| Editor’s Note: The Forclaz 500 High has been renamed by Decathlon as Forclaz Trek 100. The Forclaz 100 High has been renamed as Quechua NH300.
When my old trekking shoe split wide open at the sole a few days before a Himalayan trek I was mighty worried. The last thing I wanted was to get on a Himalayan trek on new trekking shoes.
When Seersha from our content team heard that I was looking for new trekking shoes, she immediately wanted a review on it.
There were plenty of shoes to choose from. I liked the looks of Wildcraft’s Amphibia range. Power from Bata had some good trekking shoes though they were better suited for lower altitude simpler trails.
My job requires me to go on rough Himalayan treks. I needed a shoe that could take the grind of tough descents, moraines, possible stream crossings and snow. It also had to be long lasting and durable.
While there were some good shoes in the market, my final choices were down to Quechua’s Forclaz 100 High and the Forclaz 500 High. I definitely did not want to import any shoe. I had not seen any functional difference between an imported shoe and the ones available with Decathlon’s Quechua.
I decided to give them a run down at the nearby Decathlon store. Both shoes felt comfortable when I wore them. Both had good grooves, though the Forclaz 500 had modern ‘Y’ studs on its groove, which Quechua called the Crosscontact sole. Both had similar locking mechanisms, with punched eyelets right up to the curve of the ankles, with the final two ending in hook eyelets. The hook eyelets were a superb addition. It made tying a lace so much faster. I did not notice these hooks in shoes of other brands.
The Forclaz 100 looked breathable and porous. In a hiking shoe that’s something you want. Long walks make your feet sweat. You want your shoes to stay dry and non smelly. The Forclaz 500 looked wrapped up and closed. That bothered me a bit.
For the upcoming Himalayan trek I was going to do couple of stream crossings. I wanted a shoe that could momentarily keep the wetness out. The last thing I wanted on a trek was a wet shoes and feet. Wet shoes on long walks produce heat that causes blisters. Worse, they feel squishy and uncomfortable. Considering that I would get snow too, I opted for the Forclaz 500 High.
The Forclaz 500 High gave me better cover from moisture. It also meant that the extra water resistance could make the shoe less breathable and stinky. With a slight apprehension at the back of my mind, I decided to see how the Forclaz 500 High performed in real mountain settings.
I gave myself a week to get used to the shoe. The first day the shoe felt odd like a boot. I almost missed a step getting down stairs. The second day onwards the shoe grew on me. By the time I left for the trek, the shoe was a part of my body.
Performance of Forclaz 500 High
In slush
Starting out, I had to wade through some slush — that effectively took care of the lovely shine on the new shoes! While I hated the brown mud on the grey skin, I didn’t notice any dampness that a prolonged exposure to slush can bring. The Forclaz 500 High was already earning points.
While crossing streams
On the second day we had to hop over streams. I made it a point to linger longer during the crossings. At times the shoes dipped to its laces in water. Inside I was bone dry. I was beginning to really like the shoe.
On hard snow
The shoe went through its toughest trial the day we had to cross a pass at 16,000 feet. First, we had to get on snow that had become hard. I was staring down an incline. The traverse was looking tricky but the grips held firm. I was off the incline in minutes. My confidence in the shoe grew.
Through hours and hours of moraines
Then for the next 6 hours the pounding on the shoe began. Descending down moraines where it is nothing but rocks is hard on any shoe. On this trek it was rougher than usual. I remember thinking to myself that I was probably taking the life out of the shoe on its very first trek. Hour after hour the shoe took knocks on stones, gravel and rocks. It had its skin scratched, its sole scrapped and its seams stretched every minute of the descent.
What about odour at the end of the trek?
When I finally got to camp, I was sore from the descent. We had been trekking for 11 hours. I took off my shoe, expecting a whiff of bad smell to hit me. I didn’t get any. The shoe smelled as fresh as a daisy. I looked for damages. Baring a few surface scratches and the dust the shoe didn’t look any worse off. I was totally in love with the shoe!
The verdict
The Forclaz 500 High feels very comfortable inside out. The padding is superb. Even after a 6 hour pounding on rough moraines, my feet felt tired but not sore. The shoe didn’t sweat even after an 11 hour trek. With its lovely water resistance I had the confidence to take it out on treks with more snow. The outer leather and synthetics felt tough and durable.
