Comfort is never an issue with Brasher boots, providing of course the fit suits your foot shape, and the days of breaking a pair of boots in gradually is a distant memory. Despite the weight and price the Kiso GTX is a full, rather than mid height, cut giving both protection and support right up the ankle and featuring memory foam around the collar. Inside you get a removable footbed and a Gore-Tex liner, while the outer is made of 1-6 - 1.8mm suede with fabric panels.

Conditions in early February weren't ideal real world testing in Spring/Summer conditions with heavy rain falling over a sodden Peak District moorland, but it gave us the opportunity to really put the Kiso GTX through its paces. Combined with a pair of Paramo Short Gaiters we took on a mixture of tarmac path, peat bog and standing water with a few greasy rocks thrown in for good measure. Unusually Brasher use their own sole rather than the almost ubiquitous Vibram sole unit, but the sole provided a comparable level of grip to the market leader on a range of footings. The tread isn't the deepest, but considering these are 2/3 season fabric boots that's to be expected and other than tramping through mud over a base of wet leaves gave us no problems.

In common with most fabric boots the lacing uses fabric loops for the first four lace points, and this is where using the Kiso GTX close to its design limits showed with mud and grit tending to ball up in and around the fabric loops. While this didn't create any problems in use it's important to keep an eye on this and pay special attention to these areas during cleaning as over time grit will take its toll on the fabric. The Gore-Tex liner is pretty much as standard these days, and something you tend to either get on with or not. The fabric panels allow a decent degree of breathability and although we've yet to test them in warm conditions performance is comparable with other mid range fabric boots we've tested.

Lightweight fabric boots account for an enormous share of the boot market in the UK with quality varying dramatically. You can easily find cheaper alternatives but that doesn't make the Kiso GTX a difficult choice. The build quality of the boots instantly puts them above your standard entry level offerings and although you may pay a little more you're going to get the use out of them to justify the additional cost.

Price: £100.00

Weight: 1160g

Colour: Grey/Henna

Features:

• Durable 1.6-1.8mm abrasion resistant suede upper with fabric panels
• Waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX® lining
• Brasher rubber sole unit for superb grip, traction control and durability
• Shock absorbing EVA midsole
• Memory Foam in the collar for additional comfort

Pros: Memory foam collar gives a comfortable supportive fit. Good grip even in less than favourable conditions