Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Trail Model Hiker 4 Water Resistant Low

These shoes have held up very well. They are great for wet grass and muddy trails. Performance has met my needs, so much so that I have repurchased them and will do so again when needed in the future.

Had to return for larger size - 10.5 vs my normal 10. Have same problem with New Balance shoes running small as well. Once I got the proper fit, have been very happy with this shoe. Broke them in on a 4 mile hike with no problems.

Quite comfortable for walking, everyday wear and light hiking. I got the black version, which my teen daughter thinks is way cool! I like the solid soles that cushion my feet while walking on pavement and that give enough height to permit walking through minor puddles. So far as I can tell, they really are waterproof, so they are the go-to pair for rainy days and snowy times. I just don't have to worry about it. Some commenters note that these seem to run narrow, and for me, with narrow feet and a world of stores that don't carry narrow, it's a blessing. My quibble is with the shoelaces, which are neat but easily come untied within an hour. I have to double-tie them. I had an old pair of sneaks that had wavy laces, with alternating thicker and thinner sections, and they never came untied. A hint to the Bean product development department.... Or hey, just start selling secure laces like that.

Hubs loves these.

I'm very pleased with this shoe. I have wide feet and I ordered the wide model the same size as running shoes I wear. I normally wear a size 10.5 shoe but in running and hiking shoes I get an 11.5. The extra room ensures I don't have any aches or pains on long hikes and runs. This is the first pair of hiking shoes I've gotten from LL Bean and I wasn't sure how they would fit but the fit seems to be true, they fit me same as my running shoes of another brand. These are rugged shoes, I've already worn them on several hikes of 5 plus miles plus daily on my job where I stand all day long. They show no signs of wear and at the end of long days on my feet and long hikes my feet feel great - no discomfort. I definitely recommend them and would buy them again.

At age 75 I wondered if I would be comfortable in hiking shoes. I need hot have worried. They are sturdy, solid and very comfortable. I am, as usual, very pleased. Why not? With over 40 years of LL Bean product experience and never having been disappointed these shoes were a safe bet.

Good fit, comfortable, great traction.

These shoes are very comfortable with good support. Easy to keep clean and waterproof as advertised.

Purchased the black ones. Been waiting form them. Great shoes. LL Bean quality. Love them. Very comfortable. Very dressy. Look great with casual clothing. Pics are NOT ACTUAL COLOR for black on website. Real color is darker black than pics. The top of shoe is way darker than pic. The sole color is more gray thsn beige. Im happy with actual black color.

These are replacements for Trail Model Hikers that I had for 6+ years (only reason I replaced those was the tread finally wore out, but the uppers were still in very good shape--might try to have them resoled for a backup, if affordable). They are very comfortable in the wide size. They breathe well and have substantial sole support and cushioning. Using them for daily dog walks, I'm impressed with how these shoes enhance the spring in my step and prevent fatigue--I could walk in them all day. I will definitely also use them for travel. The waterproof membrane has kept my feet dry in rainstorms--stepping in deep puddles and hiking through wet grass. The membrane also acts as a good wind barrier, keeping your feet warm down to the mid 30's (when wearing wool socks). FYI, the first pair were defective: the seam above the heel in the left shoe protruded and gave me a blister. But kudos to LL Bean's excellent and courteous customer service--the gold standard in retail shopping! Despite waiting several months to return them because I was busy, Bean exchanged the defective pair and had the new ones to me in short order, hassle free. The review above references the new pair.

My son is a music teacher and is on his feet all day long. These shoes have seen him through long band practices and football pep bands in all kinds of weather. It made a great gift.

These shoes are a great fit, true to my measurements. They are light weight and comfortable. Feel really sturdy. I haven't done any hiking yet, but I feel confident they'll be tough and good performers.

This is the second pair of these hikers. The first pair gave my husband many great miles of comfort and dry feet. We walk our dogs daily through wooded trails no matter what the weather. These are durable and last a few years. Very pleased so he was eager to have another pair. Fits true to size.

