Hanwag Belorado Low GTX (2015)
The Belorado offers the same rough, tough durability as the Aku, but with a sleeker, lower body, a more elongated toecap and a more pronounced arch, which allows the heel to bite more deeply on stony ascents. The squidgy tongue is nice and soft, but overall the shoe values toughness over comfort: the insole is flat and hard; good for ground feel but pretty wearing after a long day. And the pointy toe-box may not suit walkers with broader, more splayed feet. That said, I went for mile after mile in this, up hills and over limestone pavement and Dorset coast path, and I can hardly fault its performance as a day-hiking shoe: it’s graceful and tough in equal measure, and Gore-Tex and Vibram are all present and correct for reassurance. Not the most dynamic, the lightest or the most comfy, but a good all-rounder that will take on any surface.
Specifications
Sizes: 6-13
Membrane: Gore-Tex
Outsole: Vibram Multifilm
Weight per pair: 988g
Women’s version: Yes
Contact: 02392 528711
Verdict
Best for hill-walking – if you don’t need a soft, cushioning insole.
Tested by Nick Hallissey
Country Walking June 2015
