Trail Shoe Guide — Spring/Summer 2013, by Brian O'Connor, Endurance Sports Media Group
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New Balance NB MT10 V2 Trail
Category: Minimalist
Weight: 6.2 oz.
$110
See it on newbalance.com
The latest addition to New Balance's line of Minimus footwear, the MT10 V2 is an excellent light-weight option for trail runners seeking a low-to-the-ground feel and responsive ride. This shoe performed best on rugged terrain where nimble proprioception was the order of the day. Efficient over rocks, roots, and through muddy patches of trail, the shoe also felt smooth on paved surfaces — making it an excellent road-to-trail option. Runners with a wider forefoot will love the space accommodation NB provided with this shoe, allowing toes to splay naturally with each foot strike.
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The North Face Hyper-Track Guide
Category: Neutral
Weight: 9.4 oz.
$120
See it on thenorthface.com
The North Face Hyper-Track Guide is the brand’s latest trail offering, custom-designed for responsive handling on lighter trails and bridle paths. Featuring a comfortable EVA footbed on a dual-density CRADLE™ GUIDE midsole to direct the foot through toe off, the Hyper-Track Guide promotes a biomechanically-efficient stride for trails and dirt paths. Abrasion-resistant rubber pods are featured throughout the outsole to provide additional traction. The upper is composed of a no-sew lightweight material, diminishing hot spots and blisters that can come with off-road running.
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Salomon Sense Mantra
Category: Neutral
Weight: 9.2 oz.
$120
See it on salomonrunning.com
The Salomon Sense Mantra is meant for the midfoot runner. With a low heel-to-toe drop, the Sense Mantra features cushioning where it’s needed and reflexive support where it counts. Targeted as a daily, high-mileage trainer for trails and dirt paths, the shoe provides more support than the Sense and Sense Ultra — while still only weighing in at 9.2 ounces. With a rugged and textured outsole and a soft, seamless upper, the Sense Mantra was designed for wear and tear that lasts the distance.
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Skechers GObionic Trail
Category: Minimalist
Weight: 8.0 oz.
$80
See it on skechersperformance.com
The Skechers GObionic Trail is an updated minimalist trail offering from the company’s popular GOrun series. Featuring a rugged outsole for extended traction, lightweight rock diffusion plates to alleviate the shock of rough terrain, stability mesh for lateral support, and four-way stretch mesh to allow increased toe splay for added balance and control, the GObionic Trail provides an excellent ride at an affordable price. Removable insoles convert the GObionic Trail from a 4mm heel-to-toe drop to a full zero-drop shoe, allowing runners to alter the model to their tastes.
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Saucony Peregrine 3
Category: Neutral
Weight: 9.9 oz.
$110
See it on saucony.com
The Peregrine 3 offers the latest in Saucony shoe technology. With a lightweight material design, seamless construction, a 4mm offset, and a strong and gripping outsole, the Peregrine 3 offers a lightweight and responsive ride for varied terrain. A trail shoe through and through, the Peregrine 3 holds up well on anything from bridle paths to complex boulder-laden terrain. Guided by its External Bedrock Outsole and molded toe cap, the shoe provides responsive protection fit for runners accustomed to neutral trainers.
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Brooks PureGrit 2
Category: Trail
Weight: Men’s 10.0 oz. | Women’s 8.2 oz.
$110
See it on brooksrunning.com
The PureGrit 2 casts aside trail shoe conventions for a groundbreaking design that delivers performance, control, protection, and lightweight construction. Lauded for its excellent fit and asymmetrical upper, the PureGrit 2 features the PureProject’s Nav Band, which helps keep the foot in place against the challenges of the trail. The minimalist design eschews thick treads in favor of a soft and adaptive outsole, conforming over rocks and uneven surfaces to provide traction instead of hard rubber. Plus, the shoe’s split-toe design allows for flexible control on challenging trails of any shape or size.
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Scott T2 Kinabalu
Category: Trail
Weight: Men's 9.8 oz. | Women's 8.3 oz.
$120
See it on scott-sports.com
Wear testers found the new Scott T2 Kinabalu trail shoe to be a great choice for runners training over very rugged terrain or single-track trails where the footing can turn treacherous in short-order. It provides a fairly light-weight package that still sturdily locks the foot into place to avoid ankle-rolling over rocks and roots. While not a minimal trail shoe, the T2 Kinabalu is still light enough for short pick-ups and faster ascents on the trail. It is not recommended as a road-to-trail package due to the inherent firmness of the outsole. Overall, first impressions of the Scott T2 Kinabalu were positive for a moderate trail package or rough-terrain trail racer.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian O'Connor is a writer and editor focusing on running, and fitness. He is a longtime contributor to RunningShoesGuru.com, focusing on the minimalist shoe market along with technological advances within shoe design.
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