Anyone tried out a pair of these yet?

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/Cat/122241?history=search%20results

I was drooling over a pair in Gaynors in Ambleside the other day, as a running shoe/gore tex fabric boot replacement but wasn't too sure about the sole grip.

Any practical experiences?

I think there's a recent review on the PlanetFear site.

They have quite a loose heel fit.

I bought a pair recently. Not really used them enough to give a full review but comments so far.

Presume they are waterproof but haven't found out yet.
Did Helvellyn horseshoe in them and they were fine, was still able to run in them at the end (after ditching rucksack).
Grip seems good allthough it was all dry at the time, they did have an interesting habit of picking up grass and stones between the cleats and dropping them in the car.
Obviously no ankle support so I'd probably not use them on anything I knew would involve large areas of unstable rocks.

I'll do a full review when I've used them a bit more.

Cameron mcneish has done a revue on page 101 of this months tgo, he seems to like them.

Bushy

I've got a pair. Not used them much but they seem good. Jon is right about the heal but I put my Superfeet in them which helped in that department. Really comfy, lightweight breathable and waterproof.

thanks all - seen the TGO review, and now the Planet Fear one as well

Time to go and try them out I guess

Got a pair for 70 yo-yos in Andorra and used them a bit in the hills. If you're intending to use them solely for running and are any thing like myself, the fact they're xcr makes no odds cos i sweat buckets and anyone making shoes that keep my feet dry after the smallest amount of activity will win nobles and be refered to in the same sentences as sliced bread. I think for a shoe to be waterproof they need to have a cuff-like opening to stop overspill. Your feet will get wet in these if running in the rain or by running through any self respecting puddle. i.e. you will have to hop from foot to foot like a virgin fire dancer to stay dry.
However they are light-weight, comfy and grip well. I tend to use them more for scrambling, day hikes and the like and find them perfect until you step on that patch of bog.....

Sorry to hijack the thread a little... I'm currently in the market for a pair of running shoes for running on tracks and off-road too (i.e not purely fell running) and have thus looked at the TNF hedgehogs, inov8 terrocs etc. Can anyone recommend any other trainers worth looking at for the same use?

I'm stunned. I can't believe anyone would consider running in the Hedgehogs. I've got a pair and they are cracking shoes for walking in but totally unsuitable for running. Much too heavy and not enough flexibility and the achiklled area is cut much too high for off-road running. Don't think TNF really market them for running.

Ben, the Innov8 range is fantastic. I have mudrocs and terrocs and both are brilliant. Also look at Adidas Swoop they are brilliant for narrow feet. If you want a perfect shoe for a combination of road/trail running the Adidas Supernova Trail is superb but the fit is a bit narrow for some people.

Jon, you are right about the heel fit. Not good on a running shoe

Postscript .......
..picked a pair up for non packing time in the Lakes soon.
Initial feel is comfortable, with a better feeling of foot protection than trainers, but a little warm.
I don't think the last point will be an issue where I'm going though
;-)

Saucony Grid Omni 5 Trail Shoe, Saucony Grid Omni 5 On & Off Road Running Shoe

My wife has just bought some, only used twice but she likes them so far, looks a good vibram sole and goretex liner.

I tried a pair on recently in my search for approach shoes. They were my second choice shoe - felt really comfy straight out of the box but they also had a disconcerting bounciness when I walked in them. Out of all the approach shoes I tried on, they were the ones that felt most like trainers and seemed pretty flexible compared to the competition. In the end I went for a pair of Meindls which gave me a better overall fit.

Richard L

......and one more follow up for the moment- just tried a couple of hours over rough track n heather in the New Forest. Well as rough aa sit gets around here
;-)

My feet feel remarkably fresh compared to using Brashers over the same route. My walking speed picked up as well. Strange.

I have used Saucony grids on the same route, but the hedgehogs give a lot more support. There's nowhere near the level of flex that I had with the trainer. I suspect the goretex liner is providing this.

Every so often I get the weird feeling that these are too 'firm' on my feet. But as to comfort and usefulness they're growing on me quite rapidly.
I can't wait to try some low level stuff with a pack on. But once on the high fells it's back to boots for me until I've a bit more confidance in the cross trainer approach. I like the protection of boots, even if it's only my perception.

On a side note - I saw in TGO a reference that Innov8 had a new shoe in progress- possibly lined?
Seems to counter most of the negatives I associate with the lightwight footwear approach, if you discount the ankle/support arguement - and let's not get into that one again!

A thumbs up from me so far

Why oh why didn't they do a non-goretex Hedgehog??? I really like the look of them, North Face shoes do well with my feet but dont think I can cope with a membrane.

Ben, The Resilience looks like it has the same upper (without the membrane) but it doesn't have the new Mikeno outsole so probably feels nothing like the Hedgehog. It does suggest that it would be fairly easy for TNF to do a non-membraned version though.

John Hee, you talk of rough ground, well I have taken my Hedgehogs to the summit of Scafell Pike via Mickledore which is scree. They coped fine. In relation to Inov-8 a lot of people use Sealskinz with them in prolonged bad weather or just grin and bear it in the not so bad weather. I have a pair of Flyroc 310 and they are very difficult to take off your feet because they are just so comfy.

Ben Bloggs the lining is XCR and does work quite well I have used them in pretty hot weather doing some hard work and they coped fairly well and I run hot, if that helps you any.

Have used Hedgehogs on the Aonach Egach Ridge a couple of weeks back and on the Lakes 3000s (48 miles, 22 hours) last weekend. Very comfortable on both trips with a lightweight load on my back. Good for the scrambling, good for the support, good for the distance.

Have used them with Conformable footbeds with no probs.

No real problem with the membrane though it is surplus to requirement. The shoes are quite cool in breeze when you're not working. Been lucky so far and not had to use them in any serious damp weather.

Sole shows some minor shredding after Scafell/Scafell Pike but I'd expect that after that kind of terrain.

Sole pattern does occasionally catch on seams/laces of other foot when I'm clumsily stumbling!

Yesterday I wore the Hedgehogs to the supermarket (1 mile) and carried home a pack filled with 12 litres of fruitjuice cartons and the rest of the shopping. I could feel the midsole buckling under that excess weight - I've found other EVA midsoles, on boots/shoes/the lot, do the same.

So superb for lightweight trips, but wouldn't want to use them on trips that involve carrying a heavy load.