Vans MTE Crosspath

I recently received the Vans MTE Crosspath shoes to review. I've been an avid hiker and trail runner for quite some time now, and I love testing out different trail shoes.

I was able to spend a solid 2 weeks and 300,000 steps in these shoes. I took them on a few trail runs ranging from 3 miles to 14, in the city for a sightseeing tour, and on the beach.

Design & Materials

I received the black and white colorway. The design is very much classic Vans style, except for the tread and toes. The upper is lightweight yet durable with a water repellent treatment.

I accidentally side-swiped a few rocks near the upper toes and side foot, and the material still cleaned up nicely with no holes (pics are after all the use and cleaning them up).

Water Resistance & Breathability

I was able to run through and stand in water up to the tongue without my feet getting wet. However, if the water is deep enough to reach the tongue, you’ll be walking with wet feet and water inside the shoe. They don’t drain quite as well as other dedicated trail shoes, but it wasn’t the worst experience finishing a run with waterlogged shoes.

That being said, the breathability is just okay. In my opinion, it could be improved, but it’s serviceable.

Grip & Traction

The grip and tread are pretty great. The nicely sized lugs bite into pea gravel while the rubbery material gives plenty of traction on wet rock or sidewalk.

I would hesitate to walk on gym floors or other sensitive material, as the rubber can mark up surfaces. Walking in the city on concrete seemed to wear the tread faster, but not nearly as much as a dedicated trail shoe.

Stability

The stability is definitely medium. I’ve used trail runners that are both better and worse than these. The most unstable part is near the narrow section of the sole. It sits in line with the rest of the tread and isn’t recessed, so walking on rocks or uneven surfaces there can cause instability.

Cushioning & Comfort

The cushioning is quite good, especially on downhills. For sizing, I received my normal size and it fit true.

However, the toe box is fairly narrow and left my toes wanting more room. I tried using the included insole, but had to switch to Superfeet after a week as my feet and knees weren’t feeling great (though I might just be too used to Superfeet).

Longer walks and runs also didn’t leave my feet feeling great, likely due to the narrow toe box and how my feet sit in the shoe.

Versatility

Overall, this shoe offers a good range of use — from going to the office during the day to hitting the trails in the afternoon, it can tackle most of it. Even though I had issues with breathability, the toe box, and comfort on long walks, I’ll be keeping these around for shorter runs, walks, and trips where I can only bring one pair of shoes.