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

I returned the first purchase of this boot new this spring because it was not waterproof, as advertised. The replaced product has the same problem. Wet grass got my feet wet again. Good boot otherwise.

I own a half-dozen pairs of Bean footwear in different styles, all size 12D (or 12 medium). Despite the red flags in the size feedback online, I ordered a pair of these boots in 12D. They were way too tight. But I loved the style, color, and features of the shoes--they looked just like what I wanted. So I got a pair in 12EE. Also too tight. I tried thin socks and a thinner insole than what came with the boots, still too tight. Looks like a good shoe, but widths were off on the ones I tried. Hope they have a pair that fits you.

I've owned three pairs of Trail model hikers - one mid and two lows. Loved them all because they're a great value and durable. Plus, I have wide feet and the wide (EE) size usually fit my feet perfectly. Wouldn't use another brand and recommended them to anyone who would listen. My current mid pair are three years old so I purchased a new wide pair to replace them. Two narrow and seemed like a half size too small. The toe box and the sides of my feet toward the front felt squeezed. Would be fine for casual use (maybe) but I know I would develop major hot spots on the trail. Tried to go a half size up and still had the same issue. Reluctantly had to return them. Totally distraught that now I have to switch brands. LL Bean was like an old friend when it came to that part of my gear. Please correct this in the next redesign of these boots!

The back of the shoe that comes up behind your heel is very stiff. Knew they would not work for me. Sorry that I ordered them. Did not like having to pay return postage.

I would absolutely not recommend purchasing these boots from L.L. Bean. I have this model from 4 years ago and they have completely worn out- the sole has detached from the front of the boot and they are no longer wearable. I also have other holes and areas of the sole that are falling apart. This was after some very light use- probably 25 hikes over 4 years. I took them to my local L.L. Bean store in Burlington VT and was rejected on returning them. L.L. Bean has the expectation that 4 years and 25 hikes is a reasonable amount of time for an expensive pair of hiking boots to last. I very strongly disagree and would encourage you not to buy these boots. I am very disappointed in the quality of the shoe and the lack of standing behind the product from L.L. Bean.

I have shopped at L. L. Bean for 30+ years and relied on Trail Model Boots for a long time. Always found them being to be of good quality and have a very comfortable wide width fit. Ordered wide width again but in 10-1/2 size instead of normal size 10 due to review warnings. One shoe turned out to be way too tight in both length and width and the other was so small I couldn't even get it on my foot. Both were labeled 10-1/2 wide EE. Gritted my teeth and paid the shipping to send them back.

I put them on and walked in them to try to brake them in for an upcoming trip. I found that the left one put too much pressure on my Achilles tendon. I'm sorry I purchased them.

I will be returning them . I normally take a 9 EE and don't have a problem. I couldn't get close to getting my foot into the shoe

These boots are definitely NOT waterproof. I ignored previous reviews that pointed this out, assuming that any defect had been addressed by LL Bean. Not the case. Even a walk through wet grass will quickly leave your feet soaking wet. To make matters worse, these boots are extremely slow to dry. If you are in the field, this means that your feet stay wet all day. The lack of waterproofing aside, these boots are not particularly comfortable or especially lightweight. I would not recommend even to those who are not concerned about a lack of waterproofing.

My husband has (had) been a repeat customer of LL Bean for many many years, always swearing by LL Bean boots for their durability and quality. He had a pair he received as a gift in high school that lasted him through grad school before he finally wore through the sole, but they stayed completely waterproof and comfortable the entire time. At that point, which is now a few years ago, we traded in the original boots for a free replacement through LL Bean's previous 100% satisfaction guarantee. Unfortunately, the boots we got as a replacement started leaking and separating at the sole within a year or two. We figured we got a lemon. That particular model was not available anymore, so we got these men's waterproof hiking boots instead. That was around August of 2017, and this summer (2018) they started leaking. A lot. My husband only wears them for about 10 minutes at a time a few days a week to walk the dog when the grass is wet, but the boots leak so badly after just a few minutes of walking through dewy grass that his socks are soaked through. The boots still look new, and they fit great, but the quality of construction just isn't there when it comes to waterproofing. Very disappointed.

