For our planned hike through Oregon, California, and Wyoming, I needed a pair of hiking boots. I did not like my old hiking shoes (they always ground painfully into my foot) and wanted something that would warm my ankle bones.
I ordered, and returned, several pairs before clicking buy on the Asolo Athena's. I do not particularly like the color options, but I was getting desperate.
Being that I run in minimal shoes, or barefeet, and spend most of my days in socks ... well, typical shoes have gotten very uncomfortable for my feet.
The pros, as I see it:
- While these are not minimal shoes, they are comfortable and perhaps "minimal friendly." I do have some feedback from the sole (much better than anything else I bought).
- Additionally, they are flexible and lightweight.
- In fact, they are almost run-able. I did some minor trail running in them, and have no complaints about the experience.
- Compared to the typical hiking boot, their sole is almost self cleaning. I did not develop near the amount of muck accumulation as someone else along the hike did.
- And they work very well on rough and rocky terrain. I was surprised as they do not have a luggy sole.
The only negative I see (besides the icky girly color choices):
- They were not very grippy on wet and slippery surfaces. So I will not be dancing across any mossy plains ... too much danger of falling.
All in all, I am pleased with the purchase, and glad I finally found something that would keep me out of hard-to-break-in, typical "hiking boots." Whew.
