I'm thinking of developing a certain shoe in the future, so I'd like to hear from you.
I received this email around autumn last year.
Although I have been an ambassador for Workman since last year, I have been writing gear reviews as usual, as I have done in the past. I'm not particularly dissatisfied with this, but since I had the chance, I also wanted to try something more that could only be done from this position.
I raised my faint hopes and headed to the office, the meeting place. When I arrived, the opening came out, "We're making shoes that can be used to hiking for 1,900 yen, so I would like you to let me know what kind of shoes you think are best." "Mmmm..." I couldn't speak for a while.
Although they are not serious mountaineering boots, they can also be used for a certain amount of hiking, and cost 1,900 yen... At least I've never heard of such a convenient story before. I've worn a lot of expensive, highly functional mountaineering boots that cost tens of thousands of yen, but even those shoes are hit by a world that can hit and miss. Shoes that need to combine safety and comfort in the harsh environment of the outdoors require higher functionality and durability than regular shoes, and no matter how you do, the appropriate cost is inevitable. In other words, at least this time, I could imagine that as an outdoor idiot, I wouldn't be able to create the ideal outdoor shoes for me.
table of contents
- It's impossible to participate in creating your ideal mountaineering shoes, but you can participate in making the best 1,900 yen off-road shoes.
- Workman High-durability Shoes Active Hike This is what I'm interested in
- Active Hike High-Durability Shoes Detailed Review
- Summary: Off-road shoes that you can wear without any quirks and can be used easily without technical terrain.
It's impossible to participate in creating your ideal mountaineering shoes, but you can participate in making the best 1,900 yen off-road shoes.
That said, I said, "Wait a minute."
Of course, there are quality that you need to follow at a minimum, but it's not that you can't climb a mountain unless you're a shoe from a mountain manufacturer, and there are many shoes that don't suit you despite the high price, or that are just the design and have ordinary functions.
Tools always have a purpose and purpose, and whether they are good tools is whether they have the functions and quality necessary for the purpose. In other words, to put it in extreme terms, the price is not the problem when it comes to whether it's a good shoe or not, it's not just the number of features or the high specs.
Even if I don't take on this here and now, the shoes will eventually be completed by someone else's hand. It's not like this many times that a single website like this can take part in product development. So, let's just convey our ideals to the fullest and see what kind of shoes will be created as a result. If this would lead to the best 1,900 yen off-road shoes, there would never be anything more interesting.
At first, I was frustrated by the subtle talk, but as I talked about it, I ended up feeling strangely excited and becoming more positive.
This is why the " Active Hike (scheduled to be released from late August to early September 2020)" is the first item that Outdoor Gearzine has given us his opinion from the development stage and has reflected some of the feedback that it pointed out at the time of the prototype into the product.
This time, ahead of the release of the finished version, we will present a review of how we tried it on a low mountain hike near Tokyo, in between the rainy season in July.
Reading the review
With this in mind, I would like to share with you all about this before reading this review.
Although Workman's items have been increasing in recent years despite low prices, the shoes this time are of course not "mountaining boots" made by a mountaineering manufacturer. In other words, although it has the characteristics that can be used for hiking and other purposes, it is not designed for use in mountain climbing, where tough and harsh conditions are long, and we do not recommend its use. Users should fully understand this when using this product.
However, I think that this also makes sense that Workman's tools should not be used for mountain climbing. This can be seen by considering the opposite. No matter how expensive and high-spec mountain climbing equipment you have, if you use them incorrectly or take action that is not in line with your ability, accidents and accidents can occur. No matter what the tool is, if it is not handled correctly by the person using it, risk cannot be avoided.
In that sense, what I have been telling since the beginning of my introduction to Workman on this site is that Workman items are not tools that beginners in mountain climbing can use safely without worrying about anything, but rather that users understand the "useful" and "inadequate parts," and use them after understanding their abilities and usage, and know that they are at their own risk, and that they are the first valuable item.
Whatever the tool is, the important thing is that it suits the purpose and level of each user. There is not just one correct answer. Rather than cutting it off just because it's not a specialized brand, the joy of being able to come up with the best way to use it is the perfect way to use it from a variety of tools, which is the real joy of the deep world of outdoor activities.
I'm talking about it at a high level of arrogant, but I believe that hard-working readers have already understood it without having to go out of their way to speak up. However, as the boom has led to an increase in so much unconscious information in recent years, I thought I should reiterate how to enjoy Workman's items and what to be careful about, taking into account my position as a site that delivers reviews intended for use in dangerous activities such as mountain climbing, and I thought I should mention again how to enjoy Workman's items and what to be careful about.
