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Since my last review I have been able to use the Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity trail shoes on several trail runs and I have even worn them on the road just to see how they felt. I continue to be impressed with the V-Lites on the trail and they even felt good on my road runs. Read more…
Review by: Ron J
Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity shoes were provided by Hi-Tec for the purpose of this review.
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Since my initial review, I have had many opportunities to wear the Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity trail running shoes. I have worn them almost on a daily basis as an everyday shoe because they are so light weight and comfortable. I have worn them on several day hikes and several trail runs. read more…
Review by: Ron J
Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity shoes were provided by Hi-Tec for the purpose of this review.
Categories: Reviews.
I received the Sierra Lite I WP boots from Hi-Tec for review purposes. This boot is essentially a redesign of an older model called the Sierra Lite Hiker, but with newer materials and technologies. These boots are not on their website yet and from what I read they will be introduced this spring. The I WP probably stands for improved waterproof.
When I first looked at the Sierra, I was reminded of my first pair of sneakers which were above the ankle. The outline is the only similarity. The sole is Vibram. The outside of the boot says water proof and Ion-Mask. The lacing is strung through a combination of closed metal lugs, open metal lugs, a single wide loop, and a pair of nylon loops. The single wide fabric loop is at the base of the laces, this is followed by 4 closed pairs of metal loops, then the nylon loop pair, and lastly near the top two pairs of open metal loops. The insert-able innersole has a few things printed on the insole. One is “OrthoLite comfort from the inside out”. The other is “3D counter balance”. Lastly “Sierra Lite inspired by life”. The toe and heel of the Sierra have rubber like material which have 3 slight indentations on the toe end and 7 small ridges on the heel. The heel of the boot has a fabric loop that is about ½ inch wide and large enough for my my thumb. Under the heel loop, the word V-Lite is stamped into the material. There is also a similarly sized loop with the logo “HI-TEC” at the top of the tongue. I have not seen this on any other boots I have had. There was also an extra pair of shoelaces. The ones on the boots are Black? and the extra laces are Orange.
view of Hi-Tec Sierra Lite I WP with extra laces
bottom view of Sierra Lite I WP
side view with product labels
tongue loop with Logo
view of toe end of Sierra Lite I WP
view of heel end of Sierra Lite I WP
Sierra Lite I WP innersoles
Size: US 9
weights measured
Left boot: 19.9 oz
Right boot: 20.1 oz
Looking further on the Hi-Tec web site I was able to find more information about Ion-Mask and waterproof. Ion-Mask is a surface enhancement technology that works at the molecular level binding invisibly to product surfaces allowing them to repel most liquids. Ion-Mask was originally developed for the Military to repel chemicals off clothing. Hi-Tec is using this technology in their footwear products.
One of the first things I did was to try them on using the loop on the tongue and the loop on the heel. This is noticeably easier way to put on a pair of boots. When I tried lacing the boots with all the loops engaged there was barely enough lace to tie the boots. I am pretty sure if I had snugged down on the laces there would have been more lace available to make the knot easily. My preference for above the ankle boots is to have them on the loose side. I find this prevents any restriction of blood flow and this helps keep my feet warm especially in the winter. I also found that as I get older I am more comfortable if I don’t use the set of lugs closest to the top of the boot on above the ankle boots. I liked the way my foot slid easily into the boot. Being able to use both hands put me very much in control. I did seem to have a slight sensitivity on the top of my right foot near the toes. This sensation has not been consistent or predictable. I have had a similar problem with metal lugs with a different manufacturer. I was able to eliminate the problem by a change in the way the laces were tied. This may require a few trials. Since the boots are not marked insulated and I will be wearing them in winter I will be using medium to heavy wool socks. I drove my standard transmission car wearing these boots and my feet felt no different than driving with a pair of below the ankle hiking shoes.
With the proliferation of new materials and improved methods on manufacturing there are a lot of boots called light. New classifications are used and consequentially one has to look at the actual weight of the boot to make a fair comparison. There is more to a boot than weight only, one also has to consider the temperature range of the boot, being waterproof, the height, comfort level, isolation from the ground, and balance. If I was still running I think I would be doing some running in these boots. The fit is good, getting them on is quick and easy. The innersole adds to the comfort level. The only downside is the random sensitivity. Please check back in about a month when I will have more to say about the Hi-Tec Sierra Lite I WP boots.
The weather has been been more varied than usual for this time of year. On the moisture side it rained to having fine snow. Temperatures varied from the 50′s (F) down to near 0 F. I am using the boots about 3-4 times a week for mostly hikes in the 1-2 hour range.
