The Hanwag Evorado Low GTX is a hiking shoe made of synthetic materials. It is equipped with a Gore-Tex membrane that makes it breathable and waterproof. Read the review!
- Weight: L 428.2 g R 432.2 g (size 7.5)
- Sizes: men UK 6-13, women UK 4-9
- Price: € 189.95
Fit
The fit of the Hanwag Evorado Low GTX is for narrow to normal feet with a high instep. The women’s version is significantly narrower at the heel to better match the thinner women’s heel.
Construction
The upper of the Hanwag Evorado Low GTX is made entirely of synthetic materials. On the outside of the shoe there is a kind of web of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) that must provide the upper with the necessary stiffness. However, the upper does not have the strength that we usually expect from a light mountain hiking shoe. The heel counter in particular is very flat and soft.
The Hanwag TubeTec sole, on the other hand, is very stiff. The flex point of the sole is neatly below the center of the forefoot. The shoe can be resoled. The shoes have good protection at the toes and the TPU also protects the upper quite well. The eyelets are actually a daisy chain – a cord with openings – except for the top two metal eyelets. On the inside, the Hanwag Evorado Low GTX has a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex lining.
Putting on
Putting the Hanwag Evorado Low GTX on goes without hassle. The tongue can be folded open wide. The construction of the tongue is special. It is attached to an elastic material that sits between the tongue and the laces and pulls the left and right sides of the row of eyelets together. Slipping sideways is therefor impossible. The pull tab on the heel is fine. Lacing is easy because the laces run smoothly through the daisy chains.
Practice
According to Hanwag, the Evorado Low GTX is a lightweight walking shoe. This is not true. With a weight of approximately 430 grams per shoe in size UK 7.5, it is just as light – or heavy – as a normal leather low walking shoe. The weight sits mainly in the solid rigid sole construction.
The sole walks smoothly thanks to the slightly rounded heel and the banana shape of the forefoot. The sole offers good grip, but the heel brake for descending is on the small side. The cushioning of the shoe is good, which is also due to the removable insole. This insole has two different types of foam so the forefoot and heel have a different degree of cushioning.
The Hanwag TubeTec sole construction is very stiff and the lugs offer good grip. 
The heel brake for descending is on the small side.
Unfortunately, despite the snug fit and the soft padding of the tongue and around the ankles, the heel fixation is not in order. When walking, the heel shoots up and down the heel counter and pulling the foot out of the shoe without loosening the laces is easy.
The toes appear to be well protected in practice and the TPU web around the shoe offers quite some protection too. The shoes are waterproof and breathable thanks to the Gore-Tex membrane. An additional advantage of fully synthetic: they absorb little moisture, so that the weight remains ‘low’ and they dry quickly. The wading height is 70 mm.
Verdict
The Hanwag Evorado Low GTX has a sturdy sole construction and a sturdy synthetic upper. Despite being a full ‘plastic’ shoe, it has a normal average weight for a low walking shoe. In terms of sole and stiffness the Hanwag could be capable of bigger adventures than just regular hikes. But given the upper and – unfortunately – the lack of heel fixation, this is not the case. The heel counter is too flat and too flexible. The shoe has a nice soft padding around the ankles and the tongue. The sole offers a lot of grip but lacks a good brake at the heel. It can be resoled. The price of € 189.95 is high. I rate the Hanwag Evorado Low GTX at 6.6 points out of 10.
Information: www.hanwag.com
Full technical details
- Price: € 189.95
- Weight: L 428.2 g R 432.2 g (size 7.5)
- Specified: 860 g (pair size UK 10)
- Category: A / AB
- Upper: Synthetic
- Membrane: Gore-Tex
- Sole : Hanwag TubeTec
- Resolable: Yes
- Fit: Narrow to normal feet
- Sizes: men UK 6-13, women UK 4-9
- Ladies model: Hanwag Evorado Low Lady GTX
