Tecnica Women's Forge GTX

The Tecnica Forge hiking boot is a heat moldable boot, integrating technology similar to that which is used in moldable ski boot liners. The Forge encourages a shift back to the way retail was done before the days of online shopping, as fittings must be done in person.

The boot is comfortable, lightweight, and has a surprisingly low profile. The custom moldable fit eliminates the usual break-in period so you can walk out of a store and onto the trail. However, after five months of use, I don’t notice a significant difference in fit between the Forge and boots I’ve previously worn. Those willing to put their time into breaking in a new pair of boots may not see the heat moldable feature as an advantage, while adventurers looking for an instant best friend for their feet will be singing their praises.

Conditions: 

I tested the Tecnica Women’s Forge as a member of the Trailspace Review Corps from October 2017 through February 2018 in and around the New Hampshire White Mountains. Temperatures during testing ranged from about -20 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Jim51111 and I were lucky enough to do a side by side comparison of the Forge. Check out his review of the men's version. 

           Jim51111 and I fat biking in the Tecnica Forge for some side by side comparison

I wore them hiking in fall and winter conditions, and enjoyed snowshoeing and fat biking in the boots during the winter months. The Forge is described as a three-season boot (spring, summer, and fall). Accordingly, I hadn’t expected to get much use out of them in the winter. I was pleasantly surprised to notice, when I sat down to write this review, that I have yet to dust the cobwebs off of my go-to winter hiking boots (Salomon Quest GTX), having worn the Forge faithfully all winter long!

                                                  Snowshoeing in the Forge

Fit & Comfort: 

The Forge is true to fit. I’m typically a size 8, which fit me perfectly. I wear a custom orthotic, and the Forge accommodates this without issue—I just removed the insoles that came with the boot. I’d say my feet are a standard width. The narrow profile of the Forge may not be a good fit for those with wide feet, but I find the fit to be ideal. I have just enough breathing room to feel comfortable without my foot sliding around in the boot. According to my bathroom scale, the pair weighs just two pounds.

                                                  Tecnica Women's Forge

The last that Tecnica used to construct the Forge (on the right in the below photos) is much more detailed than the standard model (on the left). This was a selling point to me. Knowing they are taking the time to fit the boot to something that more closely resembles a normal human foot, even before getting to the heat-moldable feature, makes me feel much more confident in the quality of this product.

Do I feel the difference on the trail though? I’ve never had any blisters or hot spots during my five months of testing, and my feet have been consistently comfortable.

Heat-Moldable Technology:

To my knowledge, Tecnica is the first to incorporate heat-moldable technology, the kind we often see in ski boot liners, into a hiking boot. The boot’s insole and ankle area mold to your foot, creating an instant custom fit that typically takes months of breaking-in and possibly the purchase of expensive insoles to achieve.

The fitting was so much fun. Being someone whose feet are chronically freezing, I felt like I’d stumbled into a spa for outdoor adventurers! The heat molding components are contained in what looks like a rolling suitcase. I imagine such a kit would appeal to retailers, as it can be stowed away when not in use, and travel between locations.

                                                  Heat-moldable technology

To mold the insole, they removed the insole from the boot and placed it in what looked and felt like a thin neoprene slipper. Once wearing the booties, I was strapped into a set of what I can only describe as inflatable clown shoes, which were then filled with hot air, almost like a blood pressure cuff on both feet, but not uncomfortable.

                        Insole heater (above) and bootie for molding the insole (below)

        Insoles being heat-molded to my feet (below) as I experience zero gravity clown feet!

While the insole was molding to my foot, the boots themselves were heated. Once the insole heat-molding was complete, the insole was placed back into the hiking boot, now warm, and I laced up the boots and sat with them on my feet to allow the upper to mold around my ankles.

         Heat-molding the insoles to my feet (above) while the Forge upper heats up (below)

I was told the heat-molding process can be repeated a few times. However, I’m unable to test this claim.

Once fitted to my feet, the boots were so comfortable I wore them out the door! The instant fit of the boot eliminates not only the uncomfortable breaking-in process, but also the mental angst that can accompany a new boot owner. Should I wear it outside? Can I return it? It’s rubbing this one spot on my heel…will that ever go away? Having confidence in a boot purchase from the minute I walk out of a store brings new meaning to the term retail therapy…and keeps me from getting cold feet (pun intended—sorry I just couldn’t resist).

Five months later, the boots are as comfortable and supportive as the first moment I wore them. The comfort has actually improved as the rest of the upper has broken in, specifically around the toe box, which isn’t custom moldable but breaks in over time. The Nubuck leather has a fantastic feel and is supportive without feeling too stiff.