For me my boots are the most important piece of gear I use on the trail. I learned a long time ago that ignoring a pain in my foot has almost always resulted in not being able to hike for a few days. For this reason I pay a lot of attention to small discomforts in my feet. I had some minor discomfort on the top of my foot near my toes. The discomfort was not consistent, this made finding out what to do a lot harder. This was not the first time I have had this problem. It could be the kind of foot I have. My solution is to relace the boots and not use the single loop at the toe end of the boot. My preference is to have the boots loose at the top of the boot. I usually don’t use the top pair of lugs. This boot and others use a pair of recessed loops. I will try using the recessed loop on one boot and not the other, in order to see if I can feel any difference. Then I would reverse the process and see if results are the same. I noticed when I first tried the boots that the closed loop lugs could not move. The more I wear the boots the more I am able to move more of the lugs. I will report further on this in my last update.
laced without using single loop
Well not really. We had near 0 f temperatures followed by temperatures in the 50′s (F) in the daytime along with some rain. The frozen ground acted like a bowl and there were puddles in a lot of places where I hike. I was in puddles that were over the front part of my shoe and my feet remained dry. I also walked in slush that was near the top of my boots. The slush did cool my feet a bit. Unless I tapped the boot on a tree or a rock some slush would stay on the top of my boot and cooled that part of the boot. Standing in near freezing water would also have the same effect.
Recently I started taking my daughter to class and waiting to bring her home after class. This has given me the chance to bushwhack in several forests near her school where there are no trails. This boot has done very good under various conditions. The ground is very irregular and is covered by a lot of leaves and a generous supply of randomly placed rocks. The traction is very good on the larger rocks. I have noticed a slight instability when there is a predominance of hand sized rocks or smaller. This does not happen very often and for only a short distance. The best part is I am able to hike through light brush easily. Slightly heavier than a sneaker but with the protection of a much heavier boot. This is one of the exceptions where trekking poles are not very useful. Bushwhacking is a lot of fun for me and I tend not loose my sense of direction of where I started, when I hike in a large continuous circle.
I have hiked in the soft kind of snow that tends to cake up on the soles of my boots. The caking of snow on these boots has not happened. The snow just does not seem to accumulate to any significant amount on the bottoms of my boots. When I encounter icy conditions it is time to put on my traction devices especially if there is any elevation.
I am content with the Sierra Lite boots and think my comfort will improve as the shoe lace lugs become more flexible. I feel confident about having dry feet, and although I don’t think the boots are insulated, they have kept my feet from getting too cold. I look forward to using these boots about 3-4 times a week. Please check back in about a month when I will have more to say.
I have been wearing the Hi-Tec Sierra Lite boots about 3 times a week. I have been on several short hikes as well as a couple medium length hikes. I have experienced mud, ice, but no snow in this period.
I mentioned my discomfort with the top part of my foot. I continued with the suggestions I made in my previous report. This included re-lacing and not using the top pair of lugs on the boots. I noticed my comfort improved as the lugs for the laces became more flexible. At that point I decided it was working so I stopped fixing.
This was a 2.5 hour hike with temperatures at about 40 F, sunny and a slight wind. The Middlesex Fells is an excellent place for preparing to hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, since it is like a small scale version. The traction was good to excellent on this hike. There was no ice but the ground was mostly frozen. There were places where the surface was soft and muddy where there was high usage and sun exposure. The boots handled the muddy areas very well. I was also surprised that I had very little mud on the top surface and very little mud sticking to the bottom surface of my boots. It did start raining toward the end of the hike and this had no effect on the traction.
on trail in Middlesex Fells
near large oak tree Middlesex Fells
The official trail-head is called Falon because it is on Falon Road, but when a company called Marjam located near the trail-head, hikers starting to call this entrance the Marjam trail-head. This was a sunny day, with temperatures about 40 F but with winds gusting to 50 mph. I had checked the weather before leaving for this hike. The parking is in the open and the wind was pushing me around easily. This hike was mostly in a different part of this forest. The steep areas had more ledge and in one place water was slowly flowing over a rock. There was slime on this rock and it was very slippery. I have never had a bare boot (a boot without an added traction device) that could handle this type of situation and I always walk around the slippery rocks if possible. I did test my suspicion and found that these boots also slide the rock surfaces are slimy.
rocky part of Middlesex Fells
I wore the boots to an all day technical seminar. I have found that wearing boots inside is a good way to tell if the boots ventilate well. My feet did not overheat or get sweaty. I have found that most public places have hard floors that have no give to them and that my feet tend to get tired when I am in such a place all day. It came as a pleasant surprise to me that with the Sierra boots, my feet did not get tired. This has provided me a way to be more comfortable at an all day seminar.
