Just in – Anatom V2

In for review is the Anatom V2, a fabric and suede-uppered hiking boot designed in Scotland for hill and mountain walking use in the UK and abroad below the snow line.

The boot is designed with the same tough fabric as the V3, Anatom calls it  High Denier Substrate and uses an own-brand tri.aria waterproof and breathable liner which is claimed to make the V2 100% waterproof. All round suede reinforcements should add a bit of protection if you find yourself stomping through scree or rubble.

Light but sturdy

Straight out of the box the boots looked big and chunky, but in reality they were comfortable and felt reasonably light on the foot from the off, though the claimed weigh of 1480g for a pair of size 42 is middling rather than super light.

Underfoot, the mid-sole has reassuring lateral stiffness, which should help keep things stable on uneven terrain, but there’s plenty of lengthways flex for comfortable walking. It feels like a pretty good balance of support and walking comfort.

Comfort

Of course with footwear, fit is crucial and we’d always suggest trying any boots before buying. Anatom says that the V2 uses its Comfort Last to suit ‘a standard to wider foot’, but also features a narrow, snug heel to minimise lifting or movement out back.

Which seems about right: first impressions were that although I have rather wide feet the boots didn’t feel tight or restricted in the forefoot, while the heel was held firmly but not uncomfortably in place so I can’t imagine they’ll be much rubbing on long walks.

As I’m known to have a pair of glass ankles I thought the high cut design worked really well for me, adding  reassuring extra psychological reassurance for clambering over rocks and ridges.

One really unusual touch is the use of a ‘high loft’ lambswool removable footbed for a mix of comfort and moisture management rather than the foam norm. It feels comfortable enough out of the box, but I’ll be interested to see how it copes with sustained use.

Different users have different ideas of how stiff a boot they need for mountain use, but if you prefer a stiffer boot, the V3 is slightly stiffer, though heavier and has the bonus of a full Vibram sole unit.

Materials

As I said above, the uppers are a mix of suede leather and fabric to give a mix of comfort, lightness and durability with the tri.aria lining adding reassurance for puddle wading and wetter days. Underfoot, although Anatom uses Vibram for its more expensive models, the V2 has a proprietary Anatom Hill-Grip 1  with reassuringly defined multi-directional lugs for all-round grip.

Price

The best price you’ll find for the Anatom V2s is around £80 which is about standard for this type of mid-range fabric walking boot. The suggested retail price is £90. That’s decent price for a quality walking boot and made possible by the use of Anatom’s own-brand waterproof liner and sole unit.