You might be interested in a review Matt Swaine, the editor of Trail Magazine, did on the Dalesway summing up as follows:

‘In fact, my GreenVees are now my first choice for 3-season walking. They aren’t cheap, but they are tough, light and functional'   (Matt Swaine, Editor, Trail Magazine)

‘The GreenVee Dales Way 3-season walking boot is one of the better examples of the new breed of ethical footwear ..'

The BBC Wildlife magazine boot review in January 2008 concluded their review on the GreenVee Dalesway boot as follows:

'The Lorica upper looks like leather and has the same comfort, but is much lighter. An excellent low-level boot'

Vegetarian Walking Boot Testing on the Dalesway long distance footpath, from Ilkley - Bowness

The GreenVee team felt it fitting that the vegetarian boots should be tested on the Dalesway trail itself – an ideal 84 mile path from Ilkley through Wharfedale and the Yorkshire Dales National Park ending in Bowness on Lake Windermere. The route is mainly low level, the ethical boot wearer following beautiful riverside paths to the rough moorland of the Pennine watershed high above Dent before passing by Sedbergh and into Cumbria before ending at the side of England’s largest lake.

A long weekend in late August was all that was available, a team member, Andrew nominated, kitted out in a pair of size 10 GreenVee Dalesway ethical walking boots and bid farewell …

The path was completed in 54 hrs unsupported (ie carrying all kit required) with 2 nights in a bivvy bag on route. Distances covered by the ethical walking boots were 40m first day, 32m second day and 12m the third morning. The weather was mainly warm and sunny with rain the first evening and heavy dew the final morning.

There were many memorable moments in the veggie walking boots. The first ‘breakfast’ by the river next to an atmospheric Bolton Abbey as the mist slowly cleared from the river was one. Bivvying high on the moor near Cam Houses above Dentdale was another. That evening tired from a long day, non-leather walking boots off, and stretched out in the bivvy bag, a short eared owl buzzed several times, hovering above, seemingly about to swoop but then, confused by this strange ‘human behaviour’, abandoned the meal.

Sleep came easily looking up at a low grey shroud of clouds … only to waken with a startle in the middle of the night to a dazzling sky full of the brightest stars.

The second day, having pulled on the vegetarian boots, was slower to get into a rhythm despite a 6am start. Another long day on the trail in the vegan boots, however, which led to an earlier bivvy watching the Cranes and Cattle by another glorious river.

The final day dawned clear and the final few miles in the vegetarian boots to Bowness through the rolling hills of Cumbria enjoyed. Dramatic views of the Lakeland fells drew the journey to a close by the Dalesway monument (see picture) complete with its champagne glass (sadly lacking champagne) and bench to mark the finish of a great trail – a great way to test the vegetarian walking boots.

The Dalesway vegetarian walking boots performed well. No foot problems were encountered; the ethical boots found to be very comfortable ‘out of the box’. Important to this was a change of socks every 30 miles or so. The veggie boots were light enough to move fast but supportive to the foot on the rougher paths. The Lorica upper of the vegan boots combined with Sympatex was extremely breathable despite the warm weather but the vegetarian boot kept the feet dry in the boggy areas, especially in the rain on the first evening, and in 3 hrs of wet grass on the last morning. Even at the end of the longer first day, with exhausted legs, the feet were in good shape.



At the finish, above Bowness