Mammut Trovat Guide High GTX
+ leather upper with minimal stitching; full rubber rand; aggressive outsole
– weight; stiffer than needed; less precise feel for scrambling
The full grain leather upper has a small section of synthetic material around the tongue, but otherwise it’s durable with minimal stitching and a full rubber rand. Gore-Tex is helps keep the feet dry. The very stiff Vibram sole has deep lugs and a heel breast, so is more of a 3-4-season boot than a bendy 3-season design. The upper is also stiff throughout, with the overall result being slightly heavier than others. 4/5
Men’s sizes are 7-12, but there is no women’s option – although the Mammut Trovat High GTX (£185) is pretty similar, but with a softer flex so is a better boot for many hillwalkers. The Trovat Guide High is a good, close fit though, with a slightly narrower toe than the widest boots here. The tongue and ankle cuff feels great. 4/5
This is slightly less cushioned underfoot and slightly less well-padded inside than some others, with the result being a slightly firmer feel around the foot when walking, either from contact points with the boot itself or just on hard rock surfaces underfoot. Toe flex is not quite as smooth as the best boots, and the extra stiffness is a little more than needed for general walking. 4/5
This is a stiffer boot and heavier than others, resulting in a slightly less easy walking action on level ground. The benefit is that it excels on rockier ground, but lighter, more nimble designs are easier to use when scrambling along ridges. The grip is great on looser gravel and scree, but that extra stiffness is a a bit of a drawback on moorland walks. 4/5
Without doubt this is well-priced for what you are getting, as it’s slightly stiffer and more robust than other designs. 4/5
A stiff bootthat's very good for rockier ground, but the result is a heavier and less agile boot for 4.0/5 traversing easier ground.