Aso●o Elbrus GV £250

■ Me■’s 6-13.5 ■ Wome■’s 4-9 ■ Weight 1802g (size 11)

IT'S GOOD

This well-priced boot is built around a suede leather upper, with Schoeller soft shell materials around the ankle cuff. There is not too much stitching or overlays of material, so durability is good and you also get a full rubber rand. There is Gore-Tex inside for waterproofness. The very aggressive Vibram outsole has deep, wellspaced lugs and a deep heel breast, which is ideal for crunching through snow and keeping a grip. The fit is great, with a slightly narrow toe which helps with scrambling over rock. The ankle cuff is very comfortable and allows a gentle flex forward, while the outsole rolls smoothly from heel to toe. Walking below the snowline is good for this category of boot.

HOWEVER

This boot holds the foot slightly higher above the ground than some, which means that when walking over rocky ground or when scrambling you feel slightly less stable. But this is a tiny difference and will only impact those wanting the absolute best performance on tricky ground. I’m always cautious about recommending synthetic materials for hard environments, as they’re rarely as durable as quality leather or a plain rubber rand, but again this will only impact the hardest of users. For pure mountaineering others are very slightly better if you want the best and can afford it. But most hillwalkers will find this ideal for their needs and any benefits from others are small.

VERDICT

A great boot at this price for general winter hillwalking, with some benefits available if you pay more.