Customer Reviews The North Face Hedgehog Guide GTX

I purchased the Hedgehog Guide in both the waterproof and non-waterproof version to wear to Europe where I'll be hiking & biking as well as walking around cities. To test them out I wore them brand-new on a 10-mile hike around San Francisco. They provided excellent support, they were extremely comfortable and didn't rub or bother my feet at all. I was the only person in our family who wasn't complaining of sore feet at the end of the day. My only complaint is the laces, which constantly came untied even when I double knotted them. Before heading to Europe, I will be replacing the laces with a pair from my Brooks running shoes which stay perfectly tied. The North Face should test laces before placing them in shoes. There's nothing more annoying than wearing a 30-lb pack and having to keep bending down to re-tie the laces. I have the same issue with the laces on my North Face boots that I wear snow-shoeing. I love the boot, but hate the laces. At least the boot laces are long enough that I can triple knot them. My Hedgefrogs thankfully have no laces and are perfect!

Although I do some hiking, I bought these primarily as commuting shoes for non-winter months. They've kept me dry in torrential downpours. Soles are very stiff, a plus for my particular type of foot problem. Good traction for hiking but treacherous when wet on certain urban surfaces, such as metal escalators and ceramic tile (I know that's not what they're intended for). I usually take a wide, but regular fit me fine. Orthotics fit without having to remove manufacturer's insoles, so I'd say they run slightly large. Cons: These shoes are pretty deep. Without my extra orthotics, back comes up uncomfortably high. Laces would not stay tied, even when double knotted -- ridiculous when you consider how much these cost. They're a bit warm in hot weather and make my feet look bigger than they already are.

These are the least comfortable hiking shoes I have ever worn. Three main problems - the shoelaces don't stay tied, the back digs into your ankle, and there is absolutely no cushioning. After spending all day in these shoes today, I feel like the bottom of my feet are bruised.

So disappointed. Wore the previous version of these shoes (Hedgehog II?) for 5 years, until the mesh started wearing out. I love having waterproof shoes for running in the winter, so was expecting the same great shoe from TNF. After a month of wearing these new Hedgehogs almost daily, they are still stiff, and not broken in. I could probably put up with that if they were otherwise comfortable, but they're not. I feel like I am wearing clogs and not a outdoor shoe - the vibram sole in these does not provide much cushion or support.

I recently purchased these for a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. They were a great buy and wore wonderfully right out of the box! It rained and snowed while we were there and these shoes were a life saver.

Good firm support, but still nice and light. Truly waterproof and they come up high enough so that water isn't sneaking in on the sides, but not so high that they rub your ankles. I wear them as work shoes (zoo keeper) and am very happy with them.

I've had these for about 8 months and can't say enough about their durability and comfort. I wear them often, in all kinds of weather, and they perform just as I'd hoped. I've had no problem with the laces, you just have to pull the knot tight and they stay tied every time. I did have to order a half size larger than normal. I have bunions and a narrow heel and these give me ample space for my forefoot, but my heel doesn't slip at all. Because of my high arches, I add an insole on top of the one already in there and works great. I see they're on sale and am tempted to buy another pair!

These are excellent shoes. Comfortable right out of the box. I did not have the problem with shoelaces coming untied...just tied them twice. Also, they were quite flexible in my opinion...not an issue at all. Great traction on snow, gravel, outdoor paths. Worked great with snowshoes. Slippery on ice, but worked well with extra traction covers purchased separately. Love that they're waterproof!

Hedgehogs are a true hiking shoe and not a hiking-style sneaker. I can walk for miles on a rocky, rolling path in these where my Asics running shoes leave my feet sore after just one mile. The reason the Hedgehogs work is the "still sole" others have complained about. These have a stiff last in the sole which prevents the shoe (and therefore your foot) from having to bend around every rock on the trail. I also appreciate that North Face uses the more expensive technique of scaling their last in both length and width as sizes go up -- in contrast to the more common practice of just increasing length. In short -- I love these shoes and I hope North Face keeps making this line for a long, long time.

These shoes were awesome! I bought them because my boyfriend and I were going to Costa Rica and I needed some shoes for hiking. As we were hiking up the side of a mountain to a waterfall I was happy I had gotten these shoes and not the Nike running sneakers I had been planning on buying. These shoes provided great support, and traction (which kept me from falling down the mountain to my death! Haha). I hiked through streams, and the fact that they were waterproof made them even better. Unlike the other reviews I didn't have a problem with the laces, I just double knotted them and they stayed just fine. I would definitely buy these sneakers again.

