Berghaus GR20 GTX > Reviews > Berghaus Blues

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	very comfortable, all day 3 - 4 season boot, all terrain, fully laden
Disadvantages:	initial outlay is large but they will last for years .  no half sizes

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Today I’ll be talking about Berghaus GR20 GTX hiking boots in detail. Like a lot of hikers I do have more than one pair of suitable footwear; which range from a pair of Merrell trail sandals to the high ankle Berghaus GR20’s.

It is important to wear appropriate footwear and this can vary from hike to hike as there are many variables such as weather, terrain, hike length and pack load.

The Berghaus GR20 GTX boots
≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈

The Berghaus GR20 GTX boots are particularly suitable for wet, muddy terrain, especially where there may be plenty of undergrowth. They are suitable for any length hike although for a short one I might go for a lighter boot but they are a very comfy boot to wear all day for several days on the trot. They are suitable for most terrains and although not a mountaineers boot they are suitable for scrambling over rocks.

They are classed as a 3 to 4 season boot which indicates they are suitable for all seasons except real bad winter conditions. The winters we get here now are fine but heavy, prolonged freezing cold conditions would require a more specialised boot as would climbing or scrambling in icy surroundings. These boots are also very suitable for use when carrying a fully laden multi-day backpack.

The Berghaus GR20 GTX boots are available in either women’s or men’s; women’s sizes range from a 36 to a 42, men’s range from 39 to a 48. Increments are in full sizes only; they don’t do half sizes but the fittings are quite wide. A pair of size 36 weighs around 700g and a size 42 weighs around 850g so they aren’t that heavy. The men’s are available in black and graphite and the women’s are in graphite or midnight blue (mine are blue hence the title, my partners are black)

The boots are a combination of materials:

• The uppers are water-resistant Nubuck leather (Suede) and Cordura 1100; the Nubuck leather gives a high degree of comfort as it is not as rigid when new as shiny traditional leather and the Cordura increases durability
• The lining is Gore-Tex Sierra; this liner prevents water entering yet allows moisture [such as sweat) to escape keeping feet dry and comfortable. The floating tongue is also made of Gore-Tex combined with memory foam to improve water tightness, breathability, fit and comfort
• The Insole is graded nylon which provides a good level of rigidity and enables crampons with a B1 rating to be strapped on for winter walking
• The Sole is a Vibram Werewolf; this sole unit incorporates a full length mid sole enhancing shock absorption and giving a high degree of traction. There is also and there is a good rubber rand round the toe keeping your piggies safe from wayward rocks

Taking care of your boots
≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈
Brand-new boots will always need a bit of breaking in and there are different ways to do this; some people wear them around the house but I wear mine for walking the dog- shortish trips but plenty of them.

We always treat our leather boots with Sno-seal which is a waterproofing compound and pay particular attention to seams, joins and stitching. Nubuck, in my personal opinion, isn’t as waterproof as shiny grained leather and if they get saturated will take a long time to dry out. I still like it though as Nubuck footwear is very comfortable and settles round your feet more quickly but waterproofing is very important (particularly in the UK!) consequently we treat the whole boot with Sno-seal. A new boot will need 2 or 3 applications to start with, letting the applied coat dry completely before applying the next (take the laces out first). The first coats will be sucked right into the Nubuck. The application will darken the colour of the leather but this is a small price to pay for toasty tootsies; my midnight blue boots are the colour of a moonless night! We will reapply it periodically particularly after a wet spell and again before putting them away if the won’t be used for a few weeks.

At the end of the day grit or stones should be removed from the treads. The footbeds should also be cared of any debris. Mud should be brushed off when dry

Wet boots can be damaged by drying too quickly with too much heat as wet leather cannot tolerate direct heat. After returning from a wet walk, it is a good idea to lift the footbeds out from the inside of your boots and stuff your boots with newspaper. Allow your boots to dry slowly in a cool, airy place away from any direct heat source and never on a radiator

These boots will cost between £85 to £115 depending on where you purchase them, so not only is it worth shopping around, it's also worth taking good care of them.

My experience with The Berghaus GR20 GTX
≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•≈•
I have found these boots to be comfortable from day one onwards. They are a nice wide fitting so my toes have enough room to spread and never feel squashed even with thick socks. The laces fasten securely and the floating tongue makes them very snug yet not constricting. The Berghaus GR20 don’t have lace-grippers to help when tying them but I don’t think that’s a bad idea; lace grippers encourage me not to fasten them properly and the GR20’s have a lacing system which reduces foot roll which would be wasted if they were improperly laced. The ankle padding is just enough and prevents any rubbing that you sometimes get with high ankle boots.

The waterproofing of a standard boot is difficult for me to comment on as I never wanted to find out by getting my feet wet so Sno-sealed them. Your feet don’t get hot and sweaty in them though and I have never had a leak even when standing in shallow water; obviously if the water goes over the ankle of the boot your feet will get wet.

The tread design is good and gives plenty of grip even in mud and on saturated grass or vegetation. The toe rand protects the boot from scratching when scrambling over rocks and is a good bumper for toe protection.

The sole is flexible enough to allow some bend when scrambling but is rigid enough to give good support when carrying a heavy backpack or travelling on rough terrain. The shock absorber effect of the sole works very effectively and the shaping, cushioning of the foot beds keep your feet comfortable and supported in all the right places. The antibacterial properties also mean you feet don’t stink when the boots come off.

Your feet never feel exhausted in these boots and, even though it’s always nice to be barefoot after the hike, your feet are never crying out to be unshod nor feel pinched, rubbed or tender when the boots are removed

A further word of advice
ťťťťťťťťťťťťťťťť
no matter where you buy you do need to trythem on first and have a good walk round in them , up and down stairs and ramps if the store as them. A boot should really feel comfortable when you initially try them on; if they pinch, rub or feel unomfortable think very carefully about buying as breaking in will ony do so much and uncomfortable footwear will ruin any trek no matter how spectacular the scenery or how beautiful the weather.
omfort is much more important than brand so try them all. If you are unsure consider buying them from a good outdoor store as these will let you return them a few days later as long as you only wear them around the house , which will give you time for an extended comfort trial. A good store will order in your size with no complulsion on you buy. Never let anyone rush you into a decision either