Meet the new for spring 2012 Mammut Brecon - a boot designed to UK specs for UK walkers at an 'affordable price'.
It's special being British, we have special weather and special kit culture, which is why, after a lot of input from the guys at Mammut UK, the Swiss brand has announced a new boot designed specifically for UK conditions, the Mammut Brecon.
We Like Leather...
Yep, while those pesky continentals run around the Alps in lightweight trainers, we Brits have traditionally preferred something a little chunkier and, preferably, made from cows. Which is why the Brecon has a full 2.2mm waxed sueded leather upper and a mid-height sort of ankle for protection.
There's a toe bumper to cope with abrasion from our classic British clumsiness and rocky mountain scree plus a Gore-Tex liner for our special brand of precipitation. Underfoot there's a Vibram MT Traction sole unit. The boot alsio uses Mammut's patented 'Rolling Concept'. No, there are no wheels on it, just flexible ribs underfoot to allow easier forward, erm, rolling motion.
We like Mammut's lasting as well. It's a nice sort of medium width and volume that seems to suit many British feet, though as ever, you need to try before you buy.
Just Rolling Along...
Thye Brecon is also, we understand, slightly more flexible than Mammut's alpine equivalents for greater underfoot comfort. We're guessing the assumption is that you'll mostly not being using crampons with it, so you can sacrifice a little stiffness for a little more flex.
Anyway, all in all, it looks like a classic three-season UK hill and mountain-walking boot and will be available solely in the UK from spring 2012. Initially it's a men's only design and comes in sizes from 6.5 to 12 in half sizes, plus 13.
The price? Mammut 'says it won't break the bank', but it's still a heft £145. That said, a Scarpa Trek GTX retails for £70 odd, so it's relatively affordable for a quality boot. And hey, it has been designed specially for us...
More Mammutism at www.mammut.ch.
