Columbia Konos TRS OutDry Hiking Shoe review: three-season trail trampers with a twist

I’ve spent quite a bit of time over the last year doing a deep dive into Columbia’s OutDry technology and testing products made with the brand’s proprietary membrane-based material, which takes a relatively radical approach to making gear both breathable and waterproof.

Typically, equipment made with Gore-Tex (and other comparable microporous technologies) sees the magic membrane placed on the inside or middle of the garment, but with OutDry (or ODX), it goes on the outside.

It’s fair to say that when Columbia first released this technology in 2016, it did not take off in the way the brand had hoped and envisaged it might – partly due to the shiny look it gave jackets. An exciting relaunch is imminent, so watch this space for news about that, but in the meantime, after initially pulling production of footwear featuring OutDry, Columbia have recommenced making walking boots and hiking shoes with the technology.

The Konos TRS OutDry is one of the trail-blazing trekking shoes in this new range, so I was very excited to get a pair on my feet and start testing them out, to see how they compare to the best walking shoes on the market when it comes to keeping my walking socks nice and dry.

Columbia Konos TRS OutDry Hiking Shoe review

Price and availability

With a retail price of £110 in the UK, $120 in the US, AU$290 in Australia and €120 across the EU, the Konos TRS OutDry hiking shoes are available now, in a range of colourways for men and women directly from Columbia (often at a considerably discounted rate) and from various other online outlets and retailers. 

Specifications

• Weight per shoe: Men’s 311g / 11oz (size UK 10.5); Women’s: 269g / 9.5oz (Size 5 UK)
• Colours: Men’s: Black & mountain red / Black & grill / Silver grey & vivid blue / Deep wave & super sonic / Monument & mountain red; Women’s: Black & ultra pink / Monument & spring yellow / Nocturnal & sunkissed / Kettle & blush rose
• Upper: Technical mesh (100% Polyester) / Navic Fit System
• Membrane: OutDry / Techlite+
• Midsole: Omni-Max Plus
• Outsole: Adapt Trax
• Sizes (UK): Men’s 6–14; Women’s: 3–10
• Best for: Day walking, 3-season lightweight hiking and trekking, fastpacking

Design, materials and look

The Konos have quite a distinctive appearance, and it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Apparently inspired by the composition of a pinecone (although I’m really not sure how), the chunky Omnimax midsole on these shoes is designed to cradle your heel, and to this end it’s basically bowl shaped, with the backs and sides extending slightly above the base of your foot.

From the outside, this makes the midsoles resemble a great big bumper, such as you might see on a Hoka Speedgoat 6, and just like these maximist shoes, the Konos does have a rocker, intended to encourage an efficient and comfortable cadence when you’re walking, with forefoot deflection helping to absorb the impact of repeated footfall and giving you some energy return for the next step. 

The upper is where most of the really interesting tech comes into play, however. This is where the OutDry is deployed to provide protection from the elements – particularly water – while still allowing your feet to breathe. There are also reinforced sections around the toes and heel. The laces are pretty basic, but the Navic Fit System, which is integrated to the laces via a couple of hoops, allows you to lock your midfoot down really securely.

The lugs don’t look particularly impressive on the Adapt Trax outsole, but they have been deployed intelligently to give you good grip on all sorts of terrain. The outsole also features several grooves that make the shoe super flexible. There are pull loops on the back of the shoe and at the top of the tongue, to help you get them on and off easily.

I have been testing the low-cut shoe-style model, but the Konos TRS OutDry is also available with a mid-height collar, which is more like a standard hiking boot.

Comfort and performance

I have been wearing the Konos TRS OutDry hiking shoes for several months now, on a range of walking adventures during one of the wettest summers I can remember – which is basically the perfect conditions for these shoes.

Having hiked through lots of very wet environments while wearing these shoes, from soaking wet ankle-length undergrowth to trails with stream crossings too wide to jump, I can confirm that the OutDry technology works a treat, and the Konos are indeed reliably waterproof, even when subjected to prolonged submersion.

As I have been out and about in these shoes in mostly warm (if wet) weather, I’ve also had a good chance to test the breathability of the Konos. All microporous membrane-based technologies (including Gore-Tex) rely on a humidity differential between the inside and the outside of the garment to truly breathe, so they don’t work as well in places like the Lake District (where I did most of my walking while testing these shoes) as they do in, say the Alps, where the climate is drier. But even factoring all this in, I felt that the Konos did allow my feet to breathe pretty well, and I didn’t feel uncomfortably warm even in really hot and sweaty conditions.

The Navic Fit System works well, and I was able to get a good, firm grip around the top of my foot when doing the laces up, which meant there was no movement within the shoe at all, reducing the risk of blisters or rubbing. 

That big-arse midsole might look a bit odd, but the deep dip design does kind of cuddle your heel while you’re walking, and I felt very confident when traversing technical terrain that I wasn’t going to take a tumble or roll my ankle. It provides plenty of cushioning, too.

There is no all-round rand on these shoes, but your pinkies are slightly protected by a little toecap and there is a reinforced TPU section at the front, as well as around the heel. Also, the midsole is so large that the sides and backs of your feet are effectively buffered by that too. 

While they might not look very substantial, the lugs on the outsole actually do a decent job at keeping you upright on slippery terrain, such as wet roots and rocks. They do struggle in really muddy and boggy conditions, however. 

The flexibility of the sole is good for trekking fast on more forgiving trails, which is the sort of scenario where these shoes excel, but as a result the shank lacks the rigidity required to do any technical edging around rocks in more demanding alpine environments.

Verdict

The Columbia Konos TRS OutDry hiking shoe is an impressive choice for avid trail enthusiasts seeking a reliable and versatile footwear option. With its durable construction and OutDry waterproof technology, it excels in protecting your feet from the elements while maintaining breathability.

The shoe's traction is robust, offering stability on diverse terrains, and its cushioning provides comfort over long distances. The Konos TRS OutDry’s unique blend of functionality and style makes it a standout in its category, although some users may find it slightly bulky.

The Konos TRS OutDry hiking shoes deliver excellent performance for three-season hiking, combining innovative features with Columbia's renowned quality. The're a solid investment for those seeking adventure-ready footwear that can handle various trail conditions.

Also consider

I think the Konos TRS OutDry is a very reasonably priced hiking shoe, but for another budget option, check out the Berghaus Revolute Active Shoe, which also punches and performs well above its price tag. For the Gore-Tex diehards out there, the Adidas Terrex Swift R2 is an excellent hiking hoof. If you are tackling more technical trails, try an approach shoe like the excellent Scarpa Mescalito.