Patagonia Drifter A/C SKU: #7631865

Brad M

from Decorah, IA

I decided to try these shoes against my better judgment. After all, I've been very happy with Merrill shoes in the past, and Patagonia is a good clothing maker but what do they know about shoes? I'm happy to report that these shoes are awesome. In fact I did order these and the Merrill Chameleon 3's for comparison, but after trying on both and walking around my house I decided to go for the Patagonia's. I've been wearing them to school daily and they are very comfortable for walking around campus and standing in front of the class. I'm looking forward to having them for vacation this summer where we'll be doing lots of walking.

Anonymous

from Montpelier, Vermont

Nice shoes and a good look. Little squeaky out of the box but hoping that goes away soon. Breathe nicely and are very comfortable. See how they do this summer.

Brands I'd also recommend: Merrell

Jay K

from Groveland, CA

These shoes fit very similarly to the leather goretex Drifters that I bought last winter. But, they have way better ventilation. I like the roomy toe box and the vibram sole which has a nice grip on rocky trails. As I discovered on the Mist trail in Yosemite, they are not the least bit waterproof, but they do dry very quickly.

Wallace L

Great shoe. Very comfortable and great traction so far. I took it on a 12 mile hike right out of the box and didn\'t experience any discomfort. I\'ve only taken it about 30 miles so far so not sure about long-term wear but it seems very sturdy.

Kirk N

from New York

I am hard on sneakers. Extremely hard. I engage in all manners of outdoor activity, home improvement hijinks, and generally put a lot of wear and tear on my "daily use" sneakers. The Drifter A/Cs have performed well; meeting expectations if not exceeding them. After 3 months of everyday use there are minimal signs of wear and tear. They've held up better than the Merrell Moab ventilator, by a long shot. Good sneaker, sharp looking too. Fit a bit snug out of the box, but after an hour they were perfect. No blisters or hot spots. The price is a bit steep, but Patagonia's pricing formula has always included a few extra points for Mr. Chouinard's high view of the brand name + a few more for their (relatively) responsible production practices and business ethics. Bear that in mind; you are paying more, but not necessarily getting more product...maybe a little extra karmic boost, long term. Enjoy. Or don't. I have.

Brands I'd also recommend: Asolo, Innov8, Chaco

Lisa H

from Colorado

These were amazing! They are light yet sturdy and required no break-in. I did a challenging uphill backpack trip carrying a bout 30 lbs the day after I bought them and was fine the whole time, even over stream crossings!

Rod

from Chicago

As advertised; the fit was perfect and no break in time needed at all. Have worn them regularly and on full day of walking, around, my feet remained dry and comfortable. The collar on the heel is soft and extremely comfortable. I couldn't be more pleased; a perfect shoe for our Ireland hike this October.

Rick S

from Scottsdale, AZ

I was looking for some professional advice on a good pair of comfortable trail shoes so searched the internet and read the Outside Buyer's Guide September version. The Patagonia Drifter A/C was my choice. However, when I went to buy them it was not so simple. REI, would be the logical choice to carry these. Not so. Then I figured the Patagonia factory store here in Phoenix would be the place to go. Not so. Nobody in the entire Phoenix market carries the number one rated trail shoe! Wake up Buyer's! At any rate, I was provided Zappos as the place to order by the Patagonia direct store. I have wide feet and it was a concern. I headed to REI to try on a similar model to see if my "EE" feet stood a chance. Well, normally I wear a 9 1/2 ee so I sized up to a 10 d and it fit very well. So I ordered a pair from Zappos. I must say these are probably the most comfortable shoes I have every worn. I would say break-in is not a consideration. I immediately headed out for a 10 day float/hike trip in Idaho. These shoes are great. If you are considering, don't think twice. The team that wrote the review in Outside Buyer's Guide nailed it.

Bill

from Bend, OR

Awesome shoes! Patagonia definitely got it right with these all around shoes. The most amazing thing is they are very comfortable whether I have on thick or thin socks.

PATRICK

from Madison, WI

Great shoes right out of the box. No break in. Instant great comfort. Probably the best fitting shoes ever for me. Better than Keen, Nike, Merrill. I work hard all day doing renovations in these shoes and they are my favorites for the trails on the weekends too. I wish the laces would stay tied, however. I suppose I could change them out if it becomes intolerable.

Scott P

from Hawaii

These shoes were good to go straight out of the box with no break in necessary. Light and comfortable, they still sport a tenacious Vibram sole that really grips Hawaii's rich and often slick volcanic soils. If anything, the sole's too clingy. I bring a lot of nature home with me, and cleaning all the buttons and grooves after each hike takes a little while. But the shoes take a pretty good pounding and wash up nice. Don't expect any sort of waterproofing. They're designed to be stay cool, and that means they're perforated with lots and lots of little holes that let in every drop of water you chose to step through.

Anonymous

from Kentucky

Most comfortable shoes I've ever owned! The stiff midsole provides exceptional support even when packing a load. I've walked for 4 and 5 hours at a time in these shoes and my feet felt great at the end of the trek. This A/C version has the mesh toe and side panels, and they work. My feet have never felt hot in these shoes and when there's a bit more than a light breeze, you can feel it through the shoes. I've worn the shoes through moderate rain showers, and surprisingly, my feet stayed relatively dry, my socks were only damp. By the next morning both socks and shoes were completely dry. They are truly the best shoes I've ever owned! The only word of caution I offer, is these shoe sizes run slightly small. I got these a half size bigger than my measured shoe size.

Jack A

from Ojai, California

These are great low-top hiking shoes. Great fit, great traction, comfortable and supportive. They ain't the most stylish, but hey, you can't have everything, I guess. In every other way, they're excellent.

Loren M

from Muscle Shoals, AL

Excellent shoes. Very well made and worth every penny. If you are planning on wearing medium heavy hiking sock, definitely order one whole size larger.

Anonymous

from Westfield NJ

I bought the Patagonia Drifters and Merrell Chameleons for my boyfriend. He didn't like the feel and fit of the Merrells, so they were returned. He loves the Drifters. They were true to size and very comfortable right from the start with no breaking in required. A great shoe.

Brands I'd also recommend: keen, merrell

Livestrong_1966

from Fuquay-Varina, NC

I was searching for a replacement shoe for my Keen Voyageurs which I left in Haiti. I tried on multiple shoes at an outdoor store and other stores and just couldn't find the right one. I researched online and the Patagonia Drifter A/C has some really good reviews and was an Outside Gear Winner. I have other Patagonia items and they make top notch clothes so I took a chance. Very comfortable shoes right out of the box. The shoe is true to size. I had to size up a 1/2 size with Keens. I have been walking in them for almost a week and they are very comfortable and roomy. Also, Zappos service and delivery are top notch. I have bought from the online store a couple of times and they are awesome to deal with. You get what you order and on time! Thanks!

Brands I'd also recommend: Patagonia, Keens, Chaco

Melinda H

from Columbia, SC

My husband loves these shoes! He says they are the most comfortable he has ever had. They look great as well!

Bart

from the chagrin river valley

Great shoes! Who needs Gortex or Tevas, these are great for forests, rocks, prairies and river bottoms, just dry them out by the fire at night!