Club Benefits
A wise man once shouted, "What are thooooose?" while pointing at another man's shoes. That Vine went on to become one of the best memes of all time, to the extent that Shuri says the same to T'Challa in the 2018 Black Panther movie. My partner said more or less the same thing when she saw me wearing the Columbia Tellurix Titanium.
"What are those?" indeed, because one of my colleagues looked at the shoes around my feet and said plainly, "These really kill your vibe." The vibe in question being a black t-shirt and dark brown cargos — and to an extent, I agree. The shoes come in a few different colors, but I tested what I believe is the worst color of the bunch. But then again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and what's pretty to you might not necessarily be pretty to me.
But performance-wise, the Tellurix Titanium is excellent. I've been wearing them for a week, and my first impressions are a mixed bag of the good and the bad. Naturally, my feelings might change the more I wear them before publishing my in-depth review. For now, here's what I think of the Tellurix Titanium after a week of wear.
Comfort is king
I love going on walks and exploring the outdoors — it's something I crave and try to do as much as possible, given that I have a sedentary job. The Columbia Tellurix Titanium feels like the perfect shoes for every weather and condition, as has been proven to me in the short time I've been testing them. I've worn them to work and have never felt any discomfort, and walking on concrete paths around the city has never felt better.
The Tellurix Titanium provides great traction in mud, too, thanks to the Vibram Megagrip outsole. The multi-directional lugs have helped me get a solid grip on muddy and concrete surfaces alike, and what's even better is that I haven't seen mud get stuck between them yet — it saves me from cleaning them before I enter my apartment.
Given that I live in the U.K., where it rains a lot, I need a pair of shoes that can keep me steady even on the wettest ground — and the Tellurix Titanium do just that. While they aren't Gore-Tex waterproof, they utilize Columbia's OutDry technology, which feels extremely waterproof and breathable. I've stepped in deep puddles and walked through a stream so far, and my feet have remained bone-dry. Nothing worse than soggy socks, am I right?
I like 'em chunky
I love how chunky the Columbia Tellurix Titanium's soles are, and they might be my favorite part of the shoes so far. So utterly comfortable and delightful. The soles utilize Columbia's Omni-MAX adaptive cushioning, which combines the midsole and outsole components to improve cushioning and comfort. According to the brand, it's meant to reduce and even negate fatigue on long walks and hikes.
And it works. Omni-MAX cushioning bends more naturally with your foot when you're walking, so stiffness is drastically reduced. All of that sounds great on paper, and it's even better in practice. My feet haven't suffered any discomfort, blisters, or sores yet — of course, that might change when I go on a hike I have planned in a couple of weeks. So far, so good, though.
But there's one important thing to note about the Tellurix Titanium. The shoes have a narrow fit and are best suited to those with narrow feet. I have narrow feet, but they aren't that narrow — and when I first put the shoes on, I took a couple of days to adjust to the fit. Call it a break-in period, if you will, which I didn't have to go through with my trusty Keen Zionic NXT Mid. I will caveat this by saying that this might be a "me problem" and may not apply to you — just a word of caution.
Don't judge a book by its cover
The more I sink my teeth into my role as a reviews writer, the more I'm convinced that first impressions aren't always everything. Sure, it's important to make a solid first impression, but should you bank your entire verdict on them? I don't think. I'll be the first to admit that I judged the Columbia Tellurix Titanium based on their looks as soon as I took them out of their box — and surely you can see why, right?
Perhaps not. You see, the Tellurix Titanium for women comes in four different colors: Cloud Gray/Charcoal, Black/Sea Ice, Poppy Red/Black, and Ti Gray Steel/Marine Light. I really, really wanted the shoes in Black/Sea Ice because on the website, they look very cool. But as luck would have it, I'm testing the Ti Gray Steel/Marine Light model, which utilizes a light shade of gray for the body with teal accents — and those teal accents aren't subtle.
One of my colleagues described the design accurately: "You look like you stepped in a puddle of teal paint and it left a perfect mark." I don't think the Tellurix Titanium are the ugliest shoes I've tested, but they aren't the prettiest either. But given how comfortable they are, as you read earlier, I can make my peace with the design.
Looking ahead...
A week into wearing the Columbia Tellurix Titanium, and I'm enjoying them so far. Sure, the gray and teal design isn't my cup of tea, but I feel like I'm coming around to it, and I can see myself liking them in the future — perhaps by the time I publish my full review.
Given how comfortable I've been finding the Tellurix Titanium, the design is something I'm willing to trade. While the shoes are mighty comfortable, they do present a rather narrow fit, which may not suit everyone's feet. When I'm done walking 50 miles in them, it'll be interesting to see if the Tellurix Titanium replace my Keen boots forever. Stay tuned!
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