Berghaus Fellmaster GTX | Performance

There’s an impressive, rounded, deluxe feel to the Berghaus Fellmaster GTX that begins with the plush UK-tanned Pittards waterproof Nubuck leather, continues with the subtly rounded lines of its upper – there’s something slightly, well, ‘Tonka’ going on here – and is maintained when you ease your foot into the plushly padded innards.

Memory foam padding on the ankle cuff and inside the tongue is part of that, but it also helps that the Fellmaster has possibly the roomiest forefoot fit of any hill-walking boot on the market. There are no tight spots or sharp edges, just a general vibe of soft, rounded, luxury.

The roomy fit won’t suit everyone, but if you do have generously proportioned feet one the end of your legs, the Fellmaster could be the answer.

It’s comfortable on the move too with a plush, rolling feel to it. There’s plenty of lengthways flex, but just enough lateral stiffness that you can stand on jagged things without it being a problem. If you’re used to a more direct boot, it’s a bit like wandering along on a big fluffy cloud of softness and the truth is that you do lose some precision as a result, but the pay-off is day-long comfort.

Where the Fellmaster isn’t at its best, is on technical scrambles where the general rounded, softness of the whole shebang makes things a little loose and indistinct. We’d look elsewhere if that sort of thing is your bag.

Grip from the Berghaus own-brand trek outsole on the other hand, is decently reliable on firm to medium soft terrain and the Gore-Tex membrane does a signature job of keeping the water out on puddly terrain.