{"id":29039,"date":"2018-09-04T03:00:56","date_gmt":"2018-09-04T09:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebigoutside.com\/?p=29039"},"modified":"2019-11-20T11:19:09","modified_gmt":"2019-11-20T18:19:09","slug":"gear-review-the-north-face-ultra-fastpack-iii-mid-gtx-boots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebigoutside.com\/gear-review-the-north-face-ultra-fastpack-iii-mid-gtx-boots\/","title":{"rendered":"Gear Review:\u00a0The North Face Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX Boots"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hiking and Backpacking Boots
\nThe North Face Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX<\/strong>
\n$170, 1 lb. 15 oz. (US men\u2019s 9)
\nSizes: men\u2019s 7-14, women\u2019s 5-11
\nMoosejaw.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Supportive, durable, waterproof-breathable, mid-cut boots that weigh under two pounds are a rare breed, so I was intrigued by the specs on The North Face Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX boots. But I\u2019ve also worn enough lightweight boots to know that many do not measure up when it comes to delivering solid support and stability for dayhiking and backpacking mountain trails. So I took these boots on a four-day, roughly 30-mile family backpacking trip in August in Idaho\u2019s Sawtooth Mountains\u2014and they aced every test.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The North Face Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The North Face claims that its new FastFoam midsole<\/strong> \u201cmaximizes energy return so that you can cover more miles, faster.\u201d Backpacking with about 30 to 40 pounds on my back, walking moderate daily distances at an easy pace (with my family), I found the midsoles\u2014which sport an ESS midfoot shank<\/strong> to enhance torsional rigidity and guard against sharp rocks\u2014have nice cushion and support for carrying that much weight.<\/p>\n

But the aggressive forefoot flex<\/strong>, ankle height<\/strong> (for enhanced protection and support), and low weight of these boots\u2014very few mid-cuts come in under two pounds per pair (for the men\u2019s size 9)\u2014mean they can pull double duty as a lightweight dayhiking boot<\/strong> for long days in the mountains and even ultra-hiking.<\/p>\n

TNF also says the EVA midsole<\/strong> has a more-resilient perimeter to allow users to put more miles on the boots before the foam in the midsole gets packed out and loses its cushion\u2014one of the two wear-and-tear points, along with the outsole, that are usually the primary reason for retiring old boots.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/strong>Hi, I\u2019m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several\u00a0top outdoors blog<\/a> lists.\u00a0Click here<\/a> to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Subscribe now<\/a> to get full access to all of my blog\u2019s stories. Click here<\/a> to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. Please follow my adventures on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, and Youtube<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The North Face Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The medium-volume fit<\/strong> gave me no trouble wearing them out of the box. With ample toe space and a midfoot and heel that prevented my feet from slipping, I never felt any discomfort or developed any blisters or even hot spots. Not surprisingly, given the price point and materials, these boots don\u2019t deliver the kind of almost-custom fit you can get with the best, high-end leather boots. But the flexible uppers and the common lacing system of loops and hooks<\/strong> combine to provide a smooth wrap around the foot.<\/p>\n

While we had no rain in the Sawtooths, I stood in creeks for several minutes more than a few times to treat water and simply test the boots, and the waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex membrane<\/strong> proved flawless. It also breathed well enough to keep my feet from getting more than damp on sunny, hot, August days. That\u2019s partly attributable to the breathability of the mostly woven-mesh uppers<\/strong>, especially in the gusseted tongue<\/strong>. But where mesh uppers on many low-cut hiking shoes in this weight category quickly suffer damage on rocky trails, these uppers are made more durable by TPU overlays reinforcing key wear points from the toes and sides to the heel<\/strong>. While dusty, the uppers otherwise look no worse from the abuse of rocky trails.<\/p>\n

Find your next adventure in your Inbox. Sign up for my FREE email newsletter<\/a> now.<\/em><\/h4>\n
\"The<\/a>
The North Face Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Vibram Megagrip outsole<\/strong>\u2014found in many models of hiking and backpacking boots\u2014has widely spaced, multi-directional, relatively shallow lugs, and deliver good traction in most conditions encountered on summer trails, from dry, packed dirt to mud and rocks.<\/p>\n

The North Face Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX boots pull off a rare blend of traits, marrying the support, protection, waterproofness, and durability of many midweight mid-cuts with the low weight and nimble feel of ultralight low-cuts. Whether you want a light boot for standard or ultralight backpacking or dayhiking, or just a solid, all-around top performer for almost any mountain adventures in any weather, this one measures up and comes at a good price.<\/p>\n

The Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX also comes in versions with woven uppers in a low-cut for men and women, and a mid-cut for men<\/a> and women.<\/p>\n

BUY IT NOW<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0You can support my work on this blog by clicking any of these links to purchase…<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX boots at moosejaw.com<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0ems.com<\/a>;
\nThe women\u2019s Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX boots at Moosejaw.com<\/a>,\u00a0ems.com<\/a>, or rei.com<\/a>;<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX boots with woven uppers at moosejaw.com<\/a>;
\nThe women\u2019s Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX boots with woven uppers at moosejaw.com<\/a>;<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s Ultra Fastpack III GTX low-cut shoes at moosejaw.com<\/a>, ems.com<\/a>, or rei.com<\/a>;
\nThe women\u2019s Ultra Fastpack III GTX low-cut shoes at moosejaw.com<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0ems.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s Ultra Fastpack III GTX low-cut shoes with woven uppers at moosejaw.com<\/a> or rei.com<\/a>.
\nThe women\u2019s Ultra Fastpack III GTX low-cut shoes with woven uppers at moosejaw.com<\/a> or rei.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tell me what you think.<\/h3>\n

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I\u2019d really appreciate it.<\/h4>\n

See all of my reviews of hiking shoes<\/a> and backpacking boots<\/a> that I like, my reviews of hiking gear<\/a> and backpacking gear, and my \u201cPro Tips For Buying the Right Boots<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews<\/a> at The Big Outside.<\/p>\n

\u2014Michael Lanza<\/p>\n

You live for the outdoors. The Big Outside helps you get out there. Subscribe now<\/a> and a get free e-guide!<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hiking and Backpacking Boots The North Face Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX $170, 1 lb. 15 oz. (US men\u2019s 9) Sizes: men\u2019s 7-14, women\u2019s 5-11 Moosejaw.com Supportive, durable, waterproof-breathable, mid-cut boots that weigh under two pounds are a rare breed, so I was intrigued by the specs on The North Face Ultra Fastpack III Mid GTX boots. But I\u2019ve also … <\/p>\n

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