is our only shoe in this group that doesn’t have a waterproof lining, although I don’t see that as a negative if you choose these for the right occasion, as Gore-Tex linings do make shoes warmer and slightly less breathable, so if it is going to be a very hot day with a low chance of rain, these would be a perfect lightweight and breathable choice. If it is likely to rain and you do want something with a waterproof lining, I do believe there is a version of these shoes made by Keen that have that.

All the details on Keen’s site here

Best for: Summer Hiking, trails & commuting

Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 GTX

If you aim to look like you know what you’re doing outdoors, these stiff trainers are the ones you go for. With their European scramble styling, they were my go-to choice for outdoor excursions that were going to include some more unstable scrambles. Salewa’s shoe fit leans itself to more of a narrow to medium width, although the lacing most of the way down the shoe does mean a wider variety of feet can fit in these (although if you have very wide feet these are probably not for you).
These comfortable and supportive shoes come with all the bells and whistles, which explains the slightly higher price tag. They have a Gore-Tex membrane lining, a Vibram sole which I felt I could trust on precarious surfaces, stretch gaiter tongue which stopped any water from getting in the shoe. I wore these on approach to a few bouldering and sport climbing spots and up some Wainwrights, the rubber around the entirety of the trainer protected the shoe from any scratches or tearing, which someone as clumsy as myself can appreciate.

All the details on Salewa’s site here

Best for: Scrambling and Hiking

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