54 lakes the target for charity hiker

A strong pair of boots like the Merrell Refuge pro Gore-tex could be a very good choice of footwear for a man planning a very challenging 15-day hike around the Lake District, during which time he will visit 54 lakes and tarns.

Kendal-based solicitor David Collinson is planning the trek to raise £10,000 for Mountain Rescue and the Head Trauma Unit at the Hallam Hospital in Sheffield, the Westmorland Gazette reports.

The 52-year-old was treated at the hospital for a brain tumour and plans to take on the challenge in May, telling the paper he knows it will not be easy as he ascends over 34,000 ft and covers 180 miles in his journey, with just one rest day.

"It's a tough challenge - the ascent is equivalent to climbing Everest with Scafell on top - and I will do it all on foot," he noted.

Those discovering the Lake District's various lakes and tarns may note several recurring names on the way. It has two Red Tarns, two Angle Tarns, two Stickle Tarns, three Blea Tarns and a Blea Water. What is your favourite lake or tarn in the Lake District?

Great New Women’s Keen Sandals Models for 2011

New Keen Sandals Models for 2011

The Keen sandals collection has long been the best choice for water sports and summer adventuring, offering a highly versatile design which performs just as well in the water as it does on dry land.  The range has come a long way since the Newport was released back in 2003, with the brand now offering shoes for greater protection on winter walks and hikes and a model to suit all tastes and outdoor activities. However, Keen are most famous for their hybrid sandals, and this year promises even more variety with great new colour schemes, cool new designs, and improvements to the technology to keep the feet in even greater comfort.

Whilst the brand is famous for its chunky soles and beefy toe bumpers, the women’s Keen sandals collection has been evolving over the years, and now includes much slimmer models with more feminine styling, naturally without compromising the toe protection for which they are world renowned. The patented toe protection system still features in all the latest models, even in their Waimea H2 toe post sandals. Naturally with such a lightweight design, the toe bumper has had to be slimmed down, but it still keeps the toes perfectly protected, and far and above any other summer sandal brands. The shoes are sure to be big sellers this year when the winter weather finally makes way for what we are all hoping will be a beautifully warm spring.  As with the other models in the range, the Waimea H2 uses a Microban treated footbed to counter odour, a metanomical footbed for great support and comfort and polyester webbing straps which dry quickly after you come out of the water.

Taking the protection up a notch is another new addition to the Keen sandals range, which uses the popular Keen Whisper as the base, and turns it into a slide.  Whilst the heel and rear foot straps are gone, the shoes still offer a secure fit, and stay tight on the feet to avoid any flip-flopping when you walk. The zip lock elastic fastening keeps them snug on the feet, with the same high traction sole as the original Whisper for great grip on the beach and river banks.

If you like the fit of the original Whisper, but want fewer tan lines this summer, then the Keen Venice H2 will be right up your street. The latest incarnation of the popular Venice sandal in Orion Blue or Striking Purple offers a funky design which gives a sterling performance over the full range of terrain. Great for the beach, brilliant for the boardwalk, and terrific on the trail, it is one of the most versatile styles, in an incredibly versatile range.

With these excellent new models, spring and summer adventures are going to be a lot more comfortable, and you’ll be able to take on any outdoor activities with maximum style. What’s more, if you do get filthy, you can just run the shoes through the washing machine and they’ll look just as good as they day you bought them. After all, you don’t want to be spending lazy summer days cleaning the great outdoors from your shoes. 

Scarpa Infinity Lady GTX Boot

It may be called the Infinity Lady GTX, but there’s nothing ladylike about the performance of this great Scarpa walking boot, which is designed for a life more rugged, and is perfect for walks and hikes hugging the snow line. And if being crampon compatible, it will take you much higher.

Whilst most ladies’ Scarpa boots are constructed from a female specific last to fit the typically narrower female foot, these boots cater to the wide footed woman, offering excellent stability and an exceptional fit.  The boots were the response for calls for a better fitting boot suitable for wider female feet. The boots have rear tapering with a lower volume heel and arch area, which comes from the Scarpa BXD lasted construction. Whilst the heel is narrower, the boots actually improve stability by cradling the heel to a greater degree, whilst giving excellent arch support to keep the feet comfortable to stave off fatigue.

