Alpine Islands is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear I’ve actually put on my feet. Zamberlan sent me this pair to test; my take is my own.
New shoes are a dime a dozen. But once in a while you get a pair that really does set a new bar for performance, pushing footwear to a new level.
I recently got sent a pair of the Zamberlan Exotrail GTX fast hiking shoes, and it’s now the go-to for short hikes where speed is the goal. Living in the Coast Mountains of BC, next to the North Shore Mountains, the Grouse Grind is a right of passage (and good filtering date back in my single days) for a good workout with amazing views. These shoes are what I consider the optimal Grind shoes.
They are lightweight, waterproof/breathable thanks to Gore-Tex, and have excellent traction. They also have a midsole that is now all the rage, with a layer of responsive, dense foam that gives just enough rebound to keep you moving, but not enough to lose touch with the ground beneath.
Zamberlan Exotrail GTX: First Impressions
They are incredibly light. I hardly feel them on.
I’m not a big fan of the cushy midsole trend that Hoka started, yet these provide a good compromise of rebound without feeling like you’re losing energy on the squish. It’s dense enough to absorb some shock while on the move, yet gives enough spring in the step to help on the downhill.
Bottom Line: The optimal Grouse Grind shoe. It’s featherlight and waterproof, with a midsole that gives you rebound without the marshmallow squish.
Price: ~$240 USD
Weight: 360g (half pair, US M9/W7)
Waterproofing: GORE-TEX ePE Invisible Fit
Upper: Recycled engineered mesh
Outsole: Vibram Bayu Megagrip (Helix lugs)
Midsole: EVA wedge
Protection: PU exo-frame + TPU toe cap
Fit / Last: Wide fit, regular last
Cut Height: 3″
Made In: Vietnam
Pros: Featherlight, grippy Vibram, fully waterproof, dense-but-responsive midsole
Cons: Limited support, laces won’t cinch down tight
Notable Features of the Zamberlan Exotrail GTX
PU exoskeleton frame: This is the Exotrail’s party trick. A polyurethane frame wraps the mesh upper to add structure and support you won’t get from a straight-up trail runner — the difference you feel when the ground gets uneven.
GORE-TEX ePE Invisible Fit membrane: The waterproof membrane is bonded right to the mesh rather than sitting as a loose bootie inside, so it stays waterproof without the sloppy, disconnected feel some GTX shoes have. On the wet Coast Mountain trails, that matters.
Vibram Bayu Megagrip outsole: Full-coverage Helix lugs in Vibram’s Megagrip compound. It’s the only outsole with a brand name people recognize, for a reason: it grips wet rock and root when a lot of rubber gives up. This is where the traction I mentioned comes from.
EVA wedge midsole: The dense-yet-responsive foam that stood out to me. Enough to take the edge off on the descent, not so much that you lose your read on the trail underfoot.
Recycled materials: The mesh, laces, and footbed all use recycled content. It’s a small thing on a single pair of shoes, but it’s the kind of small thing I like to see brands bothering with.
Drawbacks
There isn’t much support, and lacing up is pretty standard. You can’t get it super tight no matter how hard you try. It’s also a synthetic material, which isn’t the most comfortable. For comfort, you go for the Merrell Moab 3 on the value/budget side, or the Lowa Renegade Evo GTX for something a bit more primo.
Best Uses for the Zamberlan Exotrail GTX
It’s for people who like quick hikes and want to move fast. The lightweight material gives a “barely there” feeling, yet still has the Vibram sole and Gore-Tex waterproofing to stay on your feet, even in the Coast Mountain rainforest climate. If you’re the type chasing a personal record on your local grind rather than hauling a heavy pack, this is your shoe.
Skip If You…
…prefer long treks to Strava leaderboards. They don’t have a ton of support and are meant to be nimble, so if you want trekking boots these are not it. And if you live in the desert, you might want to skip the Gore-Tex for something with a bit more ventilation. That said, I never felt sweaty in these, even on hot days.
Final Thoughts
Lightweight, fast, with good traction. What more can you wish for? If you want to set a personal record, and aren’t doing heavy backpacking, then these might be your next favourite shoe. The Exotrail GTX earns its spot as my go-to Grind shoe: nimble enough to feel like nothing on your feet, but built well enough to shrug off a wet coastal trail.
Looking for more great hiking boots that we’ve reviewed? Check out The Best Hiking Boots of This Decade.
