Men's waterproof leather hiking boots - MT900 - Brown

MADE IN EUROPE MANUFACTURING : 100% of our Forclaz shoes are made in Europe.

TREK boots are manufactured in the European Union, in Romania, in a factory that specialises in making trekking boots.

This plant uses only water-based glues with no chemical solvents.

Most materials are of European origin.



For greater transparency, here is our partner’s link

https://www.rekord.ro/ro/productie



Tip: copy and paste the links listed on this page ;)

What type of route is this boot made for?

The type of use these trekking boots are designed for is treks at high altitude or in isolated and craggy areas, routes on or sometimes off footpaths, often with steep gradients and sheer drops.

Sections over rocks, firm snow, slopes over 1,000 metres, over 5 hours of walking.

VIBRAM®. Grip and traction of our soles

VIBRAM® branded sole with excellent grip on all terrain, dry or wet, earth or rock.



The studs also provide better grip, suitable on muddy, damp terrain



"narrow sole" for precision on difficult terrain. They don’t bend easily, to make sure they’re stiff enough when the terrain gets rough. Sole block designed for technical and difficult long-distance hiking

HOW WATERPROOF ARE THESE BOOTS?

This boot has been validated by a waterproofing test at 50,000 repeatable flexes, i.e. 20 km - 8 hours of walking in water up to the mid-upper, which today guarantees an excellent level of waterproofing for your boots.



--> Our assessment indicates a LEVEL OF 4/5



The details of tests carried out to assess the waterproofing of our boots is below, in the features section.

Can crampons be used with these trekking boots?

This model of trekking boot allows for the occasional use of STRAP-ON CRAMPONS ONLY. It is sufficiently rigid for the occasional use of strap-on crampons while guaranteeing extremely good comfort when walking.



STRAP-ON CRAMPONS ONLY:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/12-point-mountaineering-crampons-caiman-straps/_/R-p-9186?mc=8320460&c=BLUE

Why choose a leather model? Benefits and disadvantages.

Advantages:

- supple leather.

- durable and waterproof, the leather prevents water running across the boot by repelling and absorbing it.

- breathable leather (natural pores of leather skin), but less so than a synthetic boot in strong heat. To reduce this problem, nubuck leather is used for greater breathability, but is also more sensitive to rain.



Drawbacks:

- it needs to be nourished, hydrated and treated to remain waterproof

How to maintain the waterproofing of your boots? It’s a question of the right accessory and a bit of elbow grease!

A waterproof grease is recommended to nourish leather to stop it drying out (cracking), to MAKE IT WATERPROOF and protect against stains.



1/ TREKKING SHOE MAINTENANCE BRUSH https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/trekking-shoe-maintenance-brush/_/R-p-307665?mc=8551990



2 / RE-WATERPROOFING GREASE FOR LEATHER SHOES https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/grease-for-re-waterproofing-leather-boots/_/R-p-9513?mc=8229704

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR LEATHER BOOTS ? steps to follow

1/ Remove the laces to avoid smearing them with grease.

2/ Dry brush them to remove dust and any particles stuck on the leather. This is essential so any dirt doesn’t get stuck under a new layer of grease.

3/ Grease the leather with a brush, rub it deep into all the seams and gaps.

4/ Wipe off the excess grease with a soft cloth.

5/ Rub gently to make them shine.

6/ Replace the laces!

Waterproof boot or gaiter? it’s not necessarily one or the other! it provides additional protection

The waterproofing of boots is often compromised because water gets in at the collar of the boot. --> To keep your feet dry for longer, it is advisable to use a waterproof gaiter or mini-gaiter that will prevent water as well as pebbles and sand from getting inside through the top of the boot.



Model perfectly suited to this TREKKING GAITER MT500 BLACK €15

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/trek-500-trekking-gaiters-black/_/R-p-124466?mc=8347880&c=BLACK

Which size should I select?

GOOD TO KNOW

- For hiking, do not hesitate to choose one size above your usual size to ensure optimal comfort when going downhill and prevent your toes from hitting the front of the shoe.

Tip: keep your toenails short and, before descending, check that your lacing prevents your foot from sliding forwards inside the boot. It's often advisable to lace boots up tighter to begin a long descent.

5 levels of waterproofing

During the waterproofness test, we test 5 levels of waterproofness:

- 2,000 flexes (approximately 4 km, 30 minutes of walking)

- 10,000 flexes (approximately 10 km, 3 hours of walking)

- 30,000 flexes (approximately 15 km, 6 hours of walking)

- 50,000 flexes (approximately 20 km, 8 hours of walking)

- 100,000 flexes (approximately >20 km, 24 hours of walking)

Waterproofing test

Our boots are laboratory tested by 2 consecutive tests.

Test 1: We test the effectiveness of the membrane alone immersed in water under air pressure. We simply check for any bubbles on the surface like a pierced air chamber.

Test 2: Thanks to a mechanical arm that simulates walking, the entire boots are half immersed in water and they complete thousands of flexes to check that the inside of the boot remains dry and it is therefore waterproof.

BUYING TIPS how to try on your boots?

How to choose your boots:

1. Try on both shoes, standing up, with the socks worn for hiking. 2. Tighten the laces correctly.

3. Check the following two areas of comfort: the base of the heel and the front part of the foot going down. 4. Stand up to walk with the boots on.

5. Try on several sizes and several models.

6. Gradually start using you shoes during your first few hiking trips to break them in.

CO-DESIGN closest to the anatomy of the foot in partnership with a chiropodist

These boots were co-designed with passionate trekkers, each bringing their own special skills. For example, one of our co-designers is a chiropodist who helps us to meet the physiological needs of people's feet and to make sure they are comfortable and safe during treks. Also to check that the inside of the boot remains dry and it is therefore waterproof.

Sports knowledge

Decathlon SportsLab contributes to the innovation and design of Decathlon products by increasing knowledge of the human body in its environment.

Our researchers explore the working and needs of sportspeople's bodies as they practise their sport.

Thanks to their knowledge of sports sciences, thermal comfort, morphology and perception, our experts contribute to the safety and well-being of our sports people.



SPORTSLAB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpfMJNQSthY

Lab tests

Laboratory tests were conducted to test the following elements: - tearing of the eyelets and straps

- bonding of the sole

- toxicology

- UV-resistance

- abrasion of the sole and components of the upper

- accelerated ageing