The boots use Scarpa’s Comfort-Flex midsole for greater heel stability and support, maintaining rigidity in the heel, whilst providing a natural and comfortable flex in the forefoot. For the outsole Scarpa have chosen a Skywalk sole over Vibram, favouring the PU and EVA inserts to give extra shock absorption to give the extra level of cushioning necessary to take on hard packed ground and rocky mountain pathways in greater comfort.
The boots are certainly stylish thanks to the use of Cordura suede over more traditional leather, and offer a softer feel than more traditional leather walking boots. The toe and heel rands give greater protection against scuffing, with a rigid lateral rand for greater protection over more punishing terrain.

The highly breathable boots help to keep the feet dry and eliminate internal moisture, whilst rain and casual water stays outside thanks to a full GTX Gore-Tex treatment. Overall it’s an impressive boot for winter walking, trekking and Alpine hiking, something reflected by Purekit customers who have favoured this model overt the ZG65 XCR and Ranger Lady this winter.

Make your walk more comfortable with Merrell Shoes

There are not many brands of footwear which you could say were universally comfortable and give an exceptionally good fit every time, but Merrell shoes are certainly one. The American performance footwear manufacturer from New England really takes comfort to heart, and designs their footwear range to mould around the foot, closely following the natural curves and providing excellent support to keep you comfortable for longer on your hikes, walks and urban adventures.

Merrell Shoes at PureKit.com

The brand is much loved in the States, but has only recently become such a hit on this side of the Atlantic, however customers are fast catching on to the comfort that the brand offers. The range includes some legendary footwear models, with the Merrell Intercept being one of the best all round off road trainers for off-road speed. The Merrell Chameleon range packs a serious punch and fits like a glove, and the women’s Merrell Siren range has to include some of the most comfortable off-road and casual trainers money can buy.  

The much loved “Merrell Fit” is achieved by designing the shoes from the inside out, always starting with the foot, and then trying to work out how better to cushion and support. The brand is best known for its trainer styles, which form the bulk of the Merrell shoes range.  These styles are highly popular with outdoor enthusiasts for the comfort and support offered for long walks and multi-day hikes, yet have a design flexible enough to be comfortable for urban walking too. No attention to detail is spared when it comes to comfort, with Merrell developing a host of technologies to keep the feet perfectly supported, cushioned and comfortable, even when traversing the most difficult terrain.

Merrell use soft and supple pig skin leather for construction of the uppers, for robustness without rigidity to ensure a comfortable fit straight out of the box. The Merrell Air Cushion insole is just a few millimetres thick, yet offers exceptional cushioning, and the contoured moulded midsole provides all the support your feet need for a long day’s hike. Gore-Tex fabrics ensure 100% waterproofing, Vibram rubber gives exceptional grip, and Merrell’s innovative and attractive designs ensure that few who try Merrell shoes go back to their previous favourites.

If you want to find out for yourself why Merrell shoes are such a popular outdoor footwear choice, have a look at the full collection at Purekit.com.

Introducing Scarpa

It has to be said, that Scarpa is an appropriate name for an Italian footwear company, and is particularly apt for one which produces shoes to get you travelling at speed over all terrain. “Scarper” means to run away at great haste, and whilst the word is actually believed to come from the Italian word scappare - meaning to escape – however the naming is purely coincidental. Scarpa comes not from being fleet of foot, but is an acronym standing for Societ Calzaturiera Asolana Riunita Pedemontana Anonima, or the Associated Shoe Manufacturing Company of the Asolo mountain area. Be that as it may, if you want to be fast on your feet and make your escape into the mountains, it is Scarpa footwear that you should have on your feet.


