New Boots From Berghaus

Here's one thing we forgot when we whisked you through the Spring products from the Harrogate Go Outdoors! trade show? What is it? Right, a boot from Berghaus.

More specifically it's one of the new Quantum three-season trekking range and it looks sort of familiar. In fact, if you were desperately cynical, which of course, we're not, you might assume that Berghaus has had a good look at the highly successful Salomon X-Adventure 7 boot and produced its own version.

The most obvious similarity is that carbon-fibre look-a-like 'ankle cradle', which is not unlike the Sensifit gubbins Salomon uses to locate the mid-foot, though the Berghaus version is located further back. Then there's the sole, which let's be honest also looks pretty similar to theSalomon version, though Berghaus says its Ataghan unit is made from Graviton rubber developed for optimal tyre grip in wet and dry conditions. Last but not least, the Quantum uses a waterproof / breathable Aquafoil Pro Lining to keep your feet dry.

The Quantum comes in leather and fabric versions at £100 and £90 respectively and will be in the shops from March 2001.

If they work as well as the Salomon X-Adventures they should be worth the wait. Not only that, but Berghaus generally uses a narrower last than Salomon, so if the X-Adventures are too wide for your broad British tootsies, the Quantum might just fit. Plus they're available in fabric as well.

Click here to take a look at the Berghaus web site.