Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II review: the best-value starter hiking boot in the UK

The Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II Waterproof is the boot huge numbers of UK walkers actually buy. With over 30,000 ratings on Amazon UK and a 4.3-star average, it's one of the highest-volume men's hiking boots in the country — and at roughly £76, it's the value pick that gets people onto the trail without spending £150 on their first proper boot.

That's the angle I want to be clear about up front. This is not the most durable boot, the most technical boot, or the boot I'd take to the Brecon Beacons in winter. It's the sensible, no-fuss, waterproof boot for someone getting into walking — and on that count it's hard to beat. If you're 40-something and finally committing to proper footwear after years of trainers on the coast path, this is exactly the kind of boot I'd point you at first.

This review is based on testing across Dorset terrain — the chalk and limestone of the Purbeck Hills and the cliff paths around the Durdle Door circular — alongside what years of owning pricier boots like the Salomon X Ultra 360 Mid GTX tells you about where the Columbia sits in the pecking order.

Who is this boot for?

The Newton Ridge Plus II is an entry-level boot, and it's a good one. It does the basics well at a price that makes the basics affordable.

It suits you if:

• You're buying your first proper waterproof hiking boot and don't want to spend over £100
• You walk easy-to-moderate UK terrain — coast paths, downland, forest tracks, towpaths, gentle hills
• You hike occasionally rather than every weekend, and a boot doesn't need to survive 1,000 miles a year
• You want something comfortable straight out of the box with almost no break-in
• You have wider feet — there's a proper wide fit at the same price

It's less right for you if:

• You're walking technical mountain routes, sustained boggy moorland, or carrying a heavy multi-day pack
• You need deep-puddle, stream-crossing waterproofing rather than rain-and-wet-grass protection
• You're racking up serious mileage and need a boot that holds up over years rather than seasons — for that, step up to the Merrell Moab 3 Mid WP

Specs

Weight

~468g per boot (men's, size 9)

Waterproofing

Omni-Tech membrane (Columbia proprietary)

Outsole

Omni-Grip non-marking rubber

Lug depth

4.7mm

Heel-to-toe drop

9.8mm

Stack height

23.9mm forefoot / 33.7mm heel

Upper materials

Leather, suede and mesh

Midsole

Techlite lightweight foam

Cut

Mid-cut with ankle support

Available widths

Standard and Wide

UK price

~£76 (RRP higher; often discounted)

The value case — why so many people buy it

The numbers tell the story before I do. Around 26,000 Amazon UK ratings is a sample size you can't argue with, and a 4.3-star average across that many buyers means the boot reliably does what most people need.

At ~£76 it undercuts the obvious step-up boots by a meaningful margin. The Merrell Moab 3 Mid WP sits around £110; the Salomon X Ultra 360 Mid GTX is closer to £160. For someone who isn't sure how much walking they'll actually do, spending £76 on a competent waterproof boot is a far easier decision than committing £160 to a boot they might use six times a year.

And it isn't a stripped-out boot for the money. You get a real waterproof membrane, a deep-lugged grippy outsole, mid-cut ankle support, leather in the upper for a bit of structure, and a cushioned Techlite midsole. Those are the things that separate a proper hiking boot from a fashion boot dressed up as one. The Newton Ridge delivers all of them at a price that gets people walking.

The way I think about it: this is the boot that proves to you whether you're going to be a regular walker. Put a few hundred miles of Dorset coast path into it. If you find yourself out every weekend and wearing it through, that's the signal to step up to a Moab 3 or a Salomon for your next pair — and you'll know exactly what you want from them.

Omni-Tech waterproofing

Columbia uses its own Omni-Tech membrane here rather than Gore-Tex, which is expected at this price. For the conditions most UK day walkers meet, it does the job: rain, wet grass, damp ground, shallow puddles and the odd splash. On a wet morning on the Purbeck chalk it keeps feet dry without complaint.

Where you need to set expectations is depth. This is not a boot for wading. Independent testing — and my own experience — is consistent on this: get the boot into standing water above the lower upper, or cross a stream that comes up the side, and water finds its way in faster than it would on a higher-spec membrane. Treat it as rain-and-wet-ground protection, not stream-crossing protection, and it won't let you down.

The mid-cut height helps keep splashes and wet grass out, but as with any boot, water coming in over the ankle cuff is a height limitation, not a membrane fault. For the autumn-through-spring UK walking that makes up most people's mileage, the Omni-Tech membrane is more than adequate. In sustained heavy rain over many hours it'll eventually wet out, and the leather-and-mesh upper takes a while to dry afterwards — factor that in if you're regularly out in foul weather.

Omni-Grip outsole — grip on UK terrain

The Omni-Grip outsole is the part of this boot that surprises people who expect budget rubber to be hopeless. The lugs are a decent 4.7mm deep, and the non-marking compound bites well on the surfaces UK walkers actually encounter.

On Jurassic Coast terrain — mixed chalk, limestone and flint — the grip is reassuring on dry and damp ground, and the lug pattern clears mud reasonably well rather than packing solid and going skiddy. On loose, sandy or gravelly descents it holds better than the price would lead you to expect.

