A new mid-cut hiker brings stability and responsive traction to a trail near you. Article sponsored by Columbia.
Hiking is one of the most accessible outdoor activities. All you need is a trail, some seasonally appropriate apparel, and—perhaps most importantly—trail-ready footwear.
More on the footwear: A purpose-built hiking shoe is more than essential. It is the difference between a bad experience and a life-changing pursuit.
Introducing the Columbia Konos TRS OutDry Mid Shoe
In advance of fall 2024, Columbia Sportswear has unveiled its newest mid-cut hiker, featuring the Omni-MAX system: the Konos TRS OutDry Mid Shoe (available for women and men).
After trying it out on Ontario’s Bruce Trail, my first impression is a newfound surefootedness. I had been trail-running for a month, and compared to my runners, the Konos offers a wider platform to navigate more smoothly over terrain ranging from uneven turf to hardpacked dirt to rocks. And combined with the ankle support of the mid, my chances of turning an ankle shot way down.
At the same time, the Konos TRS is so lightweight that it has a trail-runner feel.
But it’s made to eat up rugged kilometres at a hiker’s pace whether that’s speedy, casual or somewhere in the middle. My pace when I’m alone tends to be faster and when I’m with my family, a little slower (with plenty of nature-exploring stops). Regardless of my pace, I can feel the Konos TRS midsole return little bursts of energy with each step.
This is Columbia’s Omni-MAX in action. This technology in the midsole and outsole provides exceptional traction, stability, and support for nonstop underfoot energy up and down the trail.
Omni-MAX Stability + Support
This midfoot support is thanks in no small part to “deflection domes”: small rubber cushions placed strategically where your foot strikes the ground. The midsole cushioning continuously adapts to pressure and enhances an already pillowy ride thanks to the generous amount of responsive foam. As the shoe encounters varied terrain and strikes differently, the deflection domes adapt, adding stability over any surface from sharp-cornered rocks to unpredictable scree.
Regardless of my pace, I can feel the Konos TRS midsole return little bursts of energy with each step.
Advanced Traction
The Omni-MAX “flex grooves” are sustained notches built between the lugs to help the shoe bend more naturally. (Thus the Konos TRS avoids the stiffness I associate with hiking boots in my past, which delivered good support but at the cost of limited flexibility.) As your shoe bends to varying degrees based on the terrain, the flex grooves help the outsole transition from the heel strike to the push-off of your forefoot. In effect, the flex grooves mimic the natural motion of your foot so the shoe moves over tough terrain with better coordination.
OutDry: All-Weather Confidence
Rain? No need to cancel plans or dash for shelter—the shoe’s OutDry waterproof-breathable tech keeps your feet dry and comfy throughout your adventures. And the sticky outsole compound (aided by those flex grooves) grips even in wet conditions. Someone might ask, “Why hike when it’s raining? Why not just stay home or go to the gym?”
These are both reasonable options when it’s raining but if you hike a lot, you will get caught in the rain sometimes; and if you’re a stalwart hiker, you won’t let it stop you. Slippery terrain is more hazardous but trekking poles can significantly reduce the chances of a fall. In any case, the extra-grippy and waterproof Konos TRS OutDry Mid, trekking poles and a waterproof shell (for example, Columbia’s Hikebound II Jacket for men or women) will leave you over-prepared to reap all the benefits of hiking in any weather. –Ned Morgan
The Men’s Konos™ TRS OutDry™ Mid Shoe retails for $170 MSRP and comes in three colorway options (Mountain Blue/White, Stone Green/Canyon Sun and Black/Shark). The Women’s Konos™ TRS OutDry™ Mid Shoe retails for $170 MSRP and comes in two colorway options (Moonvista/Blush Rose and Ti Grey Steel). You can find them both at columbiasportswear.ca.
