Berghaus Kids' Atom Waterproof Walking Shoes Review: lightweight waterproof hikers for kids who actually like puddles

I bought the Berghaus Kids' Atom Waterproof Walking Shoes in size 3 UK for my kid who spends more time in puddles than on the path. We’ve used them for about three weeks now: school runs, muddy woodland walks, a couple of proper rainy hikes, and the usual football-in-the-park abuse. So this isn’t a lab test, it’s just how they held up in normal, messy kid life.

The first thing that stood out is how light they feel in hand. Compared to their old clunky walking boots from Decathlon, these are closer to a sporty trainer than a heavy hiking boot. My kid actually wanted to wear them, which is half the battle. No complaints about them being “too heavy” or “too stiff”, which I hear a lot with proper boots.

They’re sold as fully waterproof with a 15,000HH rating and a DWR finish, so I did push that a bit: wet grass, deep puddles, and one slightly stupid test where my kid stood in a shallow stream for a couple of minutes. I’ll go into detail later, but short version: for normal walking and splashing, they keep feet dry. If your child tries to be a salmon, water will find a way in.

Overall, my first impression is: practical, kid-friendly hiking shoes that are better than cheap supermarket trainers, but not some magic shield against water and wear. They do the job pretty well, but there are a few things that bugged me, especially around laces and long-term durability.

Price-wise, these sit in the middle zone: more expensive than supermarket or basic sports shop trainers, cheaper than some premium kids’ hiking boots from big outdoor brands. For what you get – waterproofing, EVA cushioning, a proper grippy sole, and a recognised brand – I’d say the value is pretty reasonable, as long as your kid actually uses them for what they’re meant for.

If you just want a pair of school shoes, these are probably overkill. The waterproof tech and trail sole are wasted on playground-only use, and they’ll still scuff like any other shoe. In that case, a cheaper all-black trainer or school shoe makes more sense. Where they do make sense is if your child does regular walks, camping trips, or spends a lot of weekends in parks and woods.

Compared to the cheaper Decathlon and generic Amazon kids’ hiking shoes we’ve tried, the comfort and grip on these are noticeably better, and the waterproofing actually works, instead of just being a label. On the other hand, if you go up a price bracket, you can find more rugged leather or hybrid boots that will probably last longer but weigh more and feel bulkier. It’s a trade-off between weight, comfort, and lifespan.

So, value for money: I’d call it good but not mind-blowing. If your kid is active outdoors and you want something lighter than a full boot but stronger than a trainer, the price makes sense. If your child grows fast and only hikes twice a year, you might feel a bit silly spending this much when a cheaper pair would “do” for occasional use.

Design-wise, these are very much in the “mini adult hiking shoe” camp. The upper is mostly textile with some heat-welded trims. That means fewer stitched seams, which in theory is better for waterproofing and durability. In practice, it gives the shoe a cleaner look and less stuff to peel off when the kid inevitably drags their feet or scrapes them on steps.

The colour I got is just plain black. For school, that’s actually handy because they pass as normal shoes and don’t scream “hiking gear”. For kids who like bright colours, they’re a bit boring. My kid didn’t really care, but if yours loves neon, these won’t impress. I do like that dirt doesn’t show much; after a muddy walk, a quick wipe and they look presentable enough.

The overall shape is fairly rounded, with a wide-ish toe box. My kid’s feet are not especially narrow, and there was no complaint about toes being squashed. The heel is reasonably snug, so the foot doesn’t slide forward when going downhill. There’s no fancy heel counter or anything, but for a kids’ shoe at this price, the layout is pretty solid. It looks like someone actually thought about kids running and stopping suddenly.

If I nitpick, the tongue could have been designed better. It’s padded but not gusseted all the way up, so there’s a potential weak point for water if you go deep in puddles. Also, the laces are a bit thin and smooth, which makes them come undone easier unless you double-knot. A slightly grippier lace or even a speed-lace system would have made these more practical. So, design is clear and no-nonsense, but with a couple of small annoyances in daily use.

Comfort is the part my kid cared about the most, obviously. On the first day, we did a proper test: school run in the morning, a long walk in the woods after school (about 5–6km), and then more running around in the garden. I was half-expecting the classic “my feet hurt” drama halfway through, but that never came. That’s already better than the last pair of budget hiking boots we tried.

The EVA footbed and midsole definitely help. There’s enough cushioning under the heel and forefoot that small stones and rough paths don’t bother them. It’s not like walking on clouds, but it’s soft enough that my kid said they felt “like PE trainers, but warmer”. The moderate to high cushioning level they claim feels about right. It’s not super squishy, but you don’t get that hard, dead feeling some cheap kids’ shoes have.

Inside, the textile lining feels smooth and my kid wore them with normal cotton socks without any rubbing. No blisters on the heel or sides after the first few uses, which for kids’ shoes is pretty important. The shape seems to suit a regular foot: not too narrow, not super wide. If your child has very wide feet, you might want to size up or look at a wide-fit brand, but for us it was fine.

Downsides: the lace-up closure is slightly annoying. To get a good snug fit, you have to pull the laces properly through each eyelet. My kid can tie them, but not tighten them as well as I do, so they end up a bit loose if I’m not there. Also, because they’re low-top, there’s not much ankle support. That’s fine for most walks, but on rocky ground I did notice my kid wobbling a bit more than with proper boots. Comfort overall is good, but it leans more towards “supportive trainer” than “serious hiking boot”.

