The North Face Activist Futurelight mid walking boots will take you “from urban parks and city streets to countryside paths and mountain trails,” or so the brand claims. Here is my review of these lightweight, mid-height walking boots.
Features of The North Face Activist Futurelight mid walking boots:
- Breathable-waterproof FUTURELIGHT membrane
- Single-Density EVA Midsole
- EXTS outsole traction system
- OrthoLite Hybrid™ footbed
- Performance Mesh Upper With No-Sew TPU Overlays
- Moulded collar
- Protective toe cap
- Gusseted tongue
- Trainer-like comfort
- Approx Weight: 393g per boot
- Male and female designs/fit.
- Price: £140
- The North Face.
- Buy from Amazon.
My review: The North Face Activist Futurelight mid walking boots
These boots are comfortable straight out of the box. These days, if a shoe or boot is not immediately comfortable I would reject it so the North Face The North Face Activist Futurelight mid walking boot passes the first test.
The comfort of the boot extends to the cushioned sole and in-sole, the ankle cuff and the tongue. It’s rather like a slipper boot in terms of comfort levels. The width is standard fit, in my opinion.
The lacing system allows you to tighten the ankle of the boot to give fairly good support. These are mid-height boots so they will not be suitable for very rough terrain and winter wear.
It’s a boot that is best suited to tarmac and trails, rather than mountains. I know that the brand believes it will cope with a wide range of terrain but unless you were heading into the mountains in summer on a high quality path that is not too steep, I can’t recommend the boots for high altitude wear. In Scotland, these boots would not be suitable for anything more than easy hill walking on defined trails and paths.
It’s a good quality boot that would be ideal for dog walking, easier-going hill walking and mainly in the fairer weather seasons in the UK of spring and summer.
The sole is of medium stiffness. It’s not as flexible as a running shoe but also not as stiff as a mountain boot. The stiffness is perfectly suited to lower level trails and hill paths.
The grip is best for gravel and hard packed surfaces. They cope with a bit of mud and wet grass but the soles are not aggressive enough to stop you slipping over on sustained mud and steep grassy slopes.
The boots are waterproof and they will keep your feet dry in most situations in spring, summer and autumn. I would not trust them to keep my feet dry in sustained Scottish rain and snow, but I don’t think they are meant for this anyway.
I was sent a light beige pair of the boots. I would recommend you choose a darker colour if you want to ensure the boots do not quickly change colour from light to muddy dark! In Scotland, we have a lot of rain and mud and this means I would normally choose a darker coloured fabric.
The boots look trendy. I can see then appealing to many people who simply want footwear for general everyday use. If you do a lot of walking, such as to the office, or dog and hill walking, it’s a good boot for that purpose. The comfort, features and soles make it an excellent choice for times when a trail shoe simply won’t keep your feet dry or warm enough.
At £140, you would be hoping that the The comfort of the The North Face Activist Futurelight mid walking boots will be durable and long-lasting. They feature more of a basic rubber rand than I would normally expect in a hill walking boot, but what I see is perfectly adequate for street and country park / forestry trails.