 Hi all. Im interested in either the Hedgehog Mid GTX or the Vindicator Mid GTX.As far as possible I want to be able to take one pair on activity days and weekends.Ive read TNF website and its seems the Hedgehog is the closest to a "true allrounder"..The weight difference is not that great,so I was wondering would the Vindicator be more robust ? Thanks for any comments. I should say "activities" would be walking,light hiking (day etc),odd clambering over rocks,maybe a little MTB.I have bespoked footwear for each specific activity.
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| Edited: 06/06/08 12:22 |
 Ross, I had these but didn't get on well with them at all. Not really the fault of TNF except that they weren't very clearly marked as having motion control features to correct over-pronation. I haven't tried the shoes in question, though I believe ptc* is a fan of the Hedgehog if I remember correctly... hopefully he'll show up to confirm or deny the allegation  John
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Thanks John. The Hedgehog certainly seems the favourite at the moment.
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 Sounds like just what I'm looking for John.
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I've used the low cut version of the Hedgehog and have found it excellent on most terrain -- including rocks and wet wet grass in the Lakes and Highlands. It feels very light and flexible, but actually gives pretty good protection to the soles of your feet, being quite nicely padded. The uppers are thin, but you just have to be careful where you put your feet -- but then that's half the point of wearing such light shoes. Durability is surprisingly good, although I've tended to avoid using them on heathery country -- the most punishing -- because bits get inside too easily.
When heather is in prospect, and/or Pennine bogs, I've been wearing the TNF Pinyon XCR, which is a little bit beefier and higher cut. The uppers give a little more protection, but it's still very light and comfy, and has also impressed me. It might be that the vindicator is a replacement for this, but I'm not sure.
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 Funnily enough tying in with the Inov8 thread and their durability, my Hedgehog XCRs went in the bin a lot quicker than my Inov8s. I wouldn't buy them again, they just weren't as comfortable as my Roclites, I seem to remember getting blisters from them and the heat didn't disapate very well causing sweaty feet. Each to their own though.
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Mal, I gave mine (TNF Vapor Light) to a friend of the same shoe size who doesn't run. He's had great use of them for cycling and general walking for at least the last couple of years. I have come to the conclusion that if a shoe doesn't fit well, it could wear out faster (rub points on you are rub points on the shoe after all). Well worth a try if you didn't get on well with the minimalist inov8 / walsh category. The treads have improved in recent incarnations of the shoe but still aren't in the same category as traditional fell shoe.
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 Whats the deal with the TNF Cooper's hill? I saw on here recently they were coming out for spring 08 but I cant find any to try on. I love my Hedgehogs (low version) but want something lighter with no liner for off road running. I spoke to the guy at my local cotswold and he said they had 3 pairs in their Leeds branch, they took my details and said they would get a pair sent up for me to try. They phoned 4 days later to tell me they had none left and were phasing them out??? He seemed to think they were last years shoes.
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 just got the mid hedgehogs for 64 quid in millets and took them on a weekend trip to the lakes. first impressions are: nice and light. The foot bit was super comfortable for the entire weekend. on scrambling routes, there was good grip. my foot is quite wide and they felt like slippers. the ankle bit seems a bit more stiff. i didn't lace the top hole becuse the top of the tongue dug into my shin at the top. there was also a bit of a problem with the tongue bunching and rubbing on the top of the foot. support was good with the laces done to the top but without the top hole laced they were more flexible. this wasn't a problem for me because i was more interested in the ankle bone being protected from knocks rather than firm support. They held my heel well and stopped my feet sliding to the front when going downhill which has been a problem for me in the past due to the shape of my feet. they didn't feel too sweaty and it was pretty hot weather. i ended up with a hotspot where they rubbed under my ankle bone and a bit of tenderness on the tops of my feet from the bunching. this was only an initial test and this was done literally straight from the box so i would expect some rubbing. they do need some wearing in. try them on, check the tongue issues out for your shape of foot and think about whether you do want a lined shoe (i did)
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 The Coopers Hill are basically TNF's first fell-running shoe - hence the name. They're quite specialist by TNF standards, so it may be that very few retailers chose to stock them. The are definitely a new model for Spring / Summer 2008 btw. I have the North Face work book in front of me and I've also seen them in the flesh at TNF HQ in Kendal. You might want to have a look at the Rucky Chucky - we've got some on test and they're a decent off-road / trail-running shoe, though not as aggressively soled as the Coopers Hill. Much more of a running shoe than the Hedgehog, which is more of an all-round outdoors trainer. This year's TNF footwear range is huge, so there are quite a few other options as well, but the Rucky Chucky sounds close to what you're after.
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I've had two pairs of Hedgehog shoes and both went back after not-much wear as they leaked. They weren't an ideal fit for my rather wide foot, but didn't rub too much. I did find the soles of my feet getting rather tender after four or five hours brisk walking (and that hasn't happened in other footwear).
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Jon Im after something really aggressively soled kinda in the same vein as Walshes or the La Sportiva Crosslites. I'm currently using my road shoes but struggling with them and this is only summer, I'd hate to see the result in proper wet grass and mud. I had a look at the rucky chucky but felt there was too much going on in the shoe with cushioning and what not. I do seem to really get on with TNF shaped footwear. I had a old mid something or other that I literally walked the sole off a few years back in OZ, and I'm currently loving my Hedgehogs for walking. I can find a few places online to buy the Coopers hill but to be honest I'd like to try em on before I part with my cash. What are online retailers like with returns of footwear?
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 Tiso have offers on on the North Face kit right now I believe. I got an advertisement email from them the other day about it, either ten or fifteen per cent off it was. 
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I guess the online retailer thing is dependent on their terms and conditions. Normally I'd say that if one shoe from a brand fits, chances are others will too, but The North Face has a large number of different lasts for different activities, so it's not that simple. Actually my fave off-road running shoes are an old pair of TNF Ultra, erm, 102s, I think. Spot on compromise between grip, cushioning and sole thickness, but they've been superceded by the 103s and 104s, as is the way with any running shoe you like... I take your point on the Rucky Chucky, the tread is nothing like as aggressive as full-on fell-type shoe and they're a little high in the heel for my tastes on really rough ground.
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Clicky Just decided to take a chance and order them from the link above. Looks like a good price, I have had good deals from this place before. IIRC my Rab jacket came from there a while back at greatly reduced RRP. are your 102's lined? I like the look of the 103's 104's for mixed on and off road but the XCR liner puts me off.
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| Edited: 13/06/08 09:45 |
The 102s - or whatever they are - are unlined, which is one of the reasons I like them
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I've had nothing but problems with NF footwear. I had two pairs of Ultra 103 returned 'cos the stitching across the toe box feel apart. On the third occassion changed them for the hedgehog XCR. Im not overly happy with the hedgehog. I tend not to wear them now (other then cutting the grass, washing car, etc). It could just be that Im unlucky with NF shoes, but a few of my mates have had similar problems.
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Ive just got in from a wildcamp down near Moffat with Mad Jim to find a lovely pair of TNF Cooper's Hills waiting for me . Boy that was fast I only ordered them yesterday morning! They certainly look the business up close. The fit feels very similar to my hedghogs in footshape but nice and close to the ground with a mega aggressive sole unit so here's hoping. Only thing to make them perfect would be the Habanero colour scheme
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