Berghaus Pro Rush Mid II

Just in for review is a pair of Berghaus's eagerly-awaited, new for 2010, Pro Rush Mid II GTX lightweight boots and we're keen to see what's happened to a unsung classic.

The original Pro Rush Mid was an excellent compromise between lightness and durability with phenomenal grip from the Opti-Stud sole unit. It was comfortable, stable, light and reliable anywhere below the snowline. Looks were, well, a matter of taste.

The new version - preview here - has totally new styling to start with, though the basics remain the same. There's still the external EHS, Ergonomic Holding System, upper which uses a plastic reinforcement to stabilise the foot and there's still an Opti-Stud sole unit.

The latter's been revised though after a lot of research by sports scientists. Apparently the sole is grippier on harder surfaces like rock than its predecessor and is designed to shed mud even more effectively. We're looking forward to seeing if it lives up to the claims, the original gives amazing purchase on softer terrain.

Another change is to the construction. Like the original, the Pro Rush Mid II uses a dual-density EVA mid-sole, but because it's constructed using a process called 'overlasting', the Nubuck section of the upper covers and protects the EVA cushioning and also has an integral toe bumper to protect the front end of the boot from abrasion. There's also a locking lace hook to tailored lace tension.

Side By Side...

Side by side, it's obvious that the Mk 2 version of the boot is around an inch taller at the ankle cuff, which also seems to be slightly stiffer than before, presumably to give a more protective feel. It also feels to have slightly less and slighty stiffer internal padding.

Weights per boot are 504 grammes for the original and 598 grammes for the 2010 version, both size 43, so that's a fairly steep increase of 200 grammes per pair. Once on, the new boot feels immediately slightly stiffer and more substantial - though some of that may go with wearing in - and more like the lightweight three-season boot Berghaus says it is.

The original, by comparison, feels more like a soft, mid-cut outdoors trainer on the foot, presumably because the all-fabric uppers and simply softer. That difference will probably become less pronounced as the new ones break in. We'll let you know.

The new Pro Rush Mid II GTX will be in the shops shortly and retails for £120. More feedback once we've used them.