hi tec altitude iv wp 1 initial impressions

Wed, Sep 22, 2010

Fitness Footwear have kindly sent another pair of boots to test. This time the Hi-Tec Altitude IV WP, which are part of their extensive Hi-Tec range. These aren’t the new ones announced recently by Hi-Tec in conjunction with the National Trust, rather, they’re the previous model IV WP.

The Altitude has a full grained leather upper and is waterproof courtesy of Tecproof, which according to Hi-Tec is a:

“waterproof breathable system offering exceptional water resistance, excellent vapour transmission, high mechanical resistance and enhanced washability”

It sounds like impressive stuff and suffering from very hot feet in Goretex boots, I’m looking forward to seeing how these boots perform on the hill. They’re fairly light and seem to fit in at the “cheap and cheerful” mid point of Hi-Tec offerings. There’s a stitched seam down the side of each boot which I haven’t seen before. I’m more used to one piece uppers.

The Extended Support Frame makes the soles fairly rigid laterally and horizontally and there is a lot of room inside these boots.

These days I only wear boots in the winter so it felt really weird stomping around the house in these, especially as the hill shoes I wear are snug and very light. In fact my favourites are the Merrel Chameleon Wrap Slam, which are just superb. The Salomon Exit Aeros come a close second and may even be better if they had more room for my big toes. No such problem with these boots it seems, as they fit fine and although they’re far more bulky than a shoe, it’s reaching that boggy wet time of year up here when everything is soaking. I mean everything. Last weekend we could barely see past the gate all weekend! So it’ll be interesting to get the gaiters out and go for a bimble up the hill in these boots.

Fitness Footwear have a wide range of walking boots and these ones seem a good value member of that group.