L
LibrarianMI
June 11, 2023
Great Hiking Shoes
I am super happy with these Columbia hiking shoes! I have good hiking boots and was looking for hiking shoe as an alternative. This pair totally fit the bill. First of all, it was comfortable in a 7 wide, which is my normal size in a boot. Roomy enough for a thick sock. Right of out of the box, I wore it on a wooded one mile hike with no discomfort at all, and have worn it on several more hikes with no problems. It seems like a very well-made shoe, with a thick grippy sole, a protected front, a padded tongue, and all the other features you’d like to see on a hiker. You can trip on a root in these shoes and your feet will be protected.Second of all, it looks great. The pebble brown is a very traditional hiking color, with contrasting laces. The laces aren’t too long or too short. I haven’t worn it in wet conditions but it seems quite waterproof. The weight of the shoe is reasonable, a little heavy for packing but you need some heft for a decent boot. This is not a sneaker posing as a hiking shoe, but a real hiker that you can wear on the trail.
✔ Verified Purchase
Jackpot -- these are a multipurpose rock star
Rolled the dice on these for a summer trip to Alaska and I'm SO glad I did. Needed something I could run with on roads and trail, and that would hold up in occasional snow if necessary. These were fantastic, 100% waterproof, very multifunctional to conserve carry-on space and still be prepared.Running --Light, structured but not stiff. Feels more like a runner and not like a hiking hoof -- good movement, responsive sole rebound, nice deep treads. I put in about 15 miles on them in week 1 with no noticeable decline in fit, though they did stretch a bit from all-day-every-day wear. I usually run in a brooks ghost or glycerin which are high cushion shoes, and these felt great. These are the only athletic shoe I brought, AND bonus, they dry surprisingly fast for a waterproof outer (2-3 hours).Hiking / water --This is a shoe not a boot; in ankle-deep water/snow, the collar will get (and stay) wet. Hiked through rain, snow and scrub in backcountry mountain tundra. A few snow patches that were knee deep. Tons of puddles and soaking wet spongy turf. Even though my ankles got a bit of snow, feet were 100% dry and warm the whole time, though I would bring packable gaiters or shell pants next time. Again these dried fast, and washed well. My SO only brought his regular running shoes and was miserable.Fit --I'm normally a 6.5-7, and an 8 in Brooks/Nike runners, but a 7 felt best to me in these. I returned a 7.5. I also tried on the Facet 15 and liked the 7 in that model, but stuck with these because, waterproof.Not for nothing, they look almost too cool to work as well as they do. At first, I felt sort of stupid around all the Merrell and North Face boot people, until I realized: I'm dry, comfortable, light and fast. The bears will get them first.I will keep these forever, recommend them to everyone and buy future models.
✔ Verified Purchase
A
Allie Helton
July 08, 2025
Durable
These are great starter shoes for anyone getting into hiking! They were my first pair and they were amazing. Super comfortable and durable with walking in all terrains.
✔ Verified Purchase
Comfort and support
If you want the feel of a sneaker in a winter shoe, this is it. Comfortable, lightweight, and good in rain and muddy terrain. Especially good for hiking or walks in the woods, as it provides decent ankle support over uneven ground.
✔ Verified Purchase
Comfy, good for wide feet and lots of walking on uneven surfaces
I waited to review these until after I put them to the test. These were the only shoes I needed for two wintry weeks in Europe, traipsing over cobblestones, melting slush piles, ice, and mud. I stayed upright on the frozen-over puddles while my husband, wearing regular running shoes, was slipping and sliding. Cleaned up, they looked fine for city touring as well. These shoes were waterproof, warm, comfortable with a very short break-in period, and are now my new favorite shoes for any kind of offroad or rough surface exploring. I think they will last a long time, but I'm considering buying a second pair in another color because I like them that much. As far as sizing, I normally wear a 7 wide in athletic shoes. I went up to a 7.5 wide in these to accommodate thick winter hiking socks. My feet have wide toes and narrow ankles (so kind of flipper-shaped) and are nearly impossible to fit. Keens are wide enough, but have heels that slip on me. These are secure in the heel without crunching my toes. Another win for Columbia in my travel closet!
✔ Verified Purchase
Thought they were great til….
First and foremost I bought this brand for the name and the expected quality and for them to lassssst. My purchase was made 1/27/25 and today 6/2/25 the toe of my boot is coming apart, the waterproofing feature is no longer standing up. Just walking through wet grass I’m getting wet socks now. This shoe also doesn’t come in 1/2 sizes which is just adding to the issue. If you tighten the shoe too hard it restricts your ankle which causes pain. However, the color of the shoe and laces have held up 🤣
✔ Verified Purchase
Really Waterproof / High Water Resistance
Wow... these shoes saved my trip to NYC! First things first, these shoes were comfortable and I loke the look of themThey're pretty rigid which I liked and there was no rubbing or concerns for blistering after long walks throughout the city (no crazy hiking or anything though). Well, it poured so hard (we knew ahead of time there would be rain which is why I brought these shoes with me) while we were there... all... day... long. I was completely soaked from head to ANKLE & I will say that my feet were completely dry! My friends were miserable & complaining of foot rot, but mine were dry as ever! It actually made the downpour much easier to tolerate! I tried to avoid deep puddles, so I'm sure with a large enough puddle it would have soaked though (at least from the top), however, I am now a true Columbia fan with these shoes! Highly highly highly recommend because you never know when you're gonna need them!!
✔ Verified Purchase
