Mens Womens Shoes

A good pair of hiking boots will certainly save your feet on the next hike you may head out on. With the market flooded with all kinds of Men’s hiking boots, getting a fitting pair of boots for your feet can prove to be a daunting task. This week’s review will feature an out-of-the-box hiking boot from Hi-tec, a brand formed in 1974 and best known for its introduction of the Hi-tec squash shoes. The brand now has over 500 Hi-Tec styles being marketed throughout 80 countries globally under the Hi-Tec Outdoor, Hi-Tec Golf, Hi-Tec Court, Urban collections, Hi-Tec Sport and Magnum brands.

Product features:

The Hi-Tec Men’s Eurotrek Waterproof Hiking Boot is a budget, waterproof, lightweight walking boots and perfect for dog walkers, hillwalkers and trail walkers alike because of its breathable, lightweight and comfortable fitting. Available in brown, dark brown and black colours, these boots are tidy enough to wear casually and seem to fit the bill perfectly walking in rugged terrains or hard surfaces in bad weather keeping the feet and ankles extremely safe and secure. These hiking boots are quite wide fitting, so you do not have to suffer from any blisters as your feet could get used to them. More importantly, the boots do not need breaking in which is a big advantage. The boots polish up really well, so that you can simply get about with wearing them as a nice shoe.

What we like: Soft leather, well padded interiors, good breathability, excellent ankle support, generous fit, plenty of grip.

But let us have a closer look at the boots and see its design features in detail.

Waterproof leather upper:

The Hi-Tec Eurotrek hiking boot comes with waterproof leather upper with moisture wicking lining which helps move sweat and wetness away from the feet and as you would expect, keeps your feet dry and comfortable. The leather upper is built to last longer and does not let water in across the toes.  Also, the leather construction makes the Hi-Tec Hiking Boots lightweight, durable and perfect for light trekking. The soft padded collar adds a great deal of comfort and support to your step and reduces heel slippage. The boot also features rustproof hardware for long-lasting wearing.  There are no leakages whatsoever and so is undoubtedly a boot that appears to be doing well in grass, mud, track and pavement.

Lace details:

We were particularly impressed with the easy to lace hooks that can securely hold the laces in place when hiking. The boot lace eyelets are of high quality. The lace arrangement is good with eyes at lower level and tensioning hooks with rounded edges to upper level. The clip-overs for the laces help you lace up the boots fast, but more importantly, you can take them off easily and quickly after a walk when you are pretty tired and just want the boots off.

Insole:

The insole of the Eurotrek Hiking shoe is well built with which provides a high level of warmth and comfort. Thanks to the contoured EVA sockliner that offers great cushioning and of course it is removable. What is more impressive is that it gives you an incredible fit without any pressure points or heel lift.

Outsole:

Constructed with a durable carbon rubber MDT hiking outsole, the boot provides aggressive traction for treks over rough terrain. The Hi-Tec boot is built around the insole known as the board. In board lasting construction, you will find that the insole is fixed to the last/form and then the boot upper is wrapped around this assembly. In the final step, the outsole is attached to the boot. The board lasted outsole has steel shanks that give you greater stability. The steel shank is nothing but a metal plate in the sole of the boot that makes it easier for you to stand for longer hours on a narrow peg. This means you get additional support for the foot especially during climbing. The metal shank also serves a use for safety in that if one steps on something sharp that would under normal circumstances puncture it, the steel shanks prevents it from entering your foot.

Good fit:

Buying a pair of boots without trying them on is a risk, but the Hi-Tec Men’s Hiking Boot fitted really well. There is also a detachable insert which can be removed if you are someone with a wide foot. The boots are close fitting which means that they are not that big even on size 11 foot.  And they are quite ready to wear straight out of the box and fit like a glove with no rubbing.

Other details:

Though some Hi-Tec shoes carry one year waterproof warranty, this pair of boots does not have any which is a disappointment. The boot is available in a wide range of UK sizes from 6-14. The boot has an overall great coating and nine times out of ten, the boot uppers can simply be wiped clean, even after walking in snow and mud. As a care instruction, you can keep them well and shining with polish oil and dubbin.

Conclusion:

With the boots on, you will have no trouble walking at a fast pace and they really are spot on. The Hi-tec boots double up their use as work shoes on the days you trek into work. If you need a durable, all round sturdy ankle boot that is perfect for daily moderate-level (3-5 miles on rough terrain) and does not weigh a ton, this is it. And for the money, they are hard to beat. Recommended for daily use.

Hi-Tec Eurotrek Waterproof Hiking Boot – Technical Specification Table

The range of Dr Martens 1460 Boots are the original Doc Martens that were introduced in the UK on the 1st April 1960 (or 1/4/60) and hence dubbed as the 1460. This exciting range of Dr Martens is 8-Eye silhouette boots. Though the original boot came in cherry or black, there are currently dozens of versions available for both men and women. Interestingly, in 2008, Dr Martens invited many acclaimed artists and designers, mostly iconic figures including Paul Smith, Chrome Hearts, Vivienne Westwood and Rick Owens to have a go at personalizing the design to suit their individual tastes. Whether you like to customise your Docs or just keep them squeaky clean. The boot range is branded AirWair and the rest’s history. Let’s find out what makes the Dr Martens 1460 Boot for women the most exciting boots ever made.

