REASONS TO BUY
Stylish
Durable
Water-resistant
Good value
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacks support underfoot
Floppy
Narrow toe box
Forsake Patch Review
A stylish boot with all-leather uppers and a durable design, made for short hikes
Credit: REI Co-op
RELATED: Best Hiking Boots for Women
Our Verdict
The Forsake Patch is an incredibly popular boot with an impressive number of customer reviews for a relatively small brand. We were excited to test out these stylish hikers and found that they excelled in some of our test metrics and fell short in others. Where they shine is in water resistance, weight, and durability. Where they fall short is in comfort and support. These boots felt a bit soft underfoot, with no stiffness or cushion. They also had fairly thin soles, which made us very aware of every stick and rock we stepped on. If you are looking for a stylish, well-made boot for short hikes or urban use, the Patch is a great option. For backpacking, there are better options.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
An updated look to a classic style boot, it was hard to decide whether to wear the Patch in town or on the trail.
Credit: Alexa Flower
Comfort
The Patch is a good-looking leather boot, but unfortunately, they look better than they feel. At first, we thought that these leather boots just needed some time to break in — our lead tester often gets hotspots on the wide part of her foot when breaking in new boots — but as time went on, these boots didn't get any more comfortable. Perhaps for folks with a narrower foot, the Patch would be a sufficiently comfortable boot, but for us, they were too narrow and didn't provide enough cushion underfoot to wear for long periods of time. Additionally, the all-leather upper made our feet feel stuffy and hot, even when the weather was cool. The lack of breathability also contributed to their overall low score in the comfort metric.
An urban hike around Bishop in the Forsake boots.
Credit: Alexa Flower
Support
Typically, a boot that struggles in the comfort metric also has shortcomings in terms of support, and the Patch is no exception. These boots are not necessarily designed for long, mountainous hikes, but we found that even days around town put a toll on our feet in these boots. Their composite shank doesn't provide the same level of stability and support underfoot as many of our other favorite women's hiking boots. Most notably, the boots flex a lot in the forefoot, which makes them feel floppy and made our feet feel tired when walking uphill.
These boots lack the stiffness underfoot required for long hiking missions.
Credit: Alexa Flower
Traction
Made with Forsake's Peak-to-Pavement proprietary rubber, the Patch did not impress us regarding traction. They're fine for low-angle, mellow walks around town but didn't do great on loose gravel or steep terrain. They lack the lugs and aggressive tread pattern that would allow them to stick to more technical surfaces.
As you can see, the tread on the Patch is not necessarily designed for rugged terrain.
Credit: Alexa Flower
Water Resistance
Here, the Patch's all-leather uppers impressed us. The leather uppers, reinforced seams, and waterproof membrane made the Patch withstand full submersion into water. The tongue is made from a water-resistant textile, which was the weakest link in terms of the waterproof barrier, but even still, the Patch did great in wet conditions by not allowing any water in through this area.
The waterproof leather uppers withstood our water resistance tests and kept our feet dry after being submerged for minutes at a time.
Credit: Alexa Flower
Weight
Compared to other leather boots with a classic design, the Patch is an impressively lightweight boot. These boots do not have the clunky, heavy feel that has been a complaint of ours with this style boot in the past. They actually felt quite light on our feet, which probably comes from the fact that the midsole is so minimal. These boots weighed in at well under two pounds, comparable to the lighter boots with mesh uppers in this review.
Durability
Boots will all-leather uppers typically have a higher level of durability than synthetic boots, and the Patch is no exception. These boots are well-made, and we saw no signs of wear during our test period. Online reviews mention a few cases of the leather and suede scuffing, but this is to be expected with use.
Though they are not the most substantial boot we tested, the Patch is undoubtedly well made. We found that they were best worn around town and on shorter outings, as opposed to multi-day trips into the backcountry.
Credit: Alexa Flower
Should You Buy the Forsake Patch?
As a stylish, well-made hiking boot that can perform on mellow hikes while still looking good on the street, the Forsake Patch is a winner. However, our testers feel that this is more of a "lifestyle" boot that isn't designed for long hikes or rugged missions into the backcountry, so be aware of what your intentions are when purchasing these boots.
What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?
If you want a stylish boot that can hold its own on the trail, check out the Oboz Sapphire Mid. For backpacking trips or missions deeper into the backcountry, our favorite recommendation is the Editors' choice winning Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid.
—
Jane Jackson
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