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

I was looking for a lightweight summer hiking shoe, Fit good, mostly comfortable, but have worn them about 3 weeks now the first week of walking in wet grass they kept my feet dry but now just walking in morning dew my feet are soaked! Not good. Not worth the price to have soaked feet! After I finish my hike/walk have to leave them out to dry. Also in picture they appear black but closer to being blue.

Wow no flex or cushion in the sole. And the boot is so heavy. I couldn't see walking a mile in them. Was so looking forward to them.

The boots are comfortable and sure footed on uneven terrain after being broken in. They are less ugly than the LL Bean website portrays them (in 2020) which was a pleasant surprise. The boots are waterproof and synthetic so they don't breathe. They were not hot during the 100-110 days I wore them. However my feet, along with the rest of me, were sweating and the boots didn't let them dry. Most synthetic waterproof boots have this problem and I wasn't expecting these low cost boots to breathe. The problem with LL Bean's Trail Model 4 Waterproof Hiking Boots is the crackling noise they make with every step which makes them inappropriate for any urban situation quieter than a monster truck show. Maybe you could get away with them at a rock concert but you certainly aren't going to make any friends on your way in wearing these boots. I am reasonably sure the pair I got aren't broken or defective. The boots are broken in and the noise hasn't diminished. TL;DR Mowing the lawn: Fine | Daily footwear: Awkward | Hiking local trails: Probably okay outside of the southeast US | Backpacking: Not recommended

The boots are rigid with no flexibility at all.

I know new shoes take time to break in. These i wore for half a day. Caused to blister on back of ankle. The padding in the back is to tough doesn't give when you walk. Need to return to LL bean

I really wanted to like these boots. I have had them for about a year and a half now, and unfortunately I don't think I'll ever take them hiking again. For whatever reason, the way these boots are fitted give me terrible blisters on my heels when walking on anything other than flat, even ground. It is possible that my foot shape may be the problem and not the boots, however I have only had this issue with one other pair of boots, and not nearly to the extent as I have with these. On the bright side, these look great, have good traction, good waterproofing, and seem to be sturdy. They are fine for walking around town, but on any incline or uneven ground they will give me blisters within a few miles despite being broken in and sized appropriately. Other than the shape not agreeing with my feet, my only complaint is that for being marketed as "breathable" they are extremely hot, and do not breath well at all as a result of the waterproof liner. My full grain leather logging boots are far cooler in hot weather somehow. While these may be great if they agree with your foot shape, I am left with a pair of hiking boots that I can't go hiking in.

They were too high/tall at the ankle for my tastes; I didn't like how they rubbed my ankles. They were also too large/bulky from an overall perspective for my tastes.

Just returned from a walk in wet prairie grass in my "waterproof" boots. They aren't...waterproof. My feet and the insides of the boots were soaking wet. I will return. Otherwise, good boots.

Although these boots look nice, they are uncomfortably narrower than the other boot style I purchased here. I had to return them.

I have purchased at least 6 pairs of this waterproof boot over my 25 yr work history. The last pair I got was a lower ankle height with no option available for the higher boot. I was very disappointed and said never again. So I was happy to see the higher cut boot was back and gave it a try again. This boot like the others said runs very narrow for an EE width and does cut into the front of your leg unlike my older boots. It's made like a tennis shoe not a boot. The quality of workmanship has obviously declined. The green boot is the oldest and by far was the best fitting of the three. LL Bean please return to your previous quality standards.

L.L.Bean, pay attention to the critical reviews, like I should have. This is an excellent boot. I would love to keep it, not send it back. The fit at the shoe portion is perfect. And very comfortable. BUT: This boot has a fatal flaw. The top of the shoe presses inward. So the top of the shoe is pressing against my leg, above my ankle. Hard! It hurts. Even if I don't tie it using the top eyelets. I can stand it for walks of a mile or 2, but I'm certainly not going to use them for a long hike. Too bad. I'm going to have to go to s brick-and-mortar store and get fitted properly for a trustworthy hiking boot.

These fit like a regular width shoe. They seem well-constructed, and I was sorry to have to return them.

I was very excited to get these boots on my feet. I was very satisfied with the fit on my feet and was delighted. I did notice that the top of the boots rubbed my leg right at the top. I switched to thick wool socks but was unable to get the top of the boot to stop rubbing my leg raw. After 5 consecutive days, I am unable to wear these boots even using thick wool socks.

Ordered 12 wide, fits and looks like 12 medium. Had to return.

