As Mother Nature begins to relinquish her wintery grasp on beloved summer trails, conditions span the range from ice and snow to slush and mud. It’s a season constantly reminding you that a substantial and reliable pair of hikers is a must, making it the perfect opportunity for our gumption gals to put the Ahnu Sugarpine through the paces.
Getting to know the Sugarpine…
Featuring eye-catching style and athletically inspired performance, this line of hikers is designed to take you almost anywhere. And since every adventure and adventurer is different, Ahnu offers three versions of the Sugarpine shoe.
The Sugarpine Boot features Ahnu’s waterproof technology with a taller cuff for added support. The Sugarpine Air Mesh features breathable mesh upper to keep you cool and comfortable with a moisture wicking mesh lining that helps keep things fresh from your hood to the woods. The Sugarpine Waterproof offers the benefits of the Sugarpine Boot in a low-cut version.
On Performance and Design…
Let’s be honest, when it comes to relationships first impressions matter, and towards those ends, the design team at Ahnu deserves kudos for crafting a line of adventure ready shoes that are as easy on the eyes as they are on the trail. For the mountainista with a preference for bold and brash color, these satisfy a craving for the unexpected.
But the Sugarpine proved to be more than just a nice piece of eye-candy on the trail. As our review squad unleased their rugged outdoor spirits in the winter conditions of New England, and across the rugged miles of the Sierra Nevada, they discovered an admirable balance of both substance and style and a multifunctional workhorse of a shoe.
Both the traditional Sugarpine Hiking Boot and the Sugarpine Mesh are feathery light, freeing feet to adventure further, faster. But where these shoes truly shined was a responsive and agile nature which rivaled that of a trail runner. The secret is Ahnu’s Numentum technology designed to keep your body centered and balanced for added stability.
Specifically, the Sugarpine line features Numentum Hike Technology which enables under-foot comfort much like an athletic shoe, but with the heel stability of the heavier rugged hikers. Partnered with the understated but grippy vibram lug pattern for sure footing in unsure conditions, the result is not only ample amounts of support and control, but liberating versatility over your terrain of choice.
Bottom Line…
In a market awash with an array of drab brown and grey boots, the Sugarpine rocks the trail with vibrant performance and style. An impressive multi-tasker, the Sugarpine offers light and nimble performance durable enough for the trails of life.
*Gumption Gear Review received the product samples featured in this review from Ahnu at no cost, and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The items featured were provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.