The Forclaz 500 High is light, weighing about half a kilogram. The shoe does not feel heavy on the feet, which is a blessing when you are on high altitude treks.
All in all, the Forclaz 500 High is a great shoe for high altitude trekking. The steep Rs 6,000 for the shoe is something that bothers me, but its performance on rough terrain, water and snow is as good as any mountain shoe that I have worn. I loved its orange and grey colours as well. It made the shoe look good and stand out.
I give the Forclaz 500 High good ratings, easily a 4.5 out of 5. For our upcoming treks like the Kedarkantha, Deoriatal or even the summer treks like Roopkund or Rupin Pass, the Forclaz 500 High is ideal.
The Forclaz 500 has recently been renamed as the Trek 100.
Great article, very informative.
Btw how’s forclaz 100 high for high altitude treks like Kedarkantha and Deoriatal in late December?
Also how’s forclaz 100 as compared to forclaz 500?
Hi Arjun, I would appreciate if you can also review the forclaz 500 warm. it lot cheaper than high…has a similar look and feel with cross contact sole…is 8000 step water protected…I think the only worry point for the shoe will be the heat it generates as it is meant for cold weather.
Thanks in advance
They have all the Hiking Products @Decathlon
They have opened a New Decathlon Store @OMR Padur, Chennai.
For Further Details Contact – 08939796181 – 8am to 10pm
Also, could you please review the Forclaz 600?
On the website it says “Full Grain Leather” top. But down below on the specfications part, they say nubuck and synthetic leather upper. It looks like synthetic leather.
Thanks a ton for the review on the 500.
Is this shoe (Forclaz 500) suitable for women trekkers too?
Hello Anita, Yes they are. These shoes are gender neutral so look for comfort. Make sure they are a size bigger for you to be able to fit your feet in wearing thick woolen socks.
My Forclaz 500, which are probably a little older (I had bought them in 2013), have a different type of sole pattern though. However, I am fine with the grip and agree with most of what you say about the shoes. I would only disagree on the import vs Quechua sentence in the review. Two points here – A. Quechua is not an Indian brand. They are also imported. B. I guess by “import“ you meant the more expensive and top of the line international brand names. I guess Goretex makes a lot of difference in terms of functionality (though it can also make the boots a bit warm which may not be suitable at the lower levels). Also we pay for the millions of dollars of investment that go into their research on new technology that help them come up with new innovative solutions. Affordability is a different issue.
hi arjun
thanks for your wonderful article. For 3 day Beas Kund trek, which would you recommend – Forclaz 100 or Forclaz 500
Hi Ranjit, the Forclaz 100 High should be good enough for it.
Hi Is forclaz 500 breathable..?
I want to treak in medium cold places like nilgiries..munnar etc..
Hi Vishnu, yes they are breathable
Hello
This will be the first trekking shoe for me and I am going on a 5D trek in spiti Valley. Can you please suggest if I should go for the 100 or 500
You could go for the Forclaz 100.
Hi,
the Decathlon site describes the Forclaz 500 as ideal for ‘long treks on vehicle suitable roads’ and the Forclaz 100 as a ‘perfect companion for exploring alpine passes’. I’m confused. Which one should I choose for a 8 day trek in Ladhak in late August?
Hi Priya don’t go by the description. Both these shoes are tried and tested by our trekkers – either of them will suit your trek in Ladakh.
Ok. Thanks. I went to Decathlon today to try them out. Both are comfortable, but the 100 felt lighter on the feet and my pocket! The guy there was pushing the 500 model hard though, saying it is more suitable for the Ladakhi terrain given its tread patterns. Which one would you suggest I go for?
Hi,
My friends and I have registered for the October 14th Kuari Pass trek. Would the Forclaz 100 High be sufficient? If not, what other options do I have?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Daksh
Forclaz 100 will be good enough for Kuari Pass. It will last you atleast 8 – 10 treks if you maintain them well. Try keeping them packed away in a plastic bag away from natural elements when you aren’t using them.
Are these boots only availed in India? And which would be best for Annapurna providing I can find where to buy them. I’m in Australia.
Should say available!
Hi…
Do you have any review on Forclaz 600 please.
We haven’t yet reviewed this particular shoe. There are lots of user reviews on the Decathlon website that you can check out. We’ll try and review it soon.
