Kuru Chicane Light Duty Hiking Shoe
Have you ever wondered why hiking boot manufacturers put such cheap foot beds in their boots? I pay $230 for every pair of Asolo TPS 520s I buy, and after that I still need to purchase a $35 pair of Superfeet Green foot beds to properly support my heels and arches and prevent plantar fasciitis.
So I was pleased when I discovered a new company called Kuru Footware that has just released a new light hiking shoe called the Chicane. This shoe includes the most advanced and well thought out foot bed system of any shoe I’ve ever owned. The system is called a HeelKradl and includes a heal stabilizer and reinforced arch support that are built right into the shoe’s foot bed. A removable foam sock liner sits on top of this layer that has additional padding under the heel and ball of the foot.
This shoe is also very cool looking. It uses a softshell, highly breatheable fabric that helps reduce the amount of sweat retained in your shoe while hiking.The sole is sticky rubber that grips well on rock scrambles but each shoe in a size 9.5 US only weighs 14.6 oz. I’ve taken to wearing these every day, rain, snow or shine.
You can buy the Chicane online at Kurufootware.com, and check out their other shoe models under the products tab. If you decide to make a purchase, use the coupon code "sectionhiker" and receive an exclusive 10% discount off your entire order.
Sizing is a bit small. I normally wear a size 9 hiking boot, but a size 9.5 Kuru fits me best.
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If you purchase this shoe, rate it on your site and let us know how it works out as your initial report is intriguing. I wore Asolo’s for a long time until I got tired of the weight and poor ventilation. I now wear Inov-8’s which are extrodinarily light and breathe well, but I worry about long-term durability since they are so lightly built. Truth be told, I haven’t found the perfect hiking shoe yet (I don’t use “boots” as I’ve found them to be too restrictive and too heavy which fatigue my feet more than they’d help it).
I actually already have a pair. Everything reviewed on my site is experiential. Maybe I should emphasize that more.
Good to know (re: experiential), Still, would like a follow up in say 3-6 months. I’m curious how well it wears too. If they’re somewhat durable, I’d definitely buy a pair.
I just came across this review of our product and thought I’d chime in. Firstly, it’s nice to read of another satisfied customer. Secondly, the concept of the patent-pending HeelKradl midsole technology was inspired by the simple observation that everyone with feet has a rounded heel and needs some level of arch support. As such, why not offer a technology that cups the heel, padding the foot at heelstrike and then supporting the arch.
In addition, the upper designs were driven by a less-is-more, minimalist design ethos. We wanted our shoes to be as versatile as possible. Call it visionary (more likely luck), but given today’s tough economic climate, having a versatile shoe that works on the trail, but can still pass on casual Friday’s is a win-win.
Phil,
What type of socks to you wear with those shoes? Light hikers?
- David
White crew socks. I mainly wear these during the day at work or when I'm driving. The foot bed support really is exceptional.