Scarpa Manta Pro GTX £320

■ Me■’s 40-50 ■ Wome■’s 36-42 ■ Weight 2074g (size 46)

IT'S GOOD

The Manta Pro defines the 4-season mountain walking boot category, and while it remains unchanged it is still the best option if you can stretch your budget. Built around a leather upper with synthetic overlays and Gore-Tex waterproofness, the upper is supportive, with extra durability coming from a full rubber rand. The ankle cuff is slightly more comfortable than other boots. It provides great support and also flexes forward particularly smoothly for comfortable walking. The outsole is a Vibram unit with deep, well-spaced lugs and a good heel breast, and it also rolls reasonably well from heel to toe when walking. A nice benefit is that the forefoot and toe areas are slightly wider than others, but still afford a precise feel for scrambling over rocks.

HOWEVER

If you need a boot mainly for mountaineering then a more dedicated design would be better, owing to those boots having a narrower toe and therefore an even more precise feel. It would be nice if this was a little lighter, but on the foot it actually feels lighter than some other boots that do weigh less, and this is due to the careful design that works so well with the foot. A boot with fewer overlays might be more durable for those of you that really hammer your kit. But the main drawback is the price, so if you aren’t a regular winter walker then a lower-priced boot will no doubt suffice.

VERDICT

Sets the standard for regular walks and scrambles over British mountains in winter, but others have benefits for climbers or less regular hillgoers.