Thinking about grabbing the Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II as my first “real” hiking boots. I do mostly day hikes (5-10 miles) on muddy, rooty trails with the occasional wet rock crossing, and might carry a 20-25 lb pack once in a while. For folks who’ve used these a lot, can you help me with a few rookie questions?
- Fit: I’ve got a narrow-ish heel and a slightly wide forefoot. Do these run narrow/true/short? Is the “wide” version actually wider in the forefoot or just higher volume?
- Heat and sweat: How do they breathe in warm, humid weather? Any sock combos that keep them from feeling swampy without trashing the waterproofing?
- Traction: How’s the Omni-Grip on slick rock, wet roots, and clay? Does the rubber get hard and sketchy in colder temps?
- Durability: Any peeling/cracking of the PU-coated “leather” after a season? Hot spots at the toe flex? If you’ve reproofed them, which products didn’t mess with the coating?
- Waterproofing: How long did it actually stay waterproof for you, and does the gusseted tongue height keep shallow splashes out?
- Support: Enough torsional stiffness for light backpacking, or better as day-hike boots? Any lacing tricks to kill heel slip or toe bang on descents?
- Compatibility: Work fine with microspikes and short snow patches? Gaiter hooks line up okay? Any insole swaps that made a big difference?
- Lifespan hacks: Has anyone successfully re-soled or extended the outsole life with a cobbler or DIY glue repairs?
Also, if you’ve moved from these to trail runners for dry seasons and kept the Newton Ridge for wet/muddy days, how did that combo work out on a budget?