Raichle Mountain Trail GTX

It`s good: The 2nd placed Scarpa Trek 2 GTX has been a Trail favourite for many years- so it takes something extra special to knock it off the podium. So I won`t hesitate to say that the Raichle Mountain Trail GTX is a stunning boot. The Raichle is based around a simple Nubuck leather upper without lots of stitching to leak or fail over time. There is also a waterproof lining to guarantee dry feet.

The upper is stiff and supportive with a soild toe box for protection. The ankle cuff is a little higher than the Scarpa`s, which will suit those who prefer more support. Under foot, you get a very aggressive sole unit and this has a little more lug depth to it than the Scarpa: this will make quite a difference as all sole units wear thin with time, so the Raichle is likely to retain its grip for longer. There is also plenty of stiffness in the sole so it is great for tackling rocky mountain paths, scree and jagged rocks. But you also get a wonderfully easy rolling action and plenty of cushioning. This makes this boot far more comfortable than many, many others. One final point is that the heel does feel a very close fit, so this may not suit those with wide heels, but it does feel very secure.

Buy it if:You`re prepared to pay

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