Mammut Comfort High GTX Surround Boots

MAMMUT make some awesome gear, agreed?

The connotation of quality with Mammut was the final selling point when I was looking for new boots.

Now some of you loyal Fellists may recall a previous gear review when we looked at the Adidas Terrex Fast R GTX boots. In fact I am considering doing a where are they now article as they are still in good nick.

Why then do I have new boots I hear you ask!

Having Viggo means I’m out walking daily and I don’t just do a mile here and ten minutes there. My working hours allow me to be doing around 3-4 miles a day minimum.

Still with me?

This resulted in me destroying a pair of Hunter wellingtons through winter and making excessive use of the Terrex’s.

My Adidas’s are still fully waterproof and intact, they have been looked after in terms of cleaning and re-proofing. All I have had to do is re-lace them.

But the slipping point so to speak is on the soles. I have given them so much hammer that they have started to smooth out. This is not a problem at this time of year on my dog walks. But do I want to be sliding down Loft Crag in torrential rain?

No do I heck as like!

I’ve digressed slightly, this is supposed to be all about the Mammuts!

Those long winded names from the manufacturers sometimes leave you pondering what it’s all about.

In this case the last part of these boot’s title refers to the newer updated type of Gore-Tex that has been used.

So what’s different about this Surround variant as opposed to the standard Gore-Tex?

It’s all about breathability.

You still get that all important waterproofing that we have come to take for granted from Gore-Tex but now the Surround variant offers enhanced all-around breathability.

These models that include GTX Surround are ideal for warmer conditions as the construction of the of this membrane releases more warmth and moisture.

From my previous boot review you may know that I like lightweight footwear, now had I come from a bigger, full leather boot and gone straight into the Mammuts I would have noticed a difference instantly. But in relative comparison with my Adidas Terrexs the difference is more subtle.

Basically after a full days hike your feet aren’t so sweaty!

Lovely eh!

Now what do I like about these boots?

Well they too are lightweight, my pair of size elevens clock in at approximately 1100 grams. That’s pretty good considering the high cut you get with them. So far I haven’t had any falls in them due to an ankle giving way.

The pick-up is fantastic because the deceiving big, high and chunky aesthetic kids you into expecting far more weight.

When on the lacing system and high cut combine to wrap your ankle up in a cloud of protection.

The toe band is made from a really tough rubber compound and the texture that it’s finished in is such a texture that it never looks any different. This is ideal after a load of rocky scuffs.

The grips are good. A harder rubber than on the Terrexs gives me the impression that these will be up to much more arduous treatment.

The styling on these boots is epic if you like a modern twist. The red flashes stand out nicely but are not overpowering. This model also comes in blue.

Summary time?

These boots are expensive, there’s no kidding there. They are retailing at around the £140 mark and around £125 in blue here.  (Not sure why blue is cheaper)

These boots have featured in Trail Magazine and the funny thing was, I’d had my pair about a month when they were in an issue.

I purchased my pair from the German site BergFreunde and wondered whether, due to them being imported I got them prior to UK release.

They are exactly what I expected and are performing really well.

Any surprises?

A couple I suppose…

The weight is an amazing feature and twinned with their toughness you know that these have been superbly built and expertly designed.

That’s left me happy with a pair of hard core boots and good looking ones at that.

Quickly, thank you for all your continuous support!

Cheers,

#TeamFell

Adidas Terrex Fast R Mid Gore-Tex Boot Review

TO begin, these are my everyday boots, they have done plenty of miles so this review is full of real life information.

Just an overview of the Adidas Terrex Fast R's.

These Terrex boots out of the box promise to be waterproof, lightweight, supportive and comfortable. And to give a small preview of what is to come, in my experience they have met all those promises and more.

The most important feature for me in these boots were the waterproof qualities, after my previous boots fell short of this requirement. The Adidas Terrex Fast R’s have a Gore-Tex membrane lining which suggests that it will keep out the water, protect you from the elements and keep you comfortable. I can vouch for the waterproofness of these shoes as I have relied on them in about half a dozen heavy wash out days of varying severity and in every case they stayed fully dry. From straight down saturating deluges to cross wind fuelled fell top cloudburst, I really can’t complain with regards to their weather resistance. 

