Barefoot hiking shoes Contact S2: Review from the mountains
CONTACT S2 is a hiking shoe appropriate also for trekking and hiking. For the upper part and the lining, we use the best leather, as these shoes are the strongest ones of our Contact models. We use a 5 mm layer of wool felt for the interior, with a layer of aluminum foil for even more insulation, even though the wool is already the best insulator against cold and heat. The Contact S2 ankle boots are designed to grip the ankle area of the feet: first, tie the laces, then fasten them with the Velcro strap. The Velcro strap can be also removed on request.
Our barefoot hiking shoes Contact S2 are currently on the test with Nina Kopčavar – the owner of the tourist agency Edlothia Travel. She leads travelers on one or multiple days trekking and hiking trips and therefore needs very reliable shoes on her way. These are the initial impressions (gathered from text messages) about our barefoot shoes Proalp Contact S2:
“Today we reached the 1200 m MSL height difference on very different ground types, and I am very pleased with the wear. The shoes are comfortable, spacious and the contact with the grounds is kept with a whole sole. The grip is reliable on grass, rocks, snow, and gravel. The shoe temperature is as it should be. The strip around the ankle might even be unneeded because the shoe is already high enough to provide a steady grip for the ankle with shoelaces only. The whole feet respond to the ground, which I found a refreshing feeling.
I tested the shoes even on wet grass and easy rain, and the water hasn’t entered the shoe at all. The feet remained dry and they dried on the outside quite fast. I love them and I am not giving them away ever! On a very steep descends, on the soil and rocks, they glue to the ground. The force of friction holds the shoe sturdily on the ground. It is impossible to even compare barefoot shoes Contact S2 with the shoes with raised heels. There is no slipping and the stability of gait is incomparable to anything.
The only thing I noticed is that when I go on longer hikes with a very heavy backpack, I sometimes become tired faster than usual. Walking in barefoot shoes takes more energy and strength as there is no heel to help me. I have to put my heel completely to the ground with every step. So, when I expect the mountain ascend to be more difficult, I put my mountaineering shoes on and then change it to my barefoot when the terrain becomes more feet friendly.”