Halti Fara Mid 2 Women's Shoes | Review - Outdoors Magic

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Walking Boots

Halti Fara Mid 2 Women’s Shoes | Review

With great out-of-the-box comfort, low weight, plenty of cushioning and an attractive price tag, this lightweight mid-cut walking boot from Halti ticks plenty of boxes for day hikers

Why We Chose The Halti Fara Mid 2: Lightweight, waterproof, well-cushioned, great value

A well-priced light hiker from Finnish brand Halti, the Fara Mid 2 is a mid-cut boot designed for forest rambles, countryside walks and day hikes. The emphasis is on lightweight, all-day comfort for relatively undemanding terrain, though they are equipped with a waterproof lining to enable you to tramp through the wet stuff without too much concern.

Photo: Chris Johnson

Who Are The Halti Fara Mid 2 women’s shoes For?

Intended for ‘spring or fall walks and hikes in nature’, this fabric mid-cut hiker is an ideal boot for non-technical day walks. They have a waterproof-breathable lining to keep feet dry, so there’s no need to stick to puddle-free trails, but as a mid-cut style, they obviously don’t have the same degree of protection or support as burlier, higher-cut boots. However, the synthetic textile uppers and foam rubber midsole means they are very light, so they’re well-suited to women who don’t like or need chunky clodhoppers.

Materials

These are lightweight fabric boots, with uppers made from a mix of recycled polyester (from recycled PET bottles) with synthetic reinforcements. They’re lined with Halti’s own waterproof-breathable technology, a PU-based membrane called DrymaxX. There’s also a moisture wicking polyester mesh lining for added comfort and breathability.

“This fabric mid-cut hiker is an ideal boot for non-technical day walks.”

Underfoot, the outsole is a Halti GripmaxX Antislip rubber outsole with a phylon midsole made from EVA foam. The sole unit is not the most aggressive, with fairly shallow lugs that are better suited to easier, hard-packed trails than anything too loose or technical. The EVA midsole gives plenty of cushioning and shock absorption though, aided by an anatomically-designed insole that gives you a little more structure and padding for the heel, instep and ball of the foot.

Photo: Chris Johnson
Photo: Chris Johnson
Photo: Chris Johnson

Features

The waterproof-breathable DrymaxX membrane does its job, keeping feet dry without getting noticeably hot and sweaty.

The recycled textile uppers and EVA midsole keep the weight down, ensuring the boots feel lightweight and forgiving. As a mid-cut fabric hiker, they obviously don’t offer the same structure or support as a stiffer, leather boot, but they are well-cushioned and comfortable right from the off.

“They are lightweight, forgiving and very comfortable.”

The GripmaxX rubber outsole has its limitations but is perfectly suited for light hiking from spring through to autumn. We reckon they’d be able to tackle most of the easier Lake District fells without any cause for concern.

Conclusion

There’s lots to like about these women’s walking boots, not least the fact that they are lightweight, forgiving and very comfortable. With plenty of cushioning underfoot, they’re particularly well-suited to hard-packed trails.

They are also so competitive in terms of price that they could almost be considered a budget boot – though they don’t look or feel like one. That makes them cracking value.

Tester’s Verdict

Ellie Clewlow, Outdoors Magic gear tester

“The minute I put these boots on I knew I was going to get on with them. They were as comfortable as a pair of slippers, and just about as lightweight as boots come. I was a little dubious as to how they would perform on slippery terrain, given that they don’t have deep lugs, but walking up the wet Roman Steps from Cwm Bychan they easily kept me upright the whole way. I also felt far more sure-footed ascending and descending Rhinog Fawr than I expected, given that they are not really designed with loose rock in mind.

“The waterproof lining proved very effective – I still had dry socks at the end of the day. I found their breathable claim held up too, and survived a very hot day without ridiculously sweaty feet. Their cushioning means you don’t feel every mile walked in these boots, and despite being lightweight, they still offer a decent amount of support. While I wouldn’t pick these up for any serious scrambling or for any routes that involve long sections of scree, they will definitely be one of my go to boots for spring – autumn adventures.”

 

 

Ellie scrambling with the Mid 2s on the Outdoor 100 Team Test weekend. Photo: Jamie Barnes

 

Photo: Chris Johnson

Halti Fara Mid 2

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