Advnture Verdict
A handsome, comfortable leather boot suitable for more casual country walkers, with extra plus points for decent level of waterproof protection.
Pros
- +
Great looks
- +
Waterproof
Cons
- -
No protective toe box
- -
Grip isn’t brilliant
You can trust Advnture
First impressions
Hey, good looking. Yes, Mountain Warehouse Pilgrim Womens Boots – we’re talking to you. While we’ve found many hardworking hiking boots to include in our list of budget-friendly women’s walking footwear, we haven’t tested many that also look smart. Not so the Mountain Warehouse’s Pilgrims.
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These handsome leather boots are buttery soft and impressively comfortable to wear. We love their rather retro looks, which are great worn with jeans and hiking trousers alike – this is a nice boot to pack for a walking holiday where you’ll be in and out of the countryside and need one boot to wear all day.
• RRP: £100 (UK) / $104 (US)
• Weight (per boot): 500g / 17.5oz
• Materials: Leather upper with an IsoDry waterproof and breathable membrane, EVA cushioning, TPR rubber outsole
• Colors: Brown
• Compatibility: Very versatile looks make this a nice boot to wear day-to-day as well as on casual hikes
On the trail
There is substance as well as style here – the Pilgrims are waterproof enough to tackle wet weather hikes (although not suitable for proper storms or for actually walking through water), and are also surprisingly breathable considering their leather construction. These middleweight boots weigh 500g each, which isn’t super lightweight but also isn’t heavy enough to weigh you down if you’re out pounding paths all day long.
On the less positive side, the Pilgrims don’t offer amazing grip – these boots are better for strolling along valley paths rather than tackling boggy mountain sides. And the other feature that’s lacking is a good toecap, so your feet won’t get much protection if you venture off the beaten path onto rocky and technical terrain.
The Pilgrims run large, so consider ordering a half-size down.
An award-winning travel and outdoors journalist, presenter and blogger, Sian regularly writes for The Independent, Evening Standard, BBC Countryfile, Coast, Outdoor Enthusiast and Sunday Times Travel. Life as a hiking, camping, wild-swimming adventure-writer has taken her around the world, exploring Bolivian jungles, kayaking in Greenland, diving with turtles in Australia, climbing mountains in Africa and, in Thailand, learning the hard way that peeing on a jellyfish sting doesn’t help. Her blog, thegirloutdoors.co.uk, champions accessible adventures.