Two Cents; Issue 3; North Face Hedgehog Hiking Shoe

-Designed to be a light and rugged hiking shoe for quick movement.





Dependability

Buying dependable gear is the best way to enjoy your time in the mountains. Nothing gets more abuse than your foot wear. Depending on the make and model they will be used all year around. When I buy my shoes I walk them into the ground, literally. The North Face Hedgehog was mediocre at best.


The Pro's

• It's light and rugged
• The rugged tread grips dirt and rock well

The Con's

• The fabric on the heel disentegrated, leaving the foam exposed
• The loops that keep the laces in place was showing signs of wear

In Defense...

It is my personal belief that gear companies make the best quality gear to do what the costumer says they need. A light weight hiking shoe was exactly what the market demanded. People wanted the protection of a boot without the boot side of that equation. Many shoes have come onto the market that have similar functions. Most companies make a shoe like this, you simply choose the name you want and off you go. I understood that the shoes would not last for ever, but they died way before I thought they would.

In Conclusion

On the trail this shoe preformed wonderfully, my feet were protected from the elements without wearing boots. After using them almost every day for a year they began to fall apart. The heel was down to the foam, the eyelets too looked well used, however, the tread on the bottom did survive. I would caution you when you are looking at any style of footwear where inside of the heel is fabric, I would run away, that will not last. I'm a personal believer that leather is still the best way to go where friction is present and durability is required. But it is up to you. Leather tends to be 'heavier' and certainly doesn't breath as well, but it will last twice as long as there fabric counterparts. Just like anything else having the right tool for the job is what makes or breaks the day. Be careful what you buy, and consider how you plan to use the product. This shoe would be fantastic if I only used it twice a month, I didn't think it would deteriorate within a year.

Go, No Go

The North Face Hedgehog receives a 4 out of 10 form me. The shoe did exactly what it said it would, which was preform well on the trail, but it was not as versatility as advertised. I will not buy any style of shoe that is similar to this, regardless of the maker. It fell apart from the inside out. This product receives a no go. 

K

The Class System

-Technical climbs in the United States are based off the Yosemite Decimal System. Explaining the numbers that are in the guidebook.




Overview


Class 1

• An easy trail with no obstacles

Class 2

• Still an easy trail, but there may be some times where scrambling is required.

Class 3

• Scrambling will be required with more exposure. An unprotected fall from a class 3 would quite possibly be fatal.

Class 4

• Easy climbing, a rope may be used on the way up, and is often recommended for the descent if there is not a trail off the backside. High exposure.

Class 5

• Technical climbing, where gear is used for protection both going up and coming down. Exposed.

Class 6

• Normally used in rescue scenarios, where climbers ascend or descend on the gear that they put in place. Used when the situation leaves the party unable to free climb the face safely. 

In Other Words

The way that makes it easiest for me to process is by counting the number of parts in contact with the rock. Class one, your legs are in contact, class three, you will be using your legs and two arms, all the way up to a class 5 where you are using both legs, arms, and protection to keep you safe. In Colorado the most common place to see the class rankings would be on the descriptions of 14ers,




The Thing That Kills 

What makes a climb difficult is not the level of skill one must possess, but the ability to stay focused while moving across exposed sections of the route. The section where you step out and there is suddenly a 300 foot drop away to either side. Even though that portion of the hike by not be technically difficult the exposure increases the risk evolved.




Final Thoughts

The outdoors provide an escape from reality and the opportunity to set and achieve your own goals. When you head outside please be sure to have all of your bases covered and know exactly what you are getting into before you stumble across them. This will lead to a fulfilling day for everyone evolved.


Thanks.


K