Formed in 1938, Scarpa has a rich tradition in producing the highest quality footwear, using materials of exceptional quality combined with exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail. It is this which has made the brand a world leader in high performance footwear, with the company producing highly technical footwear for all highly technical mountain pursuits. From the shore to the summit, Scarpa make some of the best boots you could hope to have on your feet, and whether you want to move fast through the foothills or take on a vertical assault of the world’s most challenging peaks, you can be sure that Scarpa footwear will never let you down.

Over the years as technology has allowed, Scarpa has perfected its footwear and has used its extensive experience to seamlessly combined modern sophisticated synthetics with the highest grade leathers. The Asolo mountain region in Northern Italy from where the company hails, has long been known for the skill of its cobblers, with their leather working skills passed down from generation to generation and surviving to this day.

To many leather is leather, but to Scarpa it is so much more. The company does not rely on the thickness of the hide to give greater protection, and instead hand picks leathers to give the maximum possible protection, with Scarpa boot leather the best you can get. The company uses 6 different grades in their footwear to ensure the maximum performance and longevity. Full grain calf leather is softer and suppler than the standard leathers used by many footwear companies, and ensures comfort and a lightweight design perfect for hill walking boots. As the altitude increases and the terrain gets rockier and more punishing, HS12 Sherpa leather is used, with the 2.9mm leather more scuff resistant and providing extra support. The leather is also subjected to a highly technical tanning process to ensure that it doesn’t wet out, and will have the longest lifespan, and keep that just out of the box look even after really being put through the paces.

Even this high grade leather has its limitations, and for getting to the summit Scarpa uses Crosta leather for the comfort and high performance it offers, and if you really want the best, there is the Scarpa Reversed Anfibio Leather, used for its most technically advanced footwear. To make sure that they get the longest lifespan, Scarpa use an H12 treatment to impregnate silicone into the leather for exceptional strength and water resistance.

The six leather types are matched by 6 midsoles compositions to give a tailored level of support and comfort to match the task at hand, from high-flex midsoles for fast paced running shoes, to rigid midsoles with an integrated shank for mountaineering and climbing, you get a performance to perfectly match your activity. Whilst the highest quality materials are sourced, when it comes to construction and the art of shoe making Scarpa stands head and shoulders above the competition. Many outdoor footwear manufacturers use just a male and female specific last to construct their shoes. Even the most accomplished footwear manufacturers only use a handful of these templates, whereas Scarpa uses 18. Not only are the shoes and boots tailored to the anatomy, but are also tailored to the specific activity for which the shoes are to be used. It is this attention to detail which has made the brand a world leader for extreme mountain sports, and much loved around the world for the robustness and comfort which the shoes and boots offer.

Whether you want to climb every mountain or just ramble through the foothills, Scarpa has an extensive range of technical, comfortable and highly supportive footwear to suit. If you want the best protection for the feet for the most punishing terrain, it certainly is time to Scarpa, with a great selection now available at Purekit.com

Vibram Five Fingers and the Benefits of Barefoot

Vibram Five Fingers

Thanks to the wonder of evolution, man has developed some pretty neat tricks for maintaining grip and traction over slippery and uneven surfaces. 10 toes are the perfect solution, with each of the articulated appendages doing its bit to fine tune the balance, with finesse which is just not possible when wearing shoes. The plantar fascia and the fatty heel pad act as natural shock absorbers, with the arches ensuring than the shockwaves are dampened and shockwaves are managed.

However man, in his infinite wisdom, has decided that the feet are just not good enough and has chose to encase them in leather and add a comforting layer of EVA foam underfoot, and of course, a non-stick rubber bottom. Man has made the foot into something much beefier and grippy than anything Mother Nature has managed to muster. It’s not all great though, as shoes reduce ground feedback, promote a heavier heel strike, and whilst they cushion and are comfortable, it really is going against what is natural, and has worked well for millennia. And of course, you really can’t get your toes working to their full potential when you are shod.

