With years of experience in quality country and equestrian footwear, Ariat are branching out into outdoor and walking boots. It’s a natural progression for the brand as they have lots of expertise which transfers perfectly over to this type of environment. The Ariat Skyline Mid GTX are one of Ariat’s first ‘outdoor’ specific products which means they don’t have a stirrup friendly sole but do have a lot to offer. Read on for our review…

The Ariat Skyline GTX are a premium walking boot which uses Gore-Tex technology meaning not only are they waterproof, they are extremely breathable which adds to the all-day comfort.  Unlike ordinary synthetic textiles like nylon, Gore-Tex stops rain from getting in but allows perspiration out.  Being able to withstand water-entry pressures means that boots are great through severe weather conditions.  The Gore-Tex also prevents wind-chill from happening by stopping the wind passing through, preserving a comfortable microclimate inside the shoe.

Ariat’s ATS technology in the boot provides three times the support of a traditional steel shank in the form of a forked carbon-fibre shank.  The Duratread outsole which uses a bi-lateral traction to help when walking up and down hills, ideal for hiking.  The Duratread sole inhibits a multi-directional traction to help keep the wearer on their feet in various terrain.

The soles also offer oil and slip resistance and are designed to absorb energy at impact to reduce fatigue and promote good posture.  There is also an exclusive gel-cushioned orthotic footbed which is temperature sensitive for improved comfort. The EVA midsole technology provides excellent stress and impact resistant properties.

The TecTuff toe ensures security and comfort at a fraction of the weight of steel toes caps and they don’t conduct heat or cold so toes stay nice and toasty in harsh weather conditions.  TecTuff is an abrasion-resistant, extremely durable material that resists water, oil and other chemicals.  The boot is mesh lined with a lightly padded collar and tongue for maximum comfort.

As with pretty much all Ariats, the sizing is generous so we recommend going half a size down on your usual shoe size i.e. if you are normally a size 6 we suggest you try a 5.5.  It would be a good idea to try them on for yourself with the socks you’d normally where for hiking so that you can get a true picture of how the boots will fit and feel.

Ariat have truly delivered a proper premium walking boot, engineered for outdoor performance.Having sold these for a while now we’ve been really happy with the feedback and are looking forward to more ‘outdoor’ specific products to be added to the range.