Features Starting at the bottom, you're getting a Vibram sole,
which is exclusive to Hi-Tec, PU cushioning, a stiff steel shank,
nubuck leather uppers and an eVENT waterproof liner. All good stuff.
In Action We dragged the Ascents out for a day of rugged
winter hillwalking in the Lake District, no snow, but lots of damp,
slippy rock steps and the odd boggy puddle.
Initial comfort was good. The boots have quite a generous fit with
a wide-ish heel not dissimilar to Brasher. We were a little concerned
about heel lift, but it didn't seem to become an issue. Generous
internal padding and a soft ankle cuff make for a typically modern,
comfortable fit straight out of the box.
One thing we did notice is that the lacing system isn't as slick
as some which makes it hard to get enough tension on the lower lace
loops. The lace hardwear looks curved and swoopy, but the edges the
laces run over are straight, which means they don't run as freely as
they would with a more rounded, contoured guide.
Otherwise the basics were good. There's decent lateral stiffness,
the forefeet bends in the right place and while the heel box is wide,
it's decently supportive, which is good for stability. The Vibram
sole gripped as well as anything else we're used and the boots felt
sure footed on wet rock.
It's the first time we've used an eVENT liner in a boot, though
we've been very impressed with the fabric in clothing, and on a damp
winter day, we had no complaints at all. Our feet stayed dry despite
detours through muddy hollows and breathability was as good or better
than anything else we've used in footwear.
The real test would be a hot, sunny, day when most waterproof boot
liners are simply overwhelmed, but this being January, there's not
much we can do abou t that right now. One other interesting point is
that because eVENT doesn't use a PU element, even if it does
puncture, the theory is that water is less likely to be drawn into
the boot compared to Gore-Tex, which has a hydrophylic PU inner
coating to protect it from contamination.
At £75, the Ascent II give you a lot of boot for the
money and the good news is that they do a very decent job. There are
a few compromises compared to more expensive boots, the draggy lacing
system for example and we noticed that the nubuck uppers aren't quite
as water repellant as the leather used by more expensive brands like
Scarpa and Meindl.
Most of the boxes are neatly ticked and stuff like the Vibram sole
and eVENT membrane work well. Fit is obviously a personal issue and
while the generous Brasher-esque fit will suit a lot of British feet,
we'd suggest that more narrow-heeled folk check the heel width
carefully.
If you're on a budget and the Hi-Tec suits your foot, you're
getting great value boot for your cash.
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Performance
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Value
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Pushed for time
Fantastic value three-season hill boot with eVENT
waterproof liner and Vibram sole. There are compromises like
the less than slick lacing system and fabric ankle cuff, but
if the generous fit suits you, you're getting a great deal
for the money.
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