Design features:

The Dr Martens 1460 Women’s Boot has become an icon, known worldwide for its uncompromising looks, comfort and durability. This boot features full grain leather uppers with a smooth finish. Full Grain leathers as we may know are the best leathers available and obviously the strongest and most durable leather type. As customary, the Dr Martens boot comes with a lace fastening through classic original 8 eyelet Boot design. There is also a pull on tab at the ankle featuring the brand logo.

Construction:

The Dr Martens 1460 Casual Style boot is a Goodyear-welted product in which the upper and sole are sewn together and not merely glued like you see in most footwear constructions. Welted construction is one in which the PVC edging is sewn onto the upper, stitching the upper together permanently to the insole thereby giving a base to attach the soles. This construction together with the Z welt-stitching (nothing but a traditional yellow stitching or self stitch) along with AirWair Loop and a special heat-sealing process makes the Dr. Martens boot one of its kinds. The leather finish has a cool look to it and still keeps out the snow and the wet exceedingly well. The softer leather is quickly worn in and this means it can save weeks of blisters you get with the normal cherry leather and stiffer black finishes sometimes.

Sole information:

Another impressive feature is the air-cushioned sole that has been providing a great degree of underfoot comfort and durability since 1960. Not to mention that it is tough, oil-and fat-resistant and provides excellent abrasion and slip resistance. We found that the air-sole puts in a little bit of bounce in the stride. It provides good all-round ankle support and looks pretty decent too. The boots are not comfy spot-on from the start, but just do not give up, you have to simply stroll around in the shoes a bit at the beginning. After a while, the boots will readily shape itself to your feet and you will start to feel like it fits perfectly. Some users even recommend putting the pair of boots in a pail of water and trying sauntering around in them, sopping wet to quicken the process, although to be honest, we haven’t tried that out yet. The bouncy, cushioned sole is an advantage too as it takes the jarring edge off walking, particularly when you’re walking downhill and offers you a bit of spring in your stride. With all the snow and ice around, it grips like nothing else. The insole of the boots is made of synthetic leather and it also features a signature yellow stitch detailing to the soles.

Dimension details (for a Size 8 boot):

The heel height of the boot is 29 mm, the shaft Height is 160 mm with the platform height and circumference of the boot being 12 mm and 230 mm respectively.

Use & Care:

Even the finest quality leather, will in time dry and lose its durability. Take some time out to care for the leather. Here are some quick instructions to care for your boots. Remove dirt using only a damp cloth. When you find the boots dry, just apply a small amount of Dr. Martens Wonder Balsam or you can also go for similar leather-care products to apply on the leather in an even layer with the sponge provided. Make sure that the balsam is worked right into the seams. When using Dr. Martens Wonder Balsam, leave it to absorb for 5 minutes. Remove any excess using a cloth. Always place the boots on newspaper when you’re cleaning. This is to prevent damaging surfaces. If the boot becomes wet, allow them to dry naturally for some time. You can carry out the instructions detailed here once every three months under normal wearing conditions. Should the boots become extremely wet or soiled, it is recommended that you treat them at your earliest convenience.

Colour & Size Information:

Dr. Martens Boot is available in UK sizes from 3-13 in a wide assortment of colours namely Black Nappa (P11822002), White Smooth (P11822100), Aztec Crazy Horse (P11822200), Green Smooth (P11822207), Brown Polished Inuck (P11822212), Tan Polished Inuck (P11822226), Navy Smooth (P11822411), Cherry Red smooth (P11822600), Black QQDOT (P10072019), Grey QQDOT (P10072022) and Black Mini Tydee (P11821010).  As an update, Martens have unveiled their 2009 spring ‘colours’ collection of the classic boot in red, blue, yellow or green and this is not just the leather but also the laces and soles. Whatever colour you choose, they are going to look & feel great and are perfect for any weather.

Manufacturer Warranty:

Dr. Martens provides you a warranty against footwear manufacturing defects, but not fit, size, wear and tear or comfort issues.

Verdict:

The Dr. Martens boot is a true classic and it’s a seriously good boot, even if you do not care a bit about classics. This boots really look good with jeans and trousers without looking like a hiking boot and contrasts exceptionally well with the yellow trim. The boot obviously fits like a glove and the styles personify all that is true and distinct to Dr. Martens. The designs for this stylish boot keeps pushing the barriers  of what one would really anticipate to see the general public not only accepting but going for it. The iconic boots traverse the time and revisit the classics with their rugged leather look. Mind you, they will never go out of vogue and yes you will be one satisfied customer happy with your choice of buying one.

Dr Martens 1460 Boot – Product Specification Details