Hi,
I am going to Kashmir Great Lakes trek next week and I am planning to buy new hiking shoes. I have short listed below two shoes (links).
1. Quechua-arpenaz-100-mid
2. Quechua-forclaz-500
https://www.decathlon.in/p/8343087_quechua-arpenaz-100-mid-impermeable-men-s-hiking-boots.html#/4914-272-uk_5_5_eu_39
https://www.decathlon.in/p/8319097_quechua-forclaz-500-men-s-high-waterproof-hiking-shoes.html#/4914-272-uk_5_5_eu_39
I am looking to buy a shoe that can be use in all weather conditions and treks.
Could you please help me to select the best option out of two or suggest anything else?
I appreciate quick reply because I have to shop in next 2-3 days.
Hi Arpit, Forclaz 500 High is a very good pair of shoes. But Arpenaz 100 will also easily last you a good 4-5 high altitude treks with good maintenance. So you can go for Arpenaz – it would be the more cost-effective choice.
Thanks Swathi, Are both good for all weather conditions(hot and cold) and treks(High as well as low).
Hi Arpit, they are. We have used them in peak summer in south India and they have fared decently. You can use them on non-Himalayan treks too!
Hey swathi
Is Forclaz 100 good for goechala trek since its very light on pocket compared to forclaz 500. Both seems to be equally good and waterproof.
Pls suggest
Thanks
Hi Mikhil, I myself have been using these shoes for the past three years. Done Rupin Pass, Deoriatal, KK, Bedni Bugyal with them. They will do well at Goechala as well! Go for then!
Are these Forclaz 500 high (now called as Trek 100) good for Kuari pass trek or Chandrashila trek in Oct first week considering day temperature would be approx 20℃.
Yes Hemant they would be good shoes for Kuari Pass and Deoriatal and most other treks actually. We have used them on summer treks in South India as well and they fare pretty well!
Hello team
Very detailed review, thanks for that. I am going on the “Bagini glacier – Changbang basecamp” trek which is for 8 days. Which shoe would you recommend for that? Quechua-arpenaz-100 -mid
or Quechua-forclaz-500?
Are there any other good options besides Quechua in India? Thanks in advance
Hi Satish, the Arpenaz 100 mid should be more than enough for this trek. If you’re looking for other brands, you could try Wildcraft, Action shoes, Hi-Tech, Adidas, etc. There is no dearth of trekking shoes these days!
Hey Swathi,
Going on a Trip to Leh/Ladhak (5-7 Days + future trips) and keen to know which shoe is the better option.
Quechua FORCLAZ 100 – Not heavy to Pocket but I am not sure how is the grip as it has different sole structure if we compare it with Quechua FORCLAZ 500.
Quechua FORCLAZ 500 – Cost if more than double to what I was looking to invest but grip seems better than FORCLAZ 100.
Can you suggest me which one will suffice the purpose? A which one has better Grip? It should be based on how was your actual experience with both shoe model.
Appreciate your feedback.
Hi Shoeb
Swathi owns a Forclaz 100 herself and it has lasted her a good 6 Himalayan treks and countless local treks. I think you can avoid spending double on Forclaz 500 since the grip is pretty much the same.
Thank you, Karishma!
This is a great help. 🙂
Dear Swathi,
I am doing my first trek this december in snow in kedarkantha. So I am confused on which shoe to buy. I want to do Roopkund next year and would be doing many treks in coming years . So is Forclaz 500 a good choice or should I think long term and buy Forclaz 600.
Hi Rahul
The Forclaz 500 will be good enough and will last you long as well.
I trek Darwa Top last year and Kheer Ganga this year ,walked 5 to 6 hrs every day on Ice, Morain, clay and my feet didn’t complain at all nor I skid on uphill or downhill. Very nice shoe. Before buying I was sceptic but now I am fully satisfied.
I am planning to go for Bramhatal Trek at the end of December. Will Forclaz 100 shoes be enough for this or Forclaz 500 is necessary? Are there any other alternatives that I can look at for this trek?
Hi Suvechhya, Forclaz 100 will be just fine for the trek!
Hi IH Team,
Im heading to Hampta Pass this October. and planning to do Rupin, Roopkund and Buran Ghati in the next 3 years… Just wanted your help to decide if I should go for the 4k Forclaz 100.. or should i invest in the 6k Forclaz 500… I just cant seem to decide. Would be great if you can point me in the right direction.
