Is the Columbia Facet 60 Low Outdry hiking shoe a design classic in the making, or is it trying to be too many things at once? Here’s our review
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(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
T3 VerdictThe unorthodox approach to hiking shoes in the Columbia Facet 60 Low Outdry Hiking Shoe is beguiling, and it’s far more capable than it looks. However, there’s a lack of protection around the foot and some grip limitations on challenging terrain to bear in mind, but the unique style might outweigh these considerations, especially for urban walkers.
T3 Verdict
The unorthodox approach to hiking shoes in the Columbia Facet 60 Low Outdry Hiking Shoe is beguiling, and it’s far more capable than it looks. However, there’s a lack of protection around the foot and some grip limitations on challenging terrain to bear in mind, but the unique style might outweigh these considerations, especially for urban walkers.
Reasons to buy+Stiff but dexterous+Unique design+Good lacing system
Stiff but dexterous
Unique design
Good lacing system
Limited foot protection
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Columbia Men’s Facet 60 Low Outdry Waterproof Hiking Shoe deals
$130ViewNo price informationCheck Amazon
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$130
$130
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The Columbia Facet 60 Low Outdry hiking shoe is immediately eye-catching in design, and offers an interesting take on a lightweight hiking shoe. Columbia pitches the shoe as being suitable for ‘walking and running on diverse terrains’, thus making it a ‘versatile hiking shoe’. The Columbia Facet 60 Shoe is available in tan, blue and black, at an RRP of £115.
This brand has form when it comes to creating footwear that can – theoretically –take on a range of tasks (see ourColumbia Facet 45 OutDry reviewfor another example). So has it been successful here? Does the Facet 60 manage to be fast, light and stylish, yet still practical on trickier terrain – or should you opt for one of the more traditional designs in our T3’s best men’s walking shoe (or best women’s walking shoe) guides? Read on for my full Columbia Facet 60 Low Outdry hiking shoe review.
Columbia Facet 60 Low Outdry review: design
The outsole lugs are arranged in a three-pointed array, creating a linear surface from heel to toe, rather than the more aggressive lugged heel and forefoot arrangement you might expect on a traditional walking boot or shoe.
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
The lacing system is relatively traditional, robust rounded laces link into custom metal hardware that looks the part, as well as being fairly durable. The downside of durability is usually weight, and that is certainly the case here, a size 8 UK Columbia Facet 60 Shoe weighing in at a substantial 371 grams. The lacing system forms a key part of what Columbia is calling a ‘Navic Fit’, which tightens over your mid foot navicular bone to improve stability, according to the company. Out at the rear, a hardened ‘heel guidance stabiliser’ adds stiffness to the heel unit as well as some protection to the heel, adding to the TPU-laminated sections around the sides of the foot and toe area.
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
Columbia Facet 60 Low Outdry review: comfort and performance
The Columbia Facet 60 Shoe is certainly a comfortable fit, feeling very much like a street shoe in many respects. The lacing system does lock the foot in place neatly, although we’re not entirely sure that the ‘Navic Fit’ is much different to other shoes that lace across the foot. That said, it’s a perfectly good system.
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
The angular panels on the midsole may draw the eye, but the midsole does deliver on the promise of cushioning, and doesn’t feel too wallowy in the process, making the Columbia Facet 60 Shoe surprisingly dexterous in spite of the marmite looks. It’s also strangely quite good on rock (as pictured in the Columbia marketing materials), partly due to that Omni-Grip outsole, the small but consistent lugs giving predictable grip and allowing a certain amount of confidence in smearing and the like.
Further good news comes from the midsole too, which is stiff enough for most outdoor scenarios, offering support and enough rigidity to protect, without sacrificing flexibility too much. Columbia describe this as ‘fluidframe multidensity underfoot support’, but whatever you want to call it, it does actually work.
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
(Image credit: Mark Mayne)
It’s fortunate in many ways that the midsole is so chunky, as this takes some of the pressure off the protective elements of the shoe, which are in short supply. The laminated panels do offer some protection, but not much, around the sides of the foot, and the toe area feels particularly running-shoe-derived, with very little in the way of toecap to fend off rocks. The Outdry membrane does its job in terms of keeping water out, and does breathe reasonably well, although things do get warm eventually.
Columbia Facet 60 Low Outdry review: verdict
I was initially sceptical about the Columbia Facet 60 Low Outdry hiking shoe, due to the funky design and relatively straightforward build. However, it’s actually grown on us in use, and makes a pretty good walking shoe – within quite strict parameters. For urban explorers and footpath-trekkers, this is a surprisingly usable tool, albeit one that has limitations. The relatively shallow lugs are good for traction on short grass and other relatively well-groomed surfaces, but they start to struggle in less maintained situations, where a pair ofhiking bootsshould really be the order of the day. The comfort on offer is decent, and the styling, well, unique. If you’re on the hunt for something a little different, these might well be the very thing…
Columbia Men’s Facet 60 Low Outdry Waterproof Hiking Shoe: Price Comparison
$130ViewNo price informationCheck Amazon
$130View
$130View
$130View
$130
$130
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
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