Although I have used these boots quite a lot in the forest, they do not show any signs of use. They still look almost new. There is a lot of space between treads and the treads are not that deep. I think that is what prevents mud from accumulating under the boots. To conclude the Sierra Lite I WP boots stay clean, are light weight, provide good traction, and keep my feet warm, dry and comfortable. The only downside if you can call it that was there was a short break-in period. I wish to thank Hi-Tec and 4alloutdoors for the opportunity to test these boots.
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Review by: Ron J
Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity shoes were provided by Hi-Tec for the purpose of this review.
http://www.hi-tec.com/infinity/us/
I am usually very picky about what I run and hike in but when I saw the opportunity to test a Hi-Tec trail running shoe, I thought I would go out on a limb and try something different. Read more…
Categories: Reviews.
I am usually very picky about what I run and hike in but when I saw the opportunity to test a Hi-Tec trail running shoe, I thought I would go out on a limb and try something different. I chose to test the V-Lite Infinity in a size 12, the same size as my road running shoes. My running shoes are EE and I requested that but I did not see any indication of them being a wide cut on the box so I was a little worried about that when I got them. When I took them out of the box, I was amazed at how light they felt. I believe the “V” in V-Lite means very light. The website claims a size 10.5 weighs 11oz. I went to the post office and weighed one of the shoes and it weighed 12.1 oz. I compared it to my road running shoe and it weighed 12.6 oz. The shoe came in an olive/taupe/sunflower color that I thought was very nice color combination. Some of the pictures below, the shoes look like there is blue in them. There is not any blue, it is the reflection of the blue sky on the heat seal overlays.
Below in italics is information taken from the Hi-Tec website.
An incredibly lightweight, adventure sports shoe. The Infinity HPi can handle a broad mix of terrains in the harshest weather whilst offering plenty of support and allowing the wearer’s foot to feel and adapt to the surface. The toggle and cord closure also provides quick and easy entry, for the athlete seeking that extra speed.
I slipped the shoe on and immediately felt very comfortable in the shoe. The worries I had about the shoe being too narrow went out the window. They did not feel tight at all. Usually a new shoe feels stiff and tight but this one felt so good on my foot, I put the other one on and wore them all day around the house. The upper part of the shoe is made of breathable synthetic material that Hi-Tec claims are hydrophobic meaning the material absorbs much less water ensuring quicker drying time. It also keeps dirt away for easier cleanup. In the middle and the rear of the shoe, there is a clear overlay that adds support. The toe has a molded cap and the back of the shoe has more support than the rest of the shoe and a loop to easily pull the shoe on. The shoe has a dual density mid and outsole. They are made for people with a slight pronating step (meaning when I step most of my weight goes to the inside of my foot). The tongue and the eyelets look and feel very durable and seems like they can take pulling as hard as you want to tighten your shoe. I really like the large reflectors that are in the front and back of the shoe. The reflectors are nicely designed to not stand out in the daylight but are very bright when light hits them in the darkness.
I usually like breaking in my running and hiking shoes for a while before I go on a long run or hike. The V-Lites felt so good when I wore them around the house all day I thought I would try them out on a long hike the next day. My son and I had a 20 mile hike on the calendar so I put on my new shoes and we were off. We went down toCongareeNational ParknearColumbia,SCto do our hike. The temperature was 25 degrees when we started and was expected to get up to around 60 degrees. I wore a mid weight wicking hiking sock thinking I may be a little cold at the beginning and a little hot near the end but they should be just right for most of the hike. These shoes are definitely not cold weather shoes but I did not expect them to be either. My feet were cold at the beginning and the ground had frost on it. Once we got going my feet were very comfortable. When the frost began to melt away the ground was wet but my feet stayed dry. The shoes felt very good even though they were brand new and did not have any break in time. By mile 11 it was in the mid 40’s and my feet felt good. By midday it was around 60 degrees and my feet never felt hot. The shoes did allow my feet to breath. The shoelaces never once came untied which I liked. Nothing is more frustrating than shoelaces that won’t stay tied. At mile 16 I started feeling a hotspot on my left inside heel. Once we got done with our 20 miles and I took my shoe off, I had a small blister where I felt the hotspot. I was surprised that is all I had since I did not break in these shoes or wear them on any type of hike before this day.