I bought this for my husband and we were on a 14-day trip. He wore them everyday, he says they are very comfortable, warm. Highly recommend them.

I bought one, loved it and bought two more just in case this is discontinued.

I had purchased LL Bean's shoes called "Snow Sneakers" several years ago, and wanted to buy another pair. The current model seems to have been changed as far as the fit, so I searched the site for alternate possibilities, and found these. These shoes are extremely comfortable, and very sturdy; I expect to get a good few years' use out of them. The size I chose fits extremely well; a little bit more snug than I expected, but still very comfortable. There was also a special price going on the color I wanted which was an extra bonus. Also, I had some questions about this shoe, so I spoke to an LLB customer service rep, who was extremely helpful. Thanks for a great pair of shoes!

I purchased these hiking shoes for hiking the national parks. After 3 hikes they have been amazing, durable and true to size.

I love these shoes. I buy 10.5 wide - they are wider than a medium but a bit more snug than some wide shoes. They give support but also have some flexibility, so are very comfortable to walk in. They don't always have the wide ones, so I currently have three pairs - two in reserve (they last me about 8 months). I walk about 3.5 miles/day on sidewalks and through a path in the woods. I also sometimes use them for mountain trails - very appropriate. I appreciate the fact that they are somewhat waterproof. I tried all four colors available over the last few years. I bought a pair of the brown ones once but they were a bit stiffer and not as comfortable so now I just buy the grey ones. I used two pairs of socks to break in the brown ones but the grey ones were comfortable right out of the box.

Much more support than a sneaker, but more comfortable than a full hiking boot. I needed more support than sneaker or running shoes and these provide it very well. They were more comfortable than the higher price model in the show room. The only negative point is that they do make my feet hot. If that is an issue for you I think they make the same model with breathable material, mine were the waterproof version.

I wear between 10.5 and 11, so I ordered 11's. I use a gel pad insole for walking. When I put the insoles in, the shoes fit perfectly, just like my other size 11's. I wore them out of the box new, no break-in this morning, walked 2.5 miles. They feel great, like I've had them for years. They are good shoes for the price, especially when on sale. I may treat them with a waterproofing spray.

I've been wearing these hiking shoes almost daily for a year on semi-rugged trails, logging 2-5 miles a day (except when the snow's heavy). I have a narrow foot so I added some Dr. Scholls-type shoe inserts; the fit was perfect after that. The shoes have held together nicely, showing only some minor wear around the ankle, and the tread still has a sure grip. I recently bought a replacement pair on sale to store away, as shoe models are often discontinued. I also bought a high-ankle version of the same shoe to use on more rugged trails to guard against rolling and possibly spraining my ankle. That should hold me for a few more years.

Just received recently - so far, really nice. Very light and very comfortable. Feet stayed dry when walking on a snowy day. I think they are a very good value compared to others I have purchased.

This is a great pair of shoes. I wear them every day during the winter as they are light hikers and ideal for the 1 hour walk to the University every morning. They last a season (plus use in the summer) and then have to be replaced. Perfectly normal. The only difficulty is that I always have to buy new shoelaces after about 3 months as the ones that come with the shoes have stretched out. It is not a major expense, mind you, but it is an annoyance. The shoelaces gradually simply get longer and longer until finally they are too long to be used. I only have this problem with LLBean shoes and boots; other companies I buy from don't seem to suffer this defect. But it isn't expensive or much of a bother buying shoelaces but you might order an extra pair or even an extra two pairs when you buy the shoes.

I was looking for a shoe that would hold up to rain and snow. No, not a foot of snow, just a shoe that would handle wet conditions. And this Trail Model 4 worked out fine. The look and comfort are that of a tennis shoe, and I also got rugged and waterproof. Reasonably priced, too.

These are sturdy enough for construction work, while still being comfortable indoors.