Battle boots

Scarpa Manta Tech GTX £325

The Scarpa Manta boots have been winning awards in Trail for as long as I can remember. The original boot, the Gore-Tex lined Pro version, and the latest Manta Tech (the 7th incarnation of this winter mountaineering classic), have all been Trail’s ‘Best in Test’ winter boot over the years. But despite all this I was a little nervous when I first pulled a pair of Scarpa’s newest – and my first ever – Mantas onto my feet. They felt heavy, and clumpy, and not at all like the light and nimble footwear I usually wear. But – and this will come as a surprise to absolutely no-one – winter asks different things of our feet. The first time I actually wore my Manta Techs on a proper winter mountain day, I knew what all the fuss was about. Their robust, stiff build is perfect for kicking steps, heel plunging down snow slopes, and pairing with technical crampons. There’s enough rocker to the boot that, despite the rigidity of their sole, walking on snow-free ground is much easier than I’d imagined it would be. And they’re much warmer than regular walking boots which, when it’s blowing an Arctic gale across the Cairngorm tundra, is hugely appreciated. To be clear, and despite the name often attached to this type of footwear, these are not boots to be worn in all four seasons. These are out-and-out unashamedly winter boots, and that’s what they excel at. Truth be told, they may even be overkill for gentle low-level snow walks in the hills – their price tag is a serious one after all. But for going to battle with the highest and coldest summits the UK (and for that matter, much of the world) can offer, the Scarpa Manta Tech GTX boots are the armour I want on my feet.

Verdict

Serious footwear for serious winter, and far more comfy than a boot this tough has any right to be. USED BY Ben Weeks, Trail senior writer

USED FOR 1 year