Owner: Thomas
Used since: 2012
Tested by: Thomas
Review by: Thomas
Primary Use: Trail Running, Hiking
UPDATE September 2020:
These shoes didn’t last long at all and completely fell apart during a canyoning trip a few years ago. Overall the shoe was a big dissapointment as it only lasted maybe 1 year without even using it that much during that time.
Review:
Looking for some new trail running shoes, I picked up this pair at the local North Face shop in Sydney. The shoe is quite light and comfortable to wear even on long trail runs and days of hiking. The sole is made out of pretty good rubber and has a good profile for excellent grip. I have used these shoes for 1-2 years on the occasional hiking, trail running and canyoning trip. Although they are comfortable and have good support initially, they are not as durable as I would have hoped for. The profile of the rubber sole wore down fairly quickly and overall the sole material is not that strong with frequent use in the rough bush. One could argue that it is meant to be for trail running only and not for a rough hiking trip in terrain without tracks - I had tested other similar trail running shoes that were holding up much better (ie. Salomon or Merrell).
Pros:
- Good support (initially until worn out)
- Good rubber sole and grip
- Light, great for trail running
Cons:
- Durability is not outstanding, especially the entire rubber sole and foam wears out quick and as a result the foot doesn't get much support any more (e.g. the feet would really hurt after 6-7 hours of walking in them - whereas I could do that with my 4 year old, heavily used Merrell Moab's).
Comment:
If you are looking at a light trail running shoe with good grip and support, and you use it mainly on trails without too many rocky paths - this is a great shoe. If you are running or hiking in more rough environments, the shoe is ok initially but wears out pretty quick and looses its support and grip. Given the cost of the shoe, I would probably buy something else that has better durability.
Manufacturer Website:
http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/mens-rucky-chucky.html