Review: Grisport’s Typhoon walking boots

Grisport’s bright and bold Typhoon, £49, proves a decent entry-level walking boot that’s pocket friendly too.

Product description: “Typhoon is the boldest and brightest boot in the collection, and has an amazingly comfortable mid sole created from Dual-Density material. This mid-sole cushions the foot and absords impact.”

Hiking: The Typhoon’s comfy inner lining and soft Nubuck upper make them instantly comfortable – no hours of breaking stiff boots in here, just lace them up and you’re ready to go. Whilst the rosy suede outer may not look rugged, it does a good job withstanding wet weather, and the boots have proved reliably waterproof and warm so far. The rubber soles are grippy and tough, even on slippery rocks in the rain. The biggest plus for me is that the Typhoon is lightweight, at 845g, and flexible on your feet, so they don’t weigh you down on long walks. They definitely don’t give as much ankle support as my sturdier leather boots, though, so if you like to feel well supported I’d go for something more built-up on top.

General use: I’ll admit I expected my cherry-coloured boots to look a right mess after a few outings, but they’ve braved mud, rain and scuffs a treat. I’ve yet to get them disgustingly dirty, though, and I wonder how they’ll clean up after a really muddy hike. A leather pair would probably last longer with good care. I wore my Typhoons for a climbing weekend and pretty much forgot I was wearing them – a good sign of comfort! I’ll be trying mine out in colder weather, but they feel best suited to summer and autumn escapades.

Verdict: No fuss, good-looking hiking boots for under £50: a no brainer if you’re after your first pair of walking shoes or need a great summer and autumn hiking boot on a budget. If you like to use and abuse your boots, you probably need something else – Grisport stock a leather version of the Typhoon called the Hurricane for £30 more, which might be a better bet for cold weather and dirt.