Hi-Tec Eurotrek Mens Waterproof Walking Boots

I bought a pair of High-Tec Euro waterproof boots around two years ago and have walked about 350-400 miles in them over various kinds of terrain. They were unusually comfortable from the start - I had bought them because a much more rigid, expensive, and higher-spec boot from Salomon had wrecked my (wide) feet and had needed to be discarded after only a handful of trials - and the Hi-tecs initially seemed to justify the 'waterproof' label. The boots were moderately light and had a reasonable amount of ankle support and sole grip. Also, the shiny leather uppers had a surprising and welcome ability to resist most kinds of mud - it would often just slip off or, if not, could easily be removed. After a walk through fairly muddy terrain it was often noticeable that my boots still looked shiny and new whilst those of others in the party looked as if they had been wading through 1st world war trenches! (Sadly, this quality of the boot has diminished somewhat with time and use. The waterproofing is also not quite so effective now as it used to be).

When I first purchased the boots I had been a little worried about the durability of the leather as it seemed quite thin and very flexible. However, the leather survived over 300 miles of walking, occasionally in rugged terrain, before any problems developed. After about 350 miles there is now a small tear in the front side of the boot just above the sole. I am not sure whether this represents poor quality or not for a modern boot - although I note that I still have a pair of (very heavy) Italian boots that have survived 30 years and over 1000 miles of distance and are still fit for use. (It is possible that if I had looked after the High-Tecs better: polishing them and removing all traces of mud between excursions - once their initial invulnerability to mud had begun to wane - that they would have lasted longer). More annoying to me was the fact that, after about 250 miles, one of the 6 metal lace-holder rivets sheared off. This did not render the boots unusable but it did make the lacing-up more difficult and lop-sided. I note that other reviewers here and elsewhere have reported similar occurrences, so maybe Hi-Tec need to look at the durability of the metal that they use.

Anyway, I would not recommend these boots to high-mileage walkers who do most of their walking on rugged mountains - as I suspect that frequent abrasion on rocks would soon result in scuffs and splits, particularly as the rubber toe cap is rather shallow - but for someone who goes for occasional rambles on more gentle terrain, then I think that they should definitely be considered. And the boots are very comfortable, particularly if you have broad feet!

Hi-Tec Men's Eurotrek Waterproof Hiking Boot: Mixed results but overall not bad considering I have been wearing these light weight boots every working day for ladder work, thatching. However after a few months I managed to break two of the boot lace hooks and now, after around 7-8 months the uppers have split on on boot and the other is not far behind. Up till now they have been comfortable and waterproof and I have made no attempt to put any treatment on them to prolong their life.

One important point is that Hi-Tec do seem to make broad fitting footwear which suits me as most makes are for slimmer or time crushed feet with a small instep. So, if you have a small heal or are narrow across the toes, I recommend that you don't bother with any Hi-Tec footwear unless you intend wearing a couple of pairs of socks for cold weather.