It’s not like Columbia as a brand doesn’t ring a bell with me. For outdoor clothing, of course, the Americans are familiar to me. But running shoes…? It’s completely new territory. But with these two shoes, I have found an introduction.
About Columbia
Columbia has been around for more than 80 years and was founded by German emigrants in 1938 . The family business is therefore much better known in the USA than here in Germany. The Columbia Montrail brand stands for the company’s trail running segment and is actually one of the main sponsors of the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc) – and of three other trail events.
Sponsored Post: Columbia provided me with the products for this review at my request. This had no influence on the content of my post. The article is written indipendently and reflects exclusively my personal experiences.
[php snippet=1] ReviewColumbia Caldorado III Outdry
Columbia Caldorado III Outdry
~85 Euro
10 weeks
The Caldorado III does not exactly come in upbeat colours. After all, there are five colour combinations in the shop, but all of them are rather reserved. But at least they are quite ok. ;)
On the other hand, my test shoe had an upper with outdry technology. This (according to the company’s own information) groundbreaking technology is supposed to keep feet dry. Not only in rain or puddles: supposedly you can even get through a river with dry feet.
The outsole doesn’t seem particularly aggressive, but at first glance it seems to me to be very universally applicable. Under the forefoot there is also a protective plate hidden in the sole.
The upper, heel, tongue and insole are designed for comfort. Everything is softly padded and apparently designed for durability.
Of course, this is also reflected on the scales: at 818 grams, it is the third heaviest shoe I have ever run. But as so often, the weight is not so noticeable when running.
The Caldorado III is rather cumbersome, but is running quite well overall. The high comfort is clearly noticeable. Unfortunately I had no opportunity to test it on river crossings ;) A heavy downpour and some puddles did not lead to wet feet.
ReviewColumbia Bajada III
Columbia Bajada III
~75 Euro
10 weeks
The Bajada III does not differ much from the Caldorado at first sight. However, the trail shoe plays out its strengths especially in winter.
This is ensured by the finely woven upper material and a soft fleece lining. The dirt trap on the sides is also suitably equipped and should not only keep moisture away but also snow.
The Bajada III is really comfortably equipped. The soft padding on the inside of the shoe not only ensures a pleasant feeling when worn, but is certainly also good insulation.
With 734 grams for both shoes in my size, the Bajada III is still a little lighter than the Caldorado III. So it is no longer a heavyweight but (just so) still a light-heavyweight – according to my own weight classification.
But this did not make it more light-footed, but rather a little more cumbersome than the Caldorado III, which is of course relativized by other characteristics such as winter suitability. If you want to do a long run through fresh snow and keep your feet warm, the weight might not be that important.
Conclusion
However, for the prices called up, some of which are well below 100 euros, they are surprisingly good and perhaps an alternative to other brands. Because of the comfort I trust both shoes to be a good solution for long runs and ultras.
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