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The North Face Ultra 109 WP Review

A great all-around hiking shoe that is versatile, highly waterproof, and sold at a very competitive price
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The North Face Ultra 109 WP Review
Credit: Backcountry
Price:  $120 List
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Manufacturer:   The North Face
By Ryan Huetter ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 28, 2020
71
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort - 25% 7.0
  • Weight - 25% 7.0
  • Support - 15% 6.0
  • Traction - 15% 8.0
  • Versatility - 10% 8.0
  • Water Resistance - 5% 7.0
  • Durability - 5% 6.0

Our Verdict

The North Face Ultra 109 WP is a fantastic all-around hiking shoe that impressed us both on and off the trails. It is a souped-up trail running shoe, making it capable in this capacity, while also being supportive enough to take the weight of a pack. Overall we feel that this is a useful hiking shoe, especially with the quality waterproof liner, and at the price, it is especially appealing. We awarded the Ultra 109 WP our Best Buy Award for Waterproof Hiking Shoe. There isn't a shoe we've found that comes close to offering the same performance at this price level. It punches way above its price range.
REASONS TO BUY
Great traction
Versatile enough for trail running
Great waterproofing
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Not as durable

Our Analysis and Test Results

TNF Ultra 109 WP is one of our favorite all-around hiking shoes. It feels light on the foot like a running shoe, but offers way more in terms of stability, traction, versatility, and especially in waterproofness. We tested this shoe in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, the deserts of Death Valley, and in all of the varied terrain in between. We were so impressed with the performance of this shoe, and our wallets were equally as impressed with its price, that we recognize the Ultra 109 as our Best Buy for Waterproof Hiking Shoe.

Performance Comparison


the north face ultra 109 wp - the ultra 109s are great as an all-around hiking shoe.
The Ultra 109s are great as an all-around hiking shoe.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Comfort


Slipping into the Ultra 109 shoe, we immediately realize how comfortable these shoes really are. The upper materials are light and flexible, and it feels like they have already been broken in. Right out of the box they are ready to hit the trail. The lacing system is simple and allows for a range of adjustability, and snugs up just below the ankle for a comfortable fit that is not restrictive.


The toe box is sufficiently wide that we have no problem wearing thicker wool hiking socks, though it is a bit narrower in the midfoot so those with wide feet may have more constriction here than we do. The insole is quality and promotes foot comfort over the course of a long day on the trail. Underfoot, the EVA midsole gives good protection from the impacts of sharp rocks when on uneven and rough terrain, and the ESS shank adds some structure to the shoe so that foot fatigue is minimized, a benefit over some of the very lightweight models that require a stronger foot.

the north face ultra 109 wp - it is nice when a hiking shoe can double as a trail runner.
It is nice when a hiking shoe can double as a trail runner.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Weight


We put the Ultra 109 shoes on the scale and verified them at 2.04 pounds in a size 11 US. These are not the lightest shoes in our review, but don't let that dissuade you from checking them out. For the solid performance that they provide, we feel that they are worth their weight, and they give better comfort, traction, and versatility than several lighter weight models that we featured in this review.


Speaking to versatility, we have no issue lacing up these shoes and going for a run on mixed terrain that includes trail and hard surfaces like pavement, and do not feel like we are hampered by any extra weight.

the north face ultra 109 wp - the ultra 109 on our home scale, clocking in just over 2 pounds.
The Ultra 109 on our home scale, clocking in just over 2 pounds.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Support


As a beefed-up trail running shoe, the Ultra 109 shoes are a bit on the light side when it comes to support, which is to be expected given their weight and their lower-cut stature. These shoes feel more like shoes than some of the models that bridge the gap towards a hiking boot with cuffs that extend up more around the ankles. These are great shoes, however, for day hikes and for trips with moderately sized packs. Folks who don't need a shoe to ride up very high will likely appreciate the ankle freedom.


