AT

489g (size 6.5)

The Juliette mid Drakar from Italian footwear company Trezeta is a mixture of Nubuck leather and fabric, which is partly what makes it so incredibly light (second lightest on test by a long way) yet keeps it durable and sturdy. I was dubious that a boot this small and light could stand up to tough walking, but having worn it through some of the Peak District’s finest mud, plus up and down wet rocks and paths in Snowdonia, I’m convinced it will hold its own with the big boys. My feet stayed dry in rotten weather, there’s a fair amount of ankle support and the soles stood up to some of the slipperiest surfaces around.

Starting with fit, always the most important feature of a boot, Trezeta has developed a specific last (the mould on which the shoe is built) for women, with slimmer toes and a higher mid foot area, as women generally have higher arches than men. For me it was a very comfortable boot straight out of the box, although as ever, try them on before buying.

The waterproofing is Trezeta’s own, called WaterStopper, and it stood up to some serious rain and wet ground. It’s compatible with Trezeta’s Natural Ventilation technology, which sees air being pumped around the foot by the walking motion and exports moisture such as sweat out of the boot. Breathability is hard to judge in a boot but I certainly don’t remember my feet overheating or excessively sweating in these.

The sole is Vibram and the 4mm lugs on the bottom gave good grip on a number of surfaces. The lugs are also in the shape of hearts and diamonds. Some might think this is a nice touch; I’m fairly miserable so don’t mind what they look like as long as it doesn’t affect performance – which it doesn’t. And in general the boots look really nice, which is always good.

They don’t offer as much ankle support on some on this test, finishing lower up the ankle than all bar the Teva boot, but the mid-sole offers excellent flexibility – it depends what you look for in a boot. In conclusion though it’s a great, light boot offering a lot of protection for its weight.

In a line: A cracking little boot that looks nice too