Some time ago I wrote somewhat scathingly about a writer for a national paper suggesting that walking shoes were just as good as walking boots for most hiking purposes. I still don’t agree with him but there are times when you are going for a walk on fairly easy terrain – by that I mean fairly flat, not very stony paths – when a walking boot that goes over the ankle can be unnecessary and rather heavier than needed. With  my current dodgy knee this may be my fate for a while so I thought I would try out a suitable shoe.

A trip to Go-Outdoors was a reminder that there are dozens and dozens of possibilities to choose from.  These days most such shoes are attractive and appear well-made. Most are constructed with a combination of fabric and suede uppers and a sturdy sole. Prices vary enormously from around £30 to well over £100.   I tried several different brands on and most seemed comfortable enough when walking around the shop. So how to choose?

Hi Tec Signal Hill Waterproof Men’s Multi-Sport shoe

To my good fortune the nice people at High Tec wrote to me around the same time offering a pair of boots or shoes to review. The choice between paying for shoes and not paying is no choice at all as far as I am concerned so  after browsing their own very wide range I plumped for a pair of Signal Hill Waterproof Multi Sport shoes.   In blue – a rather lovely turquoise blue which is a current favourite colour. These cost £74.99 on Hi Tec’s website.

I thought they looked great fresh out of the box. They were sturdy but not heavy. Lacing them up was straightforward –  which is not always the case, some shoes can be quite fiddly. And they were immediately comfortable.  Not in the way that a slip-on shoe can feel comfortable  but in a reassuringly supportive way.

Hi Tec Signal Hill Waterproof Men’s Multi-Sport shoe

In their new state they were just as presentable as a trainer or other leisure footwear so I just wore them as an ordinary shoe for a couple of days and they were just fine.  Nothing rubbed (they say they have an abrasion resistant heel) or became tight or irritated in any way.

Having passed the walking-about-town test I then went on a “proper” walk with them in my nearby wood. Here they had an opportunity to get a bit muddy and splash through a few puddles and they did that perfectly well. They claim waterproofness and I can’t say that I have tested this out. Even with waterproof boots I find that if the puddle is deep enough or the ground squelchy you can still get water coming over the top of the boot. With a shoe the threshold   for water penetration is that much lower. So they would probably be fine on a firm but wet surface but I wouldn’t expect them to keep me dry if I were to ford a stream.

Hi Tec Signal Hill Waterproof Men’s Multi-Sport shoe

Even on unchallenging walks it is easy to stumble across something or trip. This shoe has a very reassuringly strong toe cap.  The sole is sturdy enough not to be uncomfortable on stony ground but not so thick as to feel inflexible. Its  elaborate design of zig – zags and grooves and criss-crosses must have been great fun for the designer. I can’t say that I have tested how well it grips in wet weather yet but if I find fault I will update this post.

Hi Tec Signal Hill Waterproof Men’s Multi-Sport shoe

Not being very sporty I don’t think that I am going to find out how suitable they would be for other activities but for a walk in the park I think they are great. But I’d still rather get my knee mended and get back into the hills with my boots.

So where is Signal Hill?