The outdoors is calling, but unless you are a regular hiker getting the right gear can be a daunting experience. A week ago my son, Ashton and I headed out on a multi-day hike to Injisuthi in Drakensberg. We used the opportunity to put some Hi-Tec gear through its paces. Here’s our Hi-Tec Hiking Gear Review.

About Hi-Tec

A family inspired by life and driven by the belief that the outdoors is for everyone, no matter who you are or where you are from. Hi-Tec’s core purpose is to enable people to enjoy the freedom of the active outdoors. Proud, Honest, Fun, Hungry are their core values and that is why a collaboration with us over here at Fit Like Mummy™ made perfect sense. We absolutely love what Hi-Tec stands for as it is very much aligned with Fit Like Mummy’s value system. Fitness, adventure and the great outdoors are for everyone!

OUR MULTI-DAY HIKE

Ash & I planned 4 glorious days in Injisuthi, with the caves serving as our place of accommodation each night. The weather didn’t look promising, therefore we needed to be prepared for whatever mother nature had instore for us. Dressed in our Hi-Tec gear we headed out to adventure and explore the beautiful Drakensberg.

APPAREL FROM HI-TEC

Has an extensive range of apparel, footwear and accessories for men and women. We tried out 2 different fleece tops, 2 different styles of hiking boots and the trekking socks that Hi-Tec generously sent over to us. We also tried out the peak caps, warm hats and fitness outfits which I couldn’t resist purchasing.

Hi-Tec Ladies Weekender Fleece

Officially my fav hoodie after putting it through its paces. The Ladies Weekender Fleece is a lightweight and warm fleece pullover, it is ideal as a layer for those colder mornings and nights. It features a full zip for that added ventilation you need as well as a hood to keep your head and neck region warm. I’m all about a hoodie and the Ladies Weekender Fleece is probably the reason I got any sleep when we spent the night in Grindstone Cave. I love that the fleece doesn’t have a seam running across one’s shoulder. This plays a huge roll in reducing friction on your shoulders from the backpack straps rubbing on the seams.

THE MEN’S HENIS FLEECE JACKET

The Men’s Henis Fleece Jacket is great for colder days and nights in the outdoors. It has a full length zip and is super comfy. Like the ladies fleece the full zip ensures added ventilation and has two pockets. Unlike the Ladies Weekender Fleece, this jacket has a seam that runs across your shoulders.

Altitude V hiking boot REVIEW

A few years ago I had a freak accident and broke my right foot, which has plagued me ever since. I love adventuring and the outdoors, but at the end of every adventure I’m in pain and my foot swells excessively. The Altitude V hiking boots gave me the necessary cushioning and ankle support I needed to tackle a multi-day hike. Constructed for the ultimate hiker with design features that include a waterproof leather upper that provides durability and comfort and Dri-Tec waterproof, breathable membrane to keep your feet dry. Drakensberg with its multitude of waterfalls, natural pools and river crossings was the ideal place to test this hiking boot. i-Shield repels water and dirt and is resistant to stains. Keep comfortable on multi-day hikes with an OrthoLite® Impressions sock liner. A MDT rubber outsole improves grip and provides durability throughout your adventures. The boot maintained it structural integrity even when soaked after zig-zagging our way across the river to make our way to Marble Baths.

Hi-Tec Men’s GEO Trail Pro Vent Mid HIKING BOOT

The guys tried out the Hi-Tec Men’s GEO Trail Pro Vent Mid which is rather appealing to the eye. This lightweight, high-performance hiking and trail boot combines the best of tech with a responsive GEO Foam mid-sole with robust, durable upper for maximum protection. The tough M-D Traction outsole secures grip. This modern look and versatile fit supports and protects your feet while the footbed and upper allows for airflow and breathability when necessary.

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With that being said, one of the eyelets pulled out on one of the boots. Fortunately it was on the last day of our multi-day hike. Hi-Tec’s returns policy made it extremely easy for us to have the boot replaced. The Hi-Tec Men’s GEO Trail Pro Vent Mid is pretty awesome but is unfortunately not waterproof. I would also not recommend the Hi-Tec Men’s GEO Trail Pro Vent Mid for a multi-day hike, but instead for any single day hike. Ash loves the boot so much that we have decided to get a pair for my other son seeing as we hike locally every Sunday.

HI-TEC ACCESSORIES

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The caps were a last minute impulse buy and I felt they were a tad pricey but bought them anyway. The peak caps are available in black, olive and navy, and of course I went with black. Despite the impulse purchase, we are obsessed with the Hi-Tec caps. They served their purpose for sure and it is one of the items we used daily. Surprisingly enough the peak cap design ensured that we didn’t burn on our faces despite the sun baking down on us. I froze in the evening so was ever so grateful for the Harpoon Beanies. It kept us warm and snug during those cold evenings and early mornings.

The trekking socks come with a reinforced toe and heel. We found them to be extremely comfortable over the 30km we had hiked. The rib-top ensured that your socks stayed in place. Nothing worse that socks the slide down while you are attempting a tough hike. The socks are thick which helps prevent your feet from sliding around in your boots.

You can check out our Ultimate Adventurers Packing Guide if you are keen to do a multi-day hike.

OUR FINAL VERDICT’

All in all Hi-tec Hiking Gear is very well priced, comfortable and inclusive. I love that they have a range of boots to accommodate hikers from Light Hiking Boots to Technical Hiking Boots. While the boots and fleece tops were supplied for review purposes by Hi-Tec, I did however purchase several other items as I was impressed with the quality and design. This applies especially to the active wear which also accommodates plus-size women. Hi-tec gear can be purchased from their online store or from one of their outlet stores around the country.

Hike More, Worry Less Lovelies