THE NORTH FACE - Men's Hedgehog Fastpack Shoes - Waterproof Hiking & Outdoor Trekking Shoes

Product Information

The mesh and leather portions of the upper all are intact, and we haven’t seen any signs of the toe cap peeling apart (which, based on user reviews, is occasionally an issue). This pair is slightly narrower (and therefore less comfortable) and no longer has Gore-Tex uppers - they're made out of something similar but not the same. The North Face also makes a women’s version, which has a similar upper, midsole, and outsole construction. And as touched on above, the Vibram outsole is holding up very well and should have a long lifespan. To see how it fared, I tested the shoe in terrain ranging from the rocky trails outside of El Chaltén, Argentina, to hikes back home in the Pacific Northwest.

This shoe has been around for more than a decade (the latest “2” was released a couple years ago), and is a proven choice for day hikes and short backpacking adventures. The outsole is constructed from Vibram rubber which offers durable protection on rocky terrain and grip on wet, snowy and even icy conditions. But of all the shoes I’ve tested over the past few years—including other The North Face products like the well-loved Ultra 110—the Hedgehog Fastpack is among the least comfortable I’ve worn. The North Face uses own and third party cookies for marketing, profiling and analytics purposes, and to ease your navigation on the site.

Seen on the feet of many an outdoor enthusiast the North Face hedgehogs are an iconic shoe giving a stable, sure footed result on uneven and wet terrain.

If you're the kind of hiker that tackles rocky, steep, uneven terrain with pace but likes the support of a boot rather than a shoe, the Hedgehog Fastpack II boots from The North Face are for you. And similar to competitors like the Merrell Moab 2, the Hedgehog has a fairly wide base, giving it a planted feel. The The North Face Men's Hedgehog Fastpack GORE-TEX® Approach Shoe has the following sustainability attributes.Further, the wider tread spacing along the sides of the shoe isn’t prone to caking up and effectively sheds mud and trail debris. Move swiftly over the trail in rain or shine, when you trek with The North Face® Hedgehog Fastpack GTX® hiking shoe underfoot. And while I can understand the Hedgehog’s appeal, particularly for those with flat feet, it disappointed overall due to consistent issues with foot soreness.

This will be either BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) or SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit), which are social auditing methologies and reports but are not an accreditation. The heavily cushioned design gets the clear nod in terms of all-around comfort, and we also like that the Merrell is offered in a non-waterproof “Vent” model (the Fastpack only is available in a Gore-Tex version). If you're the kind of hiker that tackles rocky, steep, uneven terrain with pace then The North Face Hedgehog Fastpack II Shoes are for you.

The North Face Men's Hedgehog Fastpack II is a mid-height waterproof hiker designed for long-distance treks over rugged and wet terrain.