It isn't Vibram. On properly wet, polished rock — the kind of greasy limestone slab you sometimes meet on a coast path after rain — the compound is a notch behind the Vibram TC5+ on the Moab 3 or the Contagrip on the Salomon. You feel it on steep wet descents, where the more premium compounds give that extra bit of confidence. For easy-to-moderate ground in normal conditions, though, the Omni-Grip is perfectly capable and a long way from the weak point people assume a budget outsole will be.

Comfort, fit and the wide option

Comfort out of the box is where the Newton Ridge earns a lot of its goodwill. The Techlite midsole is soft and forgiving underfoot, and the boot needs almost no break-in — most people can do a 10km walk on day one without trouble. For a first-time boot buyer, that matters enormously. A boot that punishes your feet for the first month is a boot that ends up in the cupboard.

The fit is true-to-size for most people, with a roomy enough toe box that long descents don't bruise toenails. The leather-and-mesh upper moulds slightly over the first few walks but never feels stiff or unforgiving the way a heavier full-leather boot does.

The wide version is a real wide fit, not a token half-size up, and it's sold at the same price as the standard. If you've spent years finding hiking boots that pinch across the forefoot, try the wide — it's one of the genuine advantages of this model and one reason it sells in the volumes it does.

The Techlite midsole is comfortable but soft, which is the trade-off for that day-one comfort: it gives you less protection from sharp rocks and roots than a firmer, more structured midsole, and it can feel a little vague underfoot on rough ground. On smooth paths and downland it's lovely. On rocky, technical terrain you'll wish for more underfoot structure.

Where it falls short of pricier boots

I want to be straight about this, because the angle of this review is value, not perfection. The Newton Ridge Plus II is an excellent boot for the money, but the money buys you a few real compromises versus a Moab 3 or a Salomon.

Durability. This is the biggest one. The Newton Ridge does not last as long as a Moab 3 or an X Ultra. The heel padding in particular tends to wear early, and the upper and outsole won't take the abuse that a pricier boot shrugs off. If you walk a lot, you'll be replacing these sooner. At the price, that can still work out as good value — but it's a real difference.

Waterproofing depth. As above, the Omni-Tech membrane handles rain and wet ground, not submersion. Pricier membranes cope better with sustained wet.

Ankle support and underfoot protection. The mid-cut ankle support is light, and the soft Techlite midsole offers less protection on rocky ground than a firmer-built boot. For heavy packs or technical terrain, this isn't the boot.

Grip ceiling. Omni-Grip is good for the price but a step behind Vibram and Contagrip on greasy wet rock.

None of this undermines the value case. It just defines where the value sits: easy-to-moderate UK walking, lighter loads, occasional-to-regular use. Push past that and the extra spend on a Merrell Moab 3 or a Salomon X Ultra 360 Mid GTX starts to justify itself.

What to pair it with

Socks — a good merino sock makes more difference to comfort than people expect, especially in a boot with a soft cushioned midsole. I wear Darn Tough hiking socks with everything; the merino manages moisture inside the waterproof liner and reduces hotspots on longer walks. A mid-weight crew or over-the-calf height suits a mid-cut boot like this.

Trousers — any decent hiking trouser works, and the mid-cut height keeps debris out on most paths without gaiters. The best hiking trousers UK guide covers the field if you're building out a kit from scratch.

Insole — the stock insole is basic. If you have any arch-support needs, a quality aftermarket insole is a cheap upgrade that improves both comfort and the slightly soft underfoot feel.

Pros

• Outstanding value at ~£76 — a proper waterproof boot for the price of trainers
• Comfortable from day one with almost no break-in
• Omni-Tech waterproofing handles rain and wet ground well
• Omni-Grip outsole grips better than the price suggests
• Real wide-fit option at no extra cost
• Roomy toe box prevents black toenails on descents
• Around 26,000 Amazon UK ratings at 4.3 stars — proven at scale
• The sensible first proper boot for getting into walking

What to know before buying:

• Less durable than a Moab 3 or Salomon — heel padding wears early, and heavy use shortens its life
• Omni-Tech waterproofing is for rain and wet ground, not deep puddles or stream crossings
• Soft Techlite midsole gives less protection and structure on rocky, technical ground
• Light ankle support — not for heavy packs or technical mountain routes
• Stock insole is basic and worth replacing

Verdict

The Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II Waterproof is the best-value starter hiking boot in the UK, and the volume of happy buyers backs that up. For roughly £76 you get a comfortable, waterproof, grippy mid-cut boot that's ready to walk straight out of the box — exactly what most people getting into hiking actually need.

Judge it for what it is and it's hard to fault at the price. The Omni-Tech membrane keeps rain and wet ground out, the Omni-Grip outsole is more capable than budget rubber has any right to be, and the wide fit makes it accessible to feet that struggle with pricier boots. The compromises are real — durability, waterproofing depth, underfoot protection and ankle support all sit below a £110 boot — but every one of them is the trade-off you'd expect for paying a third less.

If you walk easy-to-moderate UK terrain, hike occasionally rather than relentlessly, and want a sensible first boot that won't punish your wallet or your feet, buy this. If you're already out every weekend or heading into rougher ground, save up for the Merrell Moab 3 Mid WP instead.

Rating: 4.3 / 5