Making Tracks: Trail Shoe Review

Just like their road-running cousins, trail shoes now come in a variety of shapes and weights to accommodate a variety of function. For adventurous trail blazers, a few new minimalist trail shoe models help promote the natural motion of the foot, while providing some protection against rocks and roots. Some other new models and updates will help any runner venturing off-road to navigate technical terrain in comfort.

::GEARBOX
Air Pegasus+ 27 Trail WR – $130; Men’s 323 g, 11.4 oz/ Women’s g 257 g, 9.1 oz
Nike
43084

With its soft Cushlon midsole and flexible forefoot construction, the new Air Pegasus+ 27 Trail WR oozes plushness on the road or on the trail. The shoe delivers a smooth ride, and thanks to the grippy directional outsole feels secure on loose trails. Nike adds robust overlays at the toe and heel for extra durability against abrasive trail conditions. This is a great shoe that excels on the road and fast trails.

::GEARBOX
Fairhaven – $130; Men’s 310g, 11 oz/ Women’s 265 g, 9.4 oz
Montrail
43082

Intended as a hybrid road-trail running shoe, the Fairhaven delivers a smooth agile ride in almost any terrain. Montrail uses a small block outsole for good traction on hard-pack trails without degrading performance on pavement. An innovative medial post provides a variable level of stability depending on the runners gait and changing terrain. The highly breathable upper receives added structure and support from the carefully positioned. Montrail wisely uses a slightly decoupled heel crash pod for a soft ride on the road.

::GEARBOX
GEL – Trail Sensor 4 – $170; Men’s 343 g, 12.1 oz / Women’s 286 g, 10.1 oz
Asics
43077

The Trail Sensor 4 is Asics top-end trail running shoe and as such, it offers impressive performance both on and off road. Using a four-pod heel, the Trail Sensor 4 easily adapts to uneven terrain providing traction and cushioning regardless of conditions while a unique outsole delivers solid grip on loose terrain. For control on uneven ground, Asics uses a floating two-layer upper for a snug midfoot fit. Finally, an external heel counter secures the foot and ensures a smooth and comfortable fit. Runners wanting a shoe that delivers a smooth controlled ride both on and off road will enjoy the new Trail Sensor.

::GEARBOX
GEL – Trail Trabuco 13 GTX – $170; Men’s 351 g, 12.4 oz / Women’s 289g, 10.2 oz
Asics
43078

The Trail Trabuco 13 GTX is one of Asics’s most versatile trail running shoes. Combining excellent traction with a plush ride, the Trabuco excels on short road runs or buffed trails. Asics adds a Nylex plate in the forefoot for push-through protection from stones and roots. The inclusion of a rubber toe bumper, tongue gussets and lace pocket (for tucking away any excess laces) further entrench the Trabuco’s trail- worthiness. Carefully positioned overlays add midfoot stability while the inclusion of a waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex liner ensures a dry comfortable ride in the sloppiest weather. An excellent shoe for wet conditions.

::GEARBOX
Guide TR4 – $145; Men’s 365 g, 12.9 oz / Women’s 320 g, 11.3 oz
Saucony
43087
The new Guide TR4 delivers a smooth flexible ride that’s ideally suited for anyone that running on pavement before hitting the trails. The small tread-block outsole provides the necessary traction on hard-packed trails without feeling slow and cumbersome on the road. Saucony adds a new flexible push-through- protection layer that minimizes rock bruises without restricting forefoot flex. The tightly-woven fabric uppers increase weather protection without adding unnecessary weight or excessively reducing breathability. A solid trail shoe that’s ideal for road and trail.

::GEARBOX
Minimus Trail – $130; Men’s 201 g, 7.1oz / Women’s 155 g, 5.5 oz
New Balance
43083

The Minimus Trail delivers performance that lives up to the shoe’s radical appearance. Built with a tiny 4 mm heel-to-toe drop, the Minimus Trail brings barefoot running ideals to trail runners. In fact, the lack of a conventional heel crash-pod encourages runners to adopt a mid/forefoot strike which is well suited for challenging trail running. A seamless fast-draining upper allows for a barefoot fit while the grippy Vibram outsole delivers exceptional traction in a variety of trails. These shoes are innovative, effective and worth trying on any trails.

::GEARBOX
Peregrine – $130; Men’s 257 g, 9.1 oz / Women’s 232 g, 8.2 oz
Saucony
43088

Building on the success of their low heel-to-toe drop Kinvara road running shoe, Saucony now introduces the Peregrine. Sporting a similar low drop platform, the Peregrine is ideal for mid/forefoot runners who prefer more minimalist trail footwear. Saucony’s aggressive outsole delivers solid traction in almost any conditions and the one-piece upper flexes easily during the gait cycle while still providing support and control on uneven trails. Memory foam in the collar and heel pocket increase comfort on long runs. An outstanding trail running shoe that delivers uncompromising performance.

