La Sportiva Nepal for winter or group-work (where you often end up standing around for ages with cold feet). Otherwise Walshes for everything else in UK, including scrambling (Aonach Eagach, Inn Pinn), scree running (Sgurr Alistair Great Stone Shoot), climbing up to MVS 4b (Nightwatch) and even a 3 day fast-and-light across the Cairngorms over New Year. I've used PB's and Raids and haven't really noticed any difference in performance though the studs on the PB's are crucial if you are a fell-runner but I'm not. The success of these shoes for me lies in the compound used for the sole, it is the original sticky rubber before anyone thought of such an appealing marketing line and they have carried me confidently over wet rock, steep wet grass and snow, in fact anything except water ice and slime.
The uppers are quick drying but smell like a disease after a while. These shoes are the closest you could get to running about barefoot in the mountains (why would you want to do that?) or realistically the closest I'll get to the stealth and minimalism of a native American moccasin. So here's my old Raids before a dose of impact adhesive, the laces snapped on Skye and I had to be careful not to trip over the flappers but there's life in them yet.
The uppers are quick drying but smell like a disease after a while. These shoes are the closest you could get to running about barefoot in the mountains (why would you want to do that?) or realistically the closest I'll get to the stealth and minimalism of a native American moccasin. So here's my old Raids before a dose of impact adhesive, the laces snapped on Skye and I had to be careful not to trip over the flappers but there's life in them yet.
You can't really turn up to take a group looking like that and whilst they don't look out of place in the ODG the smell alone might ruin your chances of thumbing a lift back to the start of a ridge. Enter the Walsh Ultra Fellsman - all the benefits of the Walsh stud sole (think Crib Goch in the wet with your hands in your pockets) and you don't look like a hobo's dad. One piece leather upper and Cambrelle lined, hand-made in England (not that I am imperialist in any way but I like to support efforts to keep some manufacturing skills alive in this country, one reason for choosing Buffalo over Paramo or Montane). The EVA midsole is shock-absorbing without raising the foot atop a bed of sponge ready for you to roll off and twist your ankle like you did last summer. After-all they were designed for fell running and considering the state of finishers in a fell race you can only whince and imagine the punishment the footwear gets. At 700g they are lighter than any lightweight boot listed in Cotswold and lighter than many approach shoes. They won't dry as quick as shoes but it will take longer for water to soak through to your socks so your feet should stay drier, though the tongue is only bellows to half-way. After a lick of dubbin you could walk off the hill and comfortably order a dram in the Torridon Hotel.
They are not a stock item anywhere, even at Pete Bland's but you can order them direct from Walsh, tel: 01204 393333. No menu's, no hold music, one of the blokes making the shoes will answer the phone and make them to order, mine took 2 weeks. The price: £85 including postage. Err on the side of large, I am 43 or 44 so ordered 44. I will update on the performance after thrashing them in due course.
PS. Obviously I don't wear jeans on the hill but equally I don't prance around at home in North Face.
Update June '15
These lasted no longer than the trainers, failing where the leather meets the sole at the balls (pronation?). They looked smarter, stayed dryer a bit longer but took longer to dry and smelled just as bad after bog-trotting.
Had another pair of innov8s since, just to remind me why I h8 them, not as grippy, ugly, don't last any longer and it's like walking around on bath sponges.
Love Merrel Barefoots for general duties sockless, especially around camp but the sole not aggressive enough for the mountains. Rate La Sportiva Boulder X for all summer mountaineering but drawn back to the minimalism of the Walshes.
Considering ordering some PB Racers for when not with clients but meantime here's pics of dead Ultra Fellsmans.
