In the test: Agate hiking boots from Tecnica

OThe colleague asks whether we would like to try out a hiking shoe that was specially developed for the female foot. Yes, sure, gladly. A short time later the Agate S Mid GTX from the Italian manufacturer Tecnica is in our office. We read that it was designed for speed hiking. This sport occupies the niche between mountain hiking and trail running. It is characterized by a higher pace than hiking, but does not reach a running pace. In general, this refers to brisk walking with the support of poles in alpine terrain.

We hadn't imagined it that way, and then to make matters worse were two lovable and good-natured huskies who naturally spend a large part of their day pursuing their own interests. Both boys were speed hiking and although they accept certain rules during an outdoor activity, they are very reluctant to follow the command “heel”.

Speed ​​hiking without poles

The sled dog wants to pull, regardless of whether it's the sled or the owner. Connected via a hip belt and elastic leashes as well as special harnesses for the dogs, we willingly surrendered ourselves to what is in nature and in the huskie's genes on a morning trip into the forest or on an extended hiking adventure at the weekend. This is what our speed hiking looked like without sticks.

When developing the shoe, the designers at Tecnica took a closer look at the anatomy of the woman's foot and tried to match details regarding shape, arch, instep, tread or impact behavior and footprint to the characteristics of the female foot. According to Tecnica, the result is a shoe whose construction takes the female foot shape into account. On the other hand, softer cushioning can be used, as women are generally lighter and exert less force on the ground. In order to correspond to the special anatomy of the arch of the foot, the shoe offers more support under the foot than is the case with comparable men's models. That's the theory.

Our first impression is surprising. The beige-violet color combination is a matter of taste. We also fear that the light-colored material will become unsightly after the first bit of mud. But thanks to the water-repellent polyamide fabric, this worry proves to be unfounded. Once we collapsed on a frozen puddle and ended up in horse mud. We rinsed the mishap with water and Agate shone in its former glory.

The sole makes a voluminous impression and conveys robustness and grip. The outsole is a tried and tested Vibram Megagrip rubber sole. The midsole is made of EVA, a foam made from ethylene vinyl acetate, and a specifically shaped insert made of Pebax foam is embedded in the sole. This layering is intended to achieve special damping with simultaneous springback, which supports forward movement. The insole is provided with additional arch support, which is intended to provide better arch support.

Weighing 420 grams per shoe in size UK 7, Agate is lighter in the hand than we expected. Several places such as the toe box and heel area are reinforced with TPU layers, the abbreviation stands for Thermoplastic Polyurethane. An additional Goretex membrane keeps moisture out. The asymmetrically attached loop on the back of the shaft makes it easier to slip on, as does the flexible hook lacing in the upper area. The feet sink comfortably into the soft padding, which also covers the ankles. Nothing presses, restricts or rubs. The lacing ensures a firm hold. At first we can't find any specific peculiarities, except that the foot fits well.

Woman feels comfortable as a poodle or rather a husky

After initially being calm, Agate proves to be an enrichment for our excursions into nature. No matter whether on asphalt, wide forest paths, well-trodden paths with or without scree, uphill and just as quickly downhill, our feet are in good hands and protected. The shoe provides secure support, yet is light and hardly noticeable. Tecnica's development department seems to have done its homework. Of the five pairs of shoes available to choose from for the morning laps, we choose Agate without hesitation every time, even if light shoes are sufficient for the planned route.

Woman feels comfortable as a poodle or rather a husky. If we go trail running, the shoe stays on the shelf. Primarily because it is a lot heavier than a trail running shoe. It supports walking quickly uphill and downhill very well. However, as soon as the pace changes to a running pace, for example when the huskies spot their favorite friend in the distance and every second on the way to the stormy greeting would be one too many, the fun with Agate is over. However, it serves well on a trip to the winter mountains. Regardless of whether it is loose snow, packed snow or mud: the profile of the sole grips reliably and conveys security and confidence. Thanks to the high shaft, we can even get out of larger mountains of snow with our feet dry.

Agate is available in two variants. In addition to the ankle-high Agate S Mid GTX that we wear, there is a flat version Agate S GTX. Both are available in four colors. The price for our model is 220 euros, the flat one costs 200 euros. It should be noted that Agate is probably fun even without a dog. However, we didn't try it out.