::GEARBOX
Single-Track – $140; Men’s 326 g, 11.5 oz / Women’s 268 g, 9.5 oz
The North Face
43089

The Single-Track blends trail protection with a responsive ride making it a good choice for a variety of off-road conditions. The North Face uses a unique semi-rigid Snake Plate for push-through protection without compromising the shoe’s flexibility. An aggressive small-block outsole offers good traction in hardpack or wet conditions and the stretchy scree collar under the laces prevents trail debris from entering the shoe. This is a surprisingly versatile trail shoe well suited for fast trails and challenging backcountry runs.

::GEARBOX
Specter – $135; Men’s 314 g, 11.1 oz / Women’s 243 g, 8.6 oz
Patagonia
43085

With its robust construction and small-block outsole, the Specter is ideal for challenging hard-packed trail. The upper provides exceptional mid-foot control thanks to webbing lace-eyelets that extend to the insole of the shoe for added support. A semi-rigid toe counter adds protection from rocks and scree and the strategically placed overlays reinforce the upper without restricting movement. The Spectre provides solid performance and is a good choice for challenging runs on hard pack trails.

::GEARBOX
Supernova Riot 3 – $140; Men’s 360 g, 12.6 oz / Women’s 330 g, 11.6 oz
Adidas
43076

With its abrasion resistant overlays and high traction Continental rubber outsole, the Supernova Riot 3 is a solid choice for difficult trail running. Adidas also includes Adiprene cushioning in the heel and forefoot for a plush ride while a decoupled heel crash pod encourages a smooth heel-to-toe transition. The Supernova Riot 3’s gusseted tongue prevents the entry of trail debris and the highly breathable mesh upper ensures comfort in warmer conditions. Runners wanting a smooth ride and solid traction will appreciate Supernova Riot 3.

::GEARBOX
Trail Glove (men’s), Pace Glove (women’s) – Men’s $140, Women’s $125; Men’s 175 g, 6.2 oz, Women’s 133 g, 4.7 oz
Merrell
43081

These new trail shoes by Merrell, use a Vibram outsole that provides runners with the barefoot running experience while still offering some protection from the trail. As such, these are a great training tool for runners who spend most of their time in conventional trail running shoes. The minimal heel-to-toe drop promotes a more agile mid-foot strike allowing runners to move quickly over challenging trails. Merrell wisely uses a light, well-ventilated and durable upper for protection against trail debris and control on challenging terrain.  Runners wanting the barefoot running experience without sacrificing all the protection offered by of conventional shoes should consider Merrell’s new offerings.

::GEARBOX
X-Talon 212 – $125; Men’s 212 g, 7.5 oz
Inov-8
43080

Runners seeking a lightweight no-compromise trail running shoe should consider the X-Talon 212. The low profile, almost zero-drop midsole encourages a fast gait while the open-lug outsole provides impressive traction on wet muddy courses. Inov-8 uses a combination of sewn construction with glued overlays in the upper for low weight and foot-hugging control. Runners wanting a lightweight trail shoe for muddy conditions will appreciate the X-Talon 212.

::GEARBOX
Cascadia 6 – $160; Men’s – 345 g, 12.2 oz, Women’s – 289 g, 10.2 oz
Brooks
43079

This season, Brooks updates this popular trail running shoe with its proprietary DNA material in the heel and forefoot. This results in increased cushioning that adapts to the runner’s weight and speed. The outsole also receives a makeover for improved traction while the caterpillar heel crash pod absorbs impacts and smoothes the heel-to-toe transition. Acknowledging the current low ride-height trend, Brooks has reduced the midsole height for a more nimble and closer-to-the-ground ride. The shoe weight has also been trimmed, with this year’s model coming in at one ounce less than last season’s offering. This is an excellent trail running shoe for almost any condition.

::GEARBOX
S-Lab 3 XT Wings – S – $170; Men’s 320 g, 11.3 oz
Salomon
43086

As part of their S-Lab program, the S-Lab 3 XT Wings showcases Salomon’s commitment to building some of the best trail running shoes on the market. This is the no-compromise racing version of Solomon’s popular XT Wings shoe. As such, Salomon uses a seamless upper with glued overlays, which reduces weight and improves fit. The grippy outsole provides solid traction on a variety of surfaces without feeling slow or cumbersome. Salomon’s Chassis midsole construction delivers excellent cushioning, solid stability and a smooth heel-to-toe transition. Instead of using traditional laces, Salomon opts for its innovative and race-proven one-pull lacing system, which allows for quick and easy adjustments. Runners wanting a fast and agile trail running and racing shoe should consider this shoe.