After previously owning a glorified pair of rubber clogs, I really liked the lightweight attributes of these walking boots, the numbers given for a UK size 8.5 boot weighted in at 405 grams. Adidas achieve this by using innovative materials such as the abrasion-resistant air mesh upper and the lightweight EVA midsole. I have to confess that when trying on these boots in Blacks in Ambleside, I recall telling Claire that is was like having clouds on my feet! These are ace for long days walking as in my experience you don’t find yourself dragging your feet in these.

In the past I have had a few fatigued tumbles due to my ankles involuntarily deciding they had done enough. But since changing into these it hasn't happened. The key features that offer such support are in abundance on this shoe. The nice mid cut comfortably wraps my ankle and the Formotion heel unit inspires confidence at any gradient. Both these features when used in conjunction with the lacing system add up to a fantastic design. The snug fit throughout the heel, fore-foot and ankle mean that you have sterling support across the whole foot. The boots work hard for you and keep the foot in comfortable, healthy shape, overall the cut and heel unit are game changing for my feet.

That tyre rubber showing!

Closely linked to the support offered by these walking boots is the comfort. The moulded Ortholite sock liner welcomes you into the boots and keeps you tucked in all day, the insole does feel moulded to you. The Adiprene+ cushioning adds another degree of comfort to this shoe as on trails your feet feel as though there are no imperfections to the paths you walk.

Now coming onto protection and durability, you would expect a lightweight pair of sport hybrid walking boots to show it’s weakest hand here. Well, so far, there is no sign of damage to the boots as you can see from the photos and video and they have kept me in good nick too! The toe bar is a god send on this product, this area as you know takes the brunt of the hits and the addition of this to the Terrex’s adds years onto their life expectancy. The synthetic overlays on the air mesh upper also adds to the structural rigidity and all round 360 degree protection of the shoe. The solid Formotion heel unit stops any accidental rear knocks from doing yourself a mischief and stands up to really tough tests!

The eye catching modern appearance is a head turner
for sure!

Apart from the previous fairly generic aims of a boot, there are a few features on this shoe that make it stand out from the crowd. The first is the brand, a few people will say: “oh, Adidas they just make sports kit and football boots.” In my experience the Terrex range is really fit for purpose. 

Another thing that stands out is the looks and styling and this was one of the main reasons I went for this boot. Yes your traditional outdoor brands produce boots fit for purpose, of course they do, but the styling of these in relation to the price point made the decision easy. 

The grips show very little sign
of wear.

Other boots that I looked into prior to purchase were colourful examples such as: 

The North Face Verbena II’s at £140

The Salomon Wings Sky GTX 2’s at £139.99

And La Sportiva’s Trango S Evo GTX’s at £200+

All these other modern, fresh boots are a fair bit more and as the Adidas Terrex Fast R Mid’s were just £95 on sale at Blacks, I made the leap so to speak.

The grip of these boots is certainly noticeable in comparison to my previous shoes and Adidas would say that it is down to the Continental tyre rubber that the soles are formed from that give great grip, especially in wet conditions. 

The lacing system is a nice touch too. The speed lacing works with a connected loop of lacing being tightened by a one directional toggle, with a release catch for loosening. This means no more stopping to tie soggy untied laces, should you need to re-tighten them, it needn’t slow you down, just a quick pull on the toggle and away you go. The system seems successful as my boots hardly ever need tightening even after a full days walk, and the aesthetic of the system adds to the overall modern appearance.

The instep of my UK size 11's.

Finally this product from Adidas is suited for someone who is fairly fast paced. Whether this comes in the form of a fell runner in need of a little more support or just a walker who likes the light minimal feel to these shoes, they still have enough grunt to protect you from the elements and keep you going all day. 

These are boots that can keep up with you!

The Terrex range offers many different cuts of boot and also have a ladies range too. I have been amazingly impressed by mine so I have to recommend them to you! Be sure to check them out!

If you havent watched it already be sure to go watch our video review of the boot, go on, do it now! 

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Cheers

#TeamFell

  

Arête

THE word arête comes from the Old French areste, meaning spine or fish bone, but the modern definition of arête is a sharp, narrow mountain ridge or spur. 

