Hi-Tec 2010 Scoop!

More 2010 future preview stuff, this time from last week's Kendal Outdoor Retail Show - KORS - where we hooked up with the guys from Hi-Tec for a look at their new walking boots and shoes for next year.

The main themes again are their lightweight V-Lite range and philosophy and the innovative but slightly misunderstood ion mask waterproofing technology. Ion mask is an interesting one. It's a treatment which is applied to the entire boot and coats every fibre with water repellancy.

That means you keep breathability but end up with a shoe or boot that's highly water repellant and dries very fast too. For starters, there's an important tweak to the Altitude boot which was the first ion mask product launched.

For 2010, the tongue area has been re-designed with a higher gusset made from leather rather than nylon to reduce the leakage experienced by some users of the original Altitude. The upper has also been re-done with a reduced number of seams, again the aim is to improve water repellancy.

Multi Terra Targa


Brand new, and also using ion mask, is the Multi Terra Targa - above - a water sport shoe with a mesh upper and hydrophobic properties. The idea is that ion mask rather than rendering the shoe waterproof, stops water soaking into it and means it drains and dries much faster when it is exposed to water.  Price is £55.

V-Lite Mach III

Again featuring ion mask proofing, the Mach III is a radical looking cove made with a one-piece, ballistic nylon upper  with no seams, the idea being to remove any hot spots. The weave is very tight to improve water repellancy and the boot has been heat sealed.


It's very light and quite distinctive, which you'll either love or loathe... Price will be £85.

The above will be in shops from around February 2010. More information about the brand at www.hi-tec.com