Light and grippy these Adflex Low Boots from Craghoppers are great for the adventurous traveller, writes Mike Gormley.
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I’m not sure whether to call these boots, as the manufacturer does to differentiate them from the mid-height version, or walking shoes; I prefer walking shoe.
The Adflex range is aimed at the warmer climates and so they offer Craghoppers NosiLife anti-insect treatment and a good level of lightweight breathability. This said they also have a good level of water resistance with an AquaDry bootie, and as I tried these here in the UK this was proven. However as a ‘shoe’ is not very high, this of course has its limitations; though as I proved sploshing through muddy puddles on Dartmoor tracks it was only the splashes over the top that got in.
All the features of these trail shoes are made to be light in weight and many of the fabrics and other materials are recycled. The Adflex have ‘Ghillie’ lacing, which is very adjustable over the instep and I found very useful. I did find with these shoes the fit was a little bit tight for me, so do check on the sizing (UK6-UK13 in mostly full sizes). I also found they became more comfortable the more I wore them, and they became adjusted to my foot size and shape. Perhaps a little unusual for a shoe like this and something more associated with full-on leather boots.
The soles are Vibram Litebase and fairly stiff, which for me is a good thing when clambering over rocks and so on. The grip of these soles does not disappoint either. They do as they look like they should and have an open tread design to reduce the amount of mud they accumulate.
There is good toe protection from both the extended sole and also the toes have a wraparound rubber protection so these shoes should last well in rugged terrain. There is also good cuffing and comfort around the Achilles, all very welcome on a day out walking. This pair is Mid Khaki / Black with bright Orange soles, but a Red Brick / Black with Light Grey soles version is also available.
All in all, the Adflex are very useful item of footwear to have both for local use and for travellers who need light and robust multi-use footwear. A Craghoppers Lady Adflex Low version is also available.
[images © Mike or Jean Gormley]
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