Examined: Columbia Konos TRS OutDry Mid Mountaineering Shoe

A model new mid-cut hiker brings stability and responsive traction to a path near you. Article sponsored by Columbia.

Mountaineering is no doubt some of the accessible exterior actions. All you need is a path, some seasonally relevant apparel, and—perhaps most importantly—trail-ready footwear.

Further on the footwear: A purpose-built mountaineering shoe is larger than essential. It is the excellence between a nasty experience and a life-changing pursuit.

Introducing the Columbia Konos TRS OutDry Mid Shoe

Upfront of fall 2024, Columbia Sportswear has unveiled its newest mid-cut hiker, that features the Omni-MAX system: the Konos TRS OutDry Mid Shoe (obtainable for women and men).

After trying it out on Ontario’s Bruce Path, my first impression is a newfound surefootedness. I had been trail-running for a month, and as compared with my runners, the Konos presents a wider platform to navigate additional simply over terrain ranging from uneven turf to hardpacked grime to rocks. And combined with the ankle assist of the mid, my possibilities of turning an ankle shot method down.

On the same time, the Konos TRS is so lightweight that it has a trail-runner actually really feel.

However it’s made to eat up rugged kilometres at a hiker’s tempo whether or not or not that’s speedy, casual or someplace throughout the heart. My tempo after I’m alone tends to be faster and after I’m with my family, barely slower (with a great deal of nature-exploring stops). Regardless of my tempo, I can actually really feel the Konos TRS midsole return little bursts of vitality with each step.

That’s Columbia’s Omni-MAX in movement. This know-how throughout the midsole and outsole offers distinctive traction, stability, and assist for nonstop underfoot vitality up and down the trail.

Omni-MAX Stability + Assist

This midfoot assistance is thanks in no small half to “deflection domes”: small rubber cushions positioned strategically the place your foot strikes the underside. The midsole cushioning consistently adapts to emphasize and enhances an already pillowy expertise because of the generous amount of responsive foam. As a result of the shoe encounters diversified terrain and strikes in any other case, the deflection domes adapt, together with stability over any flooring from sharp-cornered rocks to unpredictable scree.

Regardless of my tempo, I can actually really feel the Konos TRS midsole return little bursts of vitality with each step.

Superior Traction

The Omni-MAX “flex grooves” are sustained notches constructed between the lugs to help the shoe bend additional naturally. (Thus the Konos TRS avoids the stiffness I affiliate with mountaineering boots in my earlier, which delivered good assist nevertheless on the worth of restricted flexibility.) As your shoe bends to varied ranges based totally on the terrain, the flex grooves help the outsole transition from the heel strike to the push-off of your forefoot. In influence, the flex grooves mimic the pure motion of your foot so the shoe strikes over strong terrain with greater coordination.

OutDry: All-Local weather Confidence

Rain? No must cancel plans or dash for shelter—the shoe’s OutDry waterproof-breathable tech retains your ft dry and comfortable all by your adventures. And the sticky outsole compound (aided by these flex grooves) grips even in moist circumstances. Anyone could ask, “Why hike when it’s raining? Why not merely preserve home or go to the gymnasium?”

These are every reasonably priced decisions when it’s raining nevertheless within the occasion you hike somewhat loads, you may get caught throughout the rain sometimes; and within the occasion you’re a stalwart hiker, you gained’t let it stop you. Slippery terrain is additional hazardous nevertheless trekking poles can significantly cut back the possibilities of a fall. In any case, the extra-grippy and waterproof Konos TRS OutDry Mid, trekking poles and a waterproof shell (as an illustration, Columbia’s Hikebound II Jacket for males or women) will depart you over-prepared to reap all some great benefits of mountaineering in any local weather. – Down Morgan

The Males’s Konos™ TRS OutDry™ Mid Shoe retails for $170 MSRP and is offered in three colorway decisions (Mountain Blue/White, Stone Inexperienced/Canyon Photo voltaic and Black/Shark). The Women’s Konos™ TRS OutDry™ Mid Shoe retails for $170 MSRP and is offered in two colorway decisions (Moonvista/Blush Rose and Ti Grey Steel). You will discover them every at columbiasportswear.ca.