Clothing

Specialist footwear is becoming increasingly popular with anglers. From Wellington boots to slip-on bank slippers, they all have their uses.

Most versatile of the lot, though, are the walking-style boots, and these Hunters Boots from Jack Pyke have set the bar pretty high. We usually rate footwear from companies who specialise in making it very highly, but these are as good as any that we’ve seen. They lend themselves perfectly to 90 per cent of bankside activities.

To start with, the super-chunky Vibram outsole provides excellent grip on a variety of treacherous surfaces. They’d make great tug-of-war boots, so a wet, sloping bank shouldn’t faze them at all. The uppers and tongues are made from full-grain leather – the proper stuff. This makes them waterproof and very hard-wearing.

On the subject of waterproofing, your average Wellington boot will keep your feet dry in up to around 14 inches of water. These boots are considerably lighter, and more comfortable, and they are still good for an 8in dunking! This should be a worthy compromise for many. One particular feature that will please a lot of anglers is the Speed Lace system, which does exactly what it says on the tin; you can tie them up in flash. Because the tongues are long, if you leave them loose you can slip them on really quickly to support the ankle and lower shin. Perfect for dashing to a fizzing rod at bite o’clock. When they are fully laced up they provide an impressive amount of lower-leg support. The last thing that you want is a sprained ankle after a slip during a session – these eradicate that completely.

So are they warm? It’s no good having an all-singing, all-dancing boot if, come November, your toes are numb, right? Thanks to the 200g Thinsulate lining, they’ll be warm all year round. Also, the level of comfort and the fact that the design is based on a walking boot means that you can keep them on for long periods and walk for miles. Possibly the most intriguing feature is contained within the lining. An Agion antimicrobial treatment process ensures that the insides are great in the odour-resistance stakes. Every pair of Hunters Boots is covered by the Jack Pyke 12-month guarantee – so they also offer peace of mind as well as comfort.

At a glance... JACK PYKE HUNTERS BOOTS - £120 FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: WWW.JACKPYKE.CO.UK TC Rating:★★★★★★★★★