Dedicated mountain shoes from a dedicated mountain company, the Mammut Alnasca Knit III Low GTX Women, a technical approach shoe, is available in a waterproof Gore-Tex (as tested) and non-waterproof option.

Lara Dunn recommends

These are the most expensive shoes on test, but provided the fit suits your foot shape, the build quality and performance make them a sound investment.
Pros
  • light
  • stable
  • grippy
Cons
  • expensive
  • thin laces tricky to adjust
Quick specs
Price: $229 / £180 (available from Mammut)
Weight: 670g pair, UK5.5
Material: Knitted textile upper with protective rand
Features: Vibram Megagrip sole, elastic knitted sock construction, anatomically shaped footbed
Waterproof? Gore-Tex membrane
Sizes: UK3.5-8.5
Men’s Version? Yes
www.mammut.com

They are the lightest hiking shoes in my test, yet still manage to feature a stiff, supportive fit with an aggressively lugged Vibram Megagrip sole, thanks to a lightweight but rugged knitted fabric upper – protected by a broad toe rand. Ortholite insoles add underfoot support and comfort. This shoe is designed to wrap securely around the foot thanks to the way the knitted sock chassis interacts with the lacing. However, I did find the very narrow gauge round laces tricky to tighten and they finish further down the shoe than ideal for a truly snug fit around the upper foot. I also found the fit to be unusual, being narrow at the forefoot and yet roomy (for me) at the heels. This may well suit some looking for a narrower fit, but it does outline the importance of trying on outdoor footwear before purchase.

Thanks to the zoned Megagrip outsole and the good torsional rigidity of these, they make an excellent choice for rough, rocky or loose terrain and offer good grip in all conditions. Thanks to their low weight combined with that stiffness, they allowed me to move swiftly and with confidence on more rugged ground – they’d do fine on scrambles and via ferratas too.

The waterproof membrane functions well with the knitted fabric outer to give good levels of weather and trail water protection. They’re also well up to load carrying, offering enough stability to balance a backpack.

These are the most expensive shoes on test, but provided the fit suits your foot shape, the build quality and performance make them a sound investment if you are looking for a shoe for more challenging trail and mountain adventures.

Testing conditions

Lara wore the shoes during variable non-snowy winter and early spring conditions on a variety of walks – with and without a pack – in the Malvern Hills, Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains. She usually takes a UK5.5 shoe and has a medium width foot but narrow heels, and weights are taken from her own digital scales.

This review was first published in the June 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors magazine.