Our verdict
Pros
- Fantastic value for money
- Well-cushioned midsole
- Comfortable padded interiors
- Amazing stability for an entry-level shoe
- Flexible construction
- Excellent breathability
- Impressive durability for the price
- Good grip for moderate terrain
Cons
- Not for wide feet (tapered toebox)
- Frail inner lining
Audience verdict
- Top 1% in Columbia hiking shoes
Comparison
The most similar hiking shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 80 Good! | 86 Great! | 88 Great! | 89 Great! | |
Price | $70 | $170 | $140 | $110 | |
Trail terrain | LightModerate | Light | Moderate | Moderate | |
Weight lab Weight brand | 13.4 oz / 380g 12.3 oz / 350g | 11 oz / 312g | 11.6 oz / 329g 12.3 oz / 350g | 12.7 oz / 361g 8.8 oz / 250g | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Breathability | Breathable | Moderate | Breathable | Breathable | |
Use | Day HikingLight Hiking | Day HikingLight HikingUrban hiking | Day HikingSpeed HikingLight Hiking | Speed HikingLight Hiking | |
Foot condition | Flat feetPlantar fasciitisOverpronation | Flat feetPlantar fasciitis | - | BunionsFlat feetPlantar fasciitis | |
Orthotic-friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Drop lab | 13.7 mm | 9.1 mm | 15.0 mm | 9.6 mm | |
Size | True to size | True to size | True to size | Slightly small | |
Midsole softness | Balanced | Firm | Soft | Balanced | |
Difference in midsole softness in cold | Big | Normal | Normal | Normal | |
Torsional rigidity | Stiff | Moderate | Stiff | Stiff | |
Heel counter stiffness | Moderate | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | |
Difference in stiffness in cold | Big | Normal | Small | Big | |
Outsole hardness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Material | LeatherMeshSuede | Mesh | Mesh | - | |
Season | All seasons | All seasons | All seasons | All seasons | |
Toebox durability | Very good | Decent | Very good | Decent | |
Heel padding durability | Bad | Bad | Bad | Bad | |
Outsole durability | Decent | Good | Good | Bad | |
Wide-toebox | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Narrow | Medium | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Lug depth | 3.2 mm | 2.5 mm | 3.7 mm | 3.4 mm | |
Heel stack lab | 32.7 mm | 35.5 mm | 38.8 mm | 30.6 mm | |
Forefoot | 19.0 mm | 26.4 mm | 23.8 mm | 21.0 mm | |
Widths available | NormalWide | Normal | NormalWide | Normal | |
Heel tab | Finger loop | Finger loop | Finger loop | Finger loop | |
Removable-insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ranking | #20 Bottom 23% | #8 Top 31% | #6 Top 24% | #5 Top 20% | |
Popularity | #18 Bottom 30% | #5 Top 20% | #4 Top 16% | #17 Bottom 34% |
Who should buy
Don't miss out on the Columbia Crestwood if you are in search of the following:
- an affordable outdoor shoe with great cushioning, support, and durability for the price
- a hiking shoe for light-to-moderate terrain
- a breathable option for summer
Who should NOT buy
If your foot shape calls for more toebox space, the Crestwood will probably fail to provide it. We recommend looking into affordable hiking shoes from Merrell such as the Accentor 3 and the Alverstone 2. Both have roomy toeboxes and are also available in wide and extra-wide versions.
And if you can catch the wide version of the Adidas Terrex AX4, it's a solid alternative as well.
Cushioning
Heel stack
We couldn't help but notice that the Columbia Crestwood felt a lot like a casual sneaker underfoot. That's because it packs a solid amount of cushioning for such a budget-friendly shoe.
Measuring the shoe's heel stack, our calliper returned 32.7 mm which is on par with the highly popular Merrell Moab 3 and with the average of hiking shoes overall.
The shoe's heel cushioning kept us well-protected on moderate terrain muting out the occasional roots and rocks. On the other hand, it wasn't too thick to make us feel isolated from the ground either.
Crestwood | 32.7 mm |
Average | 32.3 mm |
Forefoot stack
The shoe's forefoot stack showed a moderate measurement of 19.0 mm which also hit a sweet spot between impact protection and groundedness.
Crestwood | 19.0 mm |
Average | 21.2 mm |
Drop
That way, the difference in stack heights comes in at 13.7 mm which is notably higher than the average hiking shoe drop.
