We believe the foul weather is there to be embraced in all of its glory and adore the cold winter mornings when nothing will suffice more than an oversized Barbour and your favourite pair of walking boots. 

As you’ll know, a good pair of boots goes hand in hand with a good waxed jacket with both having many variations to suit many different needs. Last winter I came unstuck a little when I opted for a pair of old Hunter Wellies for many of our Winter walks. The Instagram feed may have been pleasing as a result yet sadly my cold, blistered feet were not. 

Last month, Loake sent us a pair of their Nevis boots to test over Winter and we decided to accelerate that process by throwing all of the sand and seawater we could muster on a long weekend on the Northumberland coast. 

The Nevis is crafted with precision to endure the elements and perfect for navigating unpredictable weather, and we had unpredictable weather ranging from a stiff bone-chilling breeze through to a balmy 20+ degrees in the sunshine. Through it all, I never even noticed the boots. This is a good thing. Even after a 5 mile walk, fresh on for the first time, I had no issues with overheating or rubbing. 

They wear like a classic combat boot but feel like a walking boot, handling the cynical test of trudging through the North Sea shoreline with ease and most importantly, keeping my feet dry. 

They retain the classic Loake DNA that have placed this fantastic company as one of the Grandfathers of shoemaking but with the added endurance through the waterproof tech. 

I find the style to be really versatile and you could quite easily dress them up a little though I feel they are more at home tackling muddy fields and puddles. They’re the perfect partner to the old Barbour Border that you throw over your 5 layers of warmth. 

If you’re looking for a waterproof winter boot that looks a little smarter and is steeped in heritage, you’d be hard pressed to find a better alternative to the Loake Nevis boots. 

Our boots were kindly gifted but you can see the range at Loake.com