Just got these in Dune Beige and love them! The color is more like a gray/brown rather than the brown in the photo, which is fine with me. After sending back several pairs of waterproof hiking shoes/boots that didn't fit because of my narrow heels and wide forefoot, these are going to work for me. I normally wear size 7-1/2 to 8, but ordered these in an 8-1/2 because of bunions on my forefoot. I've never worn an 8-1/2 in my life, in my opinion these run a half size small. (Maybe my feet are just getting bigger as I age??) Ordered another pair at the same time in blue, size 8, but they were too small. In any case, there is adequate room for my feet, heels don't slip, great cushioning and support. I added my own arch insert on top of the one already in there, and it works fine (heels still don't slip). They are very well made, feel stable and secure on my foot. Great tread for all kinds of conditions. Highly recommend! Thanks, Zappos, for the lightning fast shipping!

Love those shoes. I bought them the day before going to Peru, they didn't leave my feet for the 41 days that I was there. From the first hike until the last one they were just perfect, all my friends were complaining about having blisters with their shoes and for the first time of my life I didn't get any blister! However, the review before mine about the laces is true, I do recommend to change the laces.

I was looking for a shoe for light hiking and trail running. This shoe fits great and feels sturdy, and is not too heavy. Also love the design. I am very happy with my purchase and am excited to start wearing these shoes on the trails!

Awesome hiking shoes! Comfortable right out of the box. I read another comment about the laces coming untied. I find that double knotting works for me, but easy to switch out the cord type laces with traditional flat laces and they won't come untied. Gore-tex is the greatest product on the market. It is the ONLY material that is 100% waterproof and it is GREAT to have hiking shoes with the Gore-tex product. So nice not having to tip toe through slippery rocks when you can just step in the water! I highly recommend these shoes for people who could potentially come across any water, including rain/snow conditions. Super light and comfortable right out of the box. I wore them for the first time on a pretty strenuous hike and didn't have any rub spots or anything. Nice cushion at the ball of the foot and heel. I had originally tried a pair of salomon gore-tex hiking shoes and they didn't fit nearly as well. Also, this shoe looks pretty much like an athletic shoe, so I liked the appearance! Great color choices!

I am very satisfied with this shoe! True to size, very comfortable, and it is waterproof. I would definitely recommend this shoe to any of my friends.

I bought these shoes for hiking on rocky, muddy trails. For me, they provide great support and great protection. I don't feel the ground at all and when I misstep on rocks, roots, etc, my ankles haven't even noticed. These shoes seem heavy and clunky if you pick them up, however when I am hiking in them, I barely feel them! They did not give me any blisters or rub me in any spots. I have not had an issue with the laces as others have, I just pull them tight, double knot them, and then pull tightly again. Overall they are very sturdy for hiking.

I bought these shoes as I had a pair of 3 year old North Face Hedgehogs. I bought the same size 8.5 and I find these fit a little wider. I do put a custom orthotic in so can t comment in the arch support. I find the inside is higher and cutting into my ankle bone which the last pair did not. Not sure if I would recommend if you tend to pronate.

I was hesitant to purchase these sneakers because someone said the soles were hard. I do find the soles stiff, but that is fine if you are buying these as walking shoes, which I wanted. I liked the bright pink contrast on the sneakers, but wish the black color was not kind of "netting-looking" with the gray. I think these sneakers may be somewhat inflexible for running.

Love the shoe! I like to go hiking in the rain forest and they have a nice grip. As for the dry forest where there is a lot of heat they felt breathable but the sole felt warm to my foot (I was stepping on hot rocks). Other than that I chose a size 11 for comfort and I'm usually a size 10.

You will need your own insoles, the ones that come with the shoes are a joke. It may take a couple of insoles too as the shoes are quite deep. These are not shoes for heavy use, I walk about 30-40 miles a week in various terrain. The shoes have started separating from the sole, seams are coming apart by the toes, but they have remained waterproof. I won't buy another pair but they may be appropriate for someone who isn't quite as active as I am.

Very unhappy! These did not make it 9 months when they split at the little toe and sole on both shoes at the same time! These are not the Gore-Tex Hedgehogs I had been buying for five (or more years) because NF doesn't seem to be making that exact style and not only were they less comfortable and water resistant even the logo wore off!

Really disappointed in these shoes. I "invested" in a good pair of hiking shoes when I bought these. They were okay for wearing around the city but when I finally got them out on the trails, they were miserable. They come up pretty high and rub on the outside and inside ankle bones; they are probably the most uncomfortable athletic shoes I've ever had. I talked to another woman who bought North Face hikers and had a similar experience. Makes me really question how much thought and testing North Face puts into their products.