Sharp Edge on Blencathra is a fine example
of a Lakeland arête. Picture courtesy of
StridingEdge

As a landform an arête is a knife-edge ridge. When two corries run back to back the formation left in between is known as an arête. Each side of the ridge would be eroded by glaciers and as the edges become steeper the ridge gets narrower.

In England we have some fantastic examples of arêtes such as Striding Edge on Helvellyn between the Nethermost Cove and Red Tarn corries, or Sharp Edge (formerly Razor Edge) on Blencathra between Tarn Crag and Foule Crag. Arêtes provide some fantastic walks with staggering viewpoints and scrabbles to raise the heart rate. But they are hazardous and should be treated with extra care and respect. 

Cheers 

#TeamFell

Hi-Tec Para Boots

THIS is the first of many gear reviews to come, so lets begin and take a look at the Hi-Tec Para walking boots. 

Before buying these boots I was looking for something below a hundred quid but that was waterproof and hardwearing. 

These Para boots from Hi-Tec fitted all my pre-purchase requirements as a wellie/boot hybrid formed from a rugged rubber upper. This, paired with a chunky high traction Vibram outsole made this offering from Hi-Tec a very attractive prospect. 

The Vibram sole on offer

Out of the box the Para’s were comfortable and very fit for purpose, but a little on the heavy side, larger due to the hefty but necessary sole. 

To describe the look is very difficult, it really is a mid cut walking boot with a wellington styling. Not easy on the eye at all but the thick set contours inspire an all-terrain confidence and gives you a ready for anything attitude. 

Despite these boots being Hi-Tec (a brand of lesser premium) I was expecting this pair of clogs to withstand the test of time and survive a nuclear winter should they need to, and show very little signs of external wear while doing it!

Unfortunately the time that the boots spent with #TeamFell was short lived. 

After wearing them in for a few local walks, they came up to the Lakes in May with us. On the first full day up there, while crossing a shallow stream, (and when I say shallow, I mean it! The water barely came over the level where the sole met the upper.) I felt a quick inflow of fresh water.

Side view of the Hi-Tec Para's

Sigh. 

The soggy sock and memory of parting with seventy quid for these boots tried it’s best to dampen my spirits. Once I trudged a bit further and forgot about the disappointment of my military looking footwear falling well short of my expectations, the views of the Easedale valley cheered me up. 

Now, the leaky sole/upper joint was the worst of it, but having dried them out overnight, I persevered for a couple of days until the insole in the opposite shoe came fully loose and would cling to my socks like a parasite at the end of every subsequent days walk. 

Upon returning home, I got a full hassle free refund from the supplier, whether my pair was one rare faulty disaster or not, multiple problems within a month of purchasing them had shunned any faith I had in trying out a fresh pair. 

If you own a pair of these and they are working perfectly make sure you speak up in the comments and let the readers know your experiences. Likewise if your Para boots suffered a similar fate to mine, do tell. Any feedback would be fantastic for a prospective buyer considering this product.

Maybe I just got the unlucky pair.

Finally it is worth mentioning a couple of points. I would not recommend these boots, if like me your extremities stay warm constantly, my feet roasted in these. Some websites refer to the Hi-Tec’s as mud/snow boots, and in warm weather the consequential lack of breathability from the rubber construction really does harbour the heat waves and made these hotter than I first expected.

Pro: Good fit (size 11)

Con: Build Quality

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Cheers

#TeamFell

Helvellyn

DURING a lovely week in August, the decision was made that we would tackle Helvellyn, the second highest peak in England (according to the Marilyns criteria). With it’s lofty altitude and engaging name, we found ourselves parking up in Patterdale, a stunning village boasting numerous pubs and hotels and terrific valley views which it shares with is close neighbour Glenridding.

On the way, we traversed through the beautiful, high Kirkstone Pass, having come from Coniston via Ambleside and we commented on the scenes out of the rear-view mirror as we climbed the locally known Struggle, they were simply flawless and that was just from the car.

Now out of the car with packs strapped up and boots well tightened, we set out with the help of a fantastic water resistant enlarged (1:16000) ordinance survey map sheet from The Yellow Walk Maps by Yellow Publications, it only cost a couple of quid from Summitreks in Coniston.

As we rose from Patterdale, headed for the valley between St Sunday Crag and Birkhouse Moor, the trademark lakeland sound of RAF practice flights rumbled through every stone and fell and reverberated like some great drum. The sound desperately in pursuit of the incredible blur that had long since passed ahead of it. 

