THE SELL: A day-hiking shoe with workday style. THE TEST: The casual look gives the XMotion an obvious edge over other hikers when it comes to urban adventures—and they certainly performed on the cobblestones outside several Philadelphia bars. But the shoes also felt perfectly appropriate on mellow trails, with supple (not protectively stiff) leather, no-skid Vibram soles, plush foam padding, and mattress-soft midsoles. Call them what you will—urban explorers, dog walkers, or “the ideal travel shoe,” as one frequent-flying tester did. Just check the forecast before you head outside; the upper’s resistance to rain, slush, and snow is casual., too. THE VERDICT: An extremely comfortable fair-weather day hiker that can go a long way provided the terrain isn’t tricky and the load is light. 15.2 oz; lafumausa.com
Support: 3
Comfort: 4.5
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