Friday, 02 May 2014 12:12

Brasher Supalite Active GTX Reviewed

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The new Brasher Supalite Active GTX boots probably come closer to the original ethos of Chris Brasher himself, getting as close to the feel of a pair of trainers as any boot we've tested. Weight is one of the main issues when trying to make a boot feel like a trainer and at a touch over 1kg for a pair of 42s the Supalite Active GTX are about as close as you're going to get in a boot to the weight of a trainer.
Superficially it's difficult to see just where Brasher have saved the weight as the familiar features of boots coming out of the Sunderland based company over recent years all appear to be there. The recently introduced locking lace system, with its hook set further back, first seen in the Hillmaster II returns and the Wolverine pigskin suede and fabric panels provide a soft feel that can take some getting used to. The light weight and soft touch could easily introduce doubts over durability to the uninitiated and while the Supalite active GTX is never going to be a 4 season mountain boot they're certainly more capable than appearances would suggest.

With the locking lace system providing split tensioning between the lower and upper parts of the foot flexibility is very good while ankle support from the well padded collar is both reassuring and extremely comfortable.
Below the foot the Supalite Active GTX uses a pretty middle of the range footbed that while giving a reasonable degree of padding is simpler than the footbeds used in the more hi-tech boots and is one area where Brasher appear to have saved a bit of weight. The sole itself is very flexible for a boot and at times it's only the well padded ankle collar that reminds you that you're wearing boots rather than trainers, and despite appearances the outer sole provides a good level of grip across a range of terrains. Comparing the outer sole of the Supalite Active GTX to other boots from Brasher over the last couple of years the lugs on the new boots are slightly shorter and more widely spaced than some and may again account for some of the overall weight reduction but on wet grass and mud they still perform well and were especially good on gravel and river bed stones.
The GTX liner does what GTX liners do and to be honest performance is pretty much standard across the wide range of boots using the ubiquitous lining so while nothing out of the ordinary the Supalite Active keeps the water at bay while still allowing a reasonable level of breathability.

 

Looking at the Supalite Active GTX they look familiar. They look well constructed and finished but alongside a thousand and one similar fabric boots they don't stand out particularly. PIck them up, however, and you instantly notice their big selling point. These are seriously lightweight boots. They're not designed for weeks on end on the trail, the midsole and footbed are more focused on day long comfort than prolonged and continuous use, but from mid spring to late autumn they're more than up to the job of anything from a walk through the woods to a trek up Kinder. If there's a downide to the Supalite Active GTX it's the price but there's always a premium for weight saving and if weight is your main focus the extra £20 or £30 over the average fabric boot of this quality may be worth paying.

 

Price: £130

Weight: 1048g

Colour: grey/black (men’s); carbon/grey (women’s)

Features:

  • Mens walking boots Laced Engineered Tongue System
  • Mid-cut padded ankle collar
  • Gore-Tex Performance lining
  • Abrasion resistant Pigskin suede panels
  • Ortholite insole Bi-flex cushioned insole board EVA midsole
  • Supalite sole unit
  • Suede / textile upper,
  • Textile inner,
  • Synthetic sole

 

Pros:

  • Very lightweight
  • Locking lace hooks
  • Good ankle support

 

Cons:

  • Price


Note: This article was restored from the archives. It's published creation date is inaccurate.

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