Patagonia Footwear Drifter GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's

These are by far the best shoe I have ever worn. I am a stout 230 pounder, so I put a hurtin on my footwear. These shoes are not only versatile in style, they are built to last and super comfortable.

I like this shoe. Here's a Pro/Con review with a little narrative mixed in:

Pros:
- Fits true to size, I am right between a 9 and 9.5 - I couldl've gone either way but am glad I decided to go slightly bigger. The shoe has a lot of padding and insulation, fits very snug, and with six pairs of eyelets you can lace the shoe tightly. Also, I feel I've got room to go with a thicker sock in the Winter.

- Yet, I also feel the shoe is well insulated. Unlike other reviewers, I have not had problems with overheating feet. I guess I should mention that I'm someone who never wears sandals - I always wear socks and shoes. If I were someone who liked to feel a breeze between my toes maybe this shoe wouldn't do. But as a sock and shoe devotee, I don't feel this shoe is any warmer or cooler than any other sneaker/hiking shoe I've ever worn.

-The shoes wear in great and remain sturdy after consistent use. I wear these shoes for hiking and dog walking. After about 8 weeks, I've probably put close to 100 miles on these suckers. They still fit great, are not fraying, ripping, or falling apart anywhere (even the toe remains firmly attached to the upper), and provide good support. Sole wear seems above average - I know I'm gonna wear these out faster than I'd like but so far I'm happy with how they're holding out. Much better than the Timberlands that these are replacing.

- The shoes are sturdy. I live in New England. Hikes here are rocky. No matter how much I'm carrying on my back or how hard my dog is pulling to chase a squirrel, I can stomp on rocks/oddly protruding boulders/roots and the soles of my feet remain cushioned. Of course my feet do feel the pressure from stepping on rocks but I don't get the pain of being stabbed that I get when I hike on shoes with worn out/weak soles.

- I nikwaxed these suckers right when I got them. So far they've remained totally water proof. For me, the real test is walking in tall grass early in the morning after a night of rain. These shoes pass with flying colors. Their waterproofing exceeds that in my Gore Tex Merrill Moab lows.

- These shoes do not yet smell

- I do not find these shoes to be light, but also am not bothered by their weight

- I have a big instep (bump on top of my foot), these shoes fit fine. Apart from this my foot has medium width, normal arch, normal toe box. That these shoes fit well I think is a testament to their versatility and quality build. For the sake of comparison, for running shoes, I go with Nike about a size larger than normal, but New Balance and Adidas fit great.

Cons:

- Very little ankle support. Those rocks I wrote about above, they don't hurt my feet but these shoes do nothing to protect my ankles from twisting. Not a big deal but I did find that these shoes have a lower than normal ankle cut. For me this is very minor but worth mentioning.

- I don't like the design on the outside of the heel - that swirl doesn't do it for me. Gives the shoe sort of a cowboy lasso feel. I'm an east coaster not really feeling that rodeo vibe.

- I don't care for the shoelaces. Again, whatever.

Bottom Line: Great shoe. Not a hiking boot replacement but worth purchasing for the versatility, design, quality build, and the fact that you can probably pull them off at work. Perfect dog walking shoe. That's where I'm headed right now...

Thought I'd give these a shot when I saw them. For reference, I wear a mens 9 normal width. I've worn Lowa, Merrell, Vasque and Asolo, so I know a good shoe. First impression was the way the footbed rolls forward easily. Laces bind well and don't come loose easily. Never had to re-tie due to the laces.

Top of the shoe is very thick. Ability to tighten front of the shoe while leaving the top loose would be hindered by the fact that the whole top moves almost as a whole. Not a bad thing. just know that it's not a flexible fabric. Attributes well when moving downhill and keeping your foot from slamming forward.

Lateral stability is rock solid. These shoes have the best balance between width and weight I've ever worn. Rubber rand wrap is well proportioned to the overall look vs function. Not overdone like the Keen. Heel stays firmly planted, no movement. For what it's worth, I like the loop stitching on the back. Some hate it, some like it. I think it's nice to not to take yourself or your product so serious.

