• Overall Rating

  : 4-5 out of 5

The Kayland Legacy GTX is a lightweight hiking boot that combines traditional construction with a modern design. It’s made from suede and fabric with a Gore-Tex Extended Comfort Footwear lining, a moulded polypropylene insole board, a PU open foam footbed, a microporous bi-density midsole and Vibram Winkler Eco outsole with 5mm deep lugs.

The boots have a big hard toe bumper and a reinforced heel and are made on Kayland’s Ergo Tech which is quite wide. For me, they fitted well and have a broad enough forefoot. They were comfortable on long days out. The boots proved waterproof and breathable and remained comfortable even after a full day in Scottish bogs, when I pulled them on the next morning.

As the boots aren’t insulated I found that in warmer conditions they breathed well and I didn’t feel like I had overly sweaty feet. They’re not a boot for snow or frosty weather but are warm enough for summer months with summer rain.

The Kayland Legacy GTX has a strong edge. Credit: Kayland

The ankle cuff is nicely padded and doesn’t rub or feel restrictive. It provides a supportive feel right around my ankle, but it is slightly softer on the sides and around the back, which still gives you some flexibility on uneven ground without it digging in. I found the ankle cuff could be fitted for comfort on ascent or descent by adjusting the lacing on the two hooks above the heel lock hook.

The midsole is quite stiff which can be good for scrambling or Via Ferratas (they are an Italian brand). I found the stiff midsoles really help on rubbish terrain, areas with steep, wet grass, or movable scree and taking these on a day of mostly scree was ideal. My feet felt protected from rocks moving around, as although the uppers are light, they do still give a good amount of protection.

The Kayland Legacy GTX has a broad forefoot for all-day comfort. Credit: Kayland

Another good feature is the strong edge on the sole which gave me confidence when crossing the odd snow patch or areas of steep and loose ground – I was able to cut across ground and use the edges well to stay upright when everything around me was moving! The Vibram sole proved satisfyingly grippy on all terrain. It has a smoother climbing zone at the toe for scrambling, while the heel lugs are prominent and useful to brake while descending.

Overall, the sole provides good stability and great grip without the lugs being so deep, allowing a proper connection with the ground. I think these are a good value boot for when you do a bit of everything and aren’t looking for anything that’s too specialist in one direction or another. They’re by no means the most technical or featured boot, but a good workhorse to keep you going day after day.

How we tested

Kirsty has UK size 5 feet with a wide forefoot and narrower heel. These boots have been tested across the Scottish Highlands in a range of weather conditions, including the heatwaves! Weights were measured by Kirsty on her scales.