As the hot season arrived, I thought I’d try some of the extremely lightweight hiking apparel available now. I’ve had a Patagonia sweater for 30 years that works and fits as good as new, so I thought I’d look at their offerings. Patagonia marked down a lot of their summer stuff for end-of-season, so I purchased their Trail Maker Shorts and Capilene 1 SW Stretch T-Shirt. It’s fair to say I loved them both the first time I put them on, and using them has done nothing to change my mind.
The Trail Maker Shorts [pictured above] are made of very lightweight microfiber polyester that is recycled from used soda bottles, unusable second quality fabrics and worn out garments, and 9% spandex. The inner liner is moisture-wicking and formfitting, using a soft and stretchy tricot fabric that is very comfortable and supportive. It is then coated with Patagonia’s proprietary Deluge® DWR, a water repellent finish. Add all that together and you have a remarkably comfortable and airy pair of shorts.
I’m a little guy. I am 5’9″ and weigh about 138 pounds, with a 30″ waist. So I wear size small clothing. It’s getting harder and harder to find size small these days. It seems like the scale keeps getting larger and larger too. What is a medium now is what used to be XL 20 years ago, or so it seems to me. Patagonia offers size small, and even x-small in some items. The liner layer fit nicely snug like I like, a fit I have trouble finding in other lined shorts. The first time I wore them was during my daily exercise walk and core workout. Unlike with cotton underwear, the liner kept me dry, with no chafing or other irritating friction. There was no bunching or riding up; the shorts liner stayed snug around my thighs and butt. I have since found the same comfort when out on the trail for hours at a time.
The outer layer is so light and breathable, it’s like having next to nothing on. The length is just above my knees, an 11″ inseam. The waistband is elasticized, with a drawstring, but the sizing was perfect for me without having to adjust the string. There are plenty of pockets for hiking, but because of the lightweight nature of the material, it is easy for small items to fall out of the pockets when seated. There are two front drop-in pockets that are plenty big enough for my point-and-shoot camera. The two back pockets are also large, with one being zippered. There is an elasticized key fob in the zippered pocket to help with that all-important car key security. That’s one of my hiking nightmares — losing my keys out in the wilderness. There is also a side pocket down the right leg that is perfect for my iPhone. It has a velcro closure that holds the phone securely in place.
The small, subtle Patagonia logo on the front and back of the shorts is reflective, if you happen to be out after dark. Have to pee? Pull them down, there is no fly in these shorts. For some reason they’ve sewn a faux fly into the shorts for appearance — kinda hokey and unnecessary in my view.
Natural fibers like cotton, and the wool your mother made you wear growing up, tend to hold moisture. Through exertion, like climbing a mountain, I sweat, even when it’s cold. Likely you do too. A cotton t-shirt next to my skin would simply soak up the perspiration, and hold it in the shirt. This can cause chafing, but worse, it adds unnecessary weight to the garment, and you run the risk of overheating. For the past decade or so, apparel manufacturers have gotten much better at creating “wicking” baselayer products to keep us dry. Microfibers and polyesters have been good choices for this. Wicking occurs because of capillary action, the ability of water to flow through porous materials. If the base layer wicks moisture away from your skin, you stay cooler in summer, and warmer when it’s cold out.
The Capilene 1 SW Stretch T-Shirt has also been delightful for me. Capilene® is Patagonia’s proprietary microfiber fabric. This is their lightest weight Capilene tee, the SW stands for silk weight. Capilene baselayers feature a moisture-wicking polyester fabric that dries quickly. I found that even after a strenuous climb, or session of exercise, the shirt would totally air dry within 20 minutes, or less. Like the shorts, Capilene polyester is also recycled, recyclable and features Gladiodor® garment odor control.
The shirt does have 15 UPF sun protection rating, not a lot compared to other microfibers, but remember this is their lightest weight Capilene. The heavier Capilene also has a higher UPF level. Like the shorts, the tee was sized just right for me. It has a snug, but not overly restrictive fit. The length is good — it can be worn out, or is long enough to tuck in and show your fabulous abs. This particular shirt is a crew neck with a ribbed collar.
I’ve worn the shorts and shirt hiking a couple times now and they maintain their shape well. Despite sweating considerably, neither item holds my body odor, unlike some other microfibers I’ve tried that smell horrible from perspiration. I’ve laundered each and there was no shrinkage, or stretching, no snags in the material. They both maintained the same snug, comfortable fit they had when new. Patagonia advertises that their garments with the Deluge® DWR finish have like-new water repellency after years of extensive use. We shall see.
