If you don't need a full boot, but prefer something a bit more supportive and weatherproof than a typical running shoe, then these robust, waterproof walking shoes might be just up your street. Also good for muddy footpaths and soggy beaches, says Chris Scaife.

When heading out into the hills, one of the most important decisions to make is your choice of footwear. As every walker knows, a good pair of boots or shoes will keep you comfortable, whereas a bad pair could really ruin your day. Berghaus says that the Revolute Active is 'built on the foundation of trail shoes' and, as I have spent most of the last few years, including the recent hot summer, plodding around in an old pair of big thick Gore-Tex boots, I could hardly refuse the opportunity to try these lighter waterproof-lined walking shoes out over the autumn.

Berghaus have been designing footwear for many years, and this experience is evident with the Revolute Active, an affordable shoe by modern standards, but one that still has a quality finish and feel.

In use

It was quite a warm autumn, but certainly a wet one. Since these shoes arrived, I have worn them for pretty much everything: from long walks in the hills, to trips to the beach, to walking to the shops. On the rare occasions that I've been out in them and my feet have stayed clean and dry, I've also been able to keep them on to drive, or ride the bus, home.

These shoes have felt comfortable from the very beginning, with absolutely no breaking in required, and thanks to that waterproof lining my feet have stayed dry every time I've worn them. The soles give excellent grip and I have felt perfectly at home on rocky sections during day walks.

If you don't want a full boot, but like something a bit more substantial than a running shoe, they'd be ideal

I can't deny that one of the reasons I've had them on so much is that I like the way they look. Some purists might argue that the mere mention of aesthetics is beside the point, but personally I think the appearance of these shoes is a real plus. Mine are black/dark green and they are also available in black/dark grey and natural/dark turquoise.

I wasn't really expecting to include anything about snow in this review, but then the first weekend in December saw an enormous amount of snowfall in the South Lakes, with cars left abandoned in the roads and emergency refuge centres set up in some towns and villages. I was out walking in the deep snow and, when I returned home, most items I had been wearing were soaking wet. But I took my shoes off and my feet were completely dry. They're not 'winter walking boots', in the campon sense, but they're certainly good for walking in winter.

Upper

The upper is made from a porous synthetic textile mesh, with rubbery reinforcement towards the sole and around the laces. The laces themselves are of excellent quality, using simple – albeit rubbery reinforced – eyeholes, and positioned in such a way that they are easy to tighten, with minimal faffing required to make everything comfortable. The tongue is of a slightly different porous mesh with a tough rubber part where the laces are tied. It's moulded such that it sits against the ankle and has always felt good.

The bio-based waterproof and breathable lining is something Berghaus boots and shoes have featured for about ten years. This tried and tested membrane has kept my feet dry on numerous rainy days. And not just from walking in rain, but stomping through peat bogs, trying to keep up with an energetic toddler as he runs through puddles, and the general dampness that comes from living in the Lake District – they have never let me down.

Sole

The outsole goes by the catchy name of Opti-Stud Vibram Ecostep, with a mixture of large and small studs joined by support bars, which are intended to stop distortion upon impact. The studs really are quite large for a pair of shoes and this gives them excellent grip. I have always felt sure-footed in these, even on slippery, muddy slopes. Actually, I've mostly worn these on slippery, muddy slopes. Apparently, the larger studs act like brakes, taking the force of an impact, whilst the smaller ones push into the ground for extra support. Obviously, you're not aware of the ins and out of this process when you're out walking, but impacts feel light and the support feels good.

The design is noticeably anti-clogging and I am amazed at how clean they have remained after the amount of mud they've been exposed to. It is also worth pointing out that there is hardly any wear on these soles, even after a few months of relatively heavy use.

Inside, each pair comes with an Ortholite footbed. This is a breathable, machine washable and lightweight removable foam insole. After a few months of use, I'm impressed with how little the insoles have compressed, and still maintain their shape and fit. They have stayed in place so well that I wasn't even sure they were removable until I decided to take one out. There are little black flecks on the underside of the insoles, apparently a signature feature of Ortholite products, which contain a minimum 5% recycled rubber content.

Weight, size and fit

This model is available in both men's and women's (lower volume) fit. Ordering footwear online is always a bit of a risk, as sizes vary and sometimes you just want to try them on. I can never quite decide between 10.5 and 11, but with this pair I asked for a 10.5, which, incidentally, weigh about 740g. There are lightweight trainer-type walking shoes out there that weigh about half that (and big hiking boots that weigh more than twice as much), but for a robust pair of shoes with such strong, grippy soles and tough waterproof uppers, this is an impressively low weight. They felt absolutely right from the beginning – as comfortable as a bespoke pair of slippers.

Ethics and Environment

This being the modern world, there is a QR code on each shoe, beside some text saying 'MADE KIND'. The code will take you to a page on the Berghaus website explaining their positive business approach.

The Revolute Active shoes are 100% synthetic, with no animal-based materials. Berghaus seems to have an admirable approach. The brand is a member of Sustainable Apparel Coalition, a global alliance that promotes sustainable production in the fashion industry. Berghaus has a Repairhaus team, which offers free repairs for life, so however worn or weathered things become they'll fix it for free. This, of course, is good for the wearer economically, as well as being good for the planet.

These shoes were made in Vietnam. This means air (or sea) miles of course, but Berghaus is at least committed to ensuring its factories follow high standards. The company checks factories through audits and trains people to do business ethically.

Summary

We try to make reviews as balanced as possible, but I'm struggling to find anything negative to say about these shoes. They felt comfortable from the moment I put them on and have remained so ever since. I've not experienced any rub points and they have kept my feet dry on numerous wet days. The grip has also allowed me to feel at ease on rocky scrambles and has not worn at all, after a few months of frequent use. They look good and also seem to have an uncanny ability to remain clean, even after several hours of tramping through mud.

These are not intended for hugely demanding mountain days, but as outdoor shoes for everyday use, with a fair amount of hillwalking thrown in, the Revolute Active are hard to beat. If you don't want to wear a full boot, but feel like something a bit more substantial than a running shoe, then here's where they come in. Since they arrived I have chosen to wear them almost every time I've been out for a walk of any kind, which probably tells you something.