User Review: Montrail Stratos XCR

Montrail Stratos XCR
Above: The current Stratos XCR, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed December 16, 2007 by GearSlave

Rating:
Materials: synthetic upper, gore-tex liner
Use: dayhikes through trail backpacking with under 40 lbs
Break-in Period: loosened up after 10 miles
Weight: 1 lb 3 oz
Price Paid: $140

I have a high volume wide foot. Montrails classically run narrow, from what I can tell yet this shoe in a 1/2 size larger fits me great. I love it for everything, it's really lightweight, really stable, really comfortable. I have put about 350 miles on them though and can sense they are starting to go. I had a bit too much faith in them and took 'em off trail up some scree on a wet day. The liner gave way and now I have wet feet. They don't have the stiff sole and lugs for a cross country shoe.

I have taken them on some loops in Yosemite with up to 35 lbs on and they did the job right. They are also great for any trail hike as they are very lightweight. I don't think a gore-tex shoe exists that doesn't eventually spring a leak and so can't be too mad at them for that. The mesh part of the upper is starting to fray, it's not a performance piece by any means and so say don't worry about that.

Also I put some Superfeet in them early on as the stock insole gave out and they began to pulverize my feet. I think all my off-trail side-hilling has stretched them out and they feel really roomy now. It makes me wonder if a 9 1/2 would have done the job after a break-in. All in all I am happy with their performance and wide range of uses. Again they are very light. The ones I own are the men's version, different from the picture up right now.