These boots are made for walking

I've worn these Salomons for getting on for a year now. They're a walking boot with an incredibly rugged sole and Goretex uppers. The sole seems to give a grip on all but the steepest banks. Steep banks being something you need to get a good grip on in the Fens.

They're not thermal and they're also not 100 per cent waterproof, meaning they're not for the coldest days when you're standing around not doing much and they're no use for standing in the water. But if you're on the move and just walking through wet grass, your feet won't get cold or wet as long as you marry them up with a decent thermal sock.

They're fiddly to do up when your fingers are cold. But once you lace them up and tie them off, they stay tied off. The lugs don't bend when you tighten the laces.

And the soles show no sign whatsoever of wear after a year's use, and while they feel a bit stiff and clumpy to start with, they're a breeze to walk in. 

The Discovery GTX is the nearest model you can get to the now discontinued model I've been wearing. They cost upwards of £100, but should last and last if the ones I've got are anything to go by.

You can also drive in them, unlike bulkier boots offered under the banner of a certain big name tackle company, which cost half as much but soon developed holes where they'd rubbed on the pedals in the car.