Hi-Tec Trail Ox Chukka
My request was simple enough, I wanted a boot, or shoe that would be flexible for driving long distances in yet tough enough for jumping in and out of a 4x4 in all manner of conditions to open gates or take photos.
Helen, Hi-Tec’s Marketing Director, gave me a knowing nod, and with a flair of confidence handed me a pair of their brand new Trail Ox Chukka crossover boots, and with the upmost conviction, and possibly a hint of Jedi mind trickery, said “These are the boots that you’re looking for.”
Made with durable ballistic leather and a Michelin sole, the Trail Ox Chukka is so brimming with features it was difficult to refute Helen’s claim, so I ordered a pair.
On arrival, my pair of ‘Chocolate and Burnt Orange' Chukka’s were put straight into action as I went for a spin the Subaru XV, my press car for the week. Even though they have a chunky Michelin outsole, driving was quite easy as the top of the boot reached just over my ankle bone allowing for a lot of movement, so-far so-good.
Getting technical, but without looking like their sales bumf, the Trail Ox Chukka is…
Made with durable ballistic leather.
Built on a high performance Michelin rubber outsole and therefore very grippy.
Features a Dri-Tec waterproof membrane, as well as a micro-fleece lining that wicks moisture away from your ‘slabs of meat’.
An I-Shield layer on the exterior repels water and dirt for maximum stain resistance.
Per boot they only weigh 18.6 oz.
They have an extended lacing system for a precise fit.
The anti-odor and antimicrobial OrthoLite Impressions sockliner uses slow reacting foam to conform to the shape of your foot over time for customised comfort.
Let’s not forget their gusseted tongue which is effective at keeping out debris.
I could go on, but I won’t bore you.
So far I’ve had them for a month and they’ve been incredibly comfortable. A typical day has included a 2 hour drive to the NEC in Birmingham, a 3 hour quick-march around the halls, followed by another 2 hour return drive home to Muddy Towers. Then, without taking them off I’ve driven a few local green lanes, jumped in and out to open and shut gates and braved slippery wet hills to get ‘that’ photo, and so far my thoughts are that they’re superb.
Now I know ‘superb’ is a strong and very flattering word to use, but they are, up to now I simply can’t fault them. Ok, maybe they could be taller and offer a bit more ankle support, but then they wouldn’t be as good as they are to drive in. In my opinion they're an excellent compromise boot crossover.
For what I was looking for they offer the right combination of comfort, flexibility and ruggedness, and as we head further towards the winter months I’ll be wearing them more, so watch out for further updates.
Website: www.hi-tec.co.uk
Direct link: Trail Ox Chukka
Price: RRP £74.99