Bestard Crosswave by Sergio Fernández Tolosa

With a modern and sporty design, but still with advanced technical features, the Crosswave is the new addition to our Advanced Hiking family. The Vibram Bruce sole with Megagrip provides a high level of safety and grip on complicated and steep sections, as well as comfort on easier trails. It is made of a resistant mesh and incorporates 360º TPU protection. The design of the shaft guarantees good ankle support, while also providing great freedom of movement. Below we share a review that Sergio Fernández Tolosa has published on his website: Con un par de ruedas

New Trails

Text and photos: Sergio Fernández Tolosa

We tested the new Bestard Crosswave, the most recent addition to the Mallorcan brand’s “Advanced Hiking” range, which has surprised everyone with a model with a truly striking aesthetic designed to devour kilometers.

They landed at home without a letter of introduction. Their attractive and groundbreaking appearance distracted us momentarily, until we put them on and discovered that they are boots with some sneaker characteristics that only want one thing: to go out and see the world, walk for hours and keep our feet dry and happy, no matter how long the walk.

First impressions

There is no denying that, whether you like them or not, they boast some really attractive shapes, very much in keeping with the concept that the designers at Bestard were looking for: a sporty, youthful shoe with some of the characteristics of a trail shoe, but with the stability and protection of a light hiking boot that comes equipped with the Gore-Tex Most Breathable membrane.

Once in your hands, if we take into account that it is a waterproof mid-cut shoe, the Crosswave is surprising for its lightness. In size 47 EUR, the scales indicate 560 grams per foot (Ortholite insole and laces included).

When checking the firmness and torsion capacity of the sole, in the rear and middle thirds the consistency is absolute. It is impossible to bend them, neither in width, nor length, nor diagonally. They only flex along the line of the metatarsals, in the front third, where they also flex longitudinally.

On the upper part, in addition to the perfection of the finishes – something to which Bestard has already accustomed us – the protection of the toe stands out, followed by the dense but flexible mesh fabric of the soft areas, which promises softness and comfort, while lightening our feet and allowing faster drying.

High-profile midsole?

An aspect that does not exactly go unnoticed in the Crosswave is the large layer of EVA that is on the sole and that gives them their characteristic aesthetic of a sneaker with a high profile.. Therefore, we are not going to rest our foot on all that material. In reality, this lateral profile is a very intelligent solution that translates into greater stability: it keeps the heel closer to the ground while reinforcing the sides.

Vibram sole with Megagrip

There are four aspects to highlight about the Vibram Bruce sole that largely define the performance of the Crosswave:

1) The Mega Grip compound makes it more adherent, both on dry and wet terrain, although it feels hard to the touch, which suggests good durability.

2) The profile of the studs is not very prominent, especially in the inner area, where it also leaves relatively wide hollow spaces.

3) It is eminently flat and lacks division between the heel and the forefoot, which suggests easy and dynamic walking on slightly rough terrain.

4) At the back of the heel, the sole is cut out, perhaps to facilitate the phase of contact with the ground (we will try to assess its usefulness once on the ground).

On the ground

After two hours of intense rain, the sun came out and half an hour later I was already testing them on my usual trail circuit. Thanks to the combination of rain and sunshine, in just 2 hours of walking I was going to find all the possible conditions and surfaces.
Once on the road, they invite you to advance at a good pace. They feel stable and cushioned in the rear, while in the forefoot area they transmit the nature of the terrain very well, which on more irregular surfaces will help to read it on more.

Paths and trails

When reaching the first demanding trail and facing steps of irregular size uphill, the walking character of the Crosswave becomes more evident. They feel light – considering that they are boots – and the easy flex in the metatarsal area is reminiscent of that usual in a shoe. This characteristic provides comfort, but also indicates what use and terrain they are designed for.

The importance of lacing

After two weeks of intensive use, the comfort of the Crosswave has been beyond all doubt. Even more so when little by little I have been fine-tuning the lacing system. This maneuver can take some time but it is worth adjusting it to ensure perfect support, whether by passing the lace over the top in certain eyelets, under others; lacing over or under the hooks on the mid-shaft, etc.

Conclusions

The Bestard Crosswave combines some of the advantages of a shoe with the control of a light boot, which translates into comfort for the foot and a very stable step.
The EVA midsole is high density, it does not deform. It appears to be high profile, but what you see on the outside is actually the sidewall. The foot rests lower, improving stability and control.

Sergio Fernández Tolosa