Teva have put a lot of quality into the Arrowood Mid (hence the 'Lux' tag) with super-soft full-grain leather, chunky metal lace loops and great-looking colour and design. But they lose half a point for adding a proprietary waterproof membrane which is arguably unnecessary in this kind of shoe. As comfortable as slippers, straight out of the box, they will appeal to those they're aimed at - the everyman adventurer and the weekend warrior.
The softness of the leather can't be overstated - you really can forget you're wearing these shoes. And it adds to the overall feeling of lightness, which is anchored in the 'Floatlite' midsole and outsole, adding to the incredible comfort factor as well as the featherweight feel.
However, as seasoned hikers will know, instant comfort and lightness aren't generally conducive to a serious, supportive hiking boot. Neither is a featureless outsole - if tread patterns are judged on aggressiveness, then the Arrowood is a pacifist. The rubber gives better traction than expected, but it's difficult to have much confidence on anything more technical than a well-maintained easy trail.
But in fairness, Teva have summed-up the intended use of the Arrowood in the phrase mentioned above; "adventure-seeking sneakers." For those in need of an everyday shoe which is capable of an impromptu trail-hit (and that's most of us, right?) the Arrowood is a comfortable, quality and stylish option. Just don't push it too hard.
