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A trip to the Zamberlan factory in Pieve di Torrebelvicino in the foothills of the Dolomites is like taking a step back in time, and that’s no bad thing. The factory is full of skilled shoe technicians who have a depth of knowledge and appreciation for footwear that dates back to a time when the Chinese mass-producing machines were still minerals in the ground. And Zamberlan’s heritage in manufacturing quality footwear certainly shines through in the Vioz GTs; just looking at them you can tell that they’re a step above the lower priced boots in this test.

The Vioz GTs feature a Hydrobloc full-grain leather upper which has been treated to enhance water repellency and durability and, along with a Gore-Tex lining, ensures that you’ve got the best protection from the wet stuff. While the leather upper has a simple design it’s one hell of a classy looking boot and while we can imagine the looks will appeal to the red sock brigade, we also think the Vioz GT has the sex appeal to attract the younger generation as well.

Scarpa has a great reputation in the Adventure Travel office. The company is still manufacturing in Italy and in our experience it offers great quality, well-made boots.

The Kinesis GTX was introduced into Scarpa’s huge range in spring 2011 and it features the company’s new ActivFit technology, a concept that has been in development for several years. The product blurb for ActivFit claims that it makes the boot more comfortable straight from the box thanks to a snugger fitting last, auto-fit foam inserts at the heel (which also have the job of supporting the foot), an auto-fit collar at the ankle and a Viscoflex footbed which is made out of memory foam. So does it? In our opinion, yes. The boot feels a lot snugger on the foot and the foam padding around the ankle and heel make it a very comfortable piece of footwear.

Other features on the boots include the brilliant, aggressively cut Vibram sole. You get deep lugs to help give traction on loose terrain (like mud and snow) as well as a smoother section towards the toe for improved performance on rocks which would be excellent for via ferratas.

Meindl boots have long been the footwear of choice for Adventure Travel’s publisher Alun Davies – he reckons he’s walked more trail miles in them than any other brand. That’s a strong testament to the consistent quality and comfort that’s usually associated with this German manufacturer’s boots.

The Kansas GTXs feature a smooth Nubuck leather upper with a rougher Nubuck patch around the heel, and a Gore-Tex lining to keep out water. The sole unit has a great self-cleaning pattern with deep cut lugs that’ll serve you well on muddier, wetter and harder going trails, and a design that Meindl calls Multigrip ensures good traction over rockier terrain. The PU midsole provides a comfortable amount of cushioning and shock absorption and it flexes at the same point as my foot which makes the Kansas GTX a pleasure to wear over long distances.

If your feet are on the wide side and you find boots tend to be a little tight across the forefront, then the Erickson PCTs are the boots for you. Keen footwear will appeal to anyone with wider feet and, as fit is essentially the be all and end all when it comes to footwear, your search could well end here. You don’t have to downgrade on quality to get that perfect fit either; the Erickson PCT is a brilliant, leather, three season walking boot.

Over the past few months the Erickson PCT has been taking quite a battering on the trails around Snowdonia, Brecon and the Lakes and it has become my boot of choice for hill walking. It’s supremely comfortable, straight from the box, and I could even go so far as to say they’re the most comfortable pair of hiking boots I’ve worn. A number of factors contribute to the overall comfort of the boots but a well designed footbed supports the foot excellently and the midsole flex point is spot on.