With the unseasonably warm (and sunny) weather the Seattle area has been having lately, we were itching to get out and hit the trail. The beautiful weather gave us a perfect opportunity to test out some new hiking shoes, like the Vade shoes from Chaco.

Best known for their sandals, Chaco has been expanding their line of footwear in recent years. Boots, slip-ons, and now lace up shoes have all made their way into the Chaco product line. The Vade shoes are mesh and leather light hiker built on the well-known (and well-loved by many) Chaco footbed. These are a no-frills light hiker with excellent arch support, thanks to Chaco’s LUVSEAT™ platform. If you’ve worn Chaco sandals before, the Vade shoes support will feel no different, but if you haven’t, well, it might take a little getting used to. For people with high arches (like myself), Chaco sandals, shoes, and boots are great. The shoes lacing starts at the mid-foot, and laces securely with a heavy duty lace. Though the lace has a sort-of box-like shape which made me wonder how secure they would stay knotted, I didn’t have to worry.

On the trail, the Vade shoes handled the easy terrain without a problem. The Vibram Bulloo outsole has just the right amount of grip, even on damp surfaces. If you’ve owned Chaco sandals in the past, the soles of the Vade shoes will look familiar, as it has the same shape and contours of some of their popular sandals. With a mostly-mesh upper, the leather toe reinforcement keeps debris out when you’re hitting the trail.

While the Vade shoes are not the most lightweight hikers on the market, they provide a solid foundation and can handle an easy trail day without a problem. For those familiar with the Chaco footbed, it will feel almost the same as hiking with a pair of their Unaweep sandals, but for those less familiar, there might be more of an adjustment and break-in period. And as the weather warms up, the partial-mesh upper will be a welcome feature, providing ample ventilation on warm days. Of course, I wouldn’t want to go slogging through a muddy trail with these, for that reason alone.

At the end of the day, the Chaco Vade are just like all other Chaco shoes–you either love them or hate them. I’m definitely a fan, but I know many people who have tried them and have said they just aren’t for them. Unlike the sandals, Chaco shoes are available in both whole and half sizes…fit is definitely the most important factor when choosing these shoes. If you’re already a Chaco fan (and have been known to hike in your sandals), you’ll love the Vade shoes for the extra protection they provide on the trail.

The Vade shoes are available for both men and women and retail for about $115.

Product provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.