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Columbia Facet 75 OutDry Review

This cushioned shoe is light and nimble, and offers great traction at a bargain price
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Columbia Facet 75 OutDry Review (The Facet is comfortable and supportive even in rougher terrain.)
The Facet is comfortable and supportive even in rougher terrain.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   Columbia
By Ryan Huetter ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 9, 2024
69
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#5 of 18
  • Comfort - 25% 8.0
  • Support - 20% 6.0
  • Traction - 15% 8.0
  • Water Resistance - 15% 7.0
  • Weight - 15% 6.4
  • Durability - 10% 5.0
Length Sizing
Runs Small
Runs Large
Width Sizing
Runs Narrow
Runs Wide

Our Verdict

The Columbia Facet 75 OutDry is a compelling choice for hikers due to its performance relative to price. While it's not one of the very highest-ranked hiking shoes in our test, it offers everything a discerning hiker wants at an affordable price. The Facet 75 feels much more like a running shoe than a sturdier hiking shoe, but that doesn't make it unworthy of consideration for on and off-trail travel. Supremely cushioned, it soaks up jarring impacts and grips well on a variety of surfaces. If you've been on the fence trying to decide between a hiker and a running shoe, the Facet may be just what you need. See how it stands up next to other top competitors in our best men's hiking shoes review.
REASONS TO BUY
Wide and roomy fit
Great traction
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Some comfort issues
Less durable

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Hiking Shoe
Top Pick Award
Best for Scrambling
Top Pick Award
Best Lightweight Technical Hiker
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Price $111.45 at Amazon
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$180.00 at REI
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$159.99 at Public Lands
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$149.95 at Backcountry
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$52.50 at Amazon
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Overall Score Sort Icon
69
79
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75
60
Star Rating
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Bottom Line More like a running shoe than a hiking shoe, this comfortable and lightweight model offers a lot for an affordable priceUnbelievably comfortable and supportive, these awesome hiking shoes can do it allThis is a supportive hiking shoe that is perfect for scrambling and peak baggingThis is the definition of a solid hiking shoe, and is a perfect choice for those not wanting to compromise on off-trail performanceThis inexpensive but good quality hiking shoe is a perfect choice for just starting out on the trails
Rating Categories Columbia Facet 75 O... Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX Salewa Mountain Tra... Salomon X Ultra 4 G... Columbia Crestwood
Comfort (25%)
8.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
Support (20%)
6.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
Traction (15%)
8.0
7.0
9.0
9.0
6.0
Water Resistance (15%)
7.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
3.0
Weight (15%)
6.4
5.9
4.9
6.9
6.5
Durability (10%)
5.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
5.0
Specs Columbia Facet 75 O... Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX Salewa Mountain Tra... Salomon X Ultra 4 G... Columbia Crestwood
Measured Weight (per pair, size 11) 1.86 lbs 1.99 lbs 2.16 lbs 1.76 lbs 1.83 lbs
Upper Mesh Recycled mesh, nubuck leather 3F System with Kevlar® Cables, Armoured Mesh, Protective TPU rand Synthetic, textile Suede leather, mesh, webbing
Lining OutDry GORE-TEX Invisible Fit Gore-Tex Extended Comfort Gore-Tex membrane None
Flood Height 3.0 in 3.0 in 3.5 in 3.25 in 1.5 in
Last Board/Shank Not specified Not specified Nylon ADV-C chassis Not specified
Midsole Techlite PLUSH EVA (30% sugarcane) EVA EnergyCell Techlite
Outsole Adapt Trax Vibram Megagrip rubber Pomoca MTN Trainer Lite Contagrip MA rubber OmniGrip
Width Options Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular, Wide

Our Analysis and Test Results

We really like the Facet 75 OutDry. It is very well cushioned, has good underfoot support for most hikers' needs, and is grippy and waterproof. It's also lightweight, but best of all, it is affordable.

Performance Comparison


columbia facet 75 outdry - comfortable, lightweight, supportive and airy feeling. the columbia...
Comfortable, lightweight, supportive and airy feeling. The Columbia Facet is a good shoe at a good price.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Comfort


Comfort is the name of the game when it comes to the Facet 75 shoes. Feeling much more like a trail runner than a hiking shoe, the upper on this model is mostly mesh, with some small patches of more durable overlay in key locations, making it feel light and airy on foot. One thing that really sets this shoe apart is the Techlite PLUSH midsole, an incredibly cushioned layer sandwiched between the foot and the outsole that helps provide a balanced and comfortable walking stride and protect the foot from trail impacts. We think the included Ortholite insole is quite good and did not feel the need to replace it with an aftermarket insole immediately. The lacing system is simple and allows for a snug fit from the toe box to the ankle.

columbia facet 75 outdry - we like the cushioning of the facet's foam midsole when putting down...
We like the cushioning of the Facet's foam midsole when putting down miles on firm surfaces.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

