ashenThe importance of appropriate footwear for the adventure traveler cannot be emphasized enough. The La Sportiva Trail Ridge Low Women’s hiking shoe is a perfect gift for the adventure loving women out there. According to La Sportiva the Trail Ridge Low is the perfect low-cut hiker. The shoe is indeed a balanced combo of fashion and functionality. Keep reading to decide if this shoe is built for you.
La Sportiva Trail Ridge Low Women’s Specs
- Upper material: Roughout Leather / Air Mesh w/ Nylon Backing / TPU Toe Cap
- 10.5 oz / 300 g
- Trail Rocker 2.0 w/ Frixion® AT 2.0 compound & Impact Brake System
- STB control inserts provide torsional stability on varied terrain.
- Great traction, protection and breathability
La Sportiva Trail Ridge Low Women’s Review
This shoe is specifically designed for the outdoorsy women who are capable of covering long distance hikes regardless of the weather. A special feature of the Trail Ridge shoe is the All-terrain Frixion AT 2.0 compound with differentiated lugs and Impact Brake System. The build quality is such that the outsole is so grippy, it sticks to any surface with enhanced traction control and skid resistance. The IBS or the brake system increases the shoe(outsole) braking power by 20% and mitigates force due to impact by 20%. The Trail Rocker 2.0 enhances the supportive nature of the shoe using a stronger heel and forefoot zone.
The midsole contains Injection Molded EVA and TPU Stability Inserts. There are quite a few benefits of utilizing EVA in a shoe, the major one being resilience and insulation. It plays a vital role in keeping your feet safe while you hit the terrain. Another important thing is that it prolongs the lifetime of the shoe, and doesn’t get worn easily. We could go on and on about EVA, but that’s not the topic here. The TPU is the other component that provides sufficient stability and shock absorption on the trail.
The Fit-thotic is a 4-millimeter thick insole which is on top of the midsole for extra comfort and support. Plus it is removable. Breathability is an important feature in hiking shoes and the La Sportiva Trail Ridge Low Women’s engineers have taken care of this in the best manner possible. Plenty of ventilation with the air meshes in the forefoot and midfoot lining which also has enough padding for more comfort. Additionally, the roughout leather also enhances breathability. The TPU toe cap is a nice touch for added forefoot protection.
Customer Feedback
So do the specs on paper work out in the real world? Here’s what the users are saying. Patty and Angel who purchased these off of Amazon advised that these shoes fit like a glove, are extremely comfortable with excellent arch support and the grip on different terrains is unmatchable. Users who hiked for 4-10 miles long commented that the shoes were very much comfortable for wide feet. Another hiker who purchased these to hike in Yellowstone and White Mountains reviewed that the shoes showed excellent grip and ankle support throughout the hike.
The minor complaint encountered was where a user mentioned that the shoes ran very narrow for them resulting in quite a bit of pain and numbness. However, the majority of the buyers reviewed said that this shoe is great for dirt trails and rocky ones alike with good arch support, comfort and lightweight. Overall, we can conclude that your feet are safe with the La Sportiva Trail Ridge Low Women’s hiking shoes.
La Sportiva Spire GTX Women’s Review
An equivalent sibling of the Trail Ridge. Almost identical to the Trail Ridge but the Spire GTX is another go to, mostly for day hiking and light trail running. Take a look at the specs below,
- 1.61 lbs
- Compression Molded EVA/ Abrasion-resistant mesh/ Gore-Tex Surround lining
- Vibram XS Trek with Impact Brake System(IBS)
- PU TechLite toe and heel
Many of you might grasp the fact that the Spire GTX is a better water repellant than the Trail Ridge given the GTX embed. We’ve talked about GORE-TEX material in detail in our previous posts. The Spire is indeed a high tech hiking shoe that checks out everything you’d possibly want from a well manufactured hiking shoe. Excellent ankle support, traction control and breathability.
Experts advise that the insole which is Ortholite 5mm, has more cushion than the standard Ortholite insole found in most others. The Vibram XS TREK is a no-marking compound that allows the user to optimize the performance of the sole with respect to the specific application. The rigid nature of the shoe is at its peak at the forefront so that you are better protected in rocky trails. The midsole just like in the Trail Ridge provides ample shock absorption and the water resistance is true to its word.
The Spire has the lowest absorption rate when kept in water. So out of the two which one is best for you? I’d most definitely say that the La Sportiva Spire GTX Women’s is the clear winner. There were zero complaints on sizing unlike the Trail Ridge. Everything else was perfect for the buyers from being spacious with great support to the incredible grip, traction and foot protection.
