Australian Hiker

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The North Face Women's Offtrail Hike GORE-TEX Shoes Review

Recently I’ve had the opportunity to test out a range of hiking shoe brands and models – many of which are a big change from my usual Altra Lone Peak Trail Shoes. The thing that all the other shoes have in common is that they are up there on the ruggedness and durability scale. That’s not to say the Altra shoes aren’t durable but sometimes you need a bit more sturdiness to tackle trails like the Larapinta Trail and the Snowies Alpine Walk.

The North Face Women’s Offtrail Hike GORE-TEX Shoes are all that and more. They are packed with features starting with the waterproof Gore-Tex upper that keeps your feet dry and warm in the wettest and coldest conditions – I know this is accurate having worn these shoes during some very wet and cold southern Australia winter conditions.

These shoes have seriously tough toe and heel guards. The durable SURFACE CTRL™ rubber outsole has been designed with weight and versatility in mind given it provides super protection but a pair of size US 10s only weigh 836 grams. Interestingly it is made using 10% rubber from smallholder farmers committed to agroforestry principles and regenerative agricultural practices. It is great see more innovation in hiking gear production that connects other industries to reuse materials and reduce waste.

While it is almost impossible to bends these shoes in your hands, they do not feel stiff and bulky when you’re wearing them. That was probably the biggest surprise for me particularly given my preference for flexible trail running shoes.

The soles of The North Face Women’s Offtrail Hike GORE-TEX Shoes are super grippy given the number and positioning of the 5mm lugs. This means I felt equally secure on wet slippery surfaces and dusty/powdery.

There is also heaps of padding with this shoe particularly around the shoe upper and heel as well as underfoot with the insole and also on top through a generously padded shoe tongue. All this adds up to comfort all the way.

Everyone knows my hiking shoes need to look good and The North Face Women’s Offtrail Hike GORE-TEX Shoes are right up there. The Pale Khaki/Khaki Stone colour was concerning at first – not a usual colour preference for me and I imagined that they would look pretty grubby after the first wear but I was so wrong. You can barely see that I have wandered through mud and dirt while testing these shoes. I’m putting it down to the Gore-Tex outer shell which seems to repel the dirt – not sure if this is a thing but I’m going with it anyway!

I am wearing US size 10 which is half a size up from what I would usually wear. I chose that size because I have a wide foot and The North Face shoes tend to be a narrower fit. However, I found that the size 10s were longer but not necessarily wider so my guidance is go with your usual sizing.

The big question with these shoe reviews is always would I recommend The North Face Women’s Offtrail Hike GORE-TEX Shoes and my answer is absolutely. I find myself torn every time I step outdoors – do I wear these shoes or my beloved Altras? Increasingly The North Face Women’s Offtrail HikeGORE-TEX Shoes are my choice. If you have some rocky, muddy, dusty trails to navigate then this is shoe for you.

The North Face Women’s Offtrail Hike GORE-TEX® Shoes

The North Face Women’s Offtrail Hike GORE-TEX® Shoes – view of sole

The North Face Womens Offtrail Hike GORE-TEX® Shoes heel view

The North Face Women’s Offtrail Hike GORE-TEX® Shoes top view

Gill wearing The North Face Women’s Offtrail Hike GORE-TEX® Shoes

We Like

• Upper made with Cordura® ripstop with an overlasted design at the forefoot for increased protection, stability and durability
• PFAS-free GORE-TEX waterproof membrane
• Ballistic-rubber toe cap with TPU overlays for added protection and support
• Reinforced heel cup plus a comfort-padded collar and tongue are designed to lock in your foot for long-distance comfort on multi-day adventures
• Combination of ghillie-lace loops and two metal eyelets for lockdown support and a customizable fit
• Pull loop at heel for easy on/off
• Integrated SKYCORE rock guard for added protection below the forefoot on technical terrain
• Heel and forefoot rubber wraps increase lateral stability and protection
• 5 mm high-traction lugs are designed for grip on harsh terrain

We Don't Like

• A bigger colour range would be nice
• If you’re not used to a sturdy hiking shoe, you may need to wear them in prior to a big hike

Buy One

You can purchase The North Face Women’s Offtrail Hike GORE-TEX® Shoes online from Amazon Australia, The North Face, or from Wild Earth

Disclosure: We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Best Uses

These shoes are designed for tough trails and long days

Investment

AUD $300.00 RRP but you can often find them on sale

Other Versions

The North Face produces a range of hiking shoes and boots including:

• Women’s Offtrail TR GORE-TEX Shoes
• Women’s VECTIV Exploris 2 FUTURELIGHT Shoes
• Women’s VECTIV™ Exploris 2 Mid FUTURELIGHT™ Boots
• Women’s VECTIV™ Exploris 2 Mid FUTURELIGHT™ Leather Boots
• Women’s VECTIV™ Fastpack FUTURELIGHT™ Shoes

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided for testing by The North Face

Last updated

24 August 2025

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