"The snow was above my knees, and with every step I sank deeper and deeper." It was supposed to be a short walk to a nearby summit cross. But more snow had fallen than Káťa expected. And the walk dragged on. "It was hard work, but I was thrilled. At last I got to experience a proper winter again."
On her feet she had new boots. Asolo Nuuk winter hiking boots. "They didn't let me down. My feet stayed warm and dry." In fact, she had a good feeling about them from the very first time she put them on: "The lining is soft and pleasant to the touch." Because of thicker socks, she went a size up. "And it was the right call."
Asolo Nuuk GV winter boots are made from a combination of water-repellent leather and polyester. They feature an insulated GORE-TEX® membrane that keeps water out and the cold at bay. How much do they weigh? 470 g (1/2 pair).
Káťa wore the boots wherever she could. Almost all the time. "I often had them on all day, and I have to say the comfort pleasantly surprised me." Nothing pinched or rubbed as she walked – not even on longer routes.
What else surprised her? Comfort, stability, confidence. "They hold the ankle well, so even when walking in deep snow or on uneven ground they give you stability." And the room inside? "Even thicker winter socks fitted in – yet the boots still hugged my foot snugly."
Soft inner materials are what keep you comfortable even when wearing them all day. The ankle is held firmly, while the boot stays roomy enough for thicker socks and long days on the trail.
Káťa couldn't wait to see how the boots would cope with real frost. "I was really curious how the boots would handle temperatures of around minus ten degrees, because in the past I often had problems with freezing toes."
Switzerland in January offered ideal conditions for that kind of test. "At night temperatures were around minus twenty, and during the day it was minus ten, sometimes even colder. To my surprise, I had no problems at all in the boots." Even with the wind blowing and long trips through deep snow, Káťa's feet stayed dry and warm. "I was glad the boots really delivered what they promised."
The GORE-TEX® Insulated Comfort membrane is waterproof, breathable and insulates the whole foot – including the tongue and toe. Thanks to even insulation, it keeps you warm and protects you from the cold even when standing still for a long time.
Káťa put the Asolo Nuuk GV through its paces. "I tried the boots on all kinds of terrain – from packed snow and icy stretches to deep powder." Even where she would once have slipped, she felt sure-footed. "Thanks to the Vibram Arctic Grip sole, I felt confident even on icy surfaces. And the boots never slipped on me once."
And that confidence stayed with her away from the snowy mountains too. "On our last trip in Switzerland we stopped at the Rheinschlucht, and I did a shorter hike through the forest and over rocks in the boots. They held up there as well. They gripped well, didn't slip and were comfortable even away from the snowy peaks."
The Vibram Arctic Grip outsole with Crystal AG compound is designed specifically for cold conditions. Thanks to rough patches resembling sandpaper, it grips even on icy surfaces without studs or any other metal parts.
With Káťa, the boots went through Christmas in the snow, mountain hikes and long days in Switzerland. "And even after a winter like that and several full-day trips, they still look great. Almost like new."
The material holds up, the shape doesn't change, the toe doesn't scuff. "Of course I can find a few scratches on them, but I honestly don't mind at all. They remind me of the moments I had with the boots over the winter."
The upper, made of water-repellent leather and polyester, keeps its shape even after repeated stress. The material doesn't scuff, and a rubber toe cap protects against knocks from ice or rocks.
