Hi-Tec's V-Lite Fast Hike Review

Talk about Hi-Tec's V-Lite Fast Hike shoes: Slightly deviating form the simplicity of Hi-Tec shoe designs, Hi-Tec packed as much technology into this shoe as they can. Built like a tank, in its mid cut version, this is a great shoe for anything from day hikes to light and fast trekking. It has rubber rands in front to help protect you from trail debris. The fit is great! The shoe is coupled with a lacing system that snugs your feet in the shoes special form fitting insoles. When your hike will last for at least half a day, this is the shoe that won't get you screaming in pain after only a couple of hours of trekking. Unlike other trekking shoes, the Fasthike needs little on no breaking-in period (although I suggest you still break-in every shoe that you purchase, just to be on the happy and safe side).
You'll get your money's worth with some fairly good waterproofing. Although I must say that since Hi-Tec laid back on a gore tex design (meaning, it is not gore tex technology), the shoe is slightly warm. But when it comes to keeping water out, your feet will be bone-dry on those occasional stream crossings. Traction is superb, accounting to at least 85% success rate on most terrain. The remaining 15% will account for your skill, which is, sad to say, cannot be bought with any accompanying technology. All in all, this is a great shoe, with my only concern being the lack of proper ventilation due to its waterproofing, which may cause some problems when hiking in the lowlands.

This is a shoe meant for light and fast hiking, and if used for running or trailing, the shoe might prove to be too heavy and bulky. But for its intended purpose, it would be difficult to find a shoe that could outperform the Fasthike.I recently took this shoe to the test when scaling Mt. Sembrano on a rainy mid-August hike in Pililla, Rizal. I was hauling a full-pack guiding an expedition team up the summit of this mountain and it was raining as hell, and the mud up the steep slopes were giving the whole team hell. The shoe provided me with enough support to carry the load I was hauling. The traction provided me with enough balance, enabling me to shift my weight and regain my balance every time the unforgiving mud would overwhelm me. Even the other guys on my team wearing expensive trek shoes were amazed. I counted 8 slips form other guys, minimum. The only time my rear touched the ground is when I sat down to rest.