On paper, the materials are pretty straightforward: textile upper with a DWR finish, EVA midsole and footbed, and a TPR outsole with 4mm lugs. There’s no leather, which is why they’re advertised as vegan. If you care about that, these tick the box. If you don’t, it at least means they dry faster than leather boots when they do get wet.

The textile upper feels light and flexible, more like a tough trainer than a stiff hiking boot. That’s good for comfort and for kids who hate rigid shoes. The downside is you don’t get that super tough, kick-proof feeling you get with leather or thick synthetics. After a few weeks, I can already see some light scuffing on the toe area. Nothing ripped, but it’s clear they won’t look fresh for very long with heavy use.

The EVA midsole and insole give a decent amount of cushioning. When you press on them, there’s a clear bit of give without feeling mushy. My kid didn’t complain about sore feet even after a full afternoon walk on mixed terrain (gravel, dirt paths, a bit of tarmac). There’s no arch support miracle going on here, but for a kids’ hiking shoe, the support level is more than acceptable. You can always swap the insole if your child needs something specific.

The TPR outsole is probably the best bit. The 4mm lugs are deep enough to bite into mud and loose ground but not so aggressive that they feel weird on pavement. The rubber compound feels reasonably soft and grippy, not that hard plastic feel you sometimes get on cheap kids’ boots. No signs of chunks tearing off yet, even after football and constant toe-dragging. Overall, materials are decent for the price: not premium, not cheap junk, just solid mid-range stuff that gets the job done.

Durability is always a big question with kids’ shoes because they basically treat them like disposable tools. After about three weeks of daily-ish use, the Berghaus Kids' Atom are holding up reasonably well. The heat-welded trims seem to be doing their job: nothing is peeling, and there are no loose threads around the main stress areas like the toe and sides.

The outsole shows some light wear on the outer heel, which is normal since my kid tends to drag their heels. The lugs haven’t chunked off or flattened yet, which I’ve seen happen on cheaper TPR soles pretty quickly. If this pace continues, I’d expect the sole to easily outlast my kid’s current size, which is usually the limit anyway – they outgrow stuff before it fully dies.

The upper is where I see early signs of wear. The textile around the toe has a couple of scuff marks from kicking stones and scraping on concrete. It’s just cosmetic so far, but it does make me think these might start to look tired after a few months of hard use. No holes yet, but if your child is especially rough, don’t expect them to look clean and fresh for a whole year.

The laces are my main gripe. They’re slightly thin and slippery, and after constant double-knotting they’re already starting to fluff a bit. Not a disaster, laces are cheap to replace, but it’s one more thing to think about. Overall, I’d say durability is good but not bombproof: better than budget supermarket or no-name brands, not as tough as heavy leather boots. For a lightweight kids’ hiking shoe, that’s an acceptable trade-off in my opinion.

In real use, these shoes handle the typical British kid conditions pretty well: wet grass, light rain, muddy paths, and random running around. The waterproof upper with 15,000HH rating and DWR coating does its job in normal situations. Walking through long wet grass on a drizzly day, the inside stayed completely dry. Same with splashing through shallow puddles on the pavement and forest tracks.

The real test was when my kid stood in a shallow stream for about two minutes, water just below the lace area. At first, all good. After a bit, you could see water starting to seep in from the tongue area. Not a flood, but socks ended up damp. So yes, they are waterproof for walking through wet stuff, but not for standing still in water. That’s honestly what I expect from a low-top with a textile tongue. If you want total water protection for that kind of abuse, you need a higher boot or wellies.

Grip-wise, the TPR outsole with 4mm lugs is pretty solid. On muddy slopes and wet leaves, my kid had better traction than in normal trainers. There were still a couple of slips on really greasy mud, but nothing dramatic. On wet tarmac and playground surfaces, they felt safe, not skiddy. For hiking paths, forest trails, and school playgrounds, I’d say the grip is more than enough.

Breathability is decent but not perfect. After a warm day with lots of running, the socks were a bit sweaty, but not soaked. No horrible smell yet, which I count as a win. For a waterproof shoe that tries to keep water out, the ventilation is acceptable. Overall, the performance is pretty solid for normal kid adventures – just don’t expect miracles if your child likes standing in streams for fun.

Out of the box, the Berghaus Kids' Atom look like a stripped-down version of adult hiking shoes. Black textile upper, a bit of synthetic overlay, and a fairly chunky TPR outsole. Nothing flashy, no bright kid patterns, just a solid, neutral shoe. My kid called them “the black trainers”, which is about right. If you want loud colours, this particular black version is not it.

The shoe is a low-top design that sits just below the ankle. It’s not a boot, so don’t expect massive ankle support. For normal walking, school, and light hiking, I think that’s fine. It’s lighter and less bulky, and my kid actually wears them without complaining. But if your child is clumsy or you’re doing rocky mountain stuff, a higher cut might be safer.

Fit-wise, they seem true to size. My kid is a pretty standard UK 3 in Clarks and these matched that well. There’s enough toe room for thick socks and a bit of growing, but not so much that the foot swims. No weird rubbing on the heel in the first few wears, which is usually where we get blisters. That’s a good sign. I didn’t have to play the return-and-reorder game, which I appreciate.

One thing to note: they’re lace-up only. No elastic, no Velcro. For older kids who can tie laces properly, that’s fine. For younger ones or lazy mornings, it’s a bit of a pain. We had a couple of rushed school runs where I had to double-knot them because the standard bow came undone halfway through the day. So, decent out of the box, but not the most “parent-friendly” closure if your kid is still learning laces.