We recommend for: Fastpacking and light/day tramping on easy to moderate tracks.

What we like: Wide, super light, out-of-box comfort

What we don’t like: Insecure when scrambling, limited durability

882g (m), 743g (w)

Overview and features: This is a hybrid boot that provides running shoe comfort and low weight with the traction and ankle protection of a light hiking boot. It has a mid-height, mesh-style, waterproof/breathable upper with reinforcing, and a maximalist-style midsole paired with a grippy Vibram Megagrip outsole. It is compatible with lightweight gaiters.

Fit and comfort: The midsole is plush and well-padded. The soft upper boot provides unmatched out-of-the-box comfort. It has a wide fit that suited my moderately wide feet well, with a secure heel cup, a comfortable tongue, and a spacious toe box that is not too tall. Sizing was in keeping with my usual size.

Durability: I didn’t use these boots for long enough to check absolute durability, but there is no exposed soft foam midsole in the outsole, unlike other similar boots, and I liked that. Experience with mesh uppers has shown that abrasion is handled well, but they can split with heavy use. That said, the uppers here have durable overlays as well as beefy partial rands.

In use: This boot is super light. Comfort comes from a stack height of 28–33mm, which provides deluxe strike cushioning and an efficient stride. The Megagrip (non-sticky version) sole has good bite and predictable traction in the wet and dry. This is helped by its width, but there is no defined heel. This boot has a rock plate, but it is too bendy and imprecise for a reassuring feel on steep, greasy slopes and scrambles.

Value: Compared to the small range of options in this class, the Trailventure is good value.

Why buy the Trailventure 2? 

Its lightweight and all-day comfort makes the boot ideal for fastpacking or weekend tramps with light loads, and for speedy trail walking. It would be at home on much of Te Araroa in the North Island, but its limited stiffness and support is best suited to easy–moderate tracks.