This is good stuff. I am very happy with my Patagonia shorts and shirt purchases, but I’m not surprised because Patagonia has built a solid reputation for quality, durable products for decades. They are a bit pricey, but don’t let the sticker shock dissuade you. If my thirty year old sweater is any indicator you definitely get your money’s worth. Do like I did and wait for their end-of-season markdowns or holiday sales.
I have not received compensation for the endorsement of this product. The product was not given to me by the manufacturer or any of their representatives. I paid for the product myself.
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 have been wearing Asics, Saucony, and Mizuno running shoes to exercise walk for nearly a decade now. So I have become familiar with the comfort, support, cushioning and durability a quality shoe can add to my exercise routine. The last thing I want to think about when I’m exercising is my shoes. During hot summer hiking I would definitely tire of my hiking boots. They are great boots for cooler weather, or for rough rocky terrain, but for summer hiking I was looking for something lightweight, low top, trail durable, and water resistant. I ended up choosing the Montrail Mountain Masochist GTX 2, and I’m glad I did. Although this is really a trail running shoe, I also find it works great for hiking.
The first time I tried them on in the store, I noticed a feature that would be ideal for me. The Mountain Masochist contains a medial post providing very much needed arch support. I have flat feet and overpronate significantly in my walking and running gait. For those who may not know what that means, Runner’s World Magazine offers a brief overview called Pronation, Explained that puts in words why that post is so beneficial to me. My arches depress, my ankles roll inward significantly more than the recommended 15%, causing a wobble and very tired feet and legs. Getting the proper support from the shoe helps keep me injury free and able to exercise day in and day out. The post in the Mountain Masochist is perfect.
The Mountain Masochist is extremely lightweight, only 11.4 ounces, perhaps the lightest trail shoe I have ever felt. That weight is very comparable to the aforementioned Asics, Saucony, and Mizuno street shoes; a remarkable technological achievement considering they must also be trail durable. Trail shoes usually pick up most of their weight from the additional polyurethane or PVC that is needed to thicken the sole so all the rocks and roots don’t gouge the feet. The Montrail folks angle the grooves or blades of the outsole to help get a better grip in dirt or gravel trail surfaces. These blades enable a reduction in overall shoe weight.
The construction of those blades is a proprietary technology Montrail calls Gryptonite™. They advertise it as being slip resistant, providing good traction on both wet and dry surfaces. I can definitely vouch for that. On a recent hike in the Shining Rock Wilderness, I was scrambling around on a very smooth and slick quartz surface. Considering my buddies and I were on a pinnacle with steep drops on three sides, it was a pretty dangerous environment. My partners were having real slippage problems with their shoes, but I was gripping like a bighorn sheep in my Montrails. They wondered why I wasn’t having the same trouble they were. I just shrugged and said, “It’s the shoes man.”
When I was searching, I also wanted a shoe with a GORE-TEX® liner to help keep my feet dry when crossing creeks or hiking in the mud. In the nine months I have been wearing the Mountain Masochists I have stepped in goop and squish up to the rims of my shoes several times and on all occasions my socks and feet have stayed completely dry. The GORE-TEX® simply doesn’t leak. Now, I don’t purposefully walk straight through creeks. I’m not silly. But I know when I’m skipping across rocks that if I get my shoes in the water for a short time I don’t have to worry about wet socks. The Mountain Masochists also come in a version that does not have the liner if you want a little bit more breathability. I have not found that to be a problem. The mesh upper in the GTX version is very cool and breathable even with the GORE-TEX®.
My only complaint with the Mountain Masochist is the last lace eyelet. I usually like to use this eyelet to help pull shoes tight around my heel. However, when I use this upper eyelet it pushes unmercifully against the bone near my ankles causing discomfort. So I simply don’t use that last eyelet and all is well. I still get a good snug fit from heel to toe that is totally comfortable.
At this time the GTX 2 is only available in one color: navy/sunshine. It would be nice to have more of an earth tone available for us hikers and trail runners. The version without the GORE-TEX® liner does come in three alternative colors, primarily grey with different piping and accents.
As I’m sure you’ve guessed by now, I am very happy with my Montrail Mountain Masochist GTX 2 low cut hiking shoes. I have been using them since September 2010 and have probably logged at least a couple hundred miles of hard hiking in them. They really aren’t showing any wear yet at all, speaking volumes to their durability. They are just as comfortable as when they were new — they slip on like butter. Both the uppers and soles are easy to clean with any shoe store cleaner or even just water and a brush. I definitely like these shoes and will probably buy another pair whenever these wear out.
I have not received compensation for the endorsement of this product. The product was not given to me by the manufacturer or any of their representatives. I paid for the product myself.
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. 
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