Only when the sound had disappeared toward Ullswater did we continue upwards and eventually to Waterfall Woods.  We followed the beautiful single track road until you reach a gate. At this point we took the bridge crossing the tranquil, shallow, wide Grisedale Beck to the right. 

The view from Grisedale Beck before starting to climb.

Immediately across this was the point where the photograph behind the Fell logo at the top of this page was taken. Onwards we went through a short uphill stretch of sheep pasture which lead us to the real beginning of the ascent. From this point the way ahead climbed steadily for well over two hours until we caught site of a famous Helvellyn view; the hole-in-the-wall. 

It is definitely worth mentioning the absolutely stunning views on the way up the path. This is not a walk in which the only entertainment or purpose is reaching the summit. The end of the valley you can see as you walk upward is a magnificent back drop with Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike providing a formidable vertical stop gap to fill the landscape with scree and crags. 

As you turn anti-clockwise, now looking to about ten O’clock on an imaginary clock face a flawless ‘U’ shape can be seen between sky and slope, the opening into the Grisedale Tarn corrie. Further anti-clockwise is St Sunday Crag and it’s impressive rocky outcrops that punctuate the undulating lines to its summit. 

Striding Edge from High
Spying How

What was still hidden was the peak that we were on route for, the infamous plateau of Helvellyn. Once through the hole-in-the-wall, the pleasant and purposeful ascent to the start of Striding Edge passed by under excited steps. At the highest point on the ridge, High Spying How, the spine like, sharp arête threaded out in front of us. 

From this viewpoint, above it, my first thought was ‘Wow’! Then ‘How’? How was something so uncanny formed? One thing you don't register until you are on the ridge and in the middle of your crossing is the differing levels to the path, it rolls and contours, from the start it honestly looks far more level. You need to be comfortable with climbing up one surface and like walking a see-saw, be equally adept in keeping your footing on the corresponding downslope.

I got onto the ridge, I took a few tentative steps and then found my head for heights and feet for fells, and there I was! Like a tight rope walker, on a great serrated knife-edge striding on Striding Edge. It is an exhilarating feeling, but in that moment and even now reminiscing, the overwhelming emotion was pride. I felt proud of myself. It was a personal achievement, something I had wanted to do for a long time. In the moment I was taking it all in and thinking I’m really here! That is the love that I hold for the fells and mountains of the Lakes, it is very difficult to explain so I hope you can empathise with me for how I was feeling in that moment! 

A small amount of scrambling was needed as
Jasper works out his path.

Claire on the other hand was the polar opposite. In comparison to me, who knew what Striding Edge has in store for us, Claire was flabbergasted. The realisation that that whetted, protruding ribbon of land, linking High Spying How to the Helvellyn massif was the path we had to take, well the surprise was clear to see. 

Just take one step at a time. That old cliché, was what Claire was telling herself. Once she got onto the arête though, those common words couldn't unfreeze her legs. It was the drops on each side that unnerved Claire that day and the jagged form that the weathered stones take up there in the height. 

As I had strayed ahead in blind enthusiasm, it fell to a returning family coming in the opposite direction to be the catalyst to get Claire moving again. The mixture of peer pressure and the simple advice, “stick to the middle and you’ll be fine” got Claire headed towards the summit once more. 

At times further into Striding Edge, Claire recalls crouching and holding on as she became benumbed once or twice more. I advised her to get down on the goat track until later on, where footing is better and you only have to fight a mental battle to your left as the path is for the most part lower on the ridge to the right side leaving only that flank exposed to any episodes of sudden vertigo. 

The western view from the Helvellyn summit.

Some of you I’m sure will be wondering where in all this had Jasper got too? Well, as soon as I had lifted him over the hole-in-the-wall, he was again in the lead. This meant he wouldn’t be causing me any unwelcome stumbles at the point when the lead became taught. He earned his stripes up there. He is a fit a dog as you will meet. Between the family he gets walked a considerable distance almost daily, so endurance wasn't ever a worry. But the terrain was. Yet he calculated every step. If he picked a wrong route he would retrace his steps and follow another more dog friendly surface. 

