Support and Stability
The lacing system and firm flex kept my feet securely in place in the shoe, but the cushioning in the EVA midsole reduced the shoes stability and security somewhat on uneven rocky ground. The arch support was good.  

Protection & Comfort
The Scree Shield has an extremely comfortable fit borrowed from Patagonia’s running shoes. The outsole has a low profile, and the cushy EVA midsole is constructed with protective TPU plates to thwart underfoot rocks. There’s a rubber toe bumper and a rubber rand runs all the way around the sole further protecting the foot. The ankle and tongue are lightly padded, adding to the overall comfort and protection.   

Construction and Design
The weight is kept low by using a running shoe design, suede uppers, and low profile outsoles with cutouts. The full rand protects the upper for the most part, but the suede is a little sensitive to scrapes from rocks. The lacing system is elaborate, but once I had it dialed it held my feet precisely. The fit is medium-high volume, so people with narrow feet might find the Scree Shield too wide.  

The tongue isn’t gusseted which saves a bit of weight, but some sand and dirt got in through the tongue when I was trudging through deep sand. Rain didn’t penetrate the uppers, and my feet stayed dry standing in water for 10 minutes, as long as the water didn’t get up as far as the tongue.  

Performance
Decidedly comfortable, especially on trails, the cushy sole kept the shoes from feeling perfectly confident on rugged, rocky ground although the grip was fine. That cushiness also detracted from stability when carrying heavier loads. But the shoes were very good for fast, light hiking.