Author: Cornelius van Niekerk (@mountainbarista)

Magic happens when Graphene meets rock. Or at least that is what it felt like each time my Rocklite 275’s gripped protrusions in the sandstone rock while I methodically searched for holds on our steep scramble up Du Toits Peak.

When you embark on a mission to tackle big peaks and long trails, one of the most important things to consider is your feet. They are your first contact surface with the mountain. You need to be stable and agile on them. Thus your choice of footwear becomes of paramount importance to the success and experience you will have in the mountain. Even more so when your route involves some scrambling to reach greater heights.

Initially our route had consisted of a relentlessly steep hike up a slope. Only 6am but we could already feel it was going to be a hot day in the hills. After a long slog we stop for a cup of coffee in the neck between the Pinnacle and the mountain we endeavour to climb. Slowly we sip on freshly brewed coffee while taking in impressive views lying below us in the valley.

I knew the day was going to be long and we had to move fast. So I chose to wear my pair of Roclite 275 shoes. Their soles are made from the incredibly tough material Graphene, (200× stronger than steel) which makes the 6mm cleats that are designed to grip the rock while scrambling amazingly durable. This gives you excellent grip on technical moves, as well as a better lifespan on the grip, since they wear down slower. After a couple of months on Table Mountain and the surrounds the grip pattern on the lugs is still present and show no sign of deterioration. Like the name suggests a pair weighs in at 275gr. Which makes it ideal for our goal to reach the summit in a respectable time.

Ahead lies the steeper scrambling. This is Nic and my first time tackling this route, so route finding becomes part of the fun. As soon as I can start using my hands a route becomes highly enjoyable to me. There is something about holding on to the mountain that solidifies the connection.

To scramble more efficiently and stand on small features on a rock you need good flexibility on your shoe paired with the grip in the front of the shoe. INOV-8 Roclite 275 do exactly that with their Meta-Flex technology, and I find myself standing confidently on small ridges on the rock while my free hand searches for the next hold.

Gaining the ridgeline above we get rewarded with spectacular views of the hills around us. Already we are higher than a couple of the peaks. However from my research we still have a long way to go. Low growing Proteas catching the last of the golden sunrise make for spectacular hiking as we skirt a higher part of the ridge before descending to some rockier terrain.

While these shoes are comfortably light you still need good foot protection when moving on rough terrain. A flexible Rockplate aligns with each metatarsal in your foot to protect against impact from underneath. While you get this protective feature the shoe still allows amazing mobility and a tactile response that I have not experienced before. The logic behind this design is that instead of having a hard rigid sole which can throw you off balance in mountainous terrain. You have a sole which can mould to the terrain, allowing better balance and grip while you still get the benefit of the Meta-Plate for underfoot protection.

Ahead lies a long uphill. I can already see we have another slog ahead of us. So we stop to refuel and appreciate the distance already covered. Green fynbos and grasses surround us as I munch on a Futurelife Protein bar. The views keep on impressing, and we know getting higher up is going to be well worth it. With our legs feeling refreshed we climb on up, keeping a steady pace to reserve some energy which we will need later.

When it comes to the midsole of the Roclite 275 there is a 8mm drop and a energy return feature. This allows some of the energy input from your previous step to initiate the next step. Moving on long trails or steep terrain this is a valuable feature to maximise the effort you put into gaining on that summit.

After a good 30min of flowing with the mountain we reach some flat ground and are rewarded with ample views of towering rock. Our path skirts this steep rock, and we are pointed in the direction of a ledge by a couple of cairns. One has to appreciate the great drop off to your left even though the ledge is nice and wide. Up we go again. So far, the route has been pretty relentless in that regard. But it was expected as the mountain classifies as one of the only two Ultra-Prominent Peaks in South Africa, (a summit with a topographic prominence of over 1500meters). It is getting hot, but we are almost on the summit, so we push on.
In the heat I was extremely grateful for the breathable mesh on the upper part of the shoe. Honestly, it feels like your feet have their own aircon system when a slight breeze blows, or you move your foot through the air.

A few more scrambly moves and suddenly the trig beacon jumps into sight. 1600m of elevation gain later. Wow. Vistas of blue mountains all lying below our elevation congratulating us on an epic moment. This is what we came for, an experience we will not forget. Definitely time to make a celebratory coffee and say cheers to the mountains.