Wear a 14 and shoe was between half and full size too small. Toe hit front of shoe immediately, so back it goes. Frustrating that LL Bean has inconsistent sizing built into their manufacturing process and yet it costs me $6.50 in return fees.

I ordered these online in EE width, the widest available, knowing it was a risk. The shipping was great and they arrived promptly. They looked very nice and well constructed, quality well evident in the sole, materials, lacing, etc. However, when I tried one on, I painfully got my right foot in, barely. Many times, on other shoes, I have gone ahead and kept because I knew they would stretch a little. But these...no way; they were D width at best. Also, a surprise I missed in the description; apparently there's a springy metal band in between the lining and the outside layer, just at or above the ankle bone. It hugged the ankle; but way, way too tightly. I could see this as a chaffing spot. I would not recommend to people who are looking for wider fitting shoes but if your feet are normal...these would be good. I have returned the shoes.

These boots are quite snug, especially in the toe box and around the ankle. The low-top version would probably be more comfortable. I'm also really surprised by the little flaws in their appearance; they definitely look like seconds. I think the only reason I haven't returned them yet is that I needed something affordable and waterproof and got them at a significant discount. For the discounted price I paid, they're barely acceptable (and the jury is still out on whether to return them). At full price, stay away.

The top of the shoo was formed to squeez your ankle or at least mine.

I've had two pairs of this shoe and sent the first pair back because it was not waterproof as advertised. This second pair fails the test too. Until recently, I've worn the shoe in moderate wet conditions with no complaint. But the day after a rain, in a field in Kansas, walking around for an hour in 6" long grass proved that the TEK 2.0 waterproofing was not up to the job. My socks were soaking wet after one hour. There were no puddles, just grass. I currently have 7 pairs of waterproof shoes, all goretex except for these, and my other shoes perform as a waterproof shoe should. They keep my feet dry.

I'll lead off with visually, I love these boots. Unfortunately they were nothing but problems. I'm on my third pair now, and each time I gave the benefit of the doubt. The first 2 pairs I had started leaking, but I thought it was because of a hole that was at the crease from my toes bending. My first pairs were mostly for light elements, and I was wearing them to work when it rained or snowed, so I thought they were great. The tears in the fabric weren't a major turnoff from the boot, as each time I just replaced it for the same one and they had lasted for about a year and a half. Fast forward to my current pair (3rd) and I am using them as my hunting boots. Walking through a field of wet grass first thing in the morning made for a long day. These I have only had for about a month and a half, so I know it's nothing to do with wear and tear.

Boots are EXTREMELY stiff on the side and top. Unless you wear very thick socks, expect to be rubbed roughly up your shins. I'm hoping they'll soften up but they are still painful to wear at this point.

I bought these last year and wear them on damp and wet days. Last week on the first snow storm I stepped into a puddle and both feet got soaked.My feet got wet in the same spot,so could be the way they were made.going to go back and return them

I have owned the low rise version of this product for years, no complaints, 5 stars. Bought this version for a little more upper support. Have used 3 times. Each time, after a few miles, the area of my foot, right around the Achilles tendon gets rough, almost blistered. Not sure if its a fit issue, bc I got the exact same size as the lowrise. I did notice that there is a criss-cross stitching back in that area that protrudes. Not 100% sure if that's the issue, but it's making it difficult to hike, and for that reason, I cannot give a positive review. I would consider returning them, but I don't know if they would take them back, especially since they have abandoned the no questions asked return policy?? I could not try them on in the store, bc they were out of stock, so got online but I'm not sure if that would have helped anyway. Walking 50 feet in the store isn't the same as 5 miles hiking...

The boots appear to be made well. Sadly, I will need to return them. I usually wear a 12 Wide; these are a little shorter than I would expect and definitely narrower than what I consider to be a wide. I took them out of the box, tried them on, and knew immediately that they were too small. I could try wearing them to see if they stretch, but due to their solid construction, I don't think that they will stretch enough. Luckily, the return will be free since I used a LLBEAN credit card. I would advise those who don't have the free return benefit to be hesitant if you wear a wide. Based on other recent reviews, it may be time to re-evaluate sizing of LLBEAN footwear, at least for this boot.

I have 9-1/2 EE feet, in just about anyone's shoe, and bought the "wide" version of these. I don't know whose wide feet they might fit; they don't feel quite wide enough for me. Like another pair of Bean boots that I bought a few years ago, they're a disappointment on fit. Other than that, they're fine, as expected.