Initial Report Five Ten Insight Multi Sport Shoes

Tester: Rosaleen Sullivan
Age: 55 years
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 9in (1.75 m)
Weight: 180 lb (82 kg)
E-mail: rosaleen43 (at) msn (dot) com
Home: Eastern Massachusetts, USA
Date: October 5, 2005
Manufacturer: Five Ten
URL: http://www.fiveten.com/
Shoe size: (Women’s) 11
Color: Sage Green
Year of Manufacture: 2005
MSRP: $ 95.00 US
Product Specifications (from the website)

This shoe is versatile, comfortable, cool looking and built tough to handle dirt, mud, scree, talus, AND steep rock. The Insight incorporates a number of Five Ten rock shoe features for higher performance including Stealth C4/S1 co-molded soles, slingshot rands, and lace-to-toe styling. Full-grain nubuk leather uppers with protective toe rands provide excellent abrasion resistance.

Weight: 1.9 lb (.86 kg)

Measured Weight of test pair: 1 lb 14 oz (.84 kg)

Product Description
I find the 5.10 Insight to be attractive looking sport shoes. My pair is “sage green.” I didn’t find the Insight on Five Ten’s website prior to the test because they are listed under “I.Q. Series.” Silly me, I looked under “Trail” and “Approach,” and assumed that the product was too new to have been added to the site. So, I looked at information about the shoes at an on-line retailer’s site. That store only lists sage green for women’s Insights, but brick red is another color option. Looking at the light, subdued green suede leather over grey nylon, combined with black and grey rubber, I’m pleased to have received this color option.

The sole appears to be made of two distinct rubber products. Each has a slightly different texture, and the type on the main sole squeaked under my fingers when rubbed hard, while the rubber at the toe did not. The small yellow dot on the sole has a molded “S1” and at the toe, a red one reads “C4.” My husband actually noticed the two dots before I did. The hang tag on the shoe explains the “Stealth high friction rubber” designations. Stealth C4 is supposed to give the “ultimate friction on rock.” Stealth S1 is claimed to provide the “highest shock absorption, (and) excellent friction.” I imagine friction at the toe is important for rock climbers, and at least hikers might find shock absorption and excellent friction to be important in shoe soles. The hang tag also states “Stealth is your guarantee of ultimate rubber performance,” and refers the reader to the Stealth Rubber website. Time will tell if I am happy with the performance of the “Stealth Rubber.” The black rubber rand wraps to the top of the toe in front and up about half of the heel in the back. I expect these wraps to take most of the abrasion as my feet caress rocks passed along the trail. The manufacturer’s description mentions lace to toe styling. The lacing does extend from the ankle to the base of my toes. I think this helps the user to snug the shoes to fit his/her particular feet. My measured weight of the shoes was 1 lb 14 oz (.84 g) for my (women’s) size 11 pair.

Fit and Comfort
I was concerned that the shoes might be too short at first. My toes seemed to be almost brushing the front of the toe box, and I felt an “almost bump” at the ball of my foot. I walked around the house for a bit and found that the top back of the ankle needed some time to conform to my foot. After an hour or two, the heel cup seemed to relax enough to let my foot rest farther back in the shoe, and they now feel quite comfortable. I’m looking forward to some trail time on these shoes. They felt fine as I walked around home and at the school where I work. Walking the playground, whether on “blacktop” or grass, I had good stable footing and was comfortable. There is a sort of stiff spot near the ball of my foot that rocks to a flat feeling toe area. I have to wonder if this is part of the multi sport design that might be intended to help negotiate up rocky scrambles? Time and use may give me an answer.

Test Plan
We have a family wedding in about 10 days. Until that excitement passes, I can plan to use the Insight shoes on a day hike nearby in eastern Massachusetts, possibly walking to work, and for recess/playground duty. Our local “Rail-Trail” just opened, providing a tempting smooth surface for walking. Local trails are frequently unimproved, so I should be able to get a good feel for how much my feet slide around inside the shoes as well as how much traction the sole can provide. In November, we have two national holidays that will allow me three-day weekends, my traditional favorite time for backpacking trips. I anticipate that I will choose from one of the many long distance trails that New England is blessed with for one or both of those weekends. Weather and gas prices will influence the trail choices. I plan a minimum of two overnights for the Field Test and a minimum of three more overnights in the Long Term Test phases. In most of eastern Massachusetts, we are on a coastal plain with rolling hills and some rocky areas. In fall to early winter, temperatures are likely to vary widely, with some summer-like days following days with snow squalls and freezing temperatures. We have had snowfalls before Thanksgiving (late November) and we can expect prolonged periods of below freezing temperatures by January. I anticipate a wide variety of conditions in the four month test period.

Things to Look for or Test

Fit (During use, will problems emerge?)
Comfort/support (Over a range of temperatures and trail conditions?)
Wear to soles, uppers, lining
Any peeling or parts coming loose or off of the shoes
Sole grip on various surfaces, wet or dry
Shoe liner wicking, keeping feet feeling dry
Drying time of shoes after exposure to rain, puddles, etc.
Any foot/knee problems. (I’ve experienced plantar fasciitis, and knee arthritis/tendonitis.)

Thanks for reading my report,

Rosaleen Sullivan

Tester Background/Style
I’ve been backpacking off and on for about 20 years. I’m still in the process of “lightening up.” Normal gear includes a hammock, down bag and jacket, hiking poles, and an alcohol or fuel tablet stove, retooling gear for each trip. I also make some gear, and often nudge myself out of a design daydream on the trail. Most trips last 3 days, but I have backpacked 10 days straight. While most of my journeys are within New England, I’ve hiked the length of the Smokeys National Park, the Grand Canyon, and other trails far from home