Cheers,
Hey Prateek, Forclaz 600 has better ankle support, is more water resistant and definitely performs better than the Forclazz 100. But I’d suggest you make this decision based on what kind of treks you will be going on. If you will be trekking in deep snow then I’d suggest you go for Forclaz 600. If not, you can go for the Forclaz 100 which will perform well on the treks you’ve mentioned.
Hi there,
I’m off to tackle the Everest Base Camp in a month’s time. It’s a 13 day trek, and I need to buy a good pair of boots. How would the Forclaz 500 compare with the Wildcraft Amphibia or even the Trek 100? Are there any other boots you might recommend?
A cost effective option would be ideal but it’s not a priority.
Hello Dhruv, you can go ahead with Forclaz 500. Those should work for you.
HI karishma and swathi,
through all the comments of urs..
I hope it is enough to hav a forclaz 100 for moderate treks right? I ws having a 500 before which is stolen.. it ws just awasm.. now I m thinking of 100 for some of coming easy – mod treks like.. winter kuari pass, chopta chandrashila, indrahar pass, Hampta pass.. Is it OK?
Hello Sounabha
You can go ahead with Forclaz 100 🙂
Hey guys, I will be buying a trekking shoe that i want to use for all weather conditions. Could you suggest whether I should buy the forclaz 600 or the forclaz 500 high? Is the 600 better than the 500 and worth the extra money?
Hello Aditya
Not really, if you feel you can afford to buy the 500 then go for it. Or I’d suggest you could do with just Forclaz 100 which I suppose is cheaper.
Is it (forclaz-500/Trek-100) good enough for Sandakphu Trek in December? I am also planning to use the same pair of shoes in my Goeche la trip (in mid 2018). Or is there any better shoe under INR 6K?
Thanks in advance.
Hello, yes Forclaz-500 or even 100 will be good for your trek to Sandakphu and later to Goechala too.
I’m doing the Brahmatal trek on 27th December this year. Will I be needing a waterproof shoe for this? Which shoe would you suggest?
Hi Mrunmayee, I’d suggest you go for a water resistant shoe and not just a waterproof shoe. Something like the Forclaz 100 high will be good. You can also rent shoes form us for the Brahmatal trek!
Hi, I would be going on nag tibba trek. Which shoes would you recommend as this is my first trek.
Hi Neha,
We recommend the Forclaz or Arpenaz series by Quechua or Amphibia series by Wildcraft. Make sure you buy a pair of shoes that have ankle support.
Hi,
How does SH-500 perform in kedarkantha?
Can they be used for the trekking in & around Ladakh?
Also, do they perform in lower altitude treks?
Hi Jatin,
If these are the shoes you are considering, they will be good to use on the Kedarkantha trek and in Ladakh. However, if you want to wear them, say, on a trek in the Wester Ghats, you’ll find them too warm.
Hi…
I am planning to buy Forclaz 100 as these are available just at 2k in sale… At decathlon… My normal feet size is 43 …. Shall I go for 44 size??
Hi Abhinav,
You should ideally go for a pair of shoes that is one size bigger. However, please try out size 43 as well – if there is around 2 fingers width of gap between your big toe and the inside front portion of the shoe when you wear it, then that size should be fine.
Thanks… A lot… Sneha
You people are just awesome…. Will try to explore some treks with India Hikes in future
which shoe will be best for kalindi khal trek(12 days walk), expecting wet ground, rock/boulder/moraine, soft snow, hard snow and ice?
Hi Aniruddha,
The Forclaz 500 will be good for Kalindi Khal.
thanks Sneha, is ‘trek 100’ the new name of ‘forclaz 500’?
Hi Aniruddha,
Yes, Forclaz 500 has been renamed as trek 100.
Omg! The decathlon website has so many 100s’!! Can someone please help and tell me which one is which for a female. Forclaz 100 high woman’s waterproof hiking shoes, FORCLAZ 100 HIGH WOMEN’S WATERPROOF MOUNTAIN HIKING BOOTS, TREKKING 100 WATERPROOF WOMAN’S SHOE, WOMEN’S TREK 100 TREKKING SHOES Quechua…. Aargh!
