First Look: Hi-Tec V Lite Flash Force Low I Trail Shoe - Hiking Photos, Trip Reports, Trail Info and Gear Reviews

Http iframes are not shown in https pages in many major browsers. Please read this post for details.

Why Buy?

In early March I was contacted by Hi-Tec to see if I was interested in testing anything from their hiking line. Coincidentally, I was looking for a pair of low top hiker/trail runners to use in conjunction with a set of sole-stiffening insoles. Over the last several years, I’ve tried to transition from my heavy backpacking boots to trail runners or a lighter boot. An adage you’ll hear from hikers is “1 pound on your feet equals 5 pounds on your back.” While this may seem ridiculous, it is backed up by research conducted by the British Army (my thoughts on the subject and a link to the study are posted here: Transitioning From Heavy Backpacking Boots to Trail Runners, Part I). Looking at the products that Hi-Tec offered, the V Lite Flash Force Low I Trail Shoes stood out to me for several reasons:

Vibram soles – to date, I have not found footwear that grabs like the Vibram soles footwear I’ve used.
Aggressive traction – most of the trail runners I’ve looked at don’t have aggressive traction and the “lugs” are very shallow. I’m an over-pronator that really scuffs the inside edge of my shoes. On most trail runners and lightweight shoes, I believe it would not be long before the soft, shallow traction was worn down to a smooth surface. The Hi-Tecs have an aggressively styled traction, while having lugs with a depth similar to those I find on the boots I like.
Price – looking online I was able to find my size for less than $70. That’s about 50% of what I usually spend on a pair of boots.

My Observations

I have a history of ankle and foot problems. To help with my transition to using hiking footwear that doesn’t have a full shank and ankle support, I used ankle braces and sole stiffening insoles with these shoes. I’m hoping to build up enough foot and ankle strength to ditch the braces and insoles eventually.

The Good

I wore them to work a couple of days (I walk 3-5 miles per day while on the clock), then took them on a 3 day, 30+ mile backpacking trip. No blisters or ankle sprains. Some foot pain, but not any more than I’d expect if I had worn my heavy backpacking boots. Hip discomfort, which I tend to get with heavy backpacking boots, was non-existent.
As expected, the Vibram soles have amazing grip.

Weight savings – even when adding the ankle braces and insole weight to the Hi-Tec Flash Lows, they weigh much less than my normal hiking boots.

	Oboz Beartooth BDry	Hi-Tec Flash Force Low
Shoe Weight (per pair)	58 oz	30 oz
Spring Plate Weight	Not used¹	2 oz
Ankle Brace Weight	Not used²	7 oz
Total Weight	58 oz / 3.63 lbs	39 oz / 2.44 lbs
Equivalent Pack Weight ³	371.2 oz / 23.2 lbs	249.6 oz / 15.6 lbs
Equivalent Weight Saved	N/A	121.6 oz / 7.6 lbs
Notes	My preferred backpacking boots, featuring ankle support and full shank	Low top trail runners that feature a nylon fork shank to add some rigidity. Vibram soles are a huge selling point for these shoes.

¹Spring Plates not needed; full shank provides adequate protection.

² Ankle braces not needed; boot height provides adequate ankle support.

³Using the British Army’s 6.4 multiplication factor

The Bad
- This is not necessarily about the shoe, but some of the online stores selling it. It is advertised in some places as waterproof. It is not waterproof.
The Bottom Line
- Hi-Tec isn’t a brand I’ve heard other hikers talk about, in person or even online. I had only ever seen Hi-Tec in a handful of stores and with my lack of exposure to the name, I had never really looked at Hi-Tec as a quality brand. With my experience to date with these shoes though, my perception is quickly changing. I think they’re a great shoe at this price point.

Future Testing

My friends, who are well aware of my previous foot and ankle issues, were very surprised that I used these on the Coyote Gulch trip. After further testing, I am hoping that I’ll be able to determine if the shoes by themselves will give me the level of protection and support I need or if the ankle braces and insoles are also needed. I’ll update this review after I’ve used them on a few more hikes.