AKU Tengu GTX £280

■ Me■’s 5-12 ■ Wome■’s n/a ■ Weight 1812g (size 11)

IT'S GOOD

The Vibram Curcuma sole unit of this boot sets it apart from many others, and makes it ideal for winter use thanks to its deep and widely-spaced lugs. The sole has great stiffness too, and a good heel breast. Working from the ground upwards you get a full rubber rand for durability and an upper made from synthetic fabric with suede leather overlays. The tongue and flexpoint of the ankle cuff are made of softer synthetic materials. Get it on and this boot feels great on the foot, with a fit that is neither too narrow nor too wide. The ankle cuff is supportive and ideal for general use. When walking below the snowline the sole rolls nicely. It’s a pretty lightweight boot too.

HOWEVER

While the overall performance and general comfort is great, what lets this boot down is that there is no women’s option, although at least the unisex size range does go down to a 5, which may be sufficient. Like other synthetic boots, it probably won’t be quite as durable as a leather boot without stitching, although only really hard users need to worry about that. If you do lots of scrambling or mountaineering you’ll notice that others allow for slightly more precise footwork. Some also offer more comfort around the ankle cuff for a little more cash, while for those with an eye on the budget other boots carry a lighter price tag.

VERDICT

A relatively lightweight boot with great performance for general winter walking, but regular scramblers or mountaineers will find others offer even better features.