Columbia Facet 60 Outdry Review

With an exceptionally wide base, these shoes offer great stability when moving over uneven terrain. They have an aesthetic that looks just as at home on a basketball court as it does on a trail. The mesh upper is breathable, and the gusseted tongue makes them easy to slip on and off. They are one of our favorites for their light weight and versatility across an array of activities.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Facet 60 Outdry is a comfortable hiking shoe that kept our feet in top condition on the trail. We found the proprietary Techlite+ cushioning provided the relief we needed on rock and hardpack dirt. The padded tongue also adds another dimension of comfort by providing a buffer for ankles when flexing on uphills. Slipping these shoes on is also simple. The laces loosen easily, and the large heel loop means there is no wrestling to get your foot inside. The eyelet hardware, which Columbia calls Navic Fit, keeps the ribbed laces secure.

We did find that this model looks and feels wide, but they still offered a secure fit, even for our testers with narrower feet. One knock against it is the lack of protection from the mesh upper. With a small toe cap, wearers will definitely feel any gnarly surfaces where a foot might get wedged underneath a rock or strike a root toe-on. The mesh just won't provide meaningful protection from top side abrasion.

Weight

This pair is lighter than we expected. Weighing in at 1.78 pounds for the pair in size 10.5 US, they are one of the lightest models in the category. We really noticed the difference in the last few miles of day-long hikes. What makes the Facet even more exceptional is that its weight savings don't come at the expense of support.

We think that fast packers who would otherwise opt for traditional trail runners should give this pair a look. They are relatively lightweight while boasting a thick sole and wide base that provide additional support.

Support

These shoes have excellent support. The sole has a wide base that minimizes ankle rolls on uneven surfaces. We found that they have a nice amount of arch support for a hiking shoe, and though they look wide, they have a secure fit for narrow-footed hikers and avoid the sloppy feel that other wider shoes sometimes fall back on.

We especially like the Facet 60 Outdry for moving faster on rocky terrain, where they gave us more confidence to plant our feet and recover balance more easily. The heel guidance stabilizer provides additional support and rigidity around the back end, and the padding in the collar reinforces the heel and back of the ankle. Because of these features, this is one of the few models in this category that we wouldn't hesitate to take on trail with a heavier pack.

Traction

Traction is sufficient, but we weren't blown away. The OmniGrip rubber sole is tacky enough on dry rock and dirt. However, we found that the spaces between the lugs are narrow enough that mud and wet dirt accumulated between them, reducing some of the traction and requiring us to knock the gunk free once it dried in place.

The lugs are also uniformly sized and evenly spaced around the entire sole, meaning that the bottom of the shoe is relatively flat, and this contributes to lateral slippage.

Versatility

The Facet 60 Outdry are great for a variety of activities. They are sturdy enough for rugged hikes and light enough for trail runs. We like them the most for lightweight distance adventures and appreciate that they also don't look like hiking shoes. They are more than passable to wear for casual in-town errands, and we especially appreciate that they do just as well on a basketball court as they do on a summit.

Though they aren't as well-suited for persistently wet climates, they can do a lot of heavy lifting on a wide variety of natural and human-made surfaces.

Water Resistance

These shoes perform decently in light rain but are meant for drier climates. That said, sweat evaporates really well from the breathable mesh. With a flood height of 4.25 inches, the Facet is on the higher side of hiking shoes, mostly owing to its substantial sole. In combination with its protected toe box, these shoes are serviceable for dry passage through 2-inch mud or puddles. And during testing, they held up in steady light right. However, water started to seep through the mesh once the precipitation became moderate, despite a waterproof coating.

On the plus side, their lightweight mesh does dry out faster than most other shoes, making them more resilient if you get caught in a heavy downpour.

Durability

We didn't experience significant issues with durability, though it sounds like other users have. We expect the mesh to be the first place to really show wear and tear, especially up near the toe box. The lugs are also not especially deep, so wearing this model on firm, abrasive terrain is going to chew through the rubber faster than the average pair.

Though the hardware is solid, our biggest concern is that other users reported weakness at the feather and separation of the sole from the upper, so we will monitor that seam as we continue to use these shoes.

Should You Buy the Columbia Facet 60 Outdry?

The Facet 60 Outdry is a nice multi-purpose hiking/trail running/in-town shoe. Its stability makes it stand out from the pack, and its general athletic sneaker look makes it great for other activities as well. Though some people have noted issues with long-term durability, based on our testing, this model is up to the task of the miles we put on it. We would recommend this shoe to anyone looking for versatility across function and fashion in their footwear, as well as hikers who want a lightweight shoe with additional lateral stability for ankle security.

What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?

If support is a primary consideration, we recommend the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX. For stylistic versatility, we also like the Arc'Teryx Aerios FL GTX, though this model doesn't offer the same support or comfort.