So how well does Hi Tec's ion mask, non-membrane waterproofing system work.
Hi Tec V-Lite Altitude
Ultra WPi - First Look
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Price:
£80 SRP
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Weight: 1140
grammes (pair 43)
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Features:
Lightweight nubuck leather walking boots with ion-mask waterproof
technology, fully gussetted leather tongue, padded leather collar,
moisture wicking lining, rust-proof hardware, Stabila Flex contoured
bi-fit board, EVA midsole, Vibram outsole, Comfort-Tec contoured sock
liner.
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What's It
For?
The Altitude Ultra WPi is a lightweight leather boot that uses a
waterproofing system called ion mask, which is claimed to make the boot
completely waterproof but without using a waterproof membrane or sock
liner, which some users find sweaty.
The boot iteself is part of Hi-Tec's V-Lite range of lightweight
walking boots. It's really intended for use below the snowline
The Techy
Bits
Most of the features of the Altitude Ultra WPi are pretty much
standard issue V-Lite stuff, though the boots do sport a new,
lightweight Vibram sole. What makes them different is the ion mask
treatment. Unlike other waterproof boots, it's not a membrane or sock
liner, but in effect, a nano-technology super DWR treatment developed
by P2i Labs, which is applied to the entire boot.
In very simple terms, the whole boot is placed inside a chamber where
first a vacuum is created and then a plasma is generated which in turn
allows a high tech fluoro carbon DWR to penetrate every surface of the
boot and coating every fibre of the boot with a very thin polymer.
The end result is a boot which should be waterproof down to fibre level
and shrug off water. More details of ion mask at
www.wetisdry.com
How They
Performed
First off the boots are impressively light. They're also quite roomy, a
bit like Brashers in fact with a generous fit front a rear. We teamed
them with a pair of Soul insoles to take up a bit of volume and found
them very comfortable once we had with only a little heel lift when
provoked.
The lacing system's okay, but there's no locking lace hook provision,
which means getting the right compromise between comfort and support at
the ankle can be fiddly. Otherwise though, the non-rusting lace
furniture seems well made and gives a smooth lacing action on the
forefoot. They haven't rusted yet either.
There's lots of longitudinal flex, which makes for comfortable walking
but also enough lateral stabiity to cope with rough ground - Scarpa
Mantas they're not, but then again that's not their purpose. Cushioning
on hard ground is good from the lightweight EVA mid-sole and we found
the dedicated Vibram outsole grippy on all sorts of surfaces from light
snow through to wet Peak District rock.
What you're really wondering though, is whether the ion mask
waterproofing works. Well, the answer so far at least, is a qualified
yes. The first thing we noticed is that the boots feel very breathable
- there's a bit of a barney going on over whether wateproof linings are
sweaty or not, but in our experience, they are - and we managed to
avoid hot foot syndrome. In fact they feel more breathable to us than
conventional leather boots with more conventional treatments like wax.
We've worn them in snow, dragging through wet grass, standing in
streams and trampling through lace-deep mud and sat in the bath and
they've coped with it all. Obviously in really heavy rain and if water
goes over the ankle cuff, they will get wet inside, there's a limit to
what even overtrousers will keep out.
We say 'so far' because our main worry is what will happen if or when
the surface of the boot abrades significantly, which is already
happening at the unprotected toe areas. The treatment's claimed to
penetrate deep into the fibres of the leather, but so far the jury's
still out.
So far, so good. What we can tell you is that the Hi Tecs are a
comfortable, roomy, light and grippy pair of boots which have excellent
breathability. So far they've also displayed good water resistance
across a variety of wet situations. We're going to carry on using them
and see what happens, but so far the result is a provisional thumbs up. We like 'em.
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 Light.
comfortable, breathable and grippy with excellent water resistance so
far.
 Lacing could use
lock-off system, toes are already starting to scuff up.
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Know more or want to?
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experiences of this
product check out our user review system and post your opinions to
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Richard Gear or try
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