Craghoppers Adflex £150

+ Very light, very comfy, good rebound

- Flimsy construction, only in-house waterproofing, little stiffness/support

Craghoppers is not best-known for eyecatching footwear, but the new Adflex (due out late March 2022) is ultralight, modern and sexy, almost like a trail running trainer with a higher ankle cuff. It’s nothing revolutionary – Salomon, Hoka One One and Inov-8 have pioneered lightweight footwear for years now – but Craghoppers is clearly trying to steal a slice of this market.

The Adflex’s build quality and performance are probably inferior (the Inov-8 Roclite G345 is only £5 dearer, but offers better grip and a sportier fit, for example), and question marks probably linger over how long the Adflex’s lightweight upper and in-house AquaDry waterproofing tech will last. But, those provisos aside, we were really impressed by the Adflex. Comfort was second-tonone, straight out of the box, and during our test hikes in the Grasmere fells the sensation on-foot was fast, light and nimble with excellent forward propulsion.

The eco credentials of the Adflex are admirable too. The upper mesh is 100% recycled, manufactured from plastic bottles and marine waste, and the lacing is recycled too. Environmental manufacturing processes have also been used in the dying of the liners and the foaming of the midsole, according to Craghoppers.

■ Men’s sizes 6-13

■ Women’s sizes 3-8

■ Weight 475g per boot (men’s 9)

Verdict

An ultralight, modern, trainerlike boot at a good price – but how durable will it prove?