Astral  TR1 Mesh 2.0 Shoes

I absolutely love my Astral TR1 Mesh 2.0! From the first hike to everyday errands, these shoes have quickly become my go-to for comfort and versatility. The breathable mesh keeps my feet cool and dry, even after splashing through streams or sweating on a long trail. I appreciate the wide toe box and zero-drop design—they feel natural and stable, whether I’m scrambling over rocks or walking around town. Plus, the grippy outsole gives me confidence on slippery surfaces.

I tested the TR1 Mesh 2.0 on a 45-mile Paria Canyon trek through the Vermilion Cliffs in Utah/Arizona. Constant river crossings, desert heat, and challenging terrain. Here’s what actually happened. The lightweight design felt good, and I appreciated the wide toe box giving my toes room to spread naturally over long days. The shoes drained well when I stepped out of water crossings, and grip on wet sandstone was solid enough. Here’s where reality differed from the marketing. These shoes never dried out. Not during the day, not overnight in the desert. They drained excess water, sure, but the material stayed saturated. By late afternoon each day, they felt like they weighed five pounds each instead of the advertised 10.7 ounces. The mesh is both a strength and a weakness. It’s breathable and did better than I expected at blocking sand initially, though sand still worked its way in and accumulated throughout the day. But cactus needles went right through. Sticks poked through. If you’re in terrain with sharp debris, your feet are exposed. The shoe runs slightly small. I had room for inserts, but my custom arch supports curled up because of the tight fit. Had to switch to standard retail inserts instead. Would I wear them again? Yes. They’re comfortable and handled the technical demands well enough. Just know what you’re getting - these prioritize lightweight breathability over protection and quick drying. Set your expectations accordingly and they’ll serve you well.

The TR1 Mesh 2.0 trail shoes are high performance, incredibly versatile shoes. I've worn them on technical terrain, through streams and as an everyday shoe that matches my neutral aesthetic very well. I'm astounded at how quickly they dry and how comfortable I am hiking in them just after wading through a stream. The wide toe box, breathable mesh, and soft, supportive midsole are very comfortable too. They excel across diverse terrain and conditions while respecting both my feet and the environment (recycled materials)!

I have been a TR1 fan for years and right out of the box these had the familiarity of the touch of an old lover... that has gotten hotter with time. These feel like they are the old version with elevated quality of construction and materials. They feel lighter, and have an excellent cushy midsole and have a cleaner toebox where the laces keep a smooth look across the top. The ankle collar cradles your foot to keep it in place. It is just as breathable as the last one but seems more substantial. This shoe still likes to party on the trail like old times, but you'll need a corkscrew with the 2.0, because its no longer screw top.

I ordered two Astral models, the Tri-Mesh 2.0 and Techyak. Kept the Techyak, returned the Tri-Mesh. Although I liked the look of the Tri-Mesh and most of the design features, the shoe has one substantial design flaw that many barefoot hikers like myself will not like: the cup-shape of the molded sole has a raised ridge on the instep that bulges up into the arch of the foot (contrary to the "level footbed" advertised by Astral). Hikers with high arches might not notice this, but those with flatter feet are likely to find this uncomfortable (if not painful) and contrary to a "level footbed" feel. I have the same issue with the Techyak insert (which also has an arch bulge), but with that model I can just toss out the Astral inserts and use flat Spenco inserts instead.

Bought these for hiking and canyoneering in Costa Rica. Held up to everything including hiking on sharp lava rock, rappelling waterfalls m, and riding a horse in the ocean. Comfy. I bought them along with the original mesh model to compare size and construction. The new model is roomier and the mesh is much more substantial. I ended up keeping the new model for substantially more $$.

Well made, light weight, good cushioning, nice laminations at the toe and heel, thin sock liner but well contoured, nicely cushioned tongue, lain system holds the shoe on your door, drainage is very good, drain holes at the toe are very good. THE SHOE IS WAY TOO NARROW. THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WITH SKINNY FEET. THE TOE BOX IS INDEED SQUARE BUT PROVIDES VERY LITTLE ROOM BECUSE THE ENTIRE SHOE IS VERY NARROW. CAN ONLY BE WORN BAREFOOT --- NO CHANCE OF HAVING A NEOPRENE SOX.

Bought these shoes last year after weeks of looking for hiking shoes with modest padding/arch support due to toe issues. Got great wear out of them for the first 6 months. They were my hiking shoe in SE Asia and were the perfect weight carrying around while backpacking. They got pretty dirty and ended up being super easy to clean despite getting them in a light blue color. They do hang on to smell though due to the mesh. Definitely wouldn’t recommend if you’re looking for something to wear often that will last more than a year. The traction has worn down significantly after a year of wearing them maybe once a week. The fabric near the laces also wore out quickly and ended up ripping.

These have become my go-to trail runners! I had the 1.0s, which became my travel shoe of choice, due to their ability to dress up or down, go for a run and get wet. But for some reason I didn't run too much in them. These 2.0s have more support and just feel like more beefy trail runners under foot. Plus the looks got better. Not sure why, they just look better. I pretty much only run in these and my Topos now. These have better grip, especially in muddy conditions and they allow me to feel the ground better...which also means less rolled ankles. So I got that going for me...which is nice!

Great quality hiking shoes! They are very durable with great traction! Most hiking shoes are heavy and these are lightweight and very comfortable. Highly recommend!