Zamberlan 217 Free Blast GTX

Sturdy, lightweight, and all-day all-terrain comfort.

I was heartbroken to have to give up my old Scarpa Egos and wasn't sure I'd find a comparable shoe. But, to my surprise and joy, I found the Free Blast and I love them! They are sturdy and light and have great traction on all kinds of terrain.

I wore them a few days on the track up the Khumbu Valley and they proved more than adequate. Good grip on rock and loose stuff and plenty of braking if I slid a little. They have a contoured and cushioned insole and it's one of the few shoes I've had in more than 20 years that do not need an aftermarket insole! That's like getting $50 off a new pair. Sadly, Zamberlan did not use these in my other models. 

The only drawback for me is the sock fit. While it does ensure a good fit once your foot is in the shoe, it can be a bit wonky for me to get them on. Hence the 4.5 rating. Maybe I'm just old and not as dexterous as I used to be but I guess I don't mind since with the GoreTex liner it keeps them waterproof, which they are. And, as I've said before, I have zero issues with hot or sweaty feet in GoreTex boots or shoes. 

Walking in these shoes feels great. They are light, weighing in a 1# 1.3 oz each and don't even feel that heavy on my feet. They feel very sturdy on the trail and could probably do light duty off trail. Because they are low tops, there can be issues with stuff getting inside, but on those days, I just put the gaiters on and it's all good. You'd have to do that with any shoe, so it's not a drawback at all. And because of the good heavy Vibram sole, gaiters stay put really well. 

These are my go-to day hikers and I feel like with a lighter pack they'd be ok on multi-day trips. Don't be deterred by the negative reviews. These fit great and they are made on Zamberlan's X-Active last and might feel narrow on a very wide foot. But try them on. They will take a few miles to break in but I feel like the fit is excellent with a thinner sock combo and with these shoes, thick socks aren't really necessary.

I love these shoes! 

Background

Been walking since I was a toddler.