Men's boots - Page 2

Men's boots built for the long haul

A boot has one job and plenty of ways to fail at it. Ours start at the outsole, because grip is the difference between a confident stride and a careful one. Deep lugs bite into soft, wet ground and the rubber stays flexible when the temperature drops rather than skating over stone. Above that sits the midsole, where cushioning absorbs the repetitive impact of pavements and rock so your legs still work at the end of a long day. Uppers take abrasion from kerbs, scree and gateposts, with reinforced toe caps and heel counters where boots wear through first. Waterproof membranes keep the wet out while staying breathable enough that your feet are not soaked from the inside. Lacing locks the heel so it does not lift on a climb, and padded collars head off the pressure points that become blisters. The range runs from black to brown and grey, and none of those details are decorative. If your days are mostly on trails and hills, start with our men's walking boots and hiking shoes.

Choosing the right boots for the job

The right pair depends less on how it looks and more on what you are asking it to do. If the ground is wet more often than not and you want dry feet on the commute as much as on the footpath, our men's waterproof boots are the sensible place to begin. When the cold sets in properly and you need insulation as well as traction, our men's winter boots are built for snow, ice and the slush in between. Then there is fit, which matters more than any feature on the list. Try boots late in the day when your feet have swelled, wear the socks you will actually walk in, and check the heel stays locked once laced properly. You want room to spread your toes on a descent without your foot sliding forward. Give a new pair a few shorter walks before a long one, because uppers need time to take the shape of your foot. Look after them and they will keep going long after cheaper pairs have given up.