Berghaus Explorer Walking Boots Review
By Tom D / Newcastle
The new Berghaus Explorer boot has been engineered from the inside out to provide a more comfortable walking boot with all the benefits of Gore-Tex and an Ergonomic Holding System which basically gives you a better fit for comfort, performance and a perfect fit straight out of the box.
As someone who normally wears multipurpose outdoor shoes instead of full on walking boots, I was pleasantly surprised not only by how light they were, but how they didn’t make my feet or ankles feel restricted despite the higher cuff.
These boots are designed for fell walking, so they offer a lot of ankle support for scaling steep inclines and when it’s likely to rain heavily in that kind of environment, they’re completely waterproof thanks to a Gore-Tex membrane while the suede and mesh upper helps to make them breathable for when the temperatures rise once the sun breaks out from behind the clouds. Stopping your feet from getting sweaty also helps to minimise the number of blisters you can rub when walking long distances. With a huge list of features from good looks to Gore-Tex membrane and a great fit from the first time you put them on, the Berghaus Explorer has won many awards, including ‘Recommended' product in the April 2009 edition of The Great Outdoors magazine and it’s clear to see why.
They took very little breaking in and seemed to comfortably hug my feet after walking for just five minutes. They’re very comfortable to wear, there’s a soft feeling underfoot, but not so soft as to make you unaware of your footing and the grip is excellent.
I can see what Berghaus mean when they say that their boots are "engineered from the inside out". It’s as though they’ve taken the human foot and then built their Berghaus shoes around it layer by layer. Your foot is literally held to the platform by their Ergonomic Holding System without your heel slipping or rising, while providing enough room for your toes to wiggle quite comfortably.
While Berghaus are mostly known for their excellent waterproof jackets, I think they’ve made some brilliant walking boots at a competitive price when compared to similar outdoor brands. If they attain the same kind of street cred as Salomon, I can see walking boots from Berghaus becoming a must have for many outdoor enthusiasts.