There are a lot of good design details and ingredients to talk about with this boot, the Craghoppers Dura Pro, which is actually quite surprising given that it costs a very reasonable £100. I’ve been using it in the Welsh mountains recently, here’s how I got on with it.

The Top Line

I tend to be suspicious of any hiking boots that cost £100 but, from what I’ve seen, these have good performance, they’re comfortable, and they appear built to last well.

How I Tested Them

I’m currently researching a guidebook and that means lots of long days in the Welsh hills. These have accompanied me on a number of trips, most notably during a long weekend exploring the upland bogs of the Cambrian Mountains and the Radnor Forest. I’ve also been wearing them on my daily dog walks across the chalk downland and forestry surrounding my home.

Fit and Feel

I’m a UK 10 and I’ve got these in my usual size. I’ve had no issues with the fit and found the Dura Pro to be comfortable right out of the box. I would say that they’re a touch narrow at the toe. I’ve got fairly averagely shaped feet so this wasn’t an issue for me and I even quite liked the precision that this adds on rocky ascents. However, if you’ve got fairly wide feet at the toes, you might feel a little cramped in these.

These are designed as unisex walking boots which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Women’s feet on average are shaped quite differently to men’s, typically narrower at the heel and lower in volume, and a “one-size-fits-all” last inevitably ends up as a bit of a compromise. Craghoppers have gone for something that sits in the middle ground, which works fine for me, but it does mean that some people are likely to find the fit either too roomy or too tight in key areas. If you’re right in that middle zone, you’ll probably be happy, but if you know you need a more tailored men’s or women’s fit, it’s worth trying these on in-store before committing.

Craghoppers Dura Pro: Performance

These sit right in the middle between being lightweight and heavy boots. They’re not chunky and stiff all-season boots but they’re also not fast and light style hikers for well-groomed trails. I’ve found them to be quite versatile; they’re durable and supportive enough for rough terrain but they also have enough flex and comfort to make them something you can cover a fair bit of mileage in.

The waterproofing does the job it’s supposed to. On one of my hikes while testing them out, we spent a lot of miles working our way through some incredibly boggy moorland and my feet stayed dry the entire time.

They’re a little on the warm side for very hot days, but, on the flipside, they’re the kind of boots that can be used on those chillier hill days too.

There are two impressive ingredients that the Dura Pro has. First of all, it has a Vibram outsole, which offers good levels of grip on a range of different surfaces. The deep lugs and the heel brake combine for excellent downhill performance too. The other ingredient I like is the Bloom foam in the midsole. This is an EVA foam that’s partly made from algae biomass, which gives it some good eco credentials as it helps clean up waterways while reducing reliance on petroleum.

The Craghoppers Dura Pro has a solid toe bumper and rubber wrapping right around the base of the upper. This gives the boot a very durable feel and it should help to extend its lifespan by quite a bit. There’s also a plastic guard around the heel which adds extra protection while also locking in your heel for stability.

One final thing I like about the Dura Pro is the fact that the lacing extends right down to the toes. Like an approach shoe, this lets you fine-tune the fit across the whole forefoot, pulling things in snug when you want precision on rocky scrambles or loosening it off for a bit more comfort on gentler trails. It’s a small detail, but it really adds to the shoe’s versatility.

Verdict

Overall, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Craghoppers Dura Pro. At £100, you’d expect some compromises, but what you actually get is a boot with some decent ingredients, solid construction and a performance level that’s more than a match for long days in the hills. The fit won’t be perfect for everyone, and they do run a little warm in summer, but if you’re looking for a reliable, affordable hiking boot that can handle a mix of UK conditions, the Dura Pro is a good option to consider.

Buy the Craghoppers Dura Pro: £97.50 at Craghoppers.com​