During the fitting, I mentioned that I wore custom orthotics. The person completing the fitting suggested that while the insoles in the Forge would be an improvement over other standard insoles, I’d likely still need to wear my orthotics. This has proven to be true, which means I miss out on the custom feature of the heat-moldable insoles that come with the Forge.

However, it’s worth mentioning that the orthotics I wear are more than just the standard Superfeet insoles, or other such brand. They’re medically prescribed custom orthotics designed for my crazy feet. So, I don’t ding Tecnica for the fact that their insoles are not an adequate replacement.

Support:

The Forge offers support through the ankle without restricting movement. It’s a beefy enough shoe to wear trail spikes and snowshoes comfortably while the narrow profile keeps me from feeling cumbersome on technical portions of trail.

                                                   The Forge in snowshoes

The first set of lace hooks at the ankle are self-locking, which is a pretty cool feature. It allows me to lace the ankles without losing tension through the forefoot.

                                         Look...no hands! Self-locking lace hooks

My biggest complaint with the Forge, however, are the laces. No matter how I tie the laces, they consistently loosen through the ankle. I'm not sure how much of this issue is because of the laces themselves or the design of the tongue (which I describe later), which could be loosening the ankle as I hike.

It's not so much of a problem in the fall, when I can easily reach down to make adjustments and retie. However, it becomes a more significant issue in the winter when spikes or snowshoes place more strain on the ankles and the laces are often hidden under gaiters and therefore difficult to readjust. They rarely come untied, but if I hike more than 2 miles or so the ankles become noticeably loose and therefore less supportive.

                               Laces partially untied 0.7 miles in from the trailhead

Water Resistance & Breathability:

The Gore-Tex lining incorporated into the Forge ensures my feet remain dry on wet or snowy days. Never once have I found myself complaining of wet feet, either from lack of breathability or waterproofing. That being said, I started wearing the Forge in October so haven’t tested it during summer months.

                                              Staying dry in snowy conditions

As they’re technically not designed to be winter boots, I need to keep moving when wearing the Forge during winter months. My feet tend to get cold if I do too much standing around in the snow…good motivation to keep moving!

Traction:

After five months of consistent use, the Vibram sole on the Forge is showing no signs of wear. I love the traction it provides along with enough flexibility through the toe to grip technical terrain.

                               Vibram sole from the side (above) and bottom (below)

Because of the low profile, I’ve found I have to go down a size in my Hillsound Trail Crampons. This is not a problem, just something to be prepared for.

                                             Forge in Hillsound Trail Crampons

Ease of Use:

Once the fitting is complete, the Forge is just as straightforward as any other hiking boot. It incorporates a wrap-around tongue, which reminds me of a ski boot liner. I like this feature, as the edge of the tongue tucks in nicely to the ankle of the boot. Normally I’d expect this design might rub, but that hasn’t been the case, likely because of the heat-molding through the ankle.

                                                      Wrap-around tongue

Construction and Durability:

In the past five months, these boots have carried construction supplies a quarter mile into the woods and built a yurt, joined me on my daily pre-work hike or snowshoe, and accompanied me on longer weekend trips hiking, snowshoeing, and fat biking. And you’d never know that by looking at them.

                    Photo taken on the day I wrote this review—minimal wear after five months

I’ve experienced no issues associated with wear. The Gore-Tex waterproofing still does its job and the boot itself has held its shape, remaining supportive and comfortable.

The Forge retails for $250, which is fairly comparable to similar products. The Salomon Quest GTX, for example, retails for $230. Assuming they continue to hold up over time (I’ve had my Salomons for seven years now) I consider the price fair. However, this is a matter each reader should weigh for his/herself.

Overall Impressions:

The Forge is a quality hiker likely to be most enjoyed by those who are drawn to lightweight, low profile boots. My first outdoor love was long distance running, and because of this my feet still gravitate toward hiking boots that are akin to trail runners. So the Forge is a great fit for me.

The heat-moldable ankle and insole set the Forge apart from other hiking boots. It creates an instant break-in process that could be a game changer for some—those whose feet don’t often fit standard boots or can’t afford an extended break-in process. I’d love to see the heat-moldable technology extend beyond the ankle—through the toe box if possible. I’m also a huge fan of bringing gear shopping offline, encouraging more face-to-face interactions between gear experts and outdoor adventurers. The custom fitting provides an ideal format for this.

However, those who do not live near an authorized retailer may lose out. Others may prefer taking their time to break in a new boot and not see the value in an instant fitting. Personally, I’m a fan of the heat moldable-technology. It reduces my risk of buyer’s remorse (or angst), and allows me to enjoy the boot from the moment it hits the trail.

The only change I’d really like to see moving forward is to switch to laces and/or tongue design, whichever is contributing to the ankle loosening so easily. It’s a simple fix that would go a long way for my ankles!

Thanks to the folks at Tecnica and Trailspace for the opportunity to test and review the Forge!