I mean which is the forclaz 100 mentioned in the blog article and which is a reasonable one to buy for rupin pass.?
Hi Shriti,
The Forclaz 100 in this article is a pair of men’s trekking shoes. You can go with this pair for Rupin Pass.
OK. There is Forclaz 100 for women that I assumed corresponded with the Forclaz 100 mentioned here. And that’s waaaaay cheaper in the trek 100, given the discount offered. But that’s not exactly suitable, is it? This one: https://m.decathlon.in/p/8338956_quechua-forclaz-100-women-s-waterproof-hiking-boots.html
And as lame as it sounds, it’s pink!
Hi Shriti,
These shoes are also fine 🙂
hi, am planing to go for rupin pass, which one is best for this trek
https://www.decathlon.in/p/8319097_quechua-forclaz-500-men-s-high-waterproof-hiking-shoes.html#/4914-272-uk_5_5_eu_39
https://www.decathlon.in/p/8369974_forclaz-100-mid-waterproof-men-s-hiking-boots-grey-orange.html#/4914-272-uk_5_5_eu_39
Hi,
This will be a better option –
https://www.decathlon.in/p/8369974_forclaz-100-mid-waterproof-men-s-hiking-boots-grey-orange.html#/4914-272-uk_5_5_eu_39
Hi Team,
I am going for Kedarkantha trek coming weekend. Please suggest me the better option. It should be light weight and it should withstand snow
Hi
I have booked rupin pass in may second week.I have already forclaz 100
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/forclaz-100-high-mens-waterproof-walking-boots-brown-id_8287389.html#layoutPicshare.
Could you please tell me is this fine as i heard there will more snow during may in this trek.
Hi Yaswanth,
These shoes will be fine. Just make sure the soles are in good condition.
Hi, am going for Roopkund this month, I found two models available in the store, forclaz 100 mid, and (sh for 500), kindly provide the feedback on these models.
Hi Naveen,
The Forclaz 100 mid will be fine for Roopkund and other similar treks.
Thank you Sneha,
I would also like to know which of these two is a good option if I have to do the normal trecks other than himalayas, say western ghats or similar.
Hi,
I am taking sarpass trek in June.
will these shoes work for me?
https://www.decathlon.in/p/8338956_quechua-forclaz-100-women-s-waterproof-hiking-boots.html
I am planning to trek Roopkund in October and would want to use the same shoes.
Thanks,
Nitika
Hi Nitika,
These shoes will be fine for Sarpass, Roopkund and most other treks at these altitudes.
Please suggest some shoes for Hampta pass trek
Budget upto rs 2500-2700
Thanks in advance
Hi Raminder,
There are a lot of Decathalon shoes in that range. You can select the Arpenaz shoes or the SH100 Men’s Hiking Boots. This should serve you for few treks.
Is the Forclaz 500/Trek 100 suitable for Stok Kangri ? Can it be used with micro spikes or crampons when required ?
Hi Subramani,
Yes, this is suitable for Stok Kangri. It can be used with microspikes if required.
Hi Guys
First of all, I appreciate the patience you guys show in answering the incessant barrage of questions, some of them almost similar in nature. I am planning to do the Mount Everest trek in Oct’18 and after that few deep snow treks in the coming year. Which pair of shoes do you suggest?
Hi Indiahikes team ,
Did any of ih leaders have tried crampons on trek 500 high . As crampons work differently than microspikes . Also I read the review for Salomon 4d wherein i found crampons could work on those but I could not find any review of crampons above for trek 500
I already have a trek 500 which have worked well on other treks where crampons are not required , if those are not working for crampons i will have to invest 10k + on Salomon 4d or millets gtx .
Hi guys, I’m going on a 4 days trek to valley of flowers at the end of July. Right now I have a pair of Quechua Arpenaz 50 MID. Will this do for the trek, or should I buy a different pair of shoes?
Hi Bhavanee,
These sole and ankle support in these shoes are fine for Valley of flowers. However, they don’t seem to be water resistant or water proof. It is likely to be raining on this trek in July. If you have trekked in these shoes in rains and they haven’t immediately soaked up all the water, then you can go with these.
Thanks a lot Sneha.
I’m going for Sandakphu trek in November, 2018, which one of these two would you suggest me?
