It’s only fitting that one of the most beloved sport and hiking boot makers got its start in the Essex village of Shoeburyness. Thirty-five years later the company has expanded well beyond its first shoe — the Hi-Tec Squash — to create footwear for tennis, football, golf and, of course, hiking.

However, its first shoe remains its most popular. According to Hi-Tec, the squash shoe is still Britain’s best-selling sports shoe of all time.

Many Hi-Tec boots are made with the five-element Vertical Build System:

• Lightweight leather and synthetic uppers: As they say for most boots, the lighter the materials, the better.
• Comfort-Tec insole technology: This foot bed is contoured and made from EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) foam with ventilation holes and moisture wicking lining to keep feet cool and dry.
• Stabila Flex Lasting Board: Made out of recycled plastic, this board gives your feet the rigid stability to conquer any terrain, yet it’s soft enough to provide some proper cushioning as well.
• Lightweight cushioning midsole: Constructed from Compression Moulded Ethel Vinyl Acetate (CMEVA), this sole assists with shock absorption.
• Lightweight high-traction outsole: Using low-profile alloy of carbon and rubber materials, this outer sole is also 15% lighter from subtracting rubber from non-critical areas.

Along with this V-Lite system, Hi-Tec footwear features Thermo-Dri, a custom technology created specifically for its winter boots to keep feet warm and dry, as well as moisture prevention tools like Tec-Proof, Dri-Tec and Hydro-Tec.

With sturdy hiking boots from Hi-Tec, you should probably be able to conquer the twists and turns on the trail featured in the video below, entitled “Scariest Hiking Trail in the World.”