On the lead up to Outdoor Retailer, Five Ten sent me a pair of women's Savants to test out. I gave these multi-sport shoes a beating in Colorado, climbing 13ers and 14ers as well as wearing them for shorter approach hikes to some rock climbing.
The Five Ten Savant is a true, versatile, all-around shoe that is built for stability and comfort. Even after 8 hours of punishing my legs up and down La Plata Peak or 6 hours up and down Mt. Audubon, my legs and feet were still happy. Five Ten is known for their innovation in rubber outsoles and the S1 Stealth rubber absorbs far more shock than a traditional rubber outsole, making it perfect for a hiking shoe.
This S1 Stealth rubber, along with multi-directional lugs, give the Five Ten Savant superior traction. You can exert a huge amount of body weight on your feet before the rubber outsole will break away from the rock. These shoes were perfect for scrambling up and over boulders at the top of the climbs- I felt secure even on relatively steep and exposed terrain.
Similar to their rock climbing shoes, the Savants have two finger pulls on the back heel to make it easier to slip on your shoes, even with one hand. The highly breathable, quick draining and quick drying synthetic mesh uppers mean you can use these multi-sport shoes for river crossing without having to worry about sloshing around afterwards-perfect for hiking in the Sierras.
Bottom line: The Five Ten Savant is the perfect shoe for all day hikes, heavy portages, hikes with river crossings, longer climb approaches or anywhere you might need that extra support and comfort, under foot protection and most of all traction.