Forsake Patch Review

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.

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 missions.

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 for rugged terrain.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.