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Forsake Patch Review

A stylish boot with all-leather uppers and a durable design, made for short hikes
Forsake Patch
Photo: REI Co-op
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Price:  $150 List | $89.83 at REI
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Stylish, durable, water-resistant, good value
Cons:  Lacks support underfoot, floppy, narrow toe box
Manufacturer:   Forsake
By Jane Jackson ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 28, 2020
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53
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#16 of 16
  • Comfort - 25% 4
  • Support - 20% 3
  • Weight - 15% 7
  • Traction - 15% 4
  • Water Resistance - 15% 8
  • Durability - 10% 8

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 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. We found these boots to be 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.

Compare to Similar Products

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Forsake Patch
This Product
Forsake Patch
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award  Best Buy Award 
Price $89.83 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$164.95 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers		$219.95 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers		$142.73 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$89.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
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Star Rating
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Pros Stylish, durable, water-resistant, good valueGood traction, very comfortable, ankle padding, waterproofComfortable, durable, very cushioned, stable, supportive, lightweightVery water resistant, durable, incredibly lightweight, sleek designComfortable, lightweight, durable, inexpensive
Cons Lacks support underfoot, floppy, narrow toe boxRuns big, excess padding in tongueExpensive, take some time to break in, can be warm on hot daysProblematic fitLacks support of larger, heavier boots
Bottom Line The Patch is a solid, fashionable boot for urban jaunts about town and short trailsThis best-in-its-class boot combines lightweight technology with all the versatility a modern boot should haveDesigned for long-distance hikes with heavy loads, this model is designed to maximize support and comfortThese boots are lightweight, sleek, and durable - designed for technical and varied terrainThe best iteration of this model yet
Rating Categories Forsake Patch X Ultra Mid 3 GTX Kaha Gore-Tex Alpenrose Ultra Mid GTX Targhee III Mid
Comfort (25%)
4
9
9
5
9
Support (20%)
3
8
10
8
7
Weight (15%)
7
7
6
9
7
Traction (15%)
4
8
6
9
7
Water Resistance (15%)
8
10
8
10
8
Durability (10%)
8
8
8
7
7
Specs Forsake Patch X Ultra Mid 3 GTX Kaha Gore-Tex Alpenrose Ultra... Targhee III Mid
Weight Per Pair (Size 7.5, in lbs) 1.84 lbs 1.83 lbs 1.91 lbs 1.47 lbs 1.80 lbs
Upper Full-grain leather Suede leather, nylon Full-grain leather Breathable mesh/ coated fabric Oiled nubuck leather
Width Options Standard Regular Standard Regular Regular
Heel height (mm) 29 mm 32 mm 54 mm 32 mm 35 mm
Shaft height (mm) 127 mm 121 mm 140 mm 127 mm 125 mm
Midsole EVA Dual-density EVA EVA EVA Dual Density EVA
Sole Rubber Contagrip rubber Vibram MegaGrip Michelin rubber Rubber

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


An updated look to a classic style boot, it was hard to decide...
An updated look to a classic style boot, it was hard to decide whether to wear the Patch in town or on the trail.
Photo: Alexa Flower

Comfort


The Patch is a good looking, leather boot that seemed to look better than they felt. 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, we found that these boots just didn't seem to be getting 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.

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 does not provide the same level of stability and support underfoot than many other boots we've reviewed. Most notably, the boots flex a lot in the forefoot, which makes them feel floppy and made our feet feel tired when walking uphill in them.

These boots lack the stiffness underfoot required for long hiking...
These boots lack the stiffness underfoot required for long hiking missions.
Photo: 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. In terms of measured weight, these boots are well under two pounds and compare to the lighter boots with mesh uppers in this review.

Traction


Made with Forsake's Peak-to-Pavement proprietary rubber, the Patch did not impress us in terms of traction. Fine for low-angle, mellow walks around town, the Patch's 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...
As you can see, the tread on the Patch is not necessarily designed for rugged terrain.
Photo: 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...
The waterproof leather uppers withstood our water resistance tests and kept our feet dry after being submerged for minutes at a time.
Photo: Alexa Flower

Durability


Again, a boot with an all-leather upper is going to do relatively well in this metric, typically. 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...
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.
Photo: Alexa Flower

Value


These boots are of relatively good value. They are well-made and stylish and come at a cost that is comparable to the majority of other boots in this review. That said, our testers feel that they are not designed for long hikes or rugged missions into the backcountry, so be aware of what your intentions are when purchasing these boots.

An urban hike around Bishop in the Forsake boots.
An urban hike around Bishop in the Forsake boots.
Photo: Alexa Flower

Conclusion


For 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. These boots are cool looking, fairly durable, and did well in our water resistance tests. Unfortunately, they fell short in terms of comfort and did not provide sufficient support for long days on the trail. We found these boots to be best worn close to home, around town, and on short hikes through the neighborhood.

— Jane Jackson