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Tester Information:
Name: Jason Boyle
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 6"/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Email address: c4jc@hotmail.com
City, State, Country: Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.
Date reviewed: May 17, 2005
Backpacking Background:
I have been camping and backpacking for about 16 years. My introduction to the outdoors started with the BSA and has continued as an adult. I have hiked mostly in the Southeastern and Northeastern United States. I currently live near Washington D.C. and have made the mid-Atlantic mountains my playground.
In addition to hiking, I am an aspiring ultra runner and very hard on shoes. I run trail and road races from 5k (3.1 miles) to 40 miles (64.5 km) and my shoes are my most important piece of gear. Most of my training takes place in DC and the mountains and trails in the area, but will change to the Northwest Pacific when I move to Seattle this summer.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Teva
Model: Steep XCR
Size Tested: Men's size 9.5 (UK 8.5/EUR 42.5)
Color Tested: Black and Red, also available in Taupe and Yellow
Year of Manufacture: 2005
URL:www.teva.com
Listed weight: None listed
Measured weight:
R Shoe: 16 oz (454 g)
L Shoe: 16 oz (454 g)
Total: 32 oz (907 g)
**Disclaimer: the closest my scale will measure is in whole ounces**
MSRP: $110.00 US
Country of Manufacture: China
Product Description:
From the Teva website:
The Steep XCR was built for fast paced outdoor activities over mixed terrain, offering the right blend of technology and comfort all in a lightweight package. The patent pending Adaptive Heel and the heel-to-toe protection web technology keep you on your feet while the Gore-Tex® XCR lining is guaranteed to keep you dry.
Material:
- Leather and mesh upper
- Rubber mudguard at toe
- Gore-Tex® XCR waterproof lining
Midsole:
- Dual-density EVA
- Molded EVA midsole
Outsole:
- Spider Rubber
Initial Impressions/Use:
I am a shoe nut! So I was very excited when this test call happened and even more excited when the Tevas showed up at my door. They were exactly what I expected based on pictures from the Teva website. The shipping package only contained the shoes, no other promotional information was included.
I immediately pulled them out of the box and tried them on. A fairly good fit. I have had my feet measured with a Brannock device that says I have a 9D foot. I have had my arch length measured and based on that measurement I should wear a 10D. So I asked for and received a size 9.5 shoe (UK 8.5/EUR 42.5). All that to say that shoe fit is not a scientific measure and that I have several different types of insoles that I use to help customize the fit of my shoes. I changed to an aftermarket insole and the Steeps fit ok.
The shoes seem to be very sturdy. The rubber toe guard is quite extensive and covers the entire front of the shoe. The tongue is fully gusseted, which is a nice feature because it keeps me from having to adjust it to get it in the right spot, and it also helps keep out trail debris and water.
The laces don't run through holes like a traditional sneaker, but instead are laced through fabric loops sewn onto the upper of the shoe. The actual seams of the lacing loops are underneath a piece of the upper so it is unclear how they were finished off.
The top lace loop is not sewn into the shoe; rather it runs completely around the back of the shoe to the opposite side. It follows the cut of the foot opening to a plastic slider, and then goes around the heel through a plastic Achilles tendon support and through another plastic support back up to the other side. This must be that "Adaptive Heel" feature. This seems like it will lock the foot into the shoe, but only testing will show if my hypothesis is correct.
 
The tread of the sole is aggressive and has wide spacing that looks like it will shed mud and dirt well. Teva's Spider Rubber soles seem very soft and grippy.
These shoes are much heavier than my normal running shoes. I subscribe to the adage that an ounce in the morning is like a pound at night and these shoes are 4-5 oz (113-142 g) heavier than any of my other trail shoes. I am concerned that this may cause me to fatigue earlier into a run initially, but may actually turn out to help me over time. Training in a heavier shoe then switching to a lighter shoe for a race should increase my foot speed. I will try to test this during the testing period.
They also seem to be very stiff. They have a lot less flex than a normal trail running shoe. They feel ok when I first put them on, but I did not get the "these shoes fit like a glove" feeling I like to get before I buy a pair of running shoes. I am interested to see how long they take to break in.
Website:
Teva's website is easy to navigate with sections broken down for men, women and children. They also have nice pictures of the shoes and showed me exactly what I was getting in the Steep.
Improvements:
None at the moment.
Testing Plan:
I will wear these shoes for most of my training and all of my races over the next six months. Additionally I will also use them for day hikes and backpacking trips.
I will examine the shoes for the following characteristics:
Durability:
My main concern is durability. Will the "Spider" sole hold up? What about the upper? My shoes normally fail at the toe bend in the upper before the sole goes. How well does the rubber toe guard protect the shoe? How well will it protect my feet during a rocky run?
Fit:
How true are the shoes to size? If they have to be returned for another size how friendly is the Teva customer service department? How does the adaptive heel work? Does the shoe have multiple lacing options or will I be forced to lace the shoes only one way?
Feel:
The shoes are stiff at the outset. How long does it take to break them in? Do they ever lose their stiffness?
Waterproofness:
How well does the Gore Tex XCR liner work? Will it keep out dew from wet grass during an early morning hike? Will it survive a dip in a creek? How long will it last - the entire 6 months, a couple of months? Is the tongue integrated with the XCR liner or are the separate pieces? My experience has been that a separate tongue will leak if water comes over the laces.
Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Teva for allowing me to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Teva gear
Read more gear reviews by Jason Boyle
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