In comparison to other walks he does on the moors and hills around Holmfirth, this was a different dog, who seemed to understand the seriousness of the occasion, and the care and attitude that was needed that day, without losing any of the pleasure of being in such a rare and beautiful location.

Red Tarn and Striding Edge from the path leading to Swirral
Edge with St Sunday Crag in the background.

After about an hour and a half on the edge we reached what is known as the chimney, a natural choke point which can be bypassed by the side path, but at this point in time I had Jasper by my side and Claire, who refused to stand up, sliding along Striding Edge on her bum, following closely behind.

Now the chimney is  a ‘V’ shaped exposed stone gash, that drops steeply, like a narrow vertically rotated ravine. I got into the chimney and found there was plenty of footholds to descend on but this was a far too bigger drop for Jasper to dive down, Claire edged him on his harness onto my shoulder and I climbed my way down with two feet and one hand.

Just in case Striding Edge wasn't enough for you, looming above you now is what W.A. Poucher described as ‘The Abyss’, a sheer slope of angular rock and scree divided only by a path that hairpins its way up to the sanctuary that is the plateau. 

A panoramic shot, featuring two Jaspers, two of me and a beautiful eastward backdrop.

There was a point near the base of the abyss where I thought that I would have to pick up Jasper again, but I was proved wrong with such impetus. I wish I wasn't so surprised by the manoeuvre he pulled off for I would have loved to to give you some photographic evidence. He seemed to dislocate his legs in order to get grip on the smooth, boot-polished surface on either side of him and then, like a spider in a hurry, masterfully scrambled upwards. Then he was off up on the easier but loose path surface that led still blindly to the summit.

Now, this was another point in time that Claire froze. Below me, I could see her hugging onto the rock face, practically digging her nails in as to not let go, and fighting back tears. She told me later that all she kept thinking was that she'd come too far to turn back. It was either climb up the hellish ascent, or wait for a passing helicopter to rescue her, and though the latter was tempting, she opted for the more sensible option. She just kept muttering under her breath "If my mum could see me now..." Soon enough, her torture was over, and the climb became more of a walk (I say walk, but Claire refused to let go of the ground with her hands so she was more like crawling to the peak).

By the time the two humans in our company had caught up with the canine companion, he had cleared the entire summit plateau of perched crows and rogue seagulls before stopping to admire the view. 

The Helvellyn ridge leading to White Side, with the majestic
Skiddaw and Blencathra to the north.

Up there, at the peak of Helvellyn the 360 degree vista was magnificent, so clear was an array of mountains and fells, both near and far it both rewarded you for your efforts and inspired you to climb its prodigious neighbours. To the north, the rolling shapes of Skiddaw and Blencathra dominated that field of vision, while to the west and south west, the tops of Scafell and Scafell Pike, Great Gable, Glaramara, Harrison Stickle, Coniston Old Man and Wetherlam are all visible, while to the south the ridge to Dollywaggon Pike and Nethermost Pike gives way for a glimpse of Lake Windermere in the distance.  

Catstycam from Swirral Edge.

After encouraging Claire to her feet and enjoying some sandwiches on the sun drenched cross shaped shelter, we took some of the photos displayed amongst this colossal hunk of text and made for Swirral Edge, and the descent from the most incredible view I have seen to date. Now facing east, the immaculately formed peak of Catstycam is backed by the glittering Ullswater catching and reflecting the now late and falling sunlight. Behind that was the silhouette of the proud Pennines running north and south in a stable surety. 

Swirral Edge offered a good walk back down the other side of Red Tarn but having conquered Striding Edge hours earlier the wonders of this arête were somewhat outshone. The decision was made not to climb Catstycam simply due to the time constraints, but we will definitely be back to tackle that pristine pyramidal peak. 

With the tarn now almost within a stones throw, the dog took off to have a cooling swim and drink before going to merrily greet a couple of wild campers just setting up their gear for a night undisturbed beneath the night sky. From here, we simply headed back to the hole-in-the-wall and down the path we had climbed earlier, only this time not far from the sheep pasture and Waterfall Wood we caught a rapid glimpse of a great predator, the unmistakable black and white flash of an Osprey. 

Claire said, “never again!” I said, “fancy going round again?” 

Finally, a happy #TeamFell at the summit of the marvellous Helvellyn, what more can I say!

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Cheers

#TeamFell