On the flip side, the material that makes up the ankle cuff can feel sharp and rigid and sometimes unpleasantly bit into our ankle. We will continue to test these shoes to see how they break in over a longer period of time. We're curious if they will become more comfortable and whether this might have been isolated to the pair we tested.

columbia facet 75 outdry - the rigid edge around the heel cup was one of our issues we had with...
The rigid edge around the heel cup was one of our issues we had with the Facet 75s.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Support


The Facet is a moderately supportive shoe due to its weight, materials, and structure. While other models we tested had much better results in this metric, we feel that the Facet does an impressive job providing the support it does for its weight class. With an upper made almost entirely from mesh, there is not a lot of natural support from the material itself, so ensuring a tight fit through lacing gives an approximation of support. The midsole has a TPU insert, making it a more capable hiker than your average trail runner, though it is not stiff enough to kick steps in a hillside or edge well in technical terrain. We found that the wider 4.75-inch forefoot width really did help us feel more stable while bounding around in loose, off-trail travel, and even though this is a low-cut shoe, we felt less likely to roll our ankle with this added width.

columbia facet 75 outdry - loose and rocky terrain? the facet did well at keeping us secure...
Loose and rocky terrain? The Facet did well at keeping us secure thanks to its wide width.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Traction


We were impressed by the traction offered by the Facet 75 in most types of terrain. These shoes use an in-house Adapt Trax outsole that does a great job gripping in both dry and wet surface conditions. The rubber compound is soft enough to smear on smooth rock while firm enough to provide bite in mud and loose sediment. The flexibility of the outsole, while potentially a reason for an average score in support, ends up allowing the foot to shape and contour along surfaces ensuring more contact and, thus, more traction. The lug pattern on these shoes is much like a mountain bike tire — they are tall (five millimeters) and sharp, with alternating long and short lugs. This provides a good, solid grip on up-and-down travel. We did find that the lack of much patterning on the lugs allows for the shoe to slip sideways a bit more frequently when side-hilling, and since these lack much of a stiff edging platform, cross-slope travel, especially in steep or loose conditions, was impacted.

columbia facet 75 outdry - while this lug pattern did remarkably well on most surfaces, having...
While this lug pattern did remarkably well on most surfaces, having some more multi-directional lugs could help in sideways traction.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Water Resistance


The Facet 75 does pretty well at keeping water on the outside of the shoe, thanks to an OutDry waterproof/breathable fabric that is sewn in. We tested these shoes by standing in a water bath and walking through streams and puddles, and the waterproof membrane worked as it should, not allowing any moisture inside. The Facet 75 has a flood height of 3 inches, which is average for shoes in this category. Some shoes have flood heights of as much as 4.75 inches, though they weigh more and don't have as low of an ankle cuff. One thing this shoe does have going for it is its ease of drying. With so much mesh and other light, synthetic materials, even if the Facet is inundated while fording a deep waterway, they'll dry very fast on your feet.

OK, so we weren't planning on having to cross a stream, but the puppy was! Having a good waterproof membrane helped keep our feet dry and happy in these fast and light Facet shoes.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Weight


The Facet 75 is a pretty lightweight shoe and occupies a space on the lighter end of the spectrum compared to the competition. We weighed these shoes on our own scale and verified them at 1.86 pounds for a size 11 US. These shoes provide good quality and above-average performance for their weight, although other award-winning models scored higher in all metrics while maintaining a lighter weight. Those shoes cost more, though, so we feel that the Facet is one of the better lightweight hikers for the price.

columbia facet 75 outdry - checking the facet 75's weight on our own scale.
Checking the Facet 75's weight on our own scale.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Durability


As with all shoes made of lightweight construction, the Facet 75 OutDry will have a more limited lifespan than shoes made with heavier and more durable fabrics such as leather. The mesh upper is protected in key locations by TPU coatings, though because they are not sewn in, some delamination is to be expected. The Techlite PLUSH midsole is made of foam which will begin to have chunks taken out of it from abrasion in rocky terrain, a common occurrence in hiking shoes that use these large and exposed midsoles. However, we want to continue to point out that durability concerns will always be a trade-off with shoes of this style that are more reminiscent of running shoes than hiking shoes. These will likely last a full season or more of moderate use or a single long and involved trail, such as the JMT, before needing to be retired.

columbia facet 75 outdry - mesh, foam, and non-sewn tpu coatings are some of the common reasons...
Mesh, foam, and non-sewn TPU coatings are some of the common reasons for durability issues in long-term use.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Should You Buy the Columbia Facet 75 OutDry?


The Facet showcases a lot of quality attributes, has good overall performance, is lightweight, and is offered at a reasonable price. We think it's a great value and recommend it to those looking for an affordable and lightweight hiking shoe.

What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?


While the Facet 75 did admirably for its price point, we really like the Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX for its supreme comfort and the Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex for its lightweight, top-tier performance. Our favorite crossover option if you plan to diversify your hiking is the La Sportiva Spire GTX and the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX is fantastic for scrambing around on rocks while playing high in the hills.

Ryan Huetter