My initial opinion on the Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity’s is this is a comfortable, lightweight, quality shoe that is ready to go when you take them out of the box. I was very impressed with their performance on our long hike. The soles would repel dirt and mud so I didn’t have to worry about mud sticking in the tread causing me to slip. I look forward to trying them on a trail run and more day hikes. More to come in a month.
Update 02/12/2012
Since my initial review, I have had many opportunities to wear the Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity trail running shoes. I have worn them almost on a daily basis as an everyday shoe because they are so light weight and comfortable. I have worn them on several day hikes and several trail runs.
As an everyday shoe, I have found the V-Lite to be very comfortable even when I wear them all day. My legs do not feel fatigued and my lower back does not hurt like it does when I am wearing dress shoes or casual shoes. I can be on my feet all day with them and have no issues.
I really like wearing the V-Lites for day hikes. I have found them very comfortable no matter the terrain. It can be a well groomed level trail or a steep incline or decline full of rocks and roots and I feel confident hiking in them. I have yet to have issues with mud sticking to the bottom so I always have good traction. My most recent hike was yesterday. I was traveling for work and I came to a place where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road. It was around noon so I decided to hit the trail. I always carry everything I may need for just the occasion when I travel. It was snowing and it was sticking so I thought it would be a good time to test the V-Lites in the snow. I was a little concerned about my feet getting wet and cold but I wanted to see how they would do. I took off and my feet were already getting cold. These definitely are not cold weather shoes. Once I started up the hill at a brisk pace, my feet started to warm up. The only time they got cold was when I would stop for a picture. Snow never stuck to the bottom of the shoe so I always had good traction. Again, I found them very comfortable to wear. I hiked for about 50 minutes and wished I had more time.
V-Lites on a quick hike in the snow
The main reason I wanted to test these shoes was for trail running. I have been running for 6 years now but trail running is somewhat new to me. I have found I really enjoy trail running and would rather run on a trail than the road. The V-Lites are my first “official” trail shoe. I have always used my road shoes for the trails. Even though the V-Lites are .5 ounces per shoe lighter than my road shoes, they seem to have more support on the technical trails and I get better traction in them. I have run in the V-Lites several times on a trail since my initial review. I find them very comfortable to run in and have not had any more issues with hot spots or blisters. They do repel dew and very light water but they are definitely not waterproof as I found out when I ran through a stream on one of my runs. Once wet, they do dry out very quickly and they are easily cleaned up by just wiping them down with a damp towel.
Me suffering through a trail race in my V-Lites
I don’t notice any excessive wear or any damage on the Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity trail running shoes. I have found them very comfortable to wear over the past month in many different situations and look forward to more trail runs and day hikes with them. Final review to come in about a month.
Final Review 03/27/2012
Since my last review I have been able to use the Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity trail shoes on several trail runs and I have even worn them on the road just to see how they felt. I continue to be impressed with the V-Lites on the trail and they even felt good on my road runs.
Most of my trail runs are around 4 miles and I have not had any issues running that distance with the V-Lites. I decided to increase my mileage and did a 7 mile run. It had rained the day before so the trail was muddy in some spots and slick in others. The trail is somewhat technical with several roots and rocks. From prior runs on trails with the V-Lites, I was very confident that I did not have any worries on this run. As they have done in the past, they came through with flying colors. I did slip one time on some very slick mud that was on a hill but I think I would need long spikes on my shoes to have kept from slipping on that mud. The rest of the run was great. My feet and legs felt good when I was done and I didn’t get any hot spots. I have not had any issues with these shoes on any of my trail runs.
Done with the run.
I also tried the V-Lites on a road run. It was a 5 mile run and I really liked the way they felt. Like I mentioned in a previous post the V-Lites are 0.5 ounce lighter than my every day running shoes. I was running about the same pace with the V-Lites as I always do on this route so I don’t think I was faster in them but they felt good and I feel confident wearing them on any type of surface. I wouldn’t hesitate wearing them on a longer road run.
I have been really impressed on how well the Hi-Tec V-Lite Infinity trail shoes have felt on all my runs and day hikes. I have not had any issues with wear or any quality issues. The shoe laces have never come untied or loose. I do not double knot my shoes in case I want to tighten or loosen the laces quickly on a run so not having to double knot my laces is very important to me. The V-Lites repel mud both on the sole for good traction and on the shoe itself. What mud that sticks to the shoe, easily wipes off. The shoes are breathable so they are going to be great to run in this summer when the temperatures get hot. I look forward to many more day hikes and trail runs with these shoes and I am even going to sign up for an off road triathlon (a kayak, mountain bike and trail run race) this summer. I want to thank Hi-Tec for supplying the V-Lite Infinity trail shoes for me to test and 4AllOutdoors.org the opportunity.
