What are the L.I.M Mid Proof Eco? The Mid Proof Eco’s from Haglofs are part of their L.I.M range of apparel, L.I.M stands for Less Is More, which should give you an indication of where this pair of shoes fits in your outdoor arsenal. They’re a lightweight pair of mid-height trekking shoes that are both waterproof and breathable thanks to a PROOF Eco membrane. Every spare gram has been removed to help streamline the shoes, but all of the comfort and durability has been retained.
How are they constructed?Upper: The upper has been constructed from a durable mesh that is tough enough to stand up to the trail, but still remains very breathable. Synthetic leather has been used for reinforcement and to help stabilize the ankle on the sides of the shoes. This has been combined with a soft ankle construction which has been incorporated to avoid pressure marks and chafing. The majority of the construction uses a no sew TPU lamination, minimizing seams and potential points of failure.
Midsole: The midsole is an ASICS Solyte foam. Solyte is half the weight of a traditional EVA foam, whilst also providing increased bounce and shock absorption.
Membrane: The L.I.M Proof Mid Eco’s benefit from a PROOF Eco membrane. PROOF is a membrane technology that Haglofs owns, meaning they can tailor it specifically to different products. It is reliably waterproof and breathable, ensuring your feet will stay dry out on the trails.
Footbed: The footbed uses a moulded EVA sockliner that makes use of recycled materials.
Outsole: The outsole is made using AHAR™ Plus (ASICS® High Abrasion Resistance Rubber) on the heel which adds durability. The outsole has been lugged to offer good levels of traction in both wet and dry conditions, whilst the AHAR Plus rubber adds valuable durability and should keep the sole from wearing out too quickly. AHARPLUS™ has been developed based on the concept of contributing to environmental load reduction by prolonging the life of products, using abrasion-resistant materials for soles to make them durable for long-term use.
What are the features?First and foremost these mids are waterproof and breathable for all your adventures in conditions that may be less than ideal (a common occurrence in the UK). The lacing system uses eyelet supported lacing holes with D-rings and upper lace hooks for a quick lace-up experience and easy adjustment of fit. The cuff has been left soft and constructed with comfortable materials to minimize pressure and the potential for chafing and hotspots. A finger loop has been added to the heel for an easy on/off experience.
How do they fit?The L.I.M Mid Proof shoes generally fit an average to slightly wider foot. They have an average volume to offer a precise, stable fit when out on more difficult terrain, but also to leave enough wiggle room for your toes. It also means that they tend to fit quite a wide range of feet. Getting footwear sizing right online can be tricky, so we recommend giving our Footwear Sizing Guide (found below in the Care and Advice section) a quick read.
- Waterproof with PROOF™ Eco membrane
- GEL™ rear foot cushioning provides excellent shock absorption
- AHAR™ Plus (ASICS® High Abrasion Resistance Rubber) on the outsole heel adds durability
- Features minimized to necessity
- Rubber toe and inner heel counter
- Stabilizing synthetic leather at sides
- Soft ankle construction to avoid pressure marks and chafing
- No-sew TPU film
- Eyelet – supported lacing holes
- D-Ring and hooks for quick lace-up
- Finger loop on heel for easy access
- L.I.M Strive tooling with wet grip rubber
Here at Trekitt we know all too well of the difficulties people face when purchasing footwear online. The hardest part is being confident that you have picked the correct fitting footwear, so that is what we will cover in this blog (or if you prefer you can CLICK HERE to watch our video).
In our Hereford shop we offer a professional boot fitting service where we assess your feet, find a selection of boots that match you foot shape and most importantly we make sure that they are comfortable. This is easy to do in the shop, where we have access to the right tools, the option of letting you try on as many styles as you like and a knowledgeable member of staff that can communicate directly with you regarding your needs.
But let’s not dwell on what you don’t have, instead we shall teach you how to ascertain your size using some common household objects.
What you will need:
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A piece of A4 paper
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A pen or pencil
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A floor and a flat wall
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A ruler or tape measure
What you need to do:
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Put on the socks that you intend to use with the footwear you have selected
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Place the paper/cardboard on the floor with one end flush against a wall
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Stand on the A4 paper with your heel pressed firmly against the wall and your foot pointed forward with the edge of your big toe aligned with the edge of the paper.
