Hanwag Kaduro Light GTX hiking shoe review: “Soft and springy underfoot”

Comfort is one of the key reasons for choosing shoes over boots when hiking. Shoes offer the advantage of being lighter weight, which makes them less likely to tire your feet. They also tend to be more supple, making them less prone to producing blisters.

But where it’s difficult to add comfort is the sole. Make the sole soft and cushioned and, although it’ll make covering the miles a less sore experience, it risks lacking the underfoot protection on tougher terrain (think loose scree or pointy rocks) that a stiffer sole will provide.

So when the Kaduro popped up offering stability, cushioning and durability combined with light weight, comfort and energy return capability, we sat up and took notice. It’s easy to claim such multi-tasking characteristics but much harder to actually meld them together in a way that works.

Remember the shepherd's pie trifle from Friends? On paper, the layers of sponge fingers, jam, custard, raspberries, beef sautéed with peas and onions, bananas and whipped cream might appear to cater for all tastes.

In practice, it was described as tasting like feet. But when it comes to your feet Hanwag isn’t just offering promises, it’s providing details to back them up.

So, to see just how all these competing and contrasting attributes have been combined in one shoe, and to discover whether or not they actually work together, let’s take a closer look…

Bead technology

The midsole is where the magic happens, and the beads are the magicians. These little balls are made from E-TPU (Expanded Thermoplastic Polyurethane), a high-performance foam material known for its exceptional elasticity, durability and energy return (the beads absorb energy when feet contact the ground and return it as the foot lifts for extra ‘spring’).

In the midsole these beads are combined with PU (polyurethane) for stability, cushioning and durability. As well as offering a soft, springy feel underfoot, this PU/E-TPU mix is more resistant and retains performance longer than conventional cushioning materials – all of which has been verified by an independent test and research institute.

The end result ensures maximum support for the feet in rugged hiking terrain.

Grit and grip

Hanwag’s hard-wearing Kaduro outsole has been given a multifunctional design to provide grip on a range of different terrain and substrates.

But it’s also been developed to offer significant wear resistance, so that the 4mm lugs are capable of offering reliable traction mile after mile.

Light but tough

The minimalist Kaduro has been designed to be as light as possible without compromising durability. The upper is made from Cordura, microfibre, and a particularly abrasion-resistant and tearresistant polyester/polyurethane fabric.

When it came to ensuring an acceptable level of toughness, Hanwag deliberately rejected even more lightweight but less robust materials to ensure the Kaduro is capable of the long distance thru-hikes it’s been created for.

Bonded membrane

Waterproofing in shoes is something of a Marmite quality. There are plenty of hikers who feel that the low-cut of a shoe means water is bound to get in, and all a waterproof lining does is keep it in and slow the shoe drying out.

However, for those who like the additional protection of a waterproof membrane in their footwear, the Kaduro features a lightweight GORE-TEX Invisible Fit PFAS-free lining bonded directly to the upper of the shoe for additional wind and water resistance.

Made in Europe

In order to make the Kaduro as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible, Hanwag has tried to keep the production as local as possible.

As such, the components of the Kaduro are produced within a relatively local area of Europe spread across Germany, Italy and Croatia, minimising the transport of materials during the manufacturing process.

Trail verdict

We’ve yet to put them through thru-hike distances, but initial trials suggest these are as light, comfy and hikeable as they promise. Top tip – you might want to drop half a size.

Other recommended hiking shoes

Inov8 Roclite GTX £140

These trail shoes also make use of beads to boost ‘springiness’. With the Roclite, hundreds of foam beads are housed within the Boomerang footbed, adding 40% energy return during your stride (according to Inov8). In addition, the Powerflow Pro foam midsole contributes to a bouncy, cushioned feel that retains high levels of ground feel.

Find our Inov8 Roclite GTX review here.

Mammut Aenergy Ultra Low GTX £210

The Aenergy Ultra melds the swiftness of a trail running shoe with the durability of a hiking shoe. It’s clear that underfoot cushioning is an integral part of that offering – just look at the chunkiness of that sole! In combination with its rocker-shape for a smooth landing and easy toe-off, it’s a good choice for fast paced if relatively unchallenging hiking trails.

Find the Mammut Aenergy Ultra Low GTX here.

KEEN WK500 Leather £130

The KEEN.CURVE sole, which provides a constant curve from toe to heel for non-stop propulsion, has been around for a few years, and this leather hiker is its latest iteration. The high-rebound foam cushioning enhances comfort and movement when hiking and is wrapped underneath in a KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN rubber outsole for higher-traction grip.

These trail shoes also make use of beads to boost ‘springiness’. With the Roclite, hundreds of foam beads are housed within the Boomerang footbed, adding 40% energy return during your stride (according to Inov8). In addition, the Powerflow Pro foam midsole contributes to a bouncy, cushioned feel that retains high levels of ground feel.

Find the KEEN WK500 Leather here.

About the author

Ben has been with Trail for over 10 years and is our main point of contact for all gear reviews. As well as being a hugely talented writer and photographer, Ben is also a qualified Mountain Leader and Climbing Instructor.

Along with walking, scrambling and wild camping, he loves gnarly Scottish winter routes so is a master at putting cold weather kit through its paces.