Jack Pyke Ashcombe Neoprene Boot

I was looking forward to testing the Jack Pyke Ashcombe Neoprene Wellington Boot on the differing hunting terrains I encounter. First impressions were good. The neoprene felt nice to the touch and the olivegreen colour is perfect for any country pursuit. I was struck by how light and comfortable the boots were and they are easy to slide on and off, thanks to the small rubber block at the heel.

The fit around the ankle was snug, which offered excellent support for walking. I was wearing a thick pair of fleece socks and my feet remained dry throughout. You could get away with thinner socks but when buying boots I like to get a size bigger than my normal shoe size, which allows me to wear thicker socks in the winter to provide extra warmth.

The neoprene upper also kept me warm and dry walking through longer grass – and even through shallow water. The grips on the soles lend themselves to walking across different types of ground and the heel is pretty flat, too, so it does not feel like you have a lump under your heel as you walk.

I’ve been using these boots whenever it has been too wet for normal boots and when the early dew on the long grass can soak into your trousers. I have done a full winter with them and they have never felt cold or slippery, even in the snow.

Also, of late, I have been using them on my fishing trips. In fact, I would recommend these boots for any type of outdoor activity if you want to remain warm and dry, whatever the weather.

specs Price: £60 www.jackpyke.co.uk Reviewer: Eddie Jones

Clare remained cool despite an hour’s walk uphill before the keeper spotted a stag.

We then drove along the hill track a mile or so and caught up with the garrons, patiently following the pony boy. We were doing this the traditional way. As anyone who has stalked in Scotland knows, the weather is a changeable beast. You have to be ready for anything. It’s for this that the Freja has been designed. It has been created from a silent, soft material that features the Härkila Weather System (HWS), which makes it both breathable and waterproof.

Whoever designed Freja is obviously no stranger to stalking. Walking uphill in pursuit of a stag can be hot work and it wasn’t long before Clare had availed herself of the ventilation zips located under the arms of the jacket and in the legs of the trousers.

“I can feel a lovely breeze now, drawing all the heat out,” she explained. Although there weren’t any midges around, there would have been no need to worry about any bites to exposed skin as the vents had a mesh lining.

After an hour’s steady walking uphill the keeper spotted a group of deer and picked out a stag. He and Clare lay on the bilberry covered ground, out of sight and upwind. She drew the hood of the jacket for extra camouflage and after a 20-minute crawl over heather and scree the stag was in Clare’s