Columbia Ladies’s First Era Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped

Love these Boots
I typically enjoy wearing trail runners, but after an ankle injury I decided to get a pair of affordable pair of ankle boots. These Columbia boots were on sale on Amazon so I couldn’t pass them up after reading reviews. I purchased my typical size I wear and they fit as needed. I did redo the laving to suit my own comfort. They appear waterproof on my first few walks in them and the tread is really nice. I hate wearing heavy clunky books- these are not them. They are light and comfortable without compromising traction and quality. I still love my trail sneakers, but these are a great addition offering additional support.

Made well
I really like the style and I need extra support because of nerve damage in my foot, I normally wear a 7.5, but I probably should have gotten the wide, they’re a little tight for my big toe, can’t have a lot of pressure on them. So I ordered the 7.5 wide, and I’m sure they will work much better. The length was perfect, so I just need a little wider. I like the bottom are skid proof so I don’t have to worry about slipping. Worth the money.Update: I ordered a 7.5 wide, and they fit perfectly, very comfortable and well made. I have a bad right foot so I have to be careful what I buy. These will be perfect especially for ankle support. Thankfully they came in widespread, because I think a size 8 would be to long, and the arch wouldn’t be where I need it.

definitely a good one for hiking: durable, stable, great traction. May be too stiff for casual wear
I was able to snag these for $60. A week later and they are up to $75. While I dont rate on price, I comment. I chose these because they were competitively priced with no name brands. I figured Columbia has served me well enough in the past that I would spring for these. It was no brainer at $60 price point, but $75 would have had me sniffing around other options even if I did think that Columbia is the way to go anyways.The have a stiff but stable feel. These are hikers, and while they will break in a little over time, it is important that they keep the stiffness in the ankle area. If just using these as daily shoes, then you may want something with more flex. If actually hiking, then these are going to provide a stable feel. The traction looks and feels good too.One thing to note is that they just fit my feet. I went with size 11 even though I more like a size 10. I learned that if I go with a larger size, then it will accommodate my wide feet without having to buy shoes designated as wide width. Opened up a whole new world for me once I discovered that.So while these fit in width and fit in length.. the length doesnt feel like it is a size larger. I would NOT want these any smaller. Not sure if I can wear thick socks with these (haven’t yet tried. Just wore with regular thickness socks). Possible I will gain a little added space with some breaking in, but I have only worn these a few times and not for any particular activity.The area from top if foot to bottom of foot also feels a tad snug. Not bad, but it felt good to take my hikers off after just sitting with them on. Again, perhaps a little breaking in will help with that.These do not look nor feel cheap.At this time, I am overall pleased. If I experience anything worth sharing (good or bad, but especially bad) I will be back to update.

J’adore

I debated on these boots for a long time. I have had the same pair of Merrells for years and have sworn by the brand. I am a chonky hiker who has to have a good boot with comfort and support in mind.I finally bit the bullet threw caution to the wind and bought these based on reviews. I am so glad I did.The positives :- these needed no break in, I wore them on a shorter 5 k for the first time and they were super comfortable, no foot pain, zero blisters, toe nails in tact after the hike. I do wear smart wool or Darn Tough hiking socks to help with blistering. I have a wider foot (but not super wide) and high arch and these fit perfectly. I am a 7.5 but ordered an 8 regular to give room for a thick sock and they’re perfect.-they are water proof-they are sturdy and can handle walking over rock and tree roots-they are lighter weight then my Merrells-the price point is incredible I paid $89 I believe, they are regular $160 and on sale for $125 at a local sports store-I love the aesthetic look of these (the brown and red)The not so great:My only complaint is in an ideal world they would have more ankle support. As someone who tends to be a bit wobbly I love the support in my Merrells because the boot is a bit higher and provides that support. These do not provide as much, some but not a ton.Overall I love these, I am not hiking mountains so I can’t speak to intensive hikes nor can I speak to durability over time, but for this price I am willing to risk it. I have had no foot pain, or back pain after wearing these on hikes which can be an issue without proper foot wear.