Written by: Courtney (@courtney.ledden)
I didn’t know much about Garmont before this, but after putting their 9.81 Etere through a proper test, I have become a big fan!
I took them out into the Canadian Rockies during shoulder season, which is honestly the best way to figure out if a shoe can handle real conditions. The trails were a mix of everything—mud, lingering snow, dry sections, and a decent amount of rock and slab. Both hikes had a good amount of elevation gain with steep sections, so I was able to truly test both traction and how they handled the descent (you know, the fun test of how badly will my toes smash the front of my shoe). On top of that, I added extra mileage with dog walks on city trails to get a better overall feel.
I picked the Etere because I wanted something lightweight that didn’t feel like I was giving anything up in terms of grip or stability. A lot of shoes claim that balance, but it doesn’t always hold up once you’re actually out there. I needed something capable of the job and these appeared to have an outsole that looked like it could handle mixed conditions. Grip was the big draw!
About Garmont
This was my first introduction to Garmont, and it left a strong impression.
There’s a clear influence from their Italian mountain roots—everything feels intentional, from the way the shoe fits to how it moves with you. They’ve built a reputation around technical alpine footwear, and even in something lighter like this, you can see where that comes through. There’s a focus on anatomical design and natural movement that I noticed right away.
They still feel a bit under the radar here in Canada, but based on this experience, that probably won’t last.
Fit & Feel
Right out of the box, the fit was dialed. The site recommends sizing down half a size—I did, and it was exactly right.
No break-in period, no hot spots, nothing to think about. Just put them on and go.
The heel lock system stood out right away. It keeps your foot secure without that overly tight, locked-in feeling, which made a noticeable difference on descents. I’ll admit, when I first looked at them, I thought they might be a bit narrow, but that didn’t translate once I had them on. There was enough room where I needed it, and even after longer hikes, my feet felt good—no irritation, no pressure points, and my bunion wasn’t complaining, which is always my benchmark.
On uneven terrain, they felt stable and predictable—whether I was climbing, descending, or moving across rock.
Performance
I have to say, spring time in the mountains is an unforgiving time to test footwear. There were many tests, and the Etere passed them all!
One of the hikes had multiple sections where the trail cut across slabs, and with the moisture, I was fully expecting at least a few slips. But the grip held—really well. The only place I had any issues was in deeper mud, which is pretty unavoidable no matter what you’re wearing.
They strike a nice balance underfoot. There’s enough structure to feel stable on uneven terrain—steep climbs, loose rock, slab—but they still move naturally. They don’t feel stiff or overbuilt, which makes them easy to wear for longer days.
Breathability was solid too. Conditions were all over the place, and my feet never felt overheated.
Construction Details
The upper feels lightweight but durable enough to handle rocky terrain without feeling overbuilt. They are very well crafted and I expect them to be a part of my rotation for a long time to come!
Underfoot, the midsole has a nice responsiveness—not overly soft, but not harsh either. It sits in a middle ground that works well across mixed conditions.
The outsole is clearly designed for grip, and that showed up right away on both rock and loose trail. The VIBRAM® LITEBASE sole was impressive!
Compared to a traditional hiking boot, this is noticeably lighter and more agile. It leans closer to a trail runner in feel, but with more structure and confidence underfoot.
This feels like one of those shoes you keep by the door and grab without thinking.
It’s a great option for someone looking for a lightweight hiking shoe for summer and shoulder season—something that holds up when the terrain gets more demanding but still feels easy to wear.
It sits right in that middle ground: more capable than a typical trail runner, but without the weight and bulk of a traditional hiking boot.
This was my first experience with Garmont, and it definitely made me want to try more of what they have to offer!