Recent studies into barefoot walking have highlighted something which biologists and anthropologists have known all along, that the feet are actually pretty good at their job. However what came as a surprise was the extent of the benefits of being barefoot over exercising in shoes, and that the highly comfortable and protective footwear which we have grown to love can actually contribute to foot problems rather than preventing them. Being barefoot means a flatter landing, and with that, the body can cope much better with the shockwaves from running. When wearing shoes, a heavier heel strike is promoted, which places undue stresses on the feet, even with all that EVA, PU and rubber underfoot. The body naturally changes the walking gait when barefoot , with the heel and the ball working together with the shock absorbing apparatus in the foot to make even running comfortable.

Fortunately Italian performance rubber manufacturer Vibram has created footwear which works with the body rather than against it, just adding the only element which nature has not managed to come up with, namely high-traction rubber. With a thin Vibram rubber outsole, the grip of the feet is improved immeasurably, the feet are protected from hot surfaces, and spikes are prevented giving you greater confidence where you put your feet. The Vibram Five Fingers shoes have a separate compartment for each toe, which makes balance exceptional, and allows for even greater grip to cope with even slippery terrain. They allow the shock absorbing apparatus of the foot to work at maximum efficiency, and the feet land flatter easing the strain on the heel. The highly flexible design means that the feet get really put through the paces when exercising, helping to improve conditioning and stave off any troublesome foot complaints.

Vibram Five Fingers offer barefoot running with all the benefits of being shod, such as an extra degree of protection from difficult terrain, cold, heat, and all the unpleasant things to be found on the forest floor. Get a pair of these on your feet and you will be getting a great foot workout, feel closer to nature, and have a much more rewarding workout.

Best Walking Shoes of the Year

The Merrell Moab

This year has seen some great new arrivals, with all of the major brands tweaking the technology to give an even better performance on the path less trodden. However as good as the advances are, do they beat the all out classic boots which have served us so well for the past years? Here’s a selection of some of our favourites from each of the brands you know and love.

Brasher
When you look at the Brasher collection, it’s hard to see past the Brasher Hillmaster GTX, which is an exceptional walking shoe, which gets improved year on year. It’s Britain’s best selling walking and hiking boot for a reason. It is quite simply awesome for comfort, protection, waterproofing, and support, and it will keep on going long after other brands have seen their last days.

Merrell
It’s a tough choice to decide between the Chameleon, Intercept, and Moab, so instead we will pick the gorgeous Merrell Refuge range. For comfort and versatility it is first rate, with an athletic insole to help keep up the pace on the trail and low level hiking. Perfect for around town and everyday wear, it has the style to get a great deal of wear. However for women, there is the QForm fit of the Merrell Siren which offers exceptional comfort tailored for female feet. New colours and styles have been added, and it’s certainly one of the most attractive walking shoes on the market.

Berghaus
Ok, so it’s a boot not a shoe, but the Berghaus Explorer Trek GTX takes some beating. For fell walking it’s the perfect three season boot, with a design to maximise comfort when taking on hills, dales and mountains. Gore-Tex makes it waterproof and ideal for all weather conditions and a Comfort fibre insole and PU midsole keep it lightweight, supportive and comfortable, with extraordinary grip on grass and mud thanks to the hard wearing outsole.

Hi-Tec
The lightweight shoe and boot company Hi-Tec is constantly improving the range, but our pick of the bunch is the V-Lite Fasthike II. Designed for hiking at speed, it has a sleeker and more athletic profile than most walking shoes, with a V-Lite design making it one of the most lightweight. Attractive, highly breathable and waterproof, for fast hiking it’s a sure fire winner.

The North Face
The North Face Syncline GTX is a great lightweight walking mid-boot, offering great support and comfort, with a design robust enough to cope with a fully laden pack. Shock absorption is first rate with the Heel Cradle insert, support is maintained by a Nylon mid-foot shank, and a full length TPU shank plate has been added for good measure. Northotic insoles keep the feet in comfort, with a waterproof Gore-Tex lining and a rugged tread to take on all terrain in comfort.

Be sure to check out these great walking shoes and boots and many more at Purekit.