Freet Connect 4 – A waterproof hiker, but might not fit the bill

Affiliate Disclosure: By clicking through the links on this page and purchasing the products, you’ll be helping me out. This is done because I receive a kickback from the sellers at no extra cost to you! Thank you so much for supporting us!

The Freet Connect 4 is a water-resistant hiking shoe designed for those who need extra volume and a bit of weather protection on trails and urban settings.

This updated version brings waterproofing to the Freet lineup while maintaining the brand’s signature wide, deep fit—though not without some compromises.

So, is the Connect 4 the right hiking shoe for your barefoot adventures? Let’s dive into the details.

The Connect 4 follows Freet’s signature wide and deep fit philosophy, making it ideal for high-volume feet. Like the Feldom 2 and Calver, this shoe offers a spacious toe box with a squared-off big toe area and generous room in the little toe zone. The midfoot stays wider than most brands, and the heel continues that theme with both width and depth that rival other Freet models.

If you have a deep foot and struggle with volume in other shoes, the Connect 4 delivers. The midfoot offers plenty of space over the top of your foot, which can be a game-changer if you’ve felt squished in other brands like Vivobarefoot or Xero Shoes. However, this depth can work against you if you have a shallow or average-volume foot—you’ll find yourself cranking down the laces just to get a secure fit.

Sizing runs short, and I’d recommend going up a size from your usual Freet models. I typically wear an EU42 in the Feldom 2 and Calver with no issues, but the Connect 4 felt cramped at the same size. Next time, I’m going with an EU43, similar to how I size the Vibe 2. This shorter fit seems to be a quirk specific to the Connect 4, so keep that in mind when ordering.

The ankle cuff design proved problematic for my foot shape. The cuff rises sharply toward the heel, which caused rubbing on the back of my ankle bone. I tried longer socks, thicker insoles to raise my heel position, and various lacing techniques, but none completely solved the issue. The more I tightened the laces for a heel lock, the worse the rubbing became. It was a frustrating balance between achieving midfoot security and avoiding ankle irritation.

A lace lock is essential to get any kind of heel lockdown in these shoes. Without it, the deep heel cup and roomy fit will let your foot slide around. If you have a narrow heel, you might struggle to achieve a secure fit even with aggressive lacing. On the flip side, if you’ve battled shallow heels in shoes like some Altra models, the Connect 4’s depth could be exactly what you need.

If you have a shallow or narrow foot, look elsewhere. Xero Shoes and Vivobarefoot offer shallower options that will fit much better. The Connect 4 is purpose-built for wide, deep feet, and trying to make it work on a different foot shape will lead to disappointment.

The Connect 4 feels similar to the Feldom 2 underfoot but noticeably stiffer in the upper. The outsole uses the same 4mm lugs you’ll find on the Feldom 2, providing decent traction on muddy trails and firm surfaces alike. These lugs strike a nice balance—they’re deep enough to handle sloppy conditions without making the shoe feel overly chunky or disconnected from the ground.

Underfoot flexibility is good in the forefoot, but the heel and midfoot are considerably stiffer. This stiffness comes from the heavy-weight synthetic overlays that wrap around the sides and front of the foot for protection. The heel cup uses a thick, leather-like material (I believe it’s a durable synthetic, though the exact composition isn’t clear) that makes the heel area quite rigid. This construction choice pushes the Connect 4 firmly into the hiking/walking category and away from running territory.

The overlays serve a protective purpose, which is great for technical trails with sharp rocks and debris. However, they reduce the natural, flexible feel that makes other Freet models so appealing for running. If you’re looking for that barefoot flexibility throughout the entire shoe, the Feldom 2 will serve you better.

The water-resistant bootee lining works well for dog walking and damp conditions. I tested these on wet grass, light rain, and muddy park trails, and my feet stayed dry during moderate exposure. This is perfect if you’re walking the dog in dewy fields or hiking in drizzle. However, the trade-off is reduced breathability—your feet will get warmer and potentially sweaty in hot conditions. It’s the classic waterproof compromise: water can’t get in, but moisture and heat can’t escape easily either.

Personally, I prefer non-waterproof shoes and accept that I’ll get wet feet occasionally. I’d rather have wet feet than hot, sweaty feet trapped in a less breathable upper. But if you’re primarily using these for quick walks in damp conditions rather than all-day hikes in summer heat, the water resistance is a genuine benefit.

At 349 grams for a men’s US9, these are on the heavier side. The weight comes from those protective overlays and the waterproof lining, which both add grams. This further confirms that the Connect 4 is not a running shoe—it’s a casual, everyday hiking option designed for comfort and protection rather than speed and agility.

The heavy-weight overlays suggest good durability for the upper, but the lace loops are a major weak point. The overlays wrapping around the shoe should protect against scuffs, abrasions, and general trail abuse. The synthetic material appears robust and capable of handling rough terrain better than the lightweight mesh on models like the Vibe 2.

One of my fabric lace loops broke after just 20 kilometers, which is deeply disappointing. The lace loops are sewn into the upper with overlays on top, and they’re made from fabric rather than reinforced eyelets. When one broke, I had no option to repair it—unlike a broken lace, which you can simply replace. This design flaw means the shoe’s longevity could be compromised by a weak point that’s impossible to fix in the field.

This could be a manufacturing defect on my pair, but it raises concerns about the overall design. Traditional eyelets that laces thread through are far more durable, and even if something breaks, it’s usually the lace itself, which is cheap and easy to replace. With fabric loops integrated into the upper, you’re stuck with suboptimal lacing once one fails.

The outsole should hold up reasonably well, though it will wear faster on pavement. The 4mm lugs have decent surface area, which helps reduce wear when walking on concrete or asphalt. If you’re primarily on soft trails and dirt paths, you’ll see much longer life from the outsole. The rubber compound seems similar to other Freet models, which have proven durable in my experience.

The upper protection and waterproof bootee should contribute to longevity in wet conditions. Unlike some mesh uppers that can degrade when repeatedly soaked and dried, the Connect 4’s materials appear chosen with durability in wet environments in mind.

The Connect 4 occupies a specific niche in the Freet lineup: a water-resistant, protective hiking shoe for wide, deep feet.

If you need a hiking shoe with water resistance and have high-volume feet, the Connect 4 can work well. The wide toe box, spacious midfoot, and deep heel cup will accommodate feet that overflow in other brands. The water-resistant lining makes it ideal for dog walkers, casual hikers in damp climates, or anyone who encounters dewy grass and light rain regularly.

However, there are significant caveats. The ankle cuff rubbing issue could be a dealbreaker depending on your ankle shape. The broken lace loop after minimal use raises durability concerns that shouldn’t exist at this price point. And the stiffer upper means this isn’t a versatile do-it-all shoe like the Feldom 2.

For running, look at the Feldom 2 instead. It offers similar underfoot feel with much more flexibility in the upper, making it far better suited to the dynamic movements of running.

For deeper mud and aggressive trail conditions, the Calver 2 is the better choice. With 6mm lugs versus the Connect 4’s 4mm, it provides superior traction in truly sloppy conditions.

For shallow or narrow feet, skip the Freet entirely. You’ll never achieve a secure fit without excessive tightening. Look to Xero Shoes or Vivobarefoot for shallower options that won’t leave you swimming inside the shoe.

The Connect 4 is a decent option for a very specific use case, but the design flaws and limited versatility make it hard to recommend broadly. If Freet addresses these issues I had in a future version, this could be a solid addition to their lineup. For now, it’s a niche product that works well only if you perfectly match its intended user profile.