BerghausMen's Hillwalker Ii Gore-tex Waterproof Hiking Boots | Durable | Comfortable Shoes

-WaterproofingFor those who are concerned about these boots being waterproof, Although Gortex technology will repel water coming into the boot, I highly recommend a third-party wax to be applied over the top. I waxed them with 3 layers, leaving around an hour in between coats for it to set. the colour of the suede will darken and they have more of a glossy finish, which I prefer. I put the boots through their paces after this and my feet were bone dry up to ankle level.- Size AccuracyI am a UK size 9. My feet are narrow and I found that 9.5 was a good size for me. They fit well and had some extra space for thick socks if needed. So for me, going a half a size larger worked out great.- Comfort and practicalityThe sole of the shoe is slightly curved, making for good walking and hiking through difficult terrain.The boots felt secure once tied properly and I didn't need to adjust them during my hike. They are very lightweight and so I felt like I could manoeuvre faster with less effort compared to other waterproof boots.- Durability/value for moneyI will return to this review later to comment on the durability over the course of the winter period. Overall I am happy with the boots.

They are true to size, in my case it would have been better to get UK 11 but I got 10.5 since I never bought this brand before. Anyway, I've decided to not return them and give them a go since they don't feel excessively tight. These boots are all you need in a terrain with light-medium difficulty and not much mud since the rise is low. They are NOT FOR URBAN ENVIRONMENT since I could experience some rubbing on my soles that could lead to blister, this is because these boots barely reshape to adapt to the terrain and the rubber on the soles are not assisting with the cushioning, plus, the soles wear off at light speed, I believe they were not made to withstand asphalt, concrete, stone, etc.After I tested them on a light walk in a national park I could see how good these boots are, they withstood rain and mud and I could feel almost unstoppable feeling so comfortable. I will buy them again no doubt. They worth the money if you go on hiking pretty often.

Day 1 review:These just arrived and I've tried them on.Comfort is immediately excellent. They seem pleasantly light in weight for a mid height leather boot.They also seem to be true to size (I bought half a size larger than usual to accommodate thick socks).The comfort of the light, flexible suede likely comes at the expense of durability. It does not feel tough. If I was going to be regularly scrambling over rocks I would go for the fullgrain hillmaster.My only other concern is how low the back of the boot is. This low back is great when sitting down, allowing your ankles to flex forwards further but there is now about a 3cm reduction in the depth of stream that I can cross.14 month update:Over 300km done, including a few high, rocky, scrambley walks and plenty of lowland walks.Comfort remains very good. Did have some rubbing at the top and back of the boot against achilles but nothing out of the ordinary.The stock insoles are very flat so switch them out if you require more arch support.No failure of glue, stitching or hardware and the outsole has little wear.I unconventionally used beeswax on the suede. The effect almost looks fullgrain and it hasn't caused any issues yet.The suede has suffered some deep scratches from thorns and rocks at the toe but I think the sole will wear out before that abbrasion accumulates into a problem.Waterproofing is not perfect. After walking for an hour or so in wet conditions my feet will be damp, worst around the toe box. Is it because the suede has wetted out and is no longer breathing? Is the Goretex lining damaged?Next time I will probably buy Altberg because they can be resoled and are apparently all round better quality but if you must spend under £100 I don't think you can do much better than these.

I previously had Brasher country masters.. which were rugged, pretty heavy, but did have a good vibram sole. I was looking for something that still had a fairly substantial sole but was a bit lighter, the Berghaus fit that category.SIZE - I’m normally a size 10 or an 11 in some trainers that come up small.. ordered 11 in these and had to send those back for the 11.5 , for me this was a genuine case of needing one complete size up on what I normally wear.COMFORT - The leather feels supple, padded tongue, good heel support, comfortable. The insoles in the Berghaus felt really poor, a very disappointing totally flat 2mm strip, luckily I still had my old Brashers which had a (old) but far superior insole which I’ve been able to use, instantly way better..more comfort, more support.WATERPROOF - No problems so far, my experience of gortex lined boots it that they are all ok for a while then they leak through the crease that is created behind your toes.. the constant flexing here of the gortex membrane creates a weakness.. so I don’t hold out too much hope but then I’m not that often in situations where the boots are totally soaked for long periods.. some dubin might help repel surface water.I’ll give these a month or two then come back and update.

Worn boots for work for nearly 40 years in the forces and Police. I purchased these for Police work both driving and foot patrol on tarmac and over the South Downs National Park. Best pair of boots I've had as a hybrid suits all applications. Comfy to wear out the box, waterproof in wet grass and heavy rain although I've not hiked all day in the rain in them. They even buff up well with wax polish to look smart. Purchased during black Friday sales for 50% off.