The following review of the ENDURO MAX MID GTX by Deckers X Lab was written by trail runner Sarah Barber. Product was provided for the test and review at no charge.
I was taught from a young age that looks aren’t everything. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t anything. The appearance of the new ENDURO MAX MID GTX created by Deckers Lab (same parent company as Hoka) is something I can’t not acknowledge. These beefy kicks might not blow minds, but they will certainly turn heads.
How else to explain this? It takes some cajones to march out onto public trails with these big and bright clodhoppers on your feet. But if you can get past a slightly clownish vibe, the uniquely plush ride is the reward. The ENDURO MAX MID GTX is a self-proclaimed “all-terrain, all-distance trekker that melds a mountaineering boot and a running shoe into one.” Add a little bit of P. T. Barnum to that, and the description becomes more accurate.
Snappy colors, snappy step
Although my first love is running, hiking is a close second, and it’s my default activity on days that I don’t run and on days that I run on roads. A girl’s gotta get her trail time, after all! So it was with great enthusiasm that I unboxed the ENDURO, took a deep breath, and incorporated their bright yellow-orange-red hues into my otherwise neutral outdoor attire.
Traditional hiking boots are cumbersome enough that anything faster than a brisk walk is unpleasant at best and injury-provoking at worst. Run a few steps to catch up with your trek mate? Sure. Outrun a hungry mountain lion? Unlikely. But if you’re wearing the ENDURO MAX MID GTX, you might have a chance.
With a heel-to-toe rocker sole that contains a V-shaped internal carbon fiber plate, these kicks are made to move quickly. Deckers Lab has taken some of the principles behind the super shoes that are setting new marathon records and rolled them into an expert trekking boot poised to bag peaks even under the load of a backpack.
Test ride
On my first foothill adventure in the ENDURO, I was immediately aware that their bulky silhouette belied their relative buoyancy. While the exact weight is not listed on the website, the “ultra-lightweight and high rebound TPX-Ponent Breeze Foam midsole core” are for real. Surely this is of great benefit when it comes to high-mileage and excessive vert, and let’s not forget about post-hike recovery either.
The well-tested Vibram outsole provides confident grip whether terrain is rocky, sandy, or steep—or all three. Spring rain in the forecast? No issue with traction. In addition, the suede leather upper is lined with a Gore-Tex membrane which also bodes well for inclement weather.
Sarah Barber and her trusted friend Payette on the trails near Boise, Idaho.
As far as comfort and cush, I’ve never been more content when hiking as I was when wearing the ENDURO MAX MID GTX. The fit is finely tuned from the top of the ankle to the tip of the toe, thanks to ten eyelets and long laces that tighten to your heart’s (or your foot’s) content.
I even received a few compliments from folks on the trail as I power-walked past them—no, the compliments were not directed toward my speed or my athletically toned legs (bummer!), but rather toward my brightly clad feet in fresh out-of-the box new kicks. With more wear and tear and some mud splatter, maybe trail users I encounter will forgo comments on my footwear and remark how outdoorsy and rugged I am. And, these are just the shoes to accomplish that goal.
Editor’s Note: Read more reviews from Sarah Barber here.
