The outsole is constructed from Vibram rubber which offers durable protection on rocky terrain and grip on wet, snowy and even icy conditions. The DryVent membrane is waterproof and breathable, and the secure lace-up closure and Ortholite footbed offer incredible foot comfort and fit. And while I can understand the Hedgehog’s appeal, particularly for those with flat feet, it disappointed overall due to consistent issues with foot soreness. Fitness Savvy looked online and discovered 2876 online user reviews of the North Face Hedgehog Fastpack GTX.

Breathable and with foot stabilising supports in the heel and midsole, The North Face Hedgehog is a great all sport choice. Meanwhile, the Gore-Tex waterproof membrane guards against any liquid or moisture entering and keep feet dry in the chillier, wetter months. The Hedgehog Fastpack hiking shoe, from The North Face, is suitable for many difficult terrains like rocky slopes.

The upper material will start to absorb moisture after a while, but it does dry reasonably well thanks to the thin construction. This will be either BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) or SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit), which are social auditing methologies and reports but are not an accreditation. My first impression when slipping on The North Face Hedgehog Fastpack GTX was that it felt like a bit of a throwback. Just like the hedgehog, these walking shoes benefit from a long, pointy frontal snout, they have great climbing abilities, and will let your feet hibernate in PU-coated, abrasion-resistant comfort. The North Face also makes a women’s version, which has a similar upper, midsole, and outsole construction.

So comfortable for walking, hiking, the only downside is the present shoes have the dry vent waterproof lining as opposed to the earlier purchases had a goretex lining , which in my opinion was better , they still have the vibram soles which makes the shoes still worth purchasing , always my first choice when looking for new walking shoes. That said, the light upper material has a lot of give and is pretty flexible overall, so my feet didn’t stay in place through off-camber terrain (the flat insole also played a role in this). Finally, despite spending a fair amount of time on rough, rock-filled trails, the rubber hasn’t shown any signs of prematurely wearing down. The mesh and leather portions of the upper all are intact, and we haven’t seen any signs of the toe cap peeling apart (which, based on user reviews, is occasionally an issue). The heavily cushioned design gets the clear nod in terms of all-around comfort, and we also like that the Merrell is offered in a non-waterproof “Vent” model (the Fastpack only is available in a Gore-Tex version).Mesh-heavy, non-waterproof designs like the Merrell Moab 2 Vent or Salomon X Ultra 3 Aero easily outdo it when temperatures break into the 70s Fahrenheit, but the Hedgehog’s performance is typical for a waterproof model. If you're the kind of hiker that tackles rocky, steep, uneven terrain with pace but likes the support of a boot rather than a shoe, the Hedgehog Fastpack II boots from The North Face are for you.