Mountain Warehouse Belfour review: It's hard to turn away waterproof hiking shoes for under £50 in the sale

It's hard to find fault with comfortable, totally waterproof hiking shoes like Mountain Warehouse's Belfour collection. What more could you possibly want in a pair of walking shoes in wet and windy weather?

As a wellbeing writer and hiker, I am lucky enough to try out all sorts of incredible products and equipment - often items I would otherwise not be able to access or afford. That can be fun to do, but it is misguided to automatically presume that the higher the price point, the better a product will be. You can buy many of the best walking shoes for under £100.

The Mountain Warehouse Belfour Waterproof Walking Shoes are such a pair. Available in sizes 3 to 9 in three colourways - black with grey laces, navy with green laces and grey with purple laces and trim, which are the ones I tried. I have been pleasantly surprised with how they tested, proving to be waterproof, lightweight and cushioned, which is not bad for shoes that sell for around £74 full price but can often be picked up for less than £50 in sales.

Mountain Warehouse Belfour Waterproof Walking Shoes review

Specifications

• Size range: UK 3-9
• RRP: £73.99 (but on sale for £44.99)
• Weight per shoe: 374g
• Materials: Leather/textile upper, textile lining and synthetic outsole
• Waterproof? Yes

First impressions of the Mountain Warehouse Belfour Womens Waterproof Walking Shoes

To be candid, I don’t find these walking shoes the most exciting from a style perspective. There is nothing wrong with them, but they look a little dull when compared to some of the other brands I reviewed - like the Teva Grandview or Hoka Speedgoat 6 walking shoes But I don't think many would look to these shoes expecting style.

More importantly, what struck me was how lightweight they were on my feet. Often, lightweight walking shoes come with a price tag of more than double the Mountain Warehouse Belfour Womens Waterproof Walking Shoes. They are also pretty easy to put on, with good laces and a pull hook at the back to help you.

My size 7 felt comfortably snug, if a little rigid across the width of my forefoot on my first try. However, they offered plenty of support around the back of my foot, so overall, I felt secure in them, which is key when walking and hiking.

What are the Mountain Warehouse Belfour Womens Waterproof Walking Shoes like to wear?

These walking shoes are advertised as waterproof and suitable for hill walking so as well as testing them out in a nearby park to get an initial feel, I tried them in rainy conditions too.

I set off on a particularly rainy day to walk up a hill that offers panoramic views of Manchester city centre from its peak. The 6-mile walk incorporated tarmac pavements and roads, cobbled, rocky trails and muddy fields, and plenty of puddles, and I was really impressed with how the Belfour coped.

Despite the wet conditions, sludge and puddles, my feet remained dry, and similar to the more expensive walking shoes I've tried, I could see the rain bouncing off of them. In this instance, it was due to the IsoDry waterproof membrane.

Sufficient sole traction meant I didn’t slip once or even come close to it. If I were to pick holes with them, they do feel a little stiff initially. There is a lack of suppleness and movement when compared to other walking shoes at the more premium end as these are typically designed to move with your foot as you walk, but I expect this eases with time and wear.

Notably, there was enough cushioning to make for a comfortable trudge in the rain and they didn’t rub or cause blisters.

How do the Mountain Warehouse Belfour Womens Waterproof Walking Shoes compare?

For the price point, well under £100, I think these are a great pair of practical walking shoes. They do a sufficient job at keeping your feet warm and dry, and to be honest I shouldn't be surprised by this. I bought my favourite pair of hiking boots from Decathlon for less than £80 a few years ago and they never let me down. Today, you can buy a pair similar to the Belfour from Decathlon for £49.99 - the MH100 mid boots - which I would also recommend.

I would also recommend the Regatta Samaris III low walking shoes, normally £100 but on sale for £50 at the time of writing. I included the Regatta Haris Lightweight sandals in my round-up of the best hiking sandals this summer. My mother, who is nearly 80, swears by them for comfort following the recommendation, and these walking shoes provide equal comfort and support going into the winter months.

Also, don’t forget Amazon for good deals on walking shoes, such as the waterproof Jack Walker Lily walking shoes, which I reviewed recently and are also £49.99.

Should I buy the Mountain Warehouse Belfour Womens Waterproof Walking Shoes?

The Mountain Warehouse Belfour walking shoes are more sensible than stylish, but keep your feet warm and dry. I think the more you wear them, the more comfortable they will become as they mould to your feet.

If you are new to hiking, unsure how much you will be walking in the elements this autumn and winter, or simply not interested in paying over £100 for walking shoes, then you could do a lot worse than opting for these. Comparatively speaking, these are a great budget buy.