Review: THE NORTH FACE ULTRA FASTPACK MID GTX

Introduction: The difficulty of choosing trekking shoes

No matter how much outdoor experience I have, choosing hiking boots is one thing I never feel confident about. When I think about why this is, the first thing that comes to mind is that there are so many options that it's hard to choose. They confuse us with incantation-like terms like day trip, hut stay, tent stay, approach, trail running, light alpine, light mountain, mountain, heavy hiking boots, light hiking boots, plastic boots... What's more, the scope of these categories varies depending on the book and the person! For someone who's just starting out and wanting to climb a mountain, it's inevitable that they won't know what to buy when they're categorized with such strange terms

Another thing I think (and maybe it's just me) is that for some reason, there's still a persistent tendency to think that "appreciating the benefits of heavy, sturdy hiking boots = advanced hikers," leading to a vague reluctance to buy lightweight hiking boots. I have no intention of criticizing those who regularly wear heavy hiking boots or those with good legs who are adept at using them. However, from my own experience, while the traditional, sturdy leather hiking boots may be ideal for the appropriate hiking style, that doesn't apply to all types of hiking, and I've repeatedly felt that the evaluation of shoes varies greatly, above all, depending on each individual's "comfort" and "walking style." That's why I continue to struggle with the idea of ​​being able to evaluate and choose shoes more freely and objectively (scientifically)

First impression: "Lightweight and easy to walk in" is the key

Meanwhile, I was looking for new shoes as my trekking shoes had worn out, and I came across these. To be honest, at first I was a little dismissive, thinking, "Oh, North Face shoes... the design is impressive, but I'm sure when I try them out I'll end up thinking they can't compare to the shoes of a real shoe manufacturer." But the specs and design were exactly what I had in mind: "the best mountain boots I can imagine," so I jumped at the chance, thinking I wouldn't mind being tricked

In conclusion, I'm sorry for underestimating them, but so far I have no complaints! Actually, I've been completely liberated from the curse I'd been under until now of "only being an advanced hiker can be achieved by wearing heavy, sturdy hiking boots." From now on, I can honestly say, "Light shoes are easy to walk in, which means easy walking means less fatigue and less injury!" The feeling when walking is exactly the same as that of sneakers. Despite that, the upper part fits quite firmly around the ankle, so there's a sense of stability. I was also concerned about the stiffness of the sole, but the Vibram sole is as expected. I'm the type who runs quite violently on descents, but they didn't give in to the impact, so I'm more than satisfied

However, of course, I think that there are only a limited number of conditions under which I can be completely happy about it. For now, the main mountaineering trips I plan to use this for are

• Snow-free season (until autumn when there is no need to worry about snow)
• Lightweight for day trips or overnight stays in huts

I think so. Here are the reasons

• Even though they are Vibram, the soles are thinner and softer than those of serious trekking boots (that can even be used on snow), so they may slip on snow and rocks
• When carrying a load of about 30 kg, I want the ground to be flat and stable rather than being able to walk lightly, so I want to wear shoes with hard soles

However, the most important thing is that they are light and easy to wear, so I'm likely to wear these shoes as much as possible

Note: You can get by with soft trekking shoes (depending on the person)

Since I started mountain climbing as a student, I focused mainly on stream climbing, so I had no connection to the bulky leather hiking boots. As a student with little money, I managed to get through a two-week summer training camp in the Japanese Alps using stream climbing shoes and a pair of 1,500 yen makeshift trekking shoes I bought at the Olympics. While I'm sure this was largely down to my youth and sheer luck, I also didn't feel any inconvenience when it came to walking. Meanwhile, my classmate Y, a former member of the high school mountaineering club, carried heavy leather hiking boots even when climbing streams, which he only used on the approach and descent. He says the difference is in the sense of stability and security. Perhaps because of this experience, I've always thought in the back of my mind that when it comes to hiking trails in the summer, the best shoes to choose are those that I believe are comfortable for me, regardless of their functionality or performance

Detailed Review

Comfort ★★★★★

I've walked in the mountains many times in these shoes, and I've never had any discomfort or blisters on my feet. They really are just as they look, with a very sturdy sole, and they feel like you're wearing sneakers. Combined with their lightness, they completely eliminate the feeling of fatigue. And of course, the Gore-Tex construction keeps you dry even on rainy days

Stability ★★★★

Although these shoes are as comfortable as sneakers, the Vibram sole ensures that the soles of your feet never lose the sense of being firmly on a flat surface. Therefore, unlike regular sneakers, I didn't experience any particular slippage when going up or downhill. As long as you make sure the size is correct and tighten the shoes from bottom to top when going downhill, your feet won't slip inside the shoes. They're stable and there's absolutely no need to worry. However, as with any shoes, be careful as your feet will slip if you place them on damp, mossy fallen trees or roots

Stepping in ★★

Generally, hiking boots with hard, heavy soles have a straight, flat sole that firmly secures the ankle, allowing you to push firmly uphill and easily place your weight on your toes when finding small footholds on rocky areas. In other words, it is possible to put enough weight on your feet when stepping down, so in this sense, it may be difficult to expect these shoes to transfer power easily when stepping down. However, for day trips or overnight stays on low mountains, such harsh conditions rarely last long. They offer more than enough performance than soft shoes for trail running

Weight ★★★★★

800g for two pairs! Although trekking shoes have become lighter and lighter in recent years, they typically weigh around 600g each, so there's nothing to complain about

Waterproof ★★★★

I've had no issues with the Gore-Tex. I've been using it for a few months now, and the stitching is solid, so there have been no weaknesses, such as water seeping through the seams

Durability ★★★

I've only been using these shoes for three months, about a week in total, and they haven't shown any particular signs of wear. They're made of a material that's resistant to abrasions, so I've been able to use them in harsh environments without any problems. However, since they're made of a mesh nylon fabric like sneakers, they're vulnerable to hard, sharp objects like sharp rocks, and after wearing them on about 10 mountain hikes, I noticed some slight fraying in the fabric, even with each step

evaluation

Specification table

   

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