Hitting the trails with Columbia hiking shoes this fall

Fall hiking is one of my favourite things. The air is crisp, the leaves are beautiful, and a lot of trails are quieter than they are in the summer. Plus, it’s the perfect time to break in a new pair of Columbia hiking shoes.

Columbia Sportswear have a lot of different styles of hiking boots and other footwear, but I’m a big fan of hiking shoes or sneakers that are made to be light, comfortable, and stylish.

On the first day of fall, my wife and I were at Silent Lake for a few days, and we went hiking in some eye-catching Columbia hiking shoes: the Women’s Facet 15 Shoe ($140), and the Men’s SH/FT OutDry Mid Shoe ($180).

My wife loved the Facet 15 in Berry Jam, Deep Purple. They’re ultralight, work well as runners or for hiking, and they’re also water- and- stain-resistant thanks to Columbia’s Omni-Shield technology.

The shoes also feature the HGS heel stabilizing system, for the best hiking experience and performance on the trails. And the Omni-Grip traction makes it easy to keep going, even if the path gets a bit trickier.

I went with the SH/FT OutDry in Lapis Blue, Emerald Green, and I love them because my feet usually overheat in hiking boots, but the stretch-knit design with the full-grain leather overlays actually let my feet breathe and stay cool.

Even more surprising, the sock-like fit of the shoe is incredibly comfortable, light, and waterproof. The rubber outsoles also made it feel like I could climb anything.

Even just around town, the SH/FT OutDry shoes are excellent, but they’re especially perfect on the trails, and they offer excellent cushioning thanks to soft beads that are embedded in PU foam.

I’m a big fan of Columbia’s clothes, and I appreciate that they have such a wide range of footwear for anyone. I’ve got a few pairs of heavier-duty hiking boots, but it’s great to see more options that go beyond the usual look and feel.

If you’re looking for fall footwear with more upper support, take a look at the Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II hiking boots, the Men’s Flow Borough, the Women’s Newton Ridge Plus, or the Women’s SH/FT OutDry Sneaker Boot.