Disclosure: The Columbia Field Test Team contacted me to try these shoes at no cost to myself. My only responsibility was an agreement to complete a survey after trying the shoes. I was not pressured to write this review, nor was I pressured to make a positive endorsement.
On May 29, 2011 the Columbia Field Test Team emailed me the following:
Send us your mailing address, [shoe size] before this Tuesday, and we will send you a free pair of Master of Faster Low Omni-Tech shoes to try out in the field. We’ll follow up with a survey to capture your feedback after the test. Your expert feedback, honest and forthcoming, is what we will ask for in return. Tell us about the conditions you put it through. Tell us how it performs. Tell us how you feel.
So, I took them up on their offer. On June 17, 2011 I received the shoes.
When trying on the Columbia Master of Faster Low Omni-Tech for the first time, my initial reaction was that they are rather stiff and would require some breaking in. They seem to be built more like a lighter weight low-top hiking boot than a trail running shoe. The next couple weeks would tell me if that was a good thing. The fit is snug, which I like. I don’t like my foot moving around inside the shoe. Blisters are more likely to occur with a shoe that is too loose. Because of the stiffness, I thought it best to break in the shoes for a week or so before I wore them on a hike. I walk 3-4 miles every day for exercise, so the Columbia’s became my walking shoes. After about a week, some of the stiffness began to go away.
From the Columbia marketing team I was told, “The breathable mesh upper features Omni-Tech® waterproof-breathable technology for protection against the elements, welded seams for minimal-yet-strong support, and a Techlite™ collar and tongue for a comfortable fit. A three-part Techlite midsole with multiple density settings provides cushioning and support where you need it most, and a high-traction outsole boasts a built-in independent suspension system for great grip no matter what you’re cruising on.”
The first hike I wore the Columbia’s on was to Panthertown Valley, more than eight miles, so a good first test to be sure. When I hit the trail the shoes felt good. They were comfortable around my hiking socks and had good traction on the dirt and gravel surfaces of the trails. After a couple miles, I was into the hike and wasn’t even thinking about the shoes, always a good thing. When I am out on the trail, the last thing I want to worry about is if my gear is causing me distress.
The Master of Faster is very lightweight, only 12¼ ounces for a size 9. That weight is very comparable to other low-top hiking shoes I have worn. The Techlite midsole and Omni-Grip® high-traction rubber compound outsole provide the necessary cushioning and surface grip without adding significant weight to the shoes. I wanted to test the gripping capability of the outsole, so I took note when my friend and I were climbing a particularly steep granite trail section that had a wet surface. I was able to stride right along without any hint of a slip or slide. I did slide, however, in one muddy section, but I think it would have happened even in golf spikes. I left about a four inch skid mark where the trail crew had completely skinned the trail surface. It had rained the night before and left this area prone for slippage — not the shoe’s fault.
I also wanted to test the Omni-Tech® waterproofing liner that protects the inside of the shoes. Near the end of the hike I put my foot into a creek up nearly to the top of the shoe and held it there for about 10 seconds. When I pulled it out, my sock was still completely dry, and the shoe did not seem any more heavy from water saturation than it had been before. Waterproofing in a hiking shoe is very important to me because I do a lot of creek crossings and squishy mud tromping. The Omni-Tech® liner did not appear to be quite as breathable as other shoes with waterproof liners that I have worn. Either the mesh upper is not quite as airy, or the liner is a little heavier, but my feet got just a little bit hot when wearing the shoes for five hours.
The Columbia’s definitely passed their first excursion out on the trail. I had no blisters or other foot discomfort. My shins and knees were fine as well. I had no bruising on the bottom of my feet from rocky, rooty trail. I did not slip on wet rocks, and they stayed dry when I dipped my foot in the creek. When I got home and took them off, they did leave a little pile of trail crumbs that had gotten inside the shoes, something to keep an eye on for the next test.
A week later I wore the Columbia’s on a longer hike, this one a full 18 miles and eight hours. This would be a very good test as I absolutely have to trust my shoes when hiking that far. I did many of the same tests as the week before with water resistance and rock grippage. There was one especially steep downhill section of trail where there was a kind of loose marbling effect from pebbles and broken stones. It was so steep I was quite worried about slipping. The shoes handled it beautifully. The grip was superb.
Over such a long hike, I hit just about every trail surface there is in western North Carolina. There was gravel forest service road, wet and muddy black dirt, granite stone, roots and even a little red clay for good measure. The shoes performed equally well on all surfaces. My feet did get a bit warm again. After 13 miles I took the shoes off to dip my feet in the river, but I would have done that with any shoe.
This shoe style is presently available in three colors for men; Castlerock and Lime Green, Black and Chilli Pepper (the one they sent me), and Dark Shadow and Golden Glow. It also comes in Moonrock and Amporo Blue for women as well as a mid-top version if you need additional ankle protection and support.
Final result? I am very happy with the Columbia Master Of Faster Low Omni-Tech Trail Running Shoe. The cushioning is terrific. I managed an 18 mile hike with only tired feet, not sore. Again no blisters, no water leakage, no slipping. It’s only fair to say I did have another pile of trail crumbs when I took the shoes off. Apparently the upper doesn’t fit quite securely around my ankles. It certainly isn’t a comfort issue, but little pieces of debris do get inside the shoes. However, it was never anything I felt the need to remove the shoes to dump them out. The positives of this shoe far outweigh any minor negative annoyances. After more than two weeks of wear, and two long hikes, the stiffness is a thing of the past. If you are looking for a lightweight, durable, tough low-top hiking shoe, the Columbia Master of Faster is worth considering.
Disclosure: The Columbia Field Test Team contacted me to try these shoes at no cost to myself. My only responsibility was an agreement to complete a survey after trying the shoes. I was not pressured to write this review, nor was I pressured to make a positive endorsement.
I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, publisher of Meanderthals, and a passionate hiker. I live in western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my doorstep, so the content will focus on these areas, but let me know what you would like to see on the site. 
Pingback: Meanderthals | Shortoff Mountain Trail, Linville Gorge Wilderness