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

This is my third pair I was buying. Like some of the other reviewers said, they are much smaller then the past pairs. Ordered same size as past and barely fit on my foot. Had to return.

I have purchased several pairs of the Trail Model, and this is my first disappointment. Normally a good fit, this pair seems a half size too small.

My husband has been ordering similar shoes from LL Bean for years, and these are definitely smaller than usual. He ordered a pair just like these, only ankle boots along with this pair, that fit perfectly. He has been trying to wear them around the house a little everyday to try and stretch them out, and they have stretched a little. He ordered a 10M. He is afraid a wide is too wide and a half size up would be too long, so we're hoping that they will eventually stretch out and fit fine.

Well, the shoes were tight across the Metatarsal bone (large toe bone) and as a result it hurt to wear the shoes for the first 7-10 times. This is beginning to go away a little as the shoes cushioning compresses more over time. Over all the shoes seem pretty well built with good treads. The styling is nice. Rated lower just due to the tight fit across the toe.

I was trying to replace my almost identical shoes that were purchased 9 months ago from LLB. Those shoes fit perfectly. Of course in the constantly changing offerings, they're no longer available. They were EE so I ordered the same size EE and right out of the box they're more tight. I'm hoping they'll stretch slightly. I'll re-post if they do.

I love the shoe and it fits great. The only problem is that the shoe has a strong moldy/musty smell to it. I returned and exchanged the shoe thinking it was a one off, but the second pair is the same. It is not easy to get around that smell all day. The smell most likely comes from substandard leather used in Vietnam to make the shoe.

These are very attractive shoes, appealing in the catalogue. I almost returned them, however, because I am having mixed results. My main complaint is that they were advertised as "tennis shoe" weight, when in fact they are about 1.5 times tennis shoe weight, comparable to other hiking shoes. The narrowness makes them difficult to get into, and some days it simply does not work. They do offer a hard sole that means greater support than tennis shoes. I decided to keep them for certain hiking situations, and because they seem safer to drive with than other hiking shoes.

I know bland new shoes are stiffer. But these made pain on front half of my left foot after several days of 1 to 2 hour walking/hiking. While 4 pairs of same size/width Merrel hiking shoes in last 10 years have not had such problem.

Tried H20 proof hiking shoe in two sizes (9/12, 10 EE wide) and while shoe appeared well made and was appropriately wide, the length in both cases were sufficiently long so that they came off the heel of my feet. This was also the case in other footwear I've purchased from LLBean. Regrettably, I only have good fortune with 4E wide products from New Balance.

I have had this shoe in different versions over the years and have been very pleased with them until the present model. I don't recall how long ago I purchased them and they get worn (but not exclusively) starting in late fall through spring. I keep waiting for them to break in and have the comfort of the old model which has not happened. I also have the older version of them in the higher model as well and love them and am not looking forward to them wearing out.

I have worn a pair of these, and they have lasted years. After many years of use the sole delaminated, and the liner is worn. Time to replace these classics! Unfortunately, the current model is very narrow for those with truly wide feet. My old pair is a 13EE, and the 14EE of the current model was so narrow I could barely get my foot into the unlaced shoe even without a sock. Alas, I am resigned to roaming the woods barefoot, leaving monstrous footprints to keep the Sasquatch lore alive...

This was my third pair of these hikers. I was thrilled with the others, but this pair was waaay too narrow. I have a wide foot, fallen arch, and wear orthotics. I tried wearing these to walk the dog, to no avail. Within a week, two blisters.

These hikers are comfortable, well made, and stylish. But after walking in wet grass my feet were soaked. Would have been disastrous if on a camping trip or extended hike. Once wet they did not dry quickly. Now LLBean quickly and courteously replaced the shoes with another pair and I put them to the test. What I would say is that these shoes are water resistant, not waterproof. I will keep this pair but will never have the confidence to walk in wet grass or in damp situations again. Be warned.

I wore these shoes for one week during our camping trip. Unfortunately, my right food developed tendonitis on the top of my foot. My podiatrist told me to shelve these boots and not to wear them. They were probably too tight. However, they kept keep my feet warm and dry, but I will have to return these.

I really like the fit of these shoes, BUT this pair leaked the second time that I wore them. LL Bean was very supportive and apologetic in offering credit or replacements. I chose replacing them with another try. They should be here tomorrow. Hopefully this pair meets LL Bean's usual quality.

I've always been comfortable in a medium width from other manufactures, but in a medium weight sock these are tight at the toe. In thicker socks, they would be too tight. Also are heavier than I'm used to.

Side raised up in wrong spot. Rubs against ankles.

Lightweight stable low hiking shoe. Fit slightly small, had to exchange size 11 for 1/2 size larger. Sole and insole too thin, feel everything, especially on balls of feet. Find them suitable for walking, not hiking because going uphill for long is when thin issue is most noticeable. Might be sensitive feet, but new thicker insole improves these shoes but makes them almost too snug. They seem well made and durable after several months near daily use. Selected these for walking dog in woods and on trails where the thin sole isn't as bad as on hard surfaces. Recommend for stable sturdy design, well made durable construction. Fit slightly small, sole could be improved but is acceptable.

I have been buying Bean hiking shoes for over 20 years. They usually last a long time. This shoe which I bought on line turned out to be too tight a fit. I ended up returning them. Actually the trail model ventilated hiking shoe was a better fit. I will eventually try the ventilated model.

On the plus side, the shoes are waterproof (says so right on the box), on the negative side, they do not breath well at all - and your feet get hot and sweaty. They might see more use in the Fall or Winter, but not great Summer shoes.

I have bought quite a number of these shoes in recent years and wear them almost exclusively. The brown 10.5 W for some reason seem tighter or stiffer than other colors. They cause a callous on my toe. I am hoping for other colors so that I can buy one or two more pairs to have in reserve, using one pair for daily 3 mile walks and the other pair for other purposes. I have bought black, grey and other colors - which fit better than the brown ones, which I have bought a couple of times.

These shoes are well made, but as others have said they're narrow through the toes.

I basically like but they do not fit as well as earlier models of LL Bean hiking shoes which used to "fit like a glove." And though I like the grid of the sole on all of your hiking shoes, the heels wear out too soon, meaning the shoe itself outlasts the heel. I'm still looking for the perfect hiking shoe.