The North Face Men's Hedgehog III GTX XCR Light Hiker

I've been wearing The North Face Hedgehog line of hikers for about ten years. Never a problem. Nowadays I mostly hike light trails and walk streets. These are constructed with flexible firmness. They breathe well year round and have the 'sticky' kind of Vibram outsole so they REALLY give good grip on wet pavement and trails. They keep their form well. I walk the streets in New England winters and they grip well that way too. While the sticky Vibram has the advantage of grip they also wear down quicker since it is softer. I wear Smartwool hiking socks which keep my feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I use a good shoe horn (see my review of them) so I don't break down the heel and it keeps my socks flat to my feet as they go in. I have plantar fasciitis and my Podiatrist said these were very good shoes for my feet. These are the ONLY shoes I wear. I'm not saying they are the only good hikers around, it's just that they work great for me. Please don't forget to remove the stock insole and replace it with a decent one for your type of foot. It makes a big difference! Fortunately I picked up this pair on an Amazon sale for $80 and another one on a super savings for $40. I had been keeping my eye out for a while.

I ordered these for my husband for a first-time hiking/camping trip on the Appalachian Trail in GA. It rained the entire 8-mile trip, but his feet stayed dry and he had no complaints of blisters, even though he didn't break the shoes in at all. He said they were comfortable as soon as he put them on. We ordered the same size that he normally wears in tennis shoes, and they fit fine. He wasn't picky so I even saved money by picking the color on Amazon that was the cheapest, since they were priced differently. Great shoes!

I have a pair of Merrell hiking boots I received seven years ago. I was looking to get a pair of hiking shoes for the summer and found that Merrell canceled its contract with Gore-tex. So I started to try other shoes on and found these North Face Hedehogs to fit the bill. I've taken them on quite a few hiking trips and they have worked out great. They are definitely waterproof and are quite comfortable. There is a small point of pressure from the shoe on the top of my foot, but it doesn't cause much discomfort for me but may for others. The only reason I gave them four stars is because while they are very comfortable, they are not as comfortable as my Merrell hiking boots. Overall the fit appropriately matched other shoes I own and they don't get overly hot.

Many other people liked this shoe and I agree that it is a good product. I have been using them for about 3 months now. They broke in quickly. The fit is just right. Support is good. Inserts are high quality giving me the feel of a good cushion on the sole of my foot without losing any sense of ground contact. The design keeps me from hammering my toe on steep down hill walks or snubbing a rock or tree stump. The look is sharp. Full Vibram sole. Quality laces and lacing system. I would say they are a very good value, oh and pretty comfortable too.

a bit small for the size but it's ok a bit small for the size but it's ok a bit small for the size but it's ok

I just tried these shoes out for the first time today. I took them on a hike and as I was lacing them up the last eyelet ripped right out. It happened on both shoes. You can't lace them up tight enough to wear without that happening. I was very disappointed and it made for an unpleasant hiking experience. I would not recommend them.

This is my second pair of North Face low cut shoes and after having the first pair for 3 years wearing them down to a nub, I was definitely going to get another pair. THe gortex lining inside is actually quite good at keeping your feet dry as long as the water is just a puddle. Very comfortable, took about 3-4 days to break in and had some minor blisters from all the walking so I suggest you wear them a day a week for a few weeks before a trip if that's where you will use them. Now they are soft and I wear them all the time. Good colour, the Gray doesn't look dirty as easily as the black does.

I hike an average of two times per month. The terrain is usually rocky and steep. I bought this North Face model because I owned a very similar N.F. model for about 6 years, doing a little bit less hiking than with these (also with vibram sole). I found it very surprising that these boots I bougth in March 2012, by January 2013 the sole was totally smooth with no texture. I actually had to stop hiking because it was not safe going downhill with these.