Considering that the Crestwood is a beginner-friendly shoe, we believe that it is an optimal heel-to-toe offset for this target audience. The elevated heel minimises the Achilles strain especially if you are carrying a backpack while keeping the heel sufficiently cushioned.
Crestwood | 13.7 mm |
Average | 11.1 mm |
Midsole softness
Wear testing the Columbia Crestwood, we noticed that its TechLite midsole had just a touch of squish which made our landings comfortably cushioned.
Checking its firmness with a durometer confirmed our observations with a reading of 25.5 HA. The shoe's foam sits on the moderately soft side of the spectrum but feels balanced overall.
Crestwood | 25.5 HA |
Average | 27.7 HA |
Midsole softness in cold (%)
If you plan to take the Columbia Crestwood out on a chilly day, keep in mind that its cushioning will lose some softness after being exposed to low temperatures for a long time.
In fact, our freezer test showed that it tends to firm up more than the average hiking shoe. After spending 20 minutes in the freezer, the Crestwood's midsole got 29% firmer as opposed to the average of 18.4%.
Crestwood | 29% |
Average | 19% |
Insole thickness
The Crestwood uses a generously padded insole to create a very welcome in-shoe experience. Our calliper measured its thickness at 6.1 mm in the heel - pretty cosy for a £70 shoe!
It is even slightly contoured on the medial side offering a touch of arch support.
Crestwood | 6.1 mm |
Average | 5.5 mm |
Size and fit
Size
Columbia Crestwood is true to size (97 votes).
Toebox width - widest part
We felt like the Crestwood offered just enough toebox space for our medium-width feet.
Showing 101.7 mm of width in the ball of foot area, it turned out to be on par with the average in a men's US size 9 (D medium).
Crestwood | 101.7 mm |
Average | 100.5 mm |
Toebox width - big toe
However, we can't recommend this Columbia shoe to wide-footed folks because of its aggressively tapered toebox.
Our calliper showed only 76.2 mm in the big toe area which is almost 5 mm narrower than average! And the vertical space is rather limited as well.
If you want an affordable hiking shoe that accommodates wider foot shapes, look into the Merrell brand.
Crestwood | 76.2 mm |
Average | 81.0 mm |
Stability
Lateral stability test
The Columbia Crestwood became a pleasant surprise in the stability department as well. For only £70, you get an amazingly supportive underfoot experience that feels a lot like wearing a more expensive shoe.
This Columbia hiker offered a solid footing on moderate trails, which is the type of terrain it is designed for. But please note that we are talking about weekend hikes here, not high-milage hiking objectives. The latter calls for the shoe's mid-cut (boot) version or a high-performance hiking shoe for that matter.
Torsional rigidity
We don't hesitate to recommend the Columbia Crestwood to people with overpronation because of how hard it was to twist the shoe in our manual test.
With its top-loaded midfoot shank and firm midsole cradle, we rated the shoe's torsional rigidity as high as 4 out of 5!
Crestwood | 4 |
Average | 3.5 |
Heel counter stiffness
The Crestwood also feels quite sturdy in the heel counter, resisting the push-and-squeeze in our manual test.
Rating its stiffness on a 1-5 scale, we once again gave the Crestwood a high score of 4. It does a brilliant job of minimising the heel and ankle play inside the shoe, holding them securely in place.
Crestwood | 4 |
Average | 3.7 |
Midsole width - forefoot
A nice and broad platform is another component of the Crestwood's success formula.
Our calliper showed that the widest part of the shoe's midsole is wider than average at 116.3 mm.
Crestwood | 116.3 mm |
Average | 111.0 mm |
Midsole width - heel
The shoe's heel also proved to be nice and wide with 88.3 mm in the widest area. It kept us planted without adding much bulk to the rearfoot.
Crestwood | 88.3 mm |
Average | 86.9 mm |
Flexibility / Stiffness
Because its internal shank is limited to the midfoot, it doesn't hold this Columbia shoe back from bending as much as your foot needs. Because after all, you don't need an ultra-stiff hiking shoe for an easy non-technical hike.
Using a force gauge, we found it takes 25.3N to bend the Crestwood to a 90-degree angle. That's almost 20% less than it takes an average hiking shoe.
Crestwood | 25.3N |
Average | 29.7N |
Stiffness in cold (%)
The only caveat here is that the shoe will get significantly stiffer if exposed to cold conditions for a long time. We measured that after 20 minutes in the freezer, it stiffened up by as much as 34.4%.
