COLUMBIA Facet 15 OutDry

RRP £115 Target price £80

The Facets look rather like they should be worn in the future, or perhaps on Mars. Indeed I got some odd looks from my fellow earth-dwellers. ‘You do realise they’ll get muddy, right?’. It’s hard to say what the purpose of the shoe’s geometric shape is, other than to look a bit snazzy. But I did find them extremely comfortable and stable to stroll along in. Much like the Moab Speeds from Merrell, the Facets err on the side of lightness and cushioning to spur the walker along. They do, however, have a little more firmness around their outer edges than the Moabs, and I was inclined to take them further up the hill, but still I wanted more precision and lateral support than the huge protruding base could offer over tricky rocky sections. The shallow outsole offered great traction over broad slabs of rock though, being designed to keep the foot close to the ground, rather than churn through fields with deep lugs. The breathable waterproof membrane did its job in the puddle-strewn woodlands of Sussex, and proved that these are indeed shoes made for muck, ready to take you on earthy adventures. RB

INFO: Sizes: 3-10 (incl. half sizes) Weight per shoe: 300g (6) Membrane: OutDry Contact: 0800 464 0876, columbiasportswear.co.uk

Lightweight, comfy, good traction, breathable

Not stable over rock, a bit big and clumsy COMFORT: ★★★★★ SUPPORT: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VERSATILITY: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VALUE FOR MONEY: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

BEST FOR: Moderate hillwalking and low to mid-level trails.