Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Trail Model Hiker 4 Ventilated Low

I wear women's 8.5 but can never find shoes wide enough, so for hiking shoes and cowboy boots I will often get a men's 7D or E, which are usually comfortable and give me a bit of extra toe room. These run a bit short- at first I thought they were Ok but the second time I hiked in them my toes were killing me and I actually cracked a toenail. The width is fine but the support is not great either, and after only 3 wearings the stitching is unraveling on the top of the toe- for $89 you'd expect better quality construction. They do have a good aggressive tread, which you need hiking here in Arizona and that's why I bought them, but that's their only redeeming feature. Purchased at the beginning of 2022, wore 3 times

They fit fine and are very comfortable but for me, the ventilation feature has proven to be not practical. If I walk through the grass with just the morning dew on it, my socks get wet and stay wet and the shoes need to be taken off to effectively dry. As a result I only wear them for walking on streets and sidewalks. I get it that the shoes are supposed to be "ventilated" but in hindsight it limits them from hiking to just walking shoes. I still have worn them a lot walking around town and after over a year the tread has a lot of life left but as others noted, the stitching on both toes have unraveled. The Trail Model 4 Ventilated Hiking Shoes are okay but I won't get another pair.

Beautifully made shoe but too stiff with virtually no arch support and too little room at the heel and toes makes walking difficult. Regretfully returned

I noticed a strong, musty smell at once when I received them, coming off the shoes, box and paper inside the box and shoes. The smell was so strong we couldn't keep the shoes or packaging in the house. But I did try on the shoes and LOVED the fit and comfort. Two months later: I received a replacement pair. SAME strong odor (like heavy, musty mold and/or chemical treatment), both on the shoes and packaging. So I returned the replacements, and have kept the originals outside ever since they arrived roughly two months ago. I like the fit so much I've decided to try and mitigate the smell, first with a small container of baking soda in each shoe, then a light spray of Clorox Clean-Up outside and in, then Gain Scent Beads inside, then Ozium sanitizer in a covered bucket, none of which did any good. Finally, I ran them through a wash load - THREE TIMES plus a final rinse. Incredibly, the odor persists, the shoes still are outside with Bounce laundry sheets stuffed in them. I purchased a competitor's similar shoe about the same time as these shoes and they have no odor whatsoever, in spite of being waterproofed. Other people have agreed the LLBean shoes have a strong odor. Sadly, I'll probably never wear them at least in the car much less the house. I've seen other reviews commenting on the odor of these shoes and wish LLBean would remedy the problem.

Strong chemical smell, even after airing out for a full day outside.

The shoes looked great on the computer screen, in actuality, the waterproof material stunk bad, I mean it was throughout the whole house and closet, so I returned them( I'm impressed with LLBean return policy ), the replacement pair are not quite as bad as the original pair, would not recommend these to other buyers. All the other shoe's I've purchased fit perfectly, including waterproof/snowproof, with NO pungent smell

I bought a pair of these shoes for both everyday use and for walking unpaved trails in nearby parks. The material on top of the shoe (the part that isn't leather) easily snags on sticks and other undergrowth and within my first couple of outings I already had a hole in the top of my shoe. I now have holes in both of my shoes because the material snagged on undergrowth or low lying sticks. I wouldn't buy these shoes if your hiking takes you through the woods at all.

Bought these as replacement for Mountain Tread Hiking Shoes. (Which LLBean decided to discontinue) I tried to like these shoes but after several weeks and wearing a blister I had to return them. The right shoe was narrow and rubbed against the side of my big toe. Upon examining the shoe I noted that there was a seam at this location. I tried different socks and the results were the same. Bad design for my feet.

I bought a pair of these trail shoes for my son. He wore them almost daily for 3 months before he started using Gorilla tape to patch the holes that developed in the fabric. With the remainder of the shoes in good shape we took them back to the store, where we were told that they considered it natural wear and not a defect in materials. These shoes were replacing a different brand that my son had been wearing for over a year. I assumed the Bean shoes would be higher quality and last at least as long. While I could overlook a manufacturing defect, it is clear that these shoes are simply not typical LL Bean quality. I am still very positive about many other Bean products. However, if you are looking to put a lot of miles on a pair of shoes, these are not a good choice.

These shoes are very light and well-made. However, they cramped my toes and I had to return them. My problem with these and other Bean shoes is that the toe boxes tend to be pointed rather than rounded. As a result, my big and small toes rub against the sides of the toe box. I have tried to address this problem by buying a larger size, but then the shoes slip at the heel. I have a pair of Rocky Coast Comfort Shoes that fit perfectly but, unfortunately, have been discontinued. If your foot is comfortable in a pointed toe, I would recommend these shoes.

Love the shoe, but a few months after purchase, the mesh front gave way from pressure of my toe. I know I wore the correct size since I have purchased this product before. Otherwise, holds up well, but don't want to walk around with a hole in the mesh front.

I have been buying the trail model shoes for years and in general have been happy with them. Not so with this model. Compared to the previous model this one is noticeably tighter in the toe area. Interestingly the insert is exactly the same. There isn't a smidgen of difference between them. The problem is in the design of the toe area. It is noticeably tighter. In the previous model my toes had room to move, while the newest incarnation my toes are bunched together. This is not a comfortable shoe if you have wider feet (and yes I did get the wide). Hopefully in time the shoe will stretch out some, but I don't see them ever being as comfortable as the previous model. I also have the next step up from this which is the pathfinder, and that has no problems. Why L.L. Bean decided to change what was a comfortable and I would assume popular model of shoe and make it far less comfortable is beyond me. Not recommended.

Nice shoe BUT not durable. After 6 months of using an hour or two..several times a week for walking at local park....inside both heel linings have ripped....expected better wear.

Heel was too elevated compared to ball of foot for me, combined with too small to size and too wide. Wish it was better, liked the venting.

I should have sent these back when I started having trouble with the laces & eyes wearing out. Super glued them but after awhile the eyes kept braking

The shoe's color does not come close to matching the online picture.

Worn very little, the soles show almost no wear but the stitching is pulling out about 1/2" on the big-toe nose of the uppers of one of the sneakers. The upper panels are separating so it will travel along the seam now. Its a shame, they have been worn very little and look new otherwise. Thinking of looking at a cobbler to repair it but I'm sure it will be $40-$50. I wonder if its worth the investment if other areas of the seams will do the same.

These are the most uncomfortable shoes I've ever put my feet into. The tread design is only good for tracking dirt into the house and almost impossible to clean. My feet and knees are so sore after wearing them for a week that I'm having to use a cane to get around. These shoes are going in the trash. A complete waste of my money.

After less than a year, the top mesh is pulling apart. In addition, don't wear these in the rain, your feet will get soaked. Not the bottom, but the tops of your feet. The mesh and lining allow the water to soak quickly through.

This is my second pair. Tried 9 1/2, my toes hit. Tried 10s and even with hunting socks I have a full 3/8" past my toes. Way too much for a 1/2 size difference.

Ordered a pair of these shoes in December. Use them for walking in neighborhood and heels wore thru in 6 months! Sent them back, but was told this was normal wear and would not guarantee them. I usually walk in tennis shoes, which usually last me about 1 1/2 years. Hoping these would last longer but hugely disappointed. Have bought many shoes and items from LL Bean over the years but this will be my last purchase.

Get some American made shoes! Support American and not China

They smelled like old damp hemp. I wouldn't buy them again. My wife kept asking what that terrible new odor was right after they arrived. I brought them within the week. No more odor.