The new TR1 Merge by Astral is the highest-performing amphibious hiker we know.
Astral’s TR1 Merge 2.0 (for women and men) is a powerful hiker with matchless benefits. In it, you can hike in conditions no other shoe or boot could ever handle. In short, you can hike amphibious.
Some background: Astral’s design approach is informed by paddlers accustomed to navigating steep mountain riverbanks when they have to—i.e., walking (or crawling) over soaked boulders with a kayak on one shoulder. A fall in this environment would spell disaster. So your footwear needs to grip like no other.
So Astral set to making footwear that moves with balance and stability. By combining a level footbed and wide toe box, every Astral shoe and sandal is designed to provide what they term as ‘Balanced Geometry’—respecting the foot’s natural position.
Clearly, humans are most balanced with their feet flat on the ground. And Astral’s Level Footbed allows the foot to stand, walk and run in a flatter, more balanced position. This design approach (also referred to as ‘zero drop’) allows the body to function in the way it was designed by nature.
Additionally, human toes and feet tend to splay from side to side, to lend support and stability to the entire body. Many traditional shoe designs compress the toes, limiting their movement—and thus the body’s overall stability. Astral’s wide toe box allows toes to splay as nature intended.
Unlike standard rubber compounds, Astral’s proprietary G.15 Rubber outsole works exceptionally well with a variety of wet surfaces. And due to the overall design, the outsole conforms to the ground, ensuring the greatest surface area of rubber is in contact, maximizing friction.
All this adds up to extra confidence and safety for hikers navigating wet, unpredictable and diverse terrain. The TR1 Merge boasts the ankle support of a mid-cut boot but feels more like a minimalist trail runner.
Plus: Astral’s minimalist construction reduces materials, adhesives and overall weight. The TR1 Merge 2.0 hiker is exceptionally light and breathable. We found the TR1 Merge 2.0 more breathable and faster drying than a GORE-TEX equivalent. (We’re not saying that GORE-TEX doesn’t work, but water will eventually find a way in—and slosh around uncomfortably while you walk. Astral’s design avoids this by integrating drainage and ultra-quick-dry materials.)
The TR1 Merge boasts the ankle support of a mid-cut boot but feels more like a minimalist trail runner.
Astral evaluates and optimizes every component of the TR1 Merge 2.0 (and all their footwear) for its ability to endure all-day soaking, shed/drain water, dry quickly, stay non-stinky and grip on wet terrain. All this, and the boot contains 100% recycled (rPET) upper mesh shell and removable EVA sockliner.
Astral is continuously innovating. Learn more here.
Buy Astral in Canada at Altitude Sports.
All-Conditions Hiker
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