The foot bed is adequate, nothing a Superfeet Green wouldn't upgrade. I like the low cut allows for a lot of foot/ankle movement.

No open ventilation ports, but feet haven't been overly sweaty on hot days. Good thing is you're not carrying the trail home with you. Not an issue for me.

Best of all is the gnarly Vibram sole. Super grippy and claws very nice. On one of my frequent trails with a steep and slippery downslope - No slideouts. I haven't had a pack on yet but plan to as the weather gets warmer. From the sturdy and solid foundation I've experienced so far I don't think a 25 pound pack is gonna be a problem.

I haven't had the opportunity to test inclement wet weather yet but I think the gore-tex lining should do it's job. Style is great and have been asked a few times what kind of shoes I have on. Not sure what the long-term durability will be but I'm sure Patagonia has a decent warranty policy.

Overall a B+ with the super comfortable experience so far and if these last me a couple years with consistent pounding like I usually inflict then it'll be an A+. This shoe has prompted me to take a look at other Patagonia footwear products.

I like these shoes, they are comfortable from the moment you put them on. They keep your feet warm in rain and snow.. and I also use them for walking the dog about 4 miles a day, plus hiking. They do not give very good ankle support and I have had injuries where my ankles are subject to turn over if I step wrong. It has a pretty wide base and that compensates for the lack of ankle support. I love the style and I also wear them with my jeans all the time and they look great. I have owned these for about 3 years and I still wear them. I was looking for a replacement insole for them but couldn't find any.. I found another brand the provides even more cushioning for the sole. The heal is wearing out but I've had them for 3 years.

I wear wear light to medium to heavyweight socks and you can always lace them up tight enough for comfort and fit. I will buy another pair. hope this helps.

These are truly exceptional shoes. But what else would you expect from patagonia? My feet stay very dry and warm. I also wear these a lot to work where I am on my feet a lot, and my feet never get tired in them. Never hurts that they look awesome when you have them on too.

The innner lining began to rip and pull apart after I got the shoes completly wet..while caving... the integrity was comprmised. I expected more.

I wear these shoes to bed and in the shower. That's how much I like them - no exaggeration, except for the part about wearing them to bed and in the shower, that's is actually an exaggeration I made up to express my love for these shoes. I do wear them for everything else and they are fantastic.

These are great light weight hiking boots. I used them for day hikes and backpacking and loved them. They're super comfortable to walk in and the materials and craftsmanship are that of Patagonia's other products. Unfortunately, I have pretty flat arches and put superfeet in pretty much every shoe I wear. Once I added the super feet, my narrow heels lifted too much and I started to get hotspots on my heels so they had to go back. Sad days.

Don't have too much to say about these shoes other than that my experience matches the many positive reviews I read before buying them. They are super comfortable, not too hot and I've been using them solely in the Spring/Summer so far. I like the look and have worn them to work, but I'd prefer if they didn't have the stitched swoop. I took these on a hike in the Grand Canyon just after buying them and have no complaints. One thing, for me at least, is that I had to send my first pair back because they were too small. I'd recommend purchasing a 1/2 size larger than you generally buy in other shoes. Especially for hiking, it is good to have a little space between your toes and the front of the shoe, otherwise you can get some significant toenail bruising on major hikes with heavy packs and lots of downhill hiking.

Got this shoe primarily for winter and love it. The couple cons I have are that they get a bit cold up here in MN unless you are wearing warm socks. However, my feet are always cold, so maybe that's a personal thing. This shoe rocks on the snow, but if you get inside on wet tile, or on metal, they are VERY slick - so watch your step!

This is my first gore-tex hiker and I really liked it. It held up on muddy hikes, rainy days and didn't leak at all through the snow. The look of this shoe is off the charts, one of the best looking hikers I think. Great for everyday wear as well. However, I did return it because the support is terrible. After having it for about 4 months I realized I would either need some really good insoles or just buy another shoe. I decided to return it and buy something not as pricey. I also need a shoe with better arch support.Pros-Great lookWATERPROOF/bombproofgreat toe boxConsinsole is terriblesupport is not very good at all if your on your feet all day

I was a bit skeptical about getting these(price). Secondly, I dont review gear that much but I feel compelled to share my experience abt the Patagonia Drifter. I guess you know were I am going with this. This shoe is awesome! I work outdoors a lot, and the drifter just does what it was made for. Comfortable, keeps toes warm,good support, size fits true to size. I am a size 10 and it works just fine.
After a long days work, I usually want to take my shoes(the other shoes) off immediately when I get to my house, but with these drifters you feel like they just have to remain on your feet! You never have the urge to take them off. Trully designed for the feet.