Workman High-durability Shoes Active Hike This is what I'm interested in
This is ◎
- Amazingly low price
- A sophisticated design
- Comfortable to wear even for a certain long period of time and heavy load
- High cushioning due to the thick midsole (difficult to get tired)
- A well-balanced outsole with stepping, grip, brakes and sole (sound)
- Cordura upper fabric and reinforcement parts that are durable and water repellent
I'm curious about this
- Breathable
- Water repellent, but not waterproof
- Slip-ability on wet, hard terrain
Active Hike High-Durability Shoes Detailed Review
A sophisticated design
When I was making new walking shoes, the first thing I mentioned was how to look.
It's not a serious mountaineering boot, or a sneaker like trail running. Off-road shoes that allow you to walk safely from the city to the nearby nature. The first thing that came to mind when it came to the characteristics of these shoes was "approach shoes."
Images of approach shoes (Google image search)
The shoes were originally developed for climbers to walk along small trails and rocky ridges that allow climbers to attach to rocky areas, and although there are subtle differences in their specific uses and purposes, a common feature is that they are "all-weather, suitable for a variety of terrain, and sophisticated design that can be worn in the city." It can be said to be an outdoor shoe that looks like a simple mountaineering boot, and I have been using it as a regular shoe for a long time. Aside from the functionality, I thought the good balance between the comfort and sophisticated design would be perfect for the shoes I'm trying to make this time.
Fortunately, the person in charge seemed to like my thoughts, and soon began to create several prototypes based on this story. This design has been refined after narrowing down several candidates and fine tuning.
The asymmetrical shoelaces extending to the toes are inspired by approach shoes.
My role in design is to roughly state my direction, so in the end this is not exactly what I think is in line with my personal ideals, but my sophisticated look that doesn't seem cheap at first glance makes me think it's a passing grade.
The shoelaces that extend to the toes, which are characteristic of approach shoes, are not only a design accent, but also contribute to the fit when tightened.
By the way, although I don't touch the coloring, regardless of the calm black, the camouflage pattern that is typical of Workman was personally a little rejected at first, but as I smashed it into a sense of flavor, it's surprisingly easy to get used to.
The colors are camo and black. The design is perfect for use in town.
Comfortable to wear even for a certain long period of time and heavy load
Outdoor activities often walk for longer than usual, so it is an important factor to keep you comfortable even after walking for a long time. Furthermore, if you are not used to walking, there is a lower risk of injuries caused by walking for long periods of time.
For this reason, although they are low-priced shoes, I personally have been able to carefully convey many opinions regarding comfort. Of course, we cannot use a wealth of high-tech materials and technology that make full use of the latest technology, so it is inevitable that it is inferior to full-fledged mountaineering boots, but I feel like the finished version is at a very good level.
When you put your feet in, you will feel the overall soft feel of the mesh liner, the tongue, and the abundant cushions around the ankles. Given the price, it can be said to be extraordinary luxury.
We put as many cushions around the ankles as possible, considering the comfort and ease of wear.
The shoe shape (last) is wide, with EEE. Personally, I have a slightly narrower foot shape so it doesn't fit perfectly, but the toe box is spacious and allows you to move your toes without any stress, so for most Japanese people it's not likely to feel cramped.
This time, the entire heel from the heel to the ankle was slightly deeper so that it would not make it difficult to walk in. This holds the heel better, makes it easier to walk in, makes it difficult to take off, and makes it difficult for pebbles to enter. Personally, I find it easier to twist the ankles and the slightly higher ankles support walking, making it safer and lower stress.
The heels and ankles are deeper than the low cuts, so we focused on safety and low stress.
Although the work shoes that Workman has worked on up until now are different fields, they are made with the assumption of harsh environments just like outdoors, so in that respect, you can see the attention to detail everywhere, even if you say so. For example, the tongue part of the upper is integrated with the shoe liner, making it easier for the upper to stick to your feet as closely as possible.
The tongue is integrated with the upper liner, which increases the fit and makes it difficult for dirt to get in.
Furthermore, this time, we had a cushion on the arch of the foot, where it was originally a regular flat insole.
I told him that if I kept it as it was, the arch of the foot was thin and my feet tended to slip inside my shoes, and at the very end I managed to slip in. This is the only option, but the ease of walking and fatigue have been greatly improved, and the comfort has been further refined.
The arch of the foot was slid in at the final stage of the test. This also brings the ease of walking to the next level.
And what you can't miss is the lightness of the shoes. You may think it's a bit rough, but when you put it on, it's surprisingly light at 328g (actually measured for one foot of 26.5cm). You can walk smoothly.
The shoes are light despite their volume.
Midsole midsole with emphasis on cushioning
Even though it's a light hike, you'll carry more or less luggage with your luggage on your back, so shoes used outdoors require cushioning and stability (resistant to shaking) that will support your feet even if the weight of your own weight plus your luggage is added.