Crestwood | 34% |
Average | 28% |
Weight
It is common for budget-friendly shoes to be on the heavy side because brands don't use lighter (more advanced) materials to keep the weight down.
But despite its beefy silhouette, the Columbia Crestwood happens to be only slightly heavier than average. Our scale showed 13.4 oz (380g) in a men's US size 9.
However, it is a whole ounce heavier than the weight stated in the brand's official specs (12.3 oz/350g per shoe, size 9).
Crestwood | 13.40 oz (380g) |
Average | 13.23 oz (375g) |
Breathability
As a non-waterproof hiking shoe with large mesh panels, the Columbia Crestwood is pretty well-aerated.
The smoke we pumped into the shoe's upper met no obstruction and passed straight through the mesh pores in the toebox. Even though these pores are not very large, they offer excellent ventilation without compromising the durability of the fabric.
Looking at the upper up close, we also found that its suede overlays have perforations to help with the airflow.
Rating the shoe's breathability with a high score of 4, we think that the Crestwood is a perfect choice for the warm and dry season but wearing a warmer sock can also extend its service to mild fall and spring days.
And should you need protection for wet weather, the Crestwood is also available in a waterproof version.
Crestwood | 4 |
Average | 2.7 |
Durability
Toebox durability
Columbia knows how to maximise longevity even in its more affordable shoes. We are happy to see a large synthetic mudguard around the toebox and a wide suede overlay on top of it.
To test the limits of this suede material, we drilled it with sandpaper for 12 long seconds.
And to our surprise, it hardly showed any signs of wear! And because it looked nearly intact, we rated the Crestwood's toebox durability with the highest score - 5 out of 5!
Crestwood | 5 |
Average | 3.7 |
Heel padding durability
Unfortunately, Columbia cut corners on the shoe's inner lining because that fabric was torn immediately. It took even less than 4 seconds...
But let's not forget that this is one of the cheapest hiking shoes after all.
Crestwood | 2 |
Average | 2.9 |
Outsole hardness
The shoe's OmniTech rubber outsole also turned out to be unexpectedly sturdy for this price point.
First of all, its hardness is on par with the average of hiking shoes showing 85.0 HC on our durometer.
Crestwood | 85.1 HC |
Average | 85.0 HC |
Outsole durability
Second, it did rather well in our abrasive Dremel test where we exposed the outsole to sandpaper for 22 seconds.
Even though our tread gauge measured as much as 1.4 mm of damage in the rubber, it is levelled out by the thickness and lug depth of the shoe's outsole.
Crestwood | 1.4 mm |
Average | 1.0 mm |
Outsole thickness
The thickness of Crestwood's rubber outsole comes in at an impressive 3.6 mm and that's excluding the shoe's deep lugs!
Durability-wise, we believe that this hiking shoe from Columbia offers some of the best value for money!
Crestwood | 3.6 mm |
Average | 2.5 mm |
Misc
Lug depth
Looking at the Crestwood's lug depth, our calliper recorded 3.2 mm. Slightly shallower than average but just enough for the shoe's intended purpose - moderate hiking.
Aside from lug depth, the shoe's traction pattern also contributes to a surefooted experience on hilly terrain. Facing every direction, these treads make the Crestwood even grippier than we expected.
Crestwood | 3.2 mm |
Average | 3.9 mm |
Price
Our expectations were set pretty low for one of the cheapest hiking shoes on the market but the Columbia Crestwood kept our jaws dropped the entire lab test!
The shoe's overall comfort, cushioning, support, and durability generate massive value for money for someone who needs a less technical shoe for easy occasional hikes.
Crestwood | $70 |
Reflective elements
There are no reflective elements on this Columbia shoe.
Crestwood | No |
Tongue padding
The Crestwood is abundant with in-shoe padding. From its thick insole to the collar and the tip of the tongue, it is all packed with cushy foam.
The tongue, in particular, exceeds the average thickness showing 11.0 mm on our calliper.
Crestwood | 11.0 mm |
Average | 9.7 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
As a budget-friendly shoe, the Crestwood features no gussets on the sides of its tongue. This can potentially cause tongue-shifting.
Crestwood | None |
Heel tab
A fabric loop at the back of the shoe helps with the on-and-off.
Crestwood | Finger loop |
Removable insole
If you want to make this affordable shoe feel more premium, its stock insole is easy to replace with a custom insert.
Crestwood | Yes |