Very well built true to size comfortable hiking shoe!

my friend has these and left em at my bro-in-law's and they love em. gore tex..water tight and great shoes..but lacking in style because of the goofy swerve stitching.

This is the second pair for me. I am a carpenter and wear them every other day. I alternate them with the 'equivalent' Keen. When I went in to replace the worn ought first pair they did not have my size and I got talked into the Keen. Bad. So I found BackCountry and the Drifter in my size-which is right on btw.
Good toe box width and supportive.
Really good heel support, no side to side slippage.
Excellent support for the ball of the foot.
Easily cleaned. Great traction. Warm but not hot.
The laces stay tied all day without the dreaded double knotting required by the Keen.
Yup. 5 Star.

This is my first pair of Gore-Tex shoes, and I absolutely love them. At first, I really struggled whether to go with a size 10 or 10.5, so I ended up ordering both (10.5 from Backcountry and 10 from other store). The sizes are so similar, it was a tough call. But in the end, I am very happy I went with the larger size. Size up, if unsure, especially since you likely will be wearing these with thicker hiking socks sometimes. I am used to highly breathable running shoes, so it took some getting used to the lower breathability of Gore-Tex shoes. Not sure I will wear these on hot days, but they are great in the rain and snow. I have walked in deep snow with these, and my feet stayed warm and dry. They are also by far the best looking hiking shoes I have seen. And Patagonia is an awesome brand.

Before bying those shoes, i read the reviews and they say exactly what i saw when used them. My job is in an office but for an adventure company, so i have to get out 8-10 times each day for a walk or for a chat with a client. So, i have to walk in the mud, in the snow or in water... nothing came in and my sweat get's out!! I usually break each pair of shoes in 8-10 months, so i am gonna tell you how long they lasted this time!! Good environnemental choice too ;)

I bought the shoes for my boyfriend for Christmas and they were a hit. He loves them. They fit very true to size and the style is very attractive. The only down side to the shoe that he's told me is the arch. He has very tender/sensitive arch's and they really hurt. We are hoping that they break in and the pain goes away. Other then that, they are amazing shoes. I would highly recommend them.

The best shoes. I have been looking for shoes that made my feet feel as good as my hiking boots at the end of the day. These did it. They are dry in the wet grass and leaves. I teach high school environmental science so I am on my feet most of the day. I use them as my work shoes. They can get a little warm, but that's not all that bad with winter coming on.

these shoes will keep your toes pretty dry even if youre hiking through wet grass all day and they fit great and last, BUT they have some unnecessary stitching in the back that i could go without.

They take a while to break in and form to your foot, but after a few wearings, these are top notch on rocks or trail. Jake

I'm not crazy about these boots. I'm not gonna give em a free pass because they're expensive and made by Patagonia. They arent versatile enough for the price. As uninsulated lowtops, they're practically useless in the snow. As a Gore tex lined shoe, they're WAY too hot for even moderate cool days in the spring. Theres also a ridge that hits the part of my foot funny that might make your feet hurt. They might work better for you, just be careful and sure that they're what you want.

These shoes are amazing. I have owned many hiking shoes and these are my favorite. The tread is great and the inside is very comfortable and supportive. I Live in the UP and am always walking in the snow, these shoes keep my feet warm and dry. They are also pretty stylish. Great shoes worth the price

I took these shoes out on a trip in deep snow and the waterproof element help up perfectly. They offer exceptional grip as opposed to other hiking shoes and were quite comfortable even though i did not break them in. Excellent product.

I like these shoes. They are very comfortable and great looking. They do, however, run slightly large so keep that in mind. They are also a slightly darker tone of brown than what is pictured on the website.