You sit on the step. You unlace. You pull them off. Later you sit back down, put them on, and lace them again — slightly differently from last time, so one boot ends up snug and the other doesn't. Twice a day, every day, all winter.

These have a zip.

Here's how it works

There is a zip running the height of the shaft on the inner side, hidden under a hook-and-loop flap so it can't creep open or snag on brush. You lace the boot once, to the tension you actually want, and then leave the laces alone. The zip does the getting in and out.

The part people don't expect is what that does to the fit. Most of us re-lace slightly differently every single time and never get the same boot twice. Set it once and the fit stops being a variable.

Laces that work in two halves

Eyelets low down, three metal speed hooks at the top. That split lets you tension the ankle separately from the forefoot, so you can lock the heel in place without crushing your toes on the way down a hill. It is a small thing that most boots at this price leave out.

Underneath

A full-length lugged rubber sole with deep chevron cleats running in more than one direction, and a defined pivot area under the arch. It bites into wet grass and loose stone rather than skating over it. The shaft comes well above the ankle with a padded collar, which is what holds you steady across ruts and camber.

What they are, and what they aren't

The upper is a microfibre suede with woven mesh panels, so they breathe on a long day and wipe clean under a tap rather than needing feeding like leather. Those mesh panels are also the reason we are not calling these waterproof — they aren't, and we would rather say so than have you find out on a wet Tuesday. If you want a sealed boot, we sell those separately.

The gear they replace

• Lace-only boots — unlaced and relaced every time, and never the same fit twice.
• Wellies — waterproof, and no support or grip worth having on a slope.
• Trainers on a muddy field — which is how most rolled ankles start.
• Old stiff walking boots — the ones that hurt across the instep and stayed in the cupboard.

What's in them

• Zip on the inner side — under a retaining flap. Lace once, then zip on and off.
• Three speed hooks — tension the ankle without crushing the forefoot.
• High padded shaft — support across ruts and uneven ground.
• Lugged rubber outsole — deep multi-directional cleats for wet ground.
• Moulded rubber toe bumper — takes the kicks that scuff a boot to death.
• Microfibre and mesh upper — breathes, and wipes clean.
• Two colours — Khaki and Black.
• Nine sizes, UK 6 to 13.

Suitable for walking and hill walking, the dog on a rutted winter field, camping, and working outdoors. Not waterproof, and not safety footwear — there is no steel toe.

A word on sizing: these are converted from the supplier's US sizing and the full mapping is in the details below. If you are between sizes, take the larger one.

Lace them once. After that, the zip does it.