Boots for big adventurers

A high lace-up boot is just the ticket for crossing country while shooting says Richard Negus, who rounds up four of the best on the market

- Richard Negus

"When you see someone putting on his big boots, you can be pretty sure an adventure is about to happen.” Sage words uttered not, as you might imagine, by Sir Ranulph Fiennes or George Mallory, but Winnie the Pooh. Even if, like AA Milne’s rotund bear (and me for that matter), you find solo trekking to the pole a touch too adventurous, big boots are still of great importance to us shooting types.

Our sport takes us off-piste, into the realms of knee-high heather and peat hags, marshy bog or impenetrable scrub. Wellingtons might keep your feet dry yet few, if any, provide the ankle support required for crossing truly rugged country. Meanwhile, most laceups are just too short; the moment you step in anything deeper than a puddle, you find your socks are soaked and cold, wet feet is your lot for the rest of the day. The best of both worlds can be found in a high lace-up boot, and these are four of the best on the market.

1 Irish Setter Pinnacle 

Around £260 footwearcountry.co.uk

If the Pinnacle were a vehicle it would be one of those massive Ford pickups from the 1960s — work worn, a bit ugly, yet still going strong after 250,000 miles. At 27cm high these are the shortest boots on trial, yet felt a touch cumbersome. The Pinnacle’s outers are crafted primarily from nubuck in an earth shade. To the touch they feel tough with no hint of the flimsiness that one often associates with this type of leather.