1.0 out of 5 stars
Teary Dragon, March 24, 2011
Wore them only a couple of times (mainly sitting on a bench in a park) and now I've just noticed a large tear in the gray leather, on the inner side, right next to the third "eyelet". Don't even know how happened as I didn't tie the shoelaces tight. Anyway, it seems that Garmont lowered the standards lately...
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Very happy so far, January 25, 2011
My sticky dragons just arrived today, and I have a few comments that might help you as a potential buyer. I also intend to update this review in 6 months after putting these shoes to the test.
I read a lot of reviews before buying these. I was looking for a shoe for ascending 14ers in Colorado that would withstand 10-20 miles of hiking and still perform well on class 4-(low)5 climbs. And, I didn't want to spend much more than $100. It seems like the sticky dragons will fit the bill.
They were pretty comfortable right out of the box. The arch seems a tad high, putting some pressure on my arch, but they should be comfy after a short break-in period. (EDIT: 2nd day of wearing them around the house...no discomfort at all...very comfy!)
I ordered 1/2 size smaller than my previous pair of ascent shoes, the FiveTen Savant. (BTW, I like the savants, but the thin breathable fabric turned into windows after some city parkour and mountain play. Anyone wanna see my toes? Nope?) Ok, so I bought the sticky dragons which are made of a more durable material. Most reviews said their sizing was accurate, while a few said they run 1/2 size large. I'd say that the sticky dragons run about 1/4 size large. I believe this is because a feature they call "FMA" (first metatarsal accommodation). They've added a little length to the area of the toebox for your longest toes to stretch out a bit. It doesn't feel unnatural...just 1/4 size longer. Going with 1/2 size smaller than usual, I think I made the right choice. We'll see how they feel after putting some miles in while wearing a pack.
After walking around the house, I hit my climbing wall. Aside from actual climbing shoes, these by far outperformed any other shoes I've tried climbing in. The last is rigid enough and the rubber on the sole is firm enough to edge remarkably well. Many other hiking shoes have lugs on their sole that go right up to the edge of the shoe. That set-up is terrible for climbing since the lug between your foot and the stone rotates under your weight, causing your foot to shift away from the rock's surface. The sticky dragon's didn't do this at all. They held their edge quite well.
The real test will be the Maroon Bells when I get out to CO in 6 months. I intend to update this review after that trip.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Up to the task, September 20, 2010
In looking for an alternative shoe for hiking the Grand Canyon I settled on the Garmont Sticky Dragon. After wearing them daily for 3 weeks I decided to give them a shot and I'm glad I did. They were perfect for the 16 miles of dry, rocky trails in the Grand Canyon. Contrary to other feedback mine ran a bit small. I sent them back for a 1/2 larger size which solved the issue. The fabric portions of the shoe take away some stability in exchange for ventilation - probably an equitable trade for the hot weather I encountered. Overall a reasonably sturdy, lightweight, trail shoe at a fair price.
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