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Wrap up of the Hi-Tec V-Lite Hornet Hiking Boot review. Check out how they’ve held up over the last few months.
Categories: Reviews.
***Pam H.O.
I’m always looking for that perfect pair of sandals that will look and feel good as well as transition from the garden to the campground to the walking trail to my high school
Side View of the Hi-Tec V-Lite Gran Canaria
classroom. When I received the Hi-Tec V-Lite Gran Canaria to try out, I was impressed for two reasons, I liked the delicate golden leaf design on the straps and insole of the shoe and they looked sturdy. It wasn’t until I began to write this review that I noticed my sandals do not sport the taupe/olive/golden haze
tri-color or the golden leaf design on the insole as advertised on the Hi-Tec website. Mine are a olive/golden haze with a brown-leafed design stamped on the insole.
When I tried the sandals on for the first time, I couldn’t believe how comfortable they were! It is hard to explain how it feels to wear nothing on your foot while at the same time feel like you are getting the the best foot support, in a sandal, that you have ever had. The top of the sandal is very open while the sides of your foot are firmly supported by the criss-crossed straps. The back of the shoe provides heel support that is very unusual in an open heeled shoe. Additional padding is provided on the front closure strap and on the back of the ankle strap.
V-Lite Gran Canaria, photo courtesty of Hi-Tec
I wear a size 10 and the fit was perfect. And even though that is a fairly big size, the cut of the shoe seems to minimize the size of the foot. I was prepared to “break in” a shoe that has a “between the toe” strap, knowing that there would be some discomfort-after all my toes were used to winter boots and tennis shoes. I was pleasantly surprised when after wearing the shoes for two days there was no discomfort.
Spring here in Northeast Ohio is unpredictable. So far, I’ve only been able to wear the sandals camping one weekend. They were perfect for the hot weather. When the weather cooled I decided to wear them to school. What a hit! My high school students loved the look and one teacher ordered a pair for herself. What more can I say! I look forward to reporting to you how the shoe holds up against the spring and summer rains, puddles and mud.
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Frank the Urban Hiker
Setting out on my first hike in my 'Hornets'
Heading into one of our local parks for a hike
The look of the shoe itself is contemporary stylish with sleek design characteristics built into the lightweight synthetic ion-maskTM fabric which repels water and prevents absorption (hydrophobic). While out on my first walk the late night dew had set in on the grass and I noticed that my feet remained dry while the water rolled off my shoes.
After 4 months of urban trekking using the Hi-Tec V-Lite Hornet Hiking Boots here is my review of the wear and tear the boots have suffered. I have taken them through the southern California local parks, sandy beach boardwalks, along the marshes of the Pacific Ocean and man-made river ways. I was able to climb along the banks of Madison Ohio’s Lake Erie, Grand River and adjoining waterfalls. The Hi-Tec V-Lite Hornet Hiking Boots kept my balance while photographing the great Niagara Falls and even had a rinsing or two in the fast paced Niagara River.
The biggest wear and tear came from my daily usage of the Hi-Tec V-Lite Hornet Hiking Boots while at work where standing for many hours at a time in a limited space. The arch support provided by the boots kept my feet comfortable throughout the day.
At first glance the Hi-Tec V-Lite Hornet Hiking Boots show minimal wear and tear nothing out of the ordinary. The laces and eyelets have kept their shape, the upper synthetic ion-maskTM fabric was easy to clean and show no sign of breakdown.
Upon closer look the toe box with its protective shell suffered minor scuff marks from bumping into rocks and other immovable objects. Only a few threads on both shoes have broken free to show any signs of wear or fatigue on the outer surface of the boots..
The sole of the Hi-Tec V-Lite Hornet Hiking Boots wore evenly in comparable wear patterns of my other tennis and walking shoes where I strike with my heel and roll along the outside border of the foot and push off with my toes.
The interior of the Hi-Tec V-Lite Hornet Hiking Boots show little to no wear and the compression-molded EVA midsole insert took the brunt of the wear with a loss of brand emblem of the surface and separation of the added sole heel pad.
All in all I feel the Hi-Tec V-Lite Hornet Hiking Boots are sturdy, made well, comfortable and a good value.
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