Impala

Sturdy and waterproof but stiff

Pros: They feel very sturdy and stood up to a walk through puddles and in the rain without any wetness inside the shoe. Super wide and great shape without the taper that a lot of other brands have. Cons: They feel quite stiff for now so I'm hoping they soften with wear. Because the gusseted tongue is quite thick, they are hard to lace up tight. It's also hard to get the laces around the hooks right at the ankle. Size: they seem to run big.

Quite Good

I live in the Pacific Northwest where it is basically impossible to avoid water. My leather Impala's have been impressive. About mile 4 of a hike that it rained the entire time with unavoidable puddles, I was able to feel a little dampness inside the shoe. Additionally, they take a couple days to dry when they are fully wet. I will be looking into some weather proofing products. I like the lugs and do feel stable when hiking so far, no intense grades yet. I do love the toe box and the feel of the shoe. Haven't had any trouble with the tongue being too stiff but I sure it will get even better with time. Only reason it's not a 5/5 is that they are mostly mostly waterproof instead of fully waterproof.

Love these!

These are my first Freet shoes and they are amazing. I needed to replace my barefoot hiking boots from another brand that are too low volume for my feet. The toe box is nice and roomy and my toes can properly splay. The leather is super soft out of the box. The ankle is a tad stiff now but I’m sure the leather will soften as I hike more. If you are looking for a roomier, quality hiking boot, give this a try!