Hiking Boots
Published: 09 October, 2009
As a first time writer for the footwear editorial team, I must admit I was a little nervous when Cheryl, our editor, asked me to embark on a ‘Road Test'. By definition, I thought I would be donning a pair of running shoes, pounding the road for miles, with sweat pouring down my face, Paula Radcliffe style.....
During dinner, I causally mentioned to my wife that my first story would involve a ‘run'.
"What you?" she quizzed, "Run?!", "you get in the car to go to the corner shop"
"Yeah, but it's for work", I replied
"When you start, let me know, I'll get the video camera out - I know your friends won't want to miss this", she teased.
Fortunately for me, my wife's plans of uploading embarrassing videos to ‘You Tube' were put to rest, when the pair of Karrimor boots arrived. Like a kid at Christmas, I tore off the delivery plastic sleeve to reveal the stylish-looking Karrimor box
On opening the box, the smell of leather was quite apparent. This immediately gave me the impression of quality - an excellent sales benefit. First impressions when trying on, were that the boots very snug and robust. Users of this type of shoe are likely to opt for quality and performance: my initial impressions were that the boots would not let me down.
I now needed a serious testing ground, and as I was looking to impress (as do we all when joining a company), I took them on a local three-mile walk around Lydford Gorge, Dartmoor, Devon.
Fans of Lydford Gorge, will know that it is the deepest gorge in the South West, with spectacular 30m waterfall. The national trust website quotes that the walk "follows Woodland trails through a deep-cut ravine alongside the river Lyd, following onto the White lady waterfall and then the spectacular Devil's Cauldron Whirlpools". The walk is by no means easy, according to the National Trust brochure those suffering heart conditions or with young children should be warned.
On arrival, I quickly ran around to the boot of my car and proudly put on the Karrimor boots. They are easy to lace up, in traditional criss-cross boot fashion, and, as mentioned very snug. You do feel like you are fully prepared to take on any walk.
The first part of the trek through the forest was a breeze, the boots gripped well on the leafy forest floor - in fact the grip was so good, I found myself becoming a little too confident. This provided my wife with the first embarrassing photo opportunity, when I them tripped and fell in a rather large puddle. Fortunately, my feet remained dry, whilst my legs, jeans and pride got a soaking.
At the bottom of gorge, the terrain changed to slate, gravel and mud and before we knew it we were at the White lady waterfall. It was most impressive. To my wife's annoyance, however, this was also my first opportunity to take some ‘in situ' photos of the boots, with my camera phone.
After a short tea break, we set off for the Cauldron. The forest floor turned to slippery paths, which jut out dramatically from the gorge walls (many with vertical drops into the River). Again, the boots gave me confidence to attack these with gusto: it may sound silly, but from the moment I had them on, I felt that I had the proper tools to do the job in hand.
Finally, a mile and a half later, we reached the Devil's Cauldron: a dark, humid cavern, filled with a roaring whirlpool of rushing water, with a small crack in the cavern's ceiling providing the only light. Viewing of this spectacular natural phenomenon was via steel ‘plank'. Although extremely wet, this was easy work for the boot, with its hefty grip clinging onto the mesh walkway with ease.
After taking enough photos of the Cauldron to fill its own album, we began the short walk back to the car, where I removed the boots for a quick clean.
So why should you stock this boot? Wearers will immediately be impressed with its construction and comfort. It also inspires confidence, so rather than continually watching where your feet are going, the walk is more about ‘the walk'. You are safe in the knowledge that the boot can withstand most terrain whether it be mud, water, sand, rock etc. You can also advise your customers that they will keep their feet warm and dry, and encounter no blisters or rubbing - something that (from talking to regular walkers) is very important.
I now patiently await my next road test, which now Cheryl has read this, will most likely include running and a road...
Arthur tested Karrimor's KSB Skye X-Lite eVents.
