I was in search of a waterproof shoe for an upcoming trip. I was looking for a comfortable shoe for walking/hiking, waterproof, lightweight, and still discreet enough to be worn for a night out in the city. I ended up with this one and after a month of daily use during the trip, it's time to share my impressions with you.
First and most importantly, for someone looking for a Goretex shoe, the waterproofing is excellent. I tested it in heavy rain, hiking in the forest (mud, puddles, wet vegetation, etc.), and my sock never got wet! At one point, I even tried submerging my whole foot up to the bottom of the laces in any puddle I could find, and still no water got in! So, I give it top marks for waterproofing. Additionally, it's very useful that if it gets muddy, you can rinse the shoe in a puddle.
Next is the comfort aspect. The shoe is lightweight, has a nice padding in the heel, the sole is cushioned and soft, and the front part is wide and comfortable. I wore them daily for around 30,000 steps/day during the trip and never felt my feet getting tired or the need to take them off. Being a trail shoe, the sole has good grip in nature (dirt, rocks, wet surfaces, etc.) and decent grip in the city. I have worn Saucony trail shoes with a hard trail sole and even ice skated on the sidewalk, but with these, there were very few instances in the city where I felt the shoe slipping.
Regarding the climate it can be worn in, the shoe is not intended for extreme cold. It is a sport shoe made of thin fabric with a waterproof Gore tex membrane on the inside, it's not a hiking boot. During the trip, I wore it in temperatures of 0-5 degrees Celsius, paired with high-quality thick woolen socks, and it kept me warm and dry for 3-4 hours of hiking. However, to achieve this, you should definitely get it half a size larger, so keep that in mind when making the purchase.
After a month of daily abuse, it came back without any damage and with the membrane untouched. Only time will tell how durable the construction is, but I feel that with the abuse it went through in these thirty days, the shoe has already proven its worth.
Would I buy it again? Without a second thought, it offers great value for money!