Columbia Men's Fairbanks Low Hiking Shoe

I have spent the past year looking for the right shoes to wear on a 200+ mile hike through rugged, mountainous terrain in north central Spain. Since the trip also involved some road and city walking, I needed a pair of shoes that could handle anything--with enough tread to keep me safe on steep ascents and descents, but not so aggressive as to make walking on pavement uncomfortable. These shoes were perfect--If you have ever hiked the Camino Primitivo, you know the demands of that trail. After 200 miles/300km, the tread still looks like new. These shoes made the trip very comfortable for my feet. I normally wear wide sizes, but these don't come in wide. However, there was plenty of room in the toe box for my feet to spread out, and there no issues with feet swelling towards the end of a long day of hiking. I did not need to size up for this backpacking trip--the shoes had just enough room for my feet to breathe and move, but were also secure enough and breathable enough that I did not develop any of the dreaded heel blisters. The shoes are not waterproof--I chose breathability instead for the hot weather. Early one day, I stepped in mud up to my calf, and the shoe and sock underneath were dry within 45 minutes of walking. This incident did not affect the fit or performance of the shoe. This shoe does not have much cushioning, and again this is why I chose it. There is just enough to support my feet and joints, and it also allows me to feel the trail beneath my feet--which really helps prevent a rolled or sprained ankle. This was a surprise to me, as I run on heavily-cushioned Hokas; for walking, this minimally-cushioned shoe was perfect. I had no joint problems. I had an older pair of these shoes, which I have worn every day around the city where I live. These shoes handle uneven, poorly-repaired sidewalks, grass, and wet concrete and brick very well. This is one of the most comfortable, versatile pair of shoes I have ever owned. There is enough flexibility in the shoe to adjust your tie to a thin summer sock or a thicker merino wool sock for hiking or cold weather. They look nice, too. The black color fits in any business casual setting, or even with a suit on a regular day in the office. Finally, the price is excellent--this is also one of the least expensive pair of shoes I have purchased in years. It's a steal. The pictures show my shoes after completing the Camino de Santiago. Given that I now have two pairs of these, I don't expect to have to replace them for another year.

3 year update.. I bought these shoes July 18th 2023, and it’s now July 20th 2026. These shoes are true to size and very comfortable. They’ve been half way around the world on my travels and never let me down. My only complaint is that the tongue slides over to one side.. So I used an industrial stapler to hold the tongue in place lol, worked great. I replaced them with the green color ones because the sole is paper thin and ready to finally break.

These are true fit. There seems to be a little break in’ period. They also feel a little flat, like the arch should be a little higher. All of that being said, they look nice, feel good and are comfortable. If I had any complaint, it would be that the back of the shoe is rather rigid and high, causing a little discomfort. I’m sure once I wear them a little longer they feel better.

This is my second pair of these shoes, and I love them. I think they are pretty unisex, and I wear them late into the fall and early in the spring after the snow/ice is gone. Otherwise, super good on all sorts of terrain and is lightweight. The arch support is pretty decent. I like wider shoes without feeling like my feet are swimming in hiking shoes, and this one does the trick. I have put water-sealant spray on it, but in heavy rain, it will soak through, so not very waterproof.

One of my favorite pairs of shoes. Super comfortable and look good. Excellent grip.

Super comfortable! I work in construction and walking around on uneven ground or concrete all day to kneeling half the day... fantastic. Most likely have found my favorite work shoe after 15 years of trying. Definitely will buy again

Quality isn't there anymore. This is a review after about a year of use. Had to replace them. This was my third pair and it stopped me from rebuying. Started to brake down after 3 months and at 12 months they were trashed/comming apart at the seams.

I’ve been wearing these for a while now, and they are excellent. They are very comfortable right out of the box and provide great support for daily wear. The build quality is impressive, and they feel like they’ll last a long time even with heavy use. A great choice if you’re looking for something reliable and stylish.

Good quality

Bonne qualité

Comfortable and flexible in many use cases

Comfortable and good arch support. Seem to hold up good after 1 month of consistent use.

I hate buying shoes because I can never find any at malls because I have size 14. I ordered these thinking ill most likely return them (Size 14) and they are the most comfortable shoes I can ever remember wearing! Very happy with these shoes! Wide Toe box, solid but good flex, couldn't recommend more!