nkb from United States, MA Public Profile

I purchased these post-ankle surgery for greater ankle stability. In the past, I've always disliked mid and high-top hiking shoes. I'm pleased with these shoes in that regard. They give me greater confidence and yet they are still easy-on-easy-off with adequate movement. I would not say I have a narrow foot but it is on the narrower side of medium; these are just right for me which means that if you have a wider foot I don't think these are for you. I've found these have a pretty good grip on wet surfaces but I wouldn't call them especially tacky. I wouldn't wear these on a rainy claim in the mountains but I'm happy to ramble around the rocks with them. My one criticism is that the insoles did not have the arch support or shock absorption I wanted. Given the original cost, these should be the best insoles money can buy. I ended up swapping out the original insoles with a pair of superfeet insoles.

I'm rather disappointed with these shoes especially since I had to wait five weeks to receive them. They are comfortable in many ways - I like how they fit across the instep and they capture the heel without feeling too restrictive or loose. But they run really short in length and I didn't get the arch support I had hoped for. I normally wear a 9 in "regular shoes" and a 9.5 in hiking or running shoes. I ordered the 9.5 and my toes were uncomfortably jammed up against the tip of sole. It's so disappointing. I think another half size up would make the width way too big.

The vibram sole is really substantial so that's a plus.

Well, I think that about covers it. The number one key to a good headband is that it stays on. I like to wear my hair in a ponytail and then add a hairband for an additional way to keep hair out of my eyes when I workout/hike/lay around. This band was better than most I suppose but when push came to shove I was still adjusting it a lot and finally it just fell off walking and was never seen again.

I like that it's discreet though. I don't want a giant fabric band and this product gave me high hopes.

I was soooooo disappointed in these sandals. Have narrow heals and anything without a strap slips right off my foot. I also have highish arches. These looked like a perfect option for a dressier look that was still going to offer stability. I was wrong.

1. no matter how tight you adjust the strap your toes will slide out the front and over the edge of the shoe. This alone is awful and makes them unwearable.
2. the strap hits the foot in a really bad spot that digs into the spot between the ankle and calf.
3. the second strap over the vamp is really uncomfortable. I swear it's actually tighter than the bottom strap which makes no sense.

They look good but the design is way off.

I will say that as far as length goes they are true-to-size.

I have duck feet. My toe box is average (medium) and my heel runs on the narrow side. I find it nearly impossible to find shoes of any kind. The medium width on these shoes is perfect for me. I wear a 9.5 in hiking shoes and sneakers (9 in dress shoes) and these are spot-on in terms of length. This is the third pair I've bought of these shoes. I'm more of a trail walker than a hardcore hiker but I've found them suitable in both arenas. I would say they get about 150-200 miles of trail use before needing to be replaced which for me is about 18-24 months. I've converted my partner to these hikers as well and he wears them as his everyday shoes year-round. He replaces them once a year. My feet don't get hot in the summer even with mid-weight hiking socks.

Are there any cons? They are perfectly fine for the occasional modest puddle and I've found them basically fine in a light rain, but they aren't great for swampy or heavy rain situations. You will have soppy socks - but this is the tradeoff for genuine breathability in my mind. The sole stays firm (no cracks) but I have noticed that the traction on rocks definitely starts to deteriorate around 100 miles. I say that because I would describe them as nice and grippy out of the box and definitely less-so as the season wears on. They stretch out a bit in width with use but I think that's to be expected.