After more than a month of kicking around in the Clyde from Forsake, I’ve decided they are the multi-tool of footwear. I can wear them at work in our business casual office, rock them with jeans when I’m not at work, and hike our Utah mountains on weekends. All in one shoe. Well, a pair, but you know what I mean. The Forsake Clyde does it all.
For anyone not familiar with this fairly new brand, it’s the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign to make hiking boots which look more like skate shoes than Alpine trekkers, or skate shoes that are tough enough to take you off the beaten path. When I showed up at work in them, the comments from my 20-something coworkers were pretty much all the same – “I want those”. They skipped the “where?” and “how much?” questions, and went straight to “want”. And that’s before I gave anyone a rundown of what they are all about.
Forsake Clyde outsoleThe Forsake Clyde starts with a hard rubber tread on the bottom. Not too deep, but pretty aggressive. For light hiking chores, they will get the job done, and look to be long-lasting too. An EVA midsole and Ortholite PU footbed offer comfort, while the nylon shank lends rigidity. The inside is lined with a mesh that wicks moisture to keep your feet dry, as does the breathable membrane between that mesh and the exterior, which is a mix of leather, suede, and Cordura. In other words, there’s a bit of tech going on here.
Forsake ClydeWhen I first tried them on, I had some concerns about the fit. But after pairing them with a thin sock, my size 12 review pair only needed a short break-in period. It seems like the outsole has a slight curve to it, making for a natural stride that I found very comfortable. Metal eyelets provide a nice contrast, and make lacing up the flat laces easy work, plus they stay laced. A nice touch is the gusset on the tongue, which keeps dirt, little rocks, and sticky sharp flora out of your shoe when hiking. Overall, it’s hard to find fault with the Clyde. Forsake has done a great job with them. I’m willing to bet that some guys are going to buy the Forsake Clyde with no intention of hiking, just because they have a fresh look. But it’s good to know that they can walk the walk, so to speak.
Forsake offers the Clyde in a brown/navy combo, or charcoal/red with a suggested retail of $119.95. You’ll find them and their other sneakerboots at Forsake.com.
– Brian
Those look so sweet!
i’m off to Bali and Lombok in a few weeks….it’ll be hot and humid, will these breathe over there ?
Probably not. They’re made for the snow.