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Herman Creek Trail Sign |
I also just got a pair of Nike Terra Kiger trail runners, and I promised my client, who works for Nike, that I'd give them a thorough review, to see how they perform as a shoe for the long distance hiker. I've tested and reviewed gear before for Mountain Hardwear and Salomon, and am always interested to see what other stuff is out there. I still trend towards wearing LaSportiva Wildcats (love the shoe!), but I feel the need to expand my awareness to what else is out there. I've not owned a pair of Nikes in maybe 27-years, so it's been a long time since the swoosh was spotted on my feet.
For those who have not been up the Herman Creek Trail #406 from the trailhead parking lot, all I can say is get ready to get the heart pumping. The climb up is a steady, monotonic ascent through dense forest, some of which burned up in September of 2017. The burning and scarring on the trees is quite noticeable on this hike, and apparently worse on the Nick Eaton Trail, and signs indicate that this trail is damaged and difficult to hike. Still, it seems like the fire in 2017 might have made this stretch of forest heartier and healthier in the long run, since it consumed a lot of the thick understory. That said, I am no forest expert!
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An old burned tree |
Back to the climbing. Yes, this trail will get the legs burning if you push it, and I did. I brought my dog, Lucy, with me on this hike, and I was trying to keep pace with her, since she was on leash ahead of me. The climb meandered in and out of gullies, and thankfully crossed many small flowing streams or rills, where I (or my dog) could catch my breath and get a drink water.
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Lucy cools off and drinks from this stream |
As I continued my ascent, I noticed how comfortable my feet were in these Nikes. What's more is that I noticed how well they gripped the trail's tread. The Terra Kigers do not have the traditional black rubber sole with a space alien pattern of yellow or red coloring the bottoms. Instead, the soles are red and white, with some good knobby lugs on the bottoms, which provide an excellent grip on dirt, rocks (wet and dry), and roots. Nike says that these shoes feature Multi-Surface Traction, boasting "Multidirectional traction lugs in the forefoot and heel (that are) are made from high-abrasion rubber for enhanced grip on descents and ascents. A rubber pod at the midfoot helps deliver wet-surface traction." I never once felt the soles slide out from underneath my feet. These are good shoes.
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Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 6 Trail Runners |
After 7-miles of charging uphill, I made it to my destination: Cedar Swamp. There are plenty of cedars up here, and they are huge trees. Some trees have seen the axe (or chainsaw), but for the most part, this grove of trees has been spared large swaths of cutting. The terrain is not really that swampy, but a nice flowing stream provides water through the flat areas best for camping. Still there were bugs up here! Tired from the couple hours of hiking, I pitched my tent, made dinner, and snuggled with my dog for the night.
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Lucy stands in front of a huge cedar tree |
After all the ascending the day before, I could look forward to how well the shoes were going to hold up on the now steady descent. Again, I was very impressed with their traction. My feet also honed in on the cushioned ride I was experiencing on the trail. I was not feeling any rocks or nubs on the tread. If anything bothered me about the shoes it was that my toes felt more confined than they did the day before, but I chalk that up to feet swelling from the 7+miles of hiking I did a day earlier. As a side note, the shoes I got are a full size larger than my 8.5 shoe size. I usually go a size larger whenever I buy new shoes, and I know that Nike has a reputation for making a snug shoe. As this is a long-range test, I will be curious to see how the The Terra Kigers feel on my feet over a multi-day trip.
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Balancing on a slick rock in my Terra Kiger 6 shoes |
The trip back to the car seemed effortless, and the downhill hike was quite perfect in terms of grade. The trail never felt too steep going downhill, and I got to see many of the gullies and waterfalls that I saw the night before. Lucy regained all her energy after her good night's rest. I met several trail runners going up to where I camped, and some were doing the loop over to the Pacific Crest Trail, and taking the connector back to Herman Creek. One thing that has to be mentioned in they age of COVID-19 is that 9 out of 10 hikers had a face covering ready to mask up when they came towards me. The hiking community is wonderfully thoughtful and respectful about trying to prevent the spread of the virus. I wore my mask as well!
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A bandana or a Buff is a good thing to wear when meeting other hikers on trail |
I hike again next weekend. Not sure where I am going, but I will be with my buddy Allgood for the adventure. Lucy, of course, will make the trip too. She is in training with me for a longer hike in August, so she will be seen again. Anyhow, more demands (high mileage and different terrain) will be placed on these Terra Kigers. On my next trip, I will get them wet, and see how long they take to dry out. Let's see how they respond!
Oh... here's a video from my hike this morning.
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