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

I should know better than to buy $99 shoes that are made in Vietnam, but it's very difficult to find shoes in my size in the first place, so I was excited to order these for walking with my dog. When they arrived, they didn't fit at all. My toes were right up against the front of the shoe, and even though I ordered wides, they were very tight on my feet. I had to send them back. There are a couple of brands that fit me, and I guess I'll just have to stick with them.

Bought them for my son. He said they had a strong Mildew odor, they did, returned them.

I loved the predecessor to this shoe. I purchased it at least six (6) times over the years. I thought it was a great shoe, but it is no longer made. So I thought I would give this shoe a try. The fit is fine, but I kept noticing a "musty" and "moldy" smell and I couldn't figure of where it was coming from. Today when I was putting on my shoes, I realized that it was coming from the shoes!!! Then I remembered reading some other reviews that mentioned the smell. I really like the shoe, but returned the shoe today because of the smell. Bring back the old shoe...Trail Model Hiker 4 Low Leather/Suede Men's, 12, Medium D, Coffee Bean.

As for the fit and feel of the shoes I give it four stars, as for the smell I give them one star, received the first pair in March and they smelled musty/mildew returned them for a new pair and again the shoes smelled musty and mildew, letting they air out to see if the smell will go away it's been four weeks now since I got the new pair and they still smell, I probably will be sending them back for a refund

Received the shoes that was ordered on March 23 2021, and the box and the shoes smelled musty and or moldy, sent back and received a new pair which had the same problem. The shoes fit fine and feel good, I am letting them air out to see if the smell goes away, so far no luck and it's been almost two weeks since I got the second pair, will not recommend!!!

I was so looking forward to these hiking shoes to help my aching feet. At first they felt wonderful just walking in the neighborhood and around the house. Unfortunately, it didn't last. After just three short months, the inner fabric lining of the heel began breaking down. It now appears to be that of a shoe worn for YEARS, not months! Extremely disappointed in the quality (or lack thereof) of an LL Bean product.

Good news first. These sneakers fit well and would be a welcome addition to my collection. HOWEVER- upon opening the box the odor was overwhelming! Either mildew, mold or both. Let them air out I thought. It's about a month but the "aroma" remains. I next wore them to determine if that would reduce/eliminate the smell - no luck. Before writing this review I checked one last time - still reek! I saved the box - it smells too! Perhaps the problem lies in where the shoes were stored? I'll give it one more week- if they still have not lost the odor - they'll go back to the company. As I noted, the shoe fit is fine, but the odor cast off is unbelievable!

had three pair to try,two were labeled 11 1/2EE but were 11 1/2. The last was labeted 11 1/2 EE but was 11 1/2E. Time to trust someone else Been must have been purchaced by someone else.

My husband says these shoes were extremely stiff, too snug all over, and not true to size.

I don't understand how LL Bean can call this shoe "waterproof" when the mesh panel on the top is porous and my feet get soaked. Very disappointing. I bought these shoes to hike trails that have tall grass or some snow, and the front of my feet get soaked. Unsatisfactory and misrepresentation to say these shoes are waterproof. Beware.

These shoes are a full size + too small and narrow. More often than not when I am fortunate enough to find shoes in a 14EE, they usually fit. Since LL Bean doesn't offer anything larger I had to return them and will have to shop elsewhere.

I tried on a pair in the store that fit perfectly. But that one had a rip in the cloth. So I ordered the exact same size online. The one I received we much too narrow and short. The quality control and sizes must be very inconsistent.

After having 3 previous pairs of Trail Model Hiker 4 shoes that fit great, my new pair is very disappointing. I wear a EE, and this pair did not provide the space and comfortable fit of my previous pairs. Returning tomorrow!

Ordered the 11 wide, they were very wide and to long, so l returned them for exchange to a 10.5 wide, the size was right but were way to tight

Didn't fit. Too small. Returned them.

ordered extra wide but these hikers are way too narrow to be extra wide, poor manufacturing and/or quality control(made in Vietnam). Will return and search elsewhere for another pair.

These shoes are fine if you are using them to wash the car on a paved driveway, or if you are walking around Central Park in New York City on paved paths while raining. If you are using these around camp in Maine or any place in New England they are true to L L Beans saying, bring the outdoors inside. The soles on these are TERRIBLE, they hold every pine needle, small twigs, and mud or Hemlock needles just pack them solid where you have to use a hose to clean them out. They also become very slippery on any wooden deck while wet, if you wear these on docks or around boats unsafe, if you step down into an aluminum boat with any moisture, you ARE on your butt. I have bought 3 pairs of the L L Bean winter sneakers and they are 100 % perfect, I was hoping and the salesman at L L Bean's flagship store in Freeport told me they were the winter sneakers without the insulation. If you live in the city they are great for rainy days, any country use they are terrible.

The high backs of the shoes are so solid that they're painful to wear. Very expensive for such poor shoes.

This is a handsome shoe but sized completely wrong. I could visually tell the moment I took them out of the box. This Wide EE measures 1/2" narrower than a similar Medium D Beans shoe I bought three years ago. Doesn't Beans have shoe lasts to measure their products? People who order wide shoes often have foot problems like neuromas and a true width is far more essential than style.

These were returned right away because they were very tight across the ball of my feet. I look for wide shoes and thought a double E would work but it isn't wide enough. I went for another brand that had EEEE width instead. Beyond that the shoe seemed like it was a good fit for my purposes in SAR.

Shoes were very comfortable. These shoes were supposed to be waterproof hiking shoes. Right foot is waterproof but left foot is not. LLBean has offered to send a new pair.

I had a pair of these that I literally wore out. Some difficulty sizing those but reordered a wide and got the right fit. LL Bean was great helping me to work this out. Ordered my second pair two years later and have not been happy with this pair after about a year. Ordered wide, like my last ones, assuming that my normal size would be too narrow. They have always been too tight in the toe. I thought they would break in but the toe box has never really felt comfortable. I wear these daily on three to five mile easy walks and they are not comfortable. I think there was also an overall style change that remove the hooks from the top of the lacing that I personally liked. I will be shopping LL Bean for another daily walking shoe in the future.

This is the second pair of waterproof hikers that I have tried. They are too narrow. They are supposed to be EE wide, but are not. I have purchased at least two pairs in the past and they fit fine and lasted a long time. I was told that they may need some "breaking in". Apparently the new manufacturer has different size standards. What a shame. These were once my favorite waterproof hikers.

Loved the look and fit of these. Wore about 4 times. Thought a little break in was all that was required. 4th outing wore shopping for several hours and pain in metatarsals was excruciating. I wear the same size for over 40 years. The fit seemed fine but with wear, the lack of expandability in the toe box was taking its' toll. With waterproof shoes the waterproof booty that creates the barrier is, by definition, not going to expand or adapt. I called and hoped that LLB would say "tough it out, it will be OK". I sent them back, they were not going to 'break in'.

This shoe looks very good "on paper". Lots of favorable features. But the entire toe box seems too tight/too low, and there's no "give" to it. So unfortunately, I found them unwearable.