Best for: Four-season use in rugged conditions

Plusses: Hard wearing, well made, reasonable value
Minuses: Boxy fit, heavy when wet

1700g

Features: This more traditional-style boot has full-grain leather uppers with minimal seams and a full protective rubber rand. There’s a waterproof/breathable membrane and a fast-drying lining of leather and synthetic. The generous PU midsole is designed for all-day comfort with a heavy pack, and the Vibram outsole is aggressively lugged for traction in mud, snow and loose ground. Smooth roller eyelets provide quick and comfortable lacing.

Fit and comfort: Sizing matched perfectly for the long days you’d expect to do in a boot like this. The toe box is roomy for toe wiggle and there is space to allow for some foot swelling or long descents. The supplied inner sole is good quality with some heel padding and arch support. Full leather boots, especially those with leather on the inner of the cuff, need a generous break-in period before a multi-day trip but, that said, I experienced no discomfort during my first couple of outings. These boots are not as stiff as they look, which makes them more forgiving on your feet.

Durability: The leather upper and few seams reduce failure points, making these boots able to handle the abuse of scree slides, riverbeds and rocky gullies with aplomb. The lacing ends mid-foot, which protects laces from abrasion. Although the Vibram Sorapis outsole has generous tread, the XSTREK compound is optimised for a balance of comfort, traction and flexibility, so it’s a little less durable than some outsoles.

In use: These boots lace easily with silky smooth roller eyelets and a pair of basic locking hooks, with two more hooks in the upper. The roller eyelets allow the boot to adjust to your foot, however I found the mid- to forefoot of the boot a little too boxy for my feet, even though the length was correct. The boots are reassuringly solid but the boxy sensation made them feel less positive when precise footwork was required. Backcountry tramping in New Zealand generally means wet feet and I did find these boots to be heavier when wet and slower to dry than partially synthetic boots, but that’s the trade-off for the durability and protection of a leather boot. Otherwise, the boots did everything I asked – feeling secure in typical tramping conditions while protecting the feet very well. They are C1 (strap-on) crampon compatible for snow and glacier travel.

Value: These boots are at the cheaper end of the range for a full leather boot and represent good value for the price.

Verdict: The Anatom has a solid, reassuring feel and is a boot that can take the knocks and protect feet without blowing the budget.