The platform on which these shoes are built is stable and supportive though, and we feel a lot of confidence when traveling over rough ground thanks to the ESS shank that stiffens up the midsole, as well as the molded EVA midsole that absorbs and deflects a lot of the bracing impacts felt on rocky terrain. The fit of the Ultra 109 is medium, trending towards narrow, and the forefoot width is only 4.25 inches, making them reasonably capable when edging in talus fields and on sidehills.

the north face ultra 109 wp - balancing on this stream crossing is made easier with a stable...
Balancing on this stream crossing is made easier with a stable platform that resists rolling, though with a heavy pack we might opt for a taller cuff than the Ultra 109 has.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Traction


In designing the Ultra 109, The North Face used a proprietary rubber compound called UltrATAC. This rubber is soft enough to smear on rock slabs and on pavement, while still being firm enough to grip well into looser material like sand and scree. Thanks to the ESS shank, the sole of the Ultra 109 is stiffer than other lightweight hiking shoes and gives decent edging support when traversing, or when scrambling on steeper rocks.


These shoes do quite well in on-trail traction, and off-trail they perform as well as more expensive models that blur that line between trail runner and hiking shoe.

the north face ultra 109 wp - we test these shoes on all kinds of trail conditions, wet or dry.
We test these shoes on all kinds of trail conditions, wet or dry.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Versatility


This is a highly versatile shoe, and we think it is a really useful hiking shoe that can do a lot more than just hike on trails. It is light and flexible enough to be used as a trail running shoe, with enough cushion that you can run on harder surfaces like packed gravel or pavement and not get the jarring feeling that stiffer shoes will produce.


As a hiking shoe, it is a great option for day hikes, since it gives great traction and comfort but is not super heavy duty and overkill for the local trails, though if you want to put on a light pack and go for an overnight backpacking trip then there is adequate support to carry a backpack of up to around 30 pounds without feeling the need for additional stability and ankle support.

the north face ultra 109 wp - the ultra 109s are one of the best shoes in this review for trail...
The Ultra 109s are one of the best shoes in this review for trail running use as well as for hiking.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Water Resistance


The Ultra 109 WP has an upper that is made out of Dryvent material as well as a waterproof breathable liner (which is what the WP stands for) called Hydroseal that allows the foot to breathe well enough to use it during trail runs without our foot getting too hot and sweaty, but repels water effectively and resisted soaking through during our 5-minute stream test.


With the upper material made predominantly out of synthetics and mesh, the upper dries out quickly after getting wet, so even during river crossings that you have to wade through, we found that after hiking for 30 minutes our shoes had dried out.

the north face ultra 109 wp - the dryvent upper is also equipped with a hydroseal liner to keep...
The DryVent upper is also equipped with a Hydroseal liner to keep water out.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Durability


While testing the Ultra 109 shoes we did not personally have any issues concerning long term durability, though with so many seams and synthetic fabrics, especially the mesh, we anticipate that rough terrain will start to beat these shoes up faster than models made from more robust materials.


Many online reviewers complain that seams fail and pull apart on these shoes, so you might not get the longevity out of these shoes that other more expensive models might provide, though anticipating these failure modes and pretreating the seams with Seam Grip might solve this issue.

the north face ultra 109 wp - travel through this kind of loose and abrasive terrain might cause...
Travel through this kind of loose and abrasive terrain might cause these shoes to wear out faster.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Value


TNF Ultra 109 hiking shoe is a great shoe for the price. It is the highest performing waterproof shoe at a modest price, earning our Best Buy Award for Waterproof Hiking Shoes.

the north face ultra 109 wp - the ultra 109 hiking shoe is a great value that we heartily recommend.
The Ultra 109 hiking shoe is a great value that we heartily recommend.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Conclusion


The North Face Ultra 109 WP is a really good all-around hiking shoe that can do it all well. We especially like it for its comfort and traction, and it is one of our favorite models to toss on for day hiking. We strongly recommend it, as it provides great value as well. If you are looking for an introductory hiking shoe and desire a waterproof liner because you either live in or plan to visit a region with a wetter climate, then these shoes deserve your consideration.

the north face ultra 109 wp - day hiking encompasses a lot of different environments and terrain...
Day hiking encompasses a lot of different environments and terrain, so an all-around model will serve you best for this general application.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Ryan Huetter