www.hellyhansen.com | £100
Helly Hansen has a good reputation in the AT offices, and if you head out into the UK hills the chances are you’ll bump into at least one person wearing one of the company’s distinctive base layers with the chevrons down the arms. We’ve got the Fryatt Low HT hiking shoes in for this review. They’re lightweight (760g per pair, size 11) and have a waterproof HellyTech membrane to keep water out.
While you’re probably not going to be reaching for a pair of hiking shoes in the depths of winter, the Fryatt Lows are better suited to warm weather treks. Their light weight is combined with minimal padding to give an airy shoe, even with the HellyTech membrane. Grip is provided by the company’s HellyGrip sole and this works well at keeping you upright in a variety of conditions, though we’ve found it’s best on drier trails.
Despite an apparent lack of padding around the cuff and throughout the shoe, the Fryatt Lows are surprisingly comfortable. The lacing system allows for a snug fit, the foot flex is spot on and, just under the heel, there’s an area of cushioning that Helly Hansen has called the C-Zone. This offers great shock absorption to prevent fatigue and discomfort on long trail days.
The shoes offer little stiffness, the heel cup is soft and malleable, and there’s very little torsional support. The only other gripe we have is that the membrane sounds like a crisp packet being crumpled when you walk! But other than that a nice pair of shoes.
Helly Hansen Fryatt Low HT Verdict
Good, attractive, lightweight shoes for summer use.