Hi,
I am just doubtful on my shoe for the Tarsar Marsar Trek on 11th August. I have wildcraft shoe, the link is below. I am confused whether to get a new Forclaz or my shoe is enough for the trek
https://www.amazon.in/Wildcraft-Olive-Trekking-Hiking-Boots/dp/B01FM6AXJO/ref=sr_1_38?ie=UTF8&qid=1531201712&sr=8-38&keywords=trekking+shoes+for+mens&refinements=p_89%3AWildcraft
Hi Navin,
Are these shoes in good shape? IF the sole is intact, you can use these on your trek. Since these don’t have ankle support, be careful on stretches that have loose stones.
Hi Arjun,
Thank you for the suggestion. I think decathlon has discontinued 100 high model & the link you provided no longer exists. Can you please suggest shoes for ABC?
Hi Arjun,
I am going for a 5 day long hampta pass trek. Decathlon sales person had recommended these shoes
https://www.decathlon.sg/p/8397087_forclaz-100-mid-women-s-waterproof-mountain-hiking-boots-brown.html#/227-273-uk_3_eu_36n , but description says these are suitable for shorter hikes. And if we try to web search it recommends https://www.decathlon.in/p/8319101_quechua-forclaz-500-women-s-waterproof-hiking-boots.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwrNjcBRA3EiwAIIOvqzYxyTKTu3lZylAEC2DEsoQG6F27QW_1ROkUnFxyRCtviwW8-JVXwRoCEP8QAvD_BwE#/4986-273-uk_3_eu_36.
Can you please help me decide between the two?
Hi Shruti, both these shoes look good. You can go for either of them. I’d go for the less expensive one, it gets the job done and it will last you at least 7-8 Himalayan treks if you take good care of it.
Hi team,
Which shoes is better for roopkund/ sandakphu/ zanskar lake kinda trek.
Forclaz 500, Forclaz 500H or 100.
Is F 500 and F500H different?
I wish to use it for next few years in all kind of trek.
Hi Swaty, if this is one of the shoes you’re referring to, then it will do the job – https://www.decathlon.in/p/8319097_quechua-forclaz-500-men-s-high-waterproof-hiking-shoes.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhdG01oOD3wIVQROPCh3-ngnTEAQYAiABEgIkefD_BwE#/4914-272-uk_5_5_eu_39
Yes Swathi…. thats what i was referring to.
Thanks,
Dear Team
It’s lovely to see that we have a forum like Indiahikes with tonnes of information and bunch of helpful individuals. It is going to be my first trek ever and I have chosen Sandakphu and will be trekking in the last week of Feb’ 2019. I was wondering if you could guide me with a suitable boot. I have been eyeing for MEN’S WATERPROOF HIKING SHOES MH100 MID – GREY/ORANGE.
https://www.decathlon.in/p/8369974_forclaz-100-mid-waterproof-men-s-hiking-boots-grey-orange.html#/4914-272-uk_5_5_eu_39
Do you think it will serve the purpose? If not, which one do you think should I go for.
Hi Deshik,
Good to hear from you, if you think you can add value or provide more information for the people then feel free to write, you are a part of the community now. And the shoe that you are checking online will serve the purpose. But also, would like to recommend one more shoe which is Quechua’s best selling shoe. Sharing the link below:
https://www.decathlon.in/p/8319097_quechua-forclaz-500-men-s-high-waterproof-hiking-shoes.html#/4914-272-uk_5_5_eu_39
Hope this helps.
Have a good day 🙂
Hi, IAM planning to visit Valley of Flowers in this month of July … This will be my first trek. Can u suggest me suitable shoes for me …
Hi, Forclaz 100 or 500 would be great for the trek 🙂
Hi i have quechua nh300 and planning for KGL trek. Whether the same is suitable for it?
Hi, the grip looks good (it has deep grooves). There’s ankle support. If you’re comfortable wearing it, you can go ahead with it 🙂
Clearly seems to be a very good one, for it is completely out of stock from every possible shopping site!
Any recommendation for any other women’s trekking shoes brand? Very upsetting that Forclaz isn’t available…
It’s now called the Trek series, not Forclaz. So you could look for it under that title. Trek 100 is a good pair of shoes!
anyone here who has bought the trek100 shoes 44 size and using it for a year.. pls message me.. i need first hand reviews…