User Review: Garmont Flash XCR

Garmont Flash XCR
Above: The current Flash XCR, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed January 21, 2007 by Dave Blythe

Rating:
Materials: Leather outer with gore-tex liner
Use: Long dayhikes and short backpack trips
Break-in Period: None required
Price Paid: $130

This shoe felt great at the start with a nice soft heel strike and decent grip on rocks. I later found out there was a defect at the base of the tongue that let water (and sand) pass down into the gap between the outer and inner lining. I had one wet foot for three days after a rain and got major blisters before I figured this out. Other shoes in my size 12 also have had the same defect hole. The heel rubber started to come unglued after about 100 miles of trail hiking. The EMS store gave me a full refund. This shoe has potential in future versions.