Hanwag Blueridge £170

Comfort, padded tongue, overall balance in construction

- Long-term durability unknown

Bavarian boot brand Hanwag is known for its robust, muscular, mountain-ready footwear, so the relatively lightweight and flexible Blueridge is a departure from the norm. It is, essentially, Hanwag’s attempt to nail that ever-elusive Holy Grail of mountain footwear – maximum protection at the minimum weight possible, with no compromise on real-world performance.

Has it worked? In short, yes. The Blueridge hits a sweet spot between weight, comfort, durability, support and weatherproofing. It feels comfy the first time you wear it, but – unlike some lighter options – doesn’t leave you feeling anxious about scuffing against rocks or battling bogs. While the boot delivers good all-round flex, there’s just enough stiffness to feel stable and supportive, and the stiffened heel counter holds the foot well. But the real star of the show is the huge, stretchy, padded tongue, which hugs the shape of the foot wonderfully for a close-knit, bespoke fit to your shape.

The Blueridge’s upper is a mix of Perwanger leather and polyamide fabric, the Terragrip outsole features 15% recycled rubber and a 4mm-deep tread, and waterproofing is via Hanwag’s PFC-free Ecoshell. The long-term durability of this upper and the waterproofing are untested, but first impressions of the Blueridge are positive.

■ Men’s sizes 6-13

■ Women’s sizes 3.5-9

■ Weight 587g per boot (men’s 8)

Verdict

A light and flexible, yet protective, boot with a comfy fit – but long-term durability is as yet untested.