The thick midsole absorbs both gravity impacts and thrusts from the ground to some extent.
In this regard, the sole this time is a slightly thick-soled one that is currently popular (?). Although it is slightly stiff despite its thickness, it firmly accepts impacts when loading. It also has too much cushioning and does not easily shake. If you walk over an extremely long distance, you will see some ramblings, but it is quite comfortable for a day trip or a few hours of hiking.
A sturdy outsole with a deep carved rug
As for the outsole (sound), we have not placed any particular orders except that the less likely it is to slip on many terrains, the better. The finished outsole seems to have a balanced pattern of mud removal, stamina, and good braking. And the rug is a little deep. The toes and heels have cuts to increase pressure and braking force.
The well-balanced sole pattern and deep rug make it easy to walk on gravel or soil.
When I actually walked, I was able to walk comfortably, with so-called off-road terrain covered in gravel and twigs. Even on slightly muddy soil trails, it is much less likely to slip, and compared to sneakers, it holds the ground firmly.
Be careful of slipping on wet rocky areas with hard rubber.
However, on the other hand, on wet rocks, tree roots, log staircases, and too deep mud, you don't feel the tenacity of high-end climbing boots, and if you don't know how to walk in the mountains, you'll easily slip away. The finer the grain size of the rock, the more slippery it becomes when wet.
Be careful when walking through wet rocks or tree roots.
Although its appearance is similar to approach shoes, it cannot be approach shoes in terms of functionality, and is even weaker than I thought it would be against wet rocks. However, even if it's a full-fledged mountaineering boot, they generally don't like this smooth terrain, so this shoe isn't the only one that's particularly inferior. This is the limits of low-priced shoes, and in other words, it is clear how the rubber material used in authentic outdoor shoes is a technically superior and expensive part. The only thing to do is that it's not good to want the grip performance of a Vibram Megagrip in shoes that cost 1/10th of the price.
In particular, if you know that it will be an adventure that requires you to cross the river like the one below, don't overly believe in your abilities and be prepared and careful when wearing them.
If you have routes that involve crossing the river, don't overconfidently walk carefully.
Durable and water repellent upper
We didn't need to talk about durability from Workman, who has been making work shoes that can be worn in harsh conditions for many years. The fabric is highly durable made from highly reliable Cordura fabric.
The upper fabric is made of highly reliable Cordura.
The upper is wrapped around the top with a lightweight resin film for protection, protecting your shoes and feet from slight impacts and scratches.
Light and durable resin is crimped around the shoe.
Furthermore, this upper fabric has a special durable water-repellent finish, which will repel water if there is a slight splash or light rain (of course, the tongue part allows water to pass through, so the overall shoe is not waterproof).
Of course, it is certainly desirable for full-scale climbing boots to be waterproof, but this excellent durable water-repellent finish is likely to fill the handicap considerably.
However, instead, the highly durable and water-repellent material cannot be expected to have any breathability. All that's ventilated is the mesh on the tongue, and the plenty of cushioning doesn't interfere with the air and doesn't mean that air is passing through...
In fact, I learned this at the development stage and it was unavoidable. I wasn't particularly concerned about the fall and winter when I tested it, but when I put it in the summer it still feels like it's a bit stuffy.
Summary: Off-road shoes that you can wear without any quirks and can be used easily without technical terrain.
Of the many outdoor tools, shoes are the most important and I believe that choosing the best solution is one of the most difficult tools. That's why it may have been a rather careful review. However, without mentioning that I was involved in product manufacturing, I'm filled with surprises, saying, "I'll do my best to get something like this at this price."
You need to be careful about not being completely waterproof and being slightly slippery on technical terrain such as wet roads and smooth rocks, but I feel that on off-roads close to the village, all of them have the ability to match the fit of the foot, high cushioning, ease of stepping in, and durability. However, shoes that are overused for a long time, like hiking, are just as important as their performance, as they are suitable for your foot shape, so don't forget to try them on when purchasing.
As I have said many times before, of course, no matter how good the cost is, this pair is not enough for everyone, and it is safer for anyone except for a hiker who is accustomed to it, to think of it as a camping, nature stroll, or a short hiking trail on mild terrain. For those who are hooked on that goal, this should be a great deal.
Also, if you are serious about entering the outdoor world, you should always have a pair of mountain boots with solid performance that suits your purpose, but for beginners and above who already own these shoes, the high cost performance that allows you to wear them without hesitation is difficult to change, and it will make you think it's worth having one pair. It is scheduled to be released at Workmen nationwide from late August to early September.
With this in mind, whether it's an outdoor veteran, a beginner, or someone who's looking for everyday use, if you're interested, be sure to pick it up and give it a try!
