Hi-Tec Ravus Vent Mid WP

Affordable, but you get what you pay for

I bought these as my first hiking boot last year when deciding to start doing long distance hikes through more technical terrain, I wanted an inexpensive option to start with while deciding if long distance hiking was for me.  

I made the rookie error of trusting the size and bought online without trying them on and worked out quickly they run a little small (UK 10) and also somewhat narrow and while most of the time they were fine on occasions, when my feet warmed and expanded, the were a bit tight for my liking. Having said that, the overall comfort and ankle support of these boots was actually quite good and the materials and workmanship on the upper (except for the toe guard) was above average. 

On the trail they performed well on even the most technical terrain with excellent traction on surfaces from loose gravel, large and jagged rocks, and in the rain and mud. The sole feels soft and forgiving and gives a comfortable ride however this comes at a cost as you’ll read below.

On the downside, while they claim to be waterproof, this wears off quickly and I was getting wet feet after just a handful of hikes. The sole and toe guard also were disappointing with holes in the left boot despite only having hiked a mere 260km, also coming apart from the toe guard which is shown in the photos.  

Overall these are an average boot at best and while they’ll do the job you’ll likely be replacing them before expected.