What the manufacturers say:

Pure comfort! The generously tailored fit, softness and light weight create a completely new running sensation. All-round ventilation thanks to the newly developed GORE-TEX® SURROUND® technology. Additional ventilation is provided by an air-permeable layer between the wedge and insole, which also offers comfortable cushioning. The lightweight hiking boot also features board lasting; the patented Rolling Concept®; a Hybrid Shell that provides shape and stability; an IP EVA wedge with excellent cushioning and integrated arch support; and a protective liquid rubber toe cap. With its Sonar technology, the new Sonar comfort sole by gripex™, which features multi-directional lugs and two different rubber hardnesses, offers grip on any terrain.

Price:£170

• Rolling Concept
• Hybrid Shell
• Liquid Rubber Protection
• 3-D Textile
• gripex Outsole Technology
• Sonar Technology
• Board lasted

• Ideal for; Backpacking, Walking, Travel

  Suitable for; Mountain Hiking

Mammut Comfort High GTX Surround Boots - Steve Layt

What makes the perfect boot? I’m sure this is a question that most manufacturers  ask themselves when setting out to design the latest boot. The variety of options might make this seem an impossible question to answer. 18 years ago I embraced the “then new range of fabric boots” which were coming out. They offered me the simplicity of being a waterproof boot without much effort, and this alone made them worth a look.

Taking the Mammut boots out of the box for the first time you are immediately struck by their weight. At a mere 1039 grams (for my size 8), for the pair, is just amazing.  That is only just slightly more than the weight of just one of my normal walking boots and made me wonder about how they would fare out on the hills

The boots continue the theme that many now use of offering two colours to make them stand out from the crowd of what was once a ‘you can have any colour you like as long as its brown’. The red, or inferno as Mammut describe it, and black do make these boots stylish and whilst we may not buy boots for their looks they probably would entice you to pick them up in a gear shop and by doing so will give away their big secret being their weight.

Arriving in January meant the boots first outing was a walk in the snow, and their light weight did not let them down, giving a good grip even on the ice. After three other local walks, I put them through their paces by venturing up onto the Kinder plateau, ascending via Grindsbrook, in both snow and up through the stream to test their waterproofing, grip and durability.  The weight made them very easy to scramble up the rocks and again the grip was really good even on the water covered rock. I am often wary of the claims about how waterproof something actually is but by the end of a very full day scramble and walk on the plateau when back at the car I had totally dry feet. Having only the outside of the boot wet meant they dried very quickly and would have therefore survived a two or more day expedition.

The cut of the boot, as the name suggests, is high but that would always be my preference giving my ankle very good support. The lacing system works well and they can be pulled tight around the foot and ankle. The laces stayed put and after a days walk I had not had to adjust them at all. Other lightweight boots I have tried do tend to offer little ankle and foot support.  The sole of the boots are not as rigid as some but this does not seem to be  a problem in performance and it is rigid enough to not flex unduly when they are worn, especially again considering the  overall weight.

The only slight reservation that I have with these boots is the fact that the lower part is not stitched, instead being glued together with the other component parts. Whilst in my short test there is absolutely no sign of any movement a longer term test may establish how well these joints will stand up to wet and varied terrain.

The final test I put them through was a day out scrambling and again they proved a very good choice being light enough to not make moving in any way awkward but allowing good solid support.

Having worn these for a few weeks of activities the Mammut Comfort High GTX Surround boots have proved themselves to be a tough, very waterproof and breathable bit of kit that served me very well on days out on the hill both walking and scrambling.