I chose to look outside of the normal angling channels and looked at what is on offer for hunters and shooters. The choice was staggering, so to get a real look at what was available I spent some of my time at the Tackle & Guns Trade Show visiting the clothing and footwear displays. If you ever get the chance to see some of the gear close up you’ll be amazed at the quality, but there is a downside – the prices come as a bit of a shock. However, if you want an item to fulfil its promises, then it’s a price you might have to be prepared to pay.
I wanted boots that would firstly, above anything else, keep my feet warm in the winter. As you would expect, they also had to be waterproof with my job, but as I would be wearing them for up to eight hours or more a day, they had to be comfortable. Having read the technical blurb, which can be found on its website, I eventually went for a pair of Härkila Mountain Hunt GTX 10in L Insulated boots. They feature full grain, dark-brown leather Harkila memory-fit uppers, a shock-absorbing Vibram Winkler Fire & Ice Sole System with Härkila S Wedge, and Gore-Tex insulated comfort lining. In a nutshell, they were exactly what I was looking for!
So what are they like to wear? Brilliant! I’ve been wearing them for some time now and although I’ve not had to face the freezing conditions of last winter yet, I’ve been out before sunrise where there was a slight frost on the ground, and I have to report that my toes were like toast!
Walking in the boots was a dream and they feel really light, considering the size – I’m a size 12! I’ve even worn them in the weather we had in November, and the great thing is your feet don’t sweat. So have I found my ideal boots? I believe so. The real test will be when the really cold weather comes. I will keep you up to date on how the boots deal with the wear and tear I will be putting them through, so keep in touch by following us on Facebook and visiting our website.
| Härkila Mountain Hunt GTX 10in L Insulated Boots Colour: Dark brown Sizes: 5 to 13 and 14 to15 RRP: £239.99 Contact: 07887 997788 Website: www.harkilauk.co.uk |
