“Great things are done when men and mountains meet.” – William Blake
Whether you’re escaping town for a weekend to meet the mountains, or just sneaking out for a few hours on your favorite local trail, the Kobra II GTX with Boa Lacing from TrekSta offers nearly all the performance benefits of a serious hiker with a fit that might just set a new comfort standard for a hiking shoe.
After all, you don’t want to just meet your mountains… you want to conquer them.
Being Wrong Never Felt So Right…
Spend any time researching shoes, and you’ll quickly discover that most companies have cornered their own niche on “comfort factor”. So when I read that TrekSta’s approach was based upon a digital scan of over 20,000 feet, I was skeptical to say the least. I didn’t believe it could make a significant difference in terms of overall fit and comfort.
I was wrong. It makes all the difference.
Fit and Performance….
All shoes start from the same premise – the human foot. The conventional shoe last has always been made for a generalized foot shape. However, Treksta is changing that traditional fit paradigm. To create a better all around fit, Treksta measured some 20,000 individual feet. It was from these measurements the NestFIT last was born.
Now you have a trail shoe that follows the natural flow and design of the foot, right down to a slightly elevated vertical space just above the big toe. TrekSta’s NestFIT might be the closest most of us will ever come to a ‘custom fit’ trail shoe. By eliminating unnecessary gaps and pressure points, the Kobra II not only offers a more comfortable fit, but some outdoor enthusiasts will find that it also helps reduce the level of fatigue your hard-working endure on that long trail hike.
Kobra II’s upper, last, insole, midsole, and outsole all ‘nest’ perfectly with each other for a supremely precise fit creating a more athletic and agile feel raising expectations for what you should expect from a trail shoe.
If you’re worried that TrekSta expended all their creative energies on the interior of the shoe, fear not, the TrekSta design team put as much exhaustive effort into the Kobra II’s exterior performance as well.
A highly breathable synthetic upper keeps your toes cool and dries quickly. Snake skin protection and rubber toe caps ignore scratches when scrambling scree slopes, keeping your feet protected while keeping your new shoes looking fresh despite the beating you’ll put them through.
An exclusive HyperGrip outsole proves that your shoes don’t need to sport that little yellow logo to keep you upright. The HyperGrip outsole not only sheds mud easily, but makes light work of snow patches, soggy leaves, loose rock and subtle cascading streams. Did we mention the outsole feature’s TrekSta’s IceLock technology?
Let’s be honest, a trail hike isn’t as much fun unless you’ve got to slog through some sloppy sections. For those moments you come face to face with the wet stuff, trek on confidently knowing that the Gore-Tex waterproof breathable membrane keeps you dry while allowing the foot to breathe and and moisture to escape.
The Boa Lacing System…
The other feature that makes the TrekSta Kobra II unique, is the addition of the Boa Closure system. The boa cable wraps all the way around the heel of the shoe allowing you to dial in a snug and secure fit. Boa’s exceptionally durable and lightweight reels combine with aircraft grade stainless steel laces to provide smooth, powerful, uniform closure that releases just as quickly with a simply tug on the dial.
Moreover, micro and on-the-fly adjustability ensure you’ll never again have a serene pace disturbed by a rogue root snagging your straggling shoelaces.
Learn more about how it works HERE.
Room for Improvement…
In terms of aesthetics, some members of our team prefer the styling of the first generation Kobra. But why quibble over fashion when there’s so many other features to love?
The Kobra II’s triple-density EVA insole supports the arch and cushions key strike zones however, we did find that it had a very slight spongy feeling in the heel. While this was by no means a deal breaker for our field team, it does detract from the feel of the trail underfoot. The only other significant critique pertains to the Kobra II’s high arch support and steep ramp up to the heel which could be an issue for those with flat feet or low arches.
The Bottom Line…
The TrekSta Kobra II is ready to become your new trusted choice for relentless day hikes, or weekend excursions into the woods. Dial in the perfect fit, and rack up the miles because the Kobra II provides the protection, comfort, and support you need to get the most from your outdoor adventures. Gumption tested, gumption approved.
MSRP: $174.95
MANUFACTURER: TrekSta (http://www.trekstausa.com/)
AVAILABILITY: Available in Men and Women’s.
RETAIL AVAILABILITY: The Kobra II GTX and all TrekSta shoes are available and various retail locations. Learn more HERE.