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Draw a line just in front of your big toe
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Measure the distance from the wall edge of the paper to the line you drew
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Repeat the process for the other foot
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Finally, check the longer of the two measurements against the table below to find your size
Your measurement (cm) |
UK Size |
EU Size |
21.7 |
3 |
35 |
22.1 |
3.5 |
36 |
22.5 |
4 |
37 |
22.9 |
4.5 |
37.5 |
23.3 |
5 |
38 |
23.7 |
5.5 |
39 |
24.1 |
6 |
39.5 |
24.5 |
6.5 |
40 |
24.9 |
7 |
41 |
25.4 |
7.5 |
41.5 |
25.8 |
8 |
42 |
26.2 |
8.5 |
42.5 |
26.6 |
9 |
43 |
27 |
9.5 |
44 |
27.4 |
10 |
44.5 |
27.8 |
10.5 |
45 |
28.3 |
11 |
46 |
28.8 |
11.5 |
46.5 |
29.2 |
12 |
47 |
29.6 |
12.5 |
47.5 |
30 |
13 |
48 |
30.4 |
13.5 |
49 |
NOTE: The above table is only a guide. Manufactures don’t like to make it easy as every single one of them strays from the measurements above.
So, once you have received your chosen footwear please take the time to do these simple tests to check they are actually the right size and that they fit the rest of your foot correctly.
The length test
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Whip out the removable footbed from the boots.
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Put them on the floor about shoulder-width apart.
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With your socks on, stand on the footbeds making sure that your heels are right to the back of the heel cup.
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You should now be able to see approximately 2 cm (about an index fingers width) of the footbed poking out in front of your toes.
If you can see this amount of space then you are pretty much on the way to making sure that your boots are the correct size. This space between your toes and the end of the footbed ensures that you will not stub your toes on the inside of the boot when you descend. This can be excruciatingly painful. If you can’t see this amount of space then it’s a good bet that the boots will be too small.
The heel lift test
This test will tell you if the shape of the internal heel cup matches your heel to ensure it holds you securely, especially when ascending steep ground. We are trying to eliminate the dreaded heel blister.
Before you commence this test it is imperative that you have laced the boots correctly.
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Tap your heel so it’s as far back in the boot as possible, being sure to keep your foot at a right angle to your leg at all times during the next few steps.
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Make sure that the laces have no slack in them across the forefoot by starting at the front of the boot and working the slack backwards and to the top. You should just be able to squeeze the end section of your finger under the laces, not easily, but just about.
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If you are wearing shoes then ensure the last upper part of the lacing is tight, not cutting off your circulation tight, but certainly comfortably snug as this will hold your heel back in the heel cup and will reduce any excess slipping (If you are wearing boots, this will be the eyelets that sit just below/inline the ankle).
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Please also make sure when trying out boots that use all the lace hooks, don’t be tempted to leave the top one undone as your foot needs to be held securely right in the back of the boot.
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Now that your boots are done up properly stand up on your tiptoes and walk on the spot on the balls of your feet as if you are walking up a steep hill. If your heels lift more than approximately 5mm from the footbed you may need to pull the laces tighter, or the boots may just be the wrong shape for you.
The toe wiggle test
This test is designed to check whether you have enough room around your toes. Your toes need to be in a happy place, they need plenty of room to wiggle without being squashed together, or cramped in from above. However they don’t want to be swimming around in acres of space either, this will cause friction blisters and stability problems when traversing hillsides. So, with the boots done up properly, walk around your house and make sure that your toes can wiggle freely.
Home Trial Period
However, even after the most rigorous assessment and testing, there is no better way to be absolutely sure than to have the boots on your feet for an extended period of time. We therefore offer our Home Trial Period which gives you the opportunity to wear the boots around your house to give you an indication of how they feel before you venture outside. We recommend that during the Home Trial Period that you wear the boots for as long as possible and at different times of the day, wear them up and down stairs, when moving around and when resting, you can even sleep in them if you want.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: During the Home Trial Period we insist that the boots are worn indoors only. All footwear must be returned in a new and perfect condition with the original packaging and a proof of purchase. We retain the right to refuse to refund or exchange if footwear shows any sign of being worn outside.
For full details on footwear aftercare please check out our related blog here.