When a boot uses the same rubber that Michelin developed for their winter-specific tyres, you know it’s going to give you excellent grip when the mercury drops.

The Hanwag Anvik GTX is designed specifically for winter walking conditions. Not for high-level mountains we should point out (as it’s not designed for crampon use), but for icy trails, snow covered tracks or even slippery pavements.

The sole is a Michelin V-ROUGH which is certainly extremely grippy, not just thanks to the clever rubber, but also to the deep lugs which are shaped to prevent mud and snow from gathering in the tread.

“When a boot is made a carefully as the Hanwag Anvik GTX and with such quality materials, you can be sure that it’s going to last you a long time.”

There’s also real quality in the upper, which uses a fine-looking and high-grain nubuck leather along with a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane. It’s a combination that offers full wet weather protection, warmth, durability, and bucketloads of style as well.

Onto comfort. Hanwag have put some thought into this, making sure that the midsole is cushioned but also solid enough to provide protection over jagged surfaces, and ensuring there’s space at the toes for a bit of wiggle room – something achieved through the use of their StraightFit last.

We took these over to Iceland recently, hiking in them to the base of the glacier on Eyjafjallajökull – that volcano that erupted back in 2010 and grounded every flight in Europe. As well as being comfortable, warm and grippy on the sections of icy rock we encountered, one of the things that really stood out was the stability that the high ankle cut provides. Its shape offered support over the uneven terrain but without feeling too constrictive, and it was useful for keeping out the volcanic dirt and gravel as well.