These boots appear well built and study, but they are extremely rigid and lack pliability. I wear them briefly almost everyday, but they've proven to be almost impossible to break in. Initially you might expect that, but in spite of my best efforts they remain very uncomfortable.

My first pair were way too big, the 2nd pair, the left shoe cut into my foot. I wore these numerous times around the house for a few minutes at a time, as I always do with new shoes, and each time they just didn't feel right. Then one day I wore them outoh my they fit horribly. I wear the wool LL Bean socks and even with them on, my ankle had a bloody blister. Reading the most recent reviews, I'm not the only person with problems with these shoes. Within the past 2 months, I've ordered 2 other pairs of shoes online, and have had no problems with name brand shoes. I feel bad having to return these.

These boots look good and are very comfortable, but they are NOT waterproof, even though they are sold as such. All it took was a walk through a wet lawn and my socks and feet were soaked...can only imagine what a failure they'd be if I crossed a stream.I will be returning them ASAP.

After years of wearing your waterproof light weight hikers for work I was shocked to find that the switch from a Gore-Tex liner to your Tek 2.5 was a complete failure. As a landscaper I am outside all day. Wet grass in the morning, irrigation repair, were not a problem before, but now my feet can be wet all day. I bought 2 pair of these boots and both are now in the rubbish.

These waterproof hiking boots are not waterproof at all. You don't have to step in a puddle to get your feet soaked. Walking in wet grass in the morning will make your feet soaked.

LL Bean is supposed to be a great company but the fact that they advertise these boots as water proof is not good as it is NOT True. I work as a landscape designer and i like to wear comfortable and preferably water proof as we also do a lot of sprinkler installs. On the second day of wearing these boots one of the water lines broke and i felt comfortable enough to step in the puddle as its supposed to be a waterproof shoe and i ended up with my feet SOAKED!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND the Model 4

I am SO disappointed that LL Bean felt the need to redesign this boot. Lord Falkland is cited as having said "If change is not necessary, it is necessary not to change." That ought to be a law in the realm quality footwear. The earlier model I presently own is the best pair of boots I have ever owned. I agree with another reviewer who gave a 1-star rating and said "I am perplexed that Bean can't spec this boot with a loose top that can be snugged up as desired..." My present boots are still serving me well but I felt the need to get a newer pair. Alas, I had to return the Model 4 pair because of the squeeze needed simply to put my foot in the narrower opening of the boots. I would love to know what precipitated the need to revise a winning design. If Bean can put back the two removed external ties to make these boots wearable for me, I would buy two pairs. The boots I own with the earlier design never needed breaking in, fit perfectly, and held up to constant wear. They did lose their waterproofing after a year or two but I could live with that. Someone please let me know if Bean ever changes this boot back to the original design. Note: As usual, LLBean honored a 100 percent return of my items.

I work on pools all day and need waterproof boots to work in comfort, these boots are not waterproof. The first day I wore them my feet got soaked, terible.

Do not buy these shoe's.They run small and are very narrow.There is no support and i cannot wait to take these shoes off.I bought them a half size up,and in wide.I cannot wait to return them.Once again,do not buy these shoe's.

I'm perplexed that Bean can't spec this boot with a loose top that can be snugged up as desired, like every other boot has, e.g., Merrell, NB, etc, rather than a tight top that can't be loosened. I've worn enough boots to know that these would irritate and chafe so I returned them. Would have kept them otherwise.

the shoe was labeled 9 1/2 wide, which i ordered.. compared to my other shoe sizes this shoe is a 10 narrow at best. my foot width was squeezed tight. had to return them for a return credit. not happy about having to eat the return postage for a manufacturing sizing problem.