Trail And Ultra Running MENU

TAUR Chief Completes the Zion Traverse for 9th Time

TAUR Giveaway

May 9, 2018 Comments (0) Featured, Gear Reviews, Photos

2018 Spring Shoe Review

It’s that time again, where we take the hottest shoes out right now and pit them against each other. We put shoes on a dozen different testers, representing brands from 7 different companies. This will be pour most exciting and comprehensive comparative review yet.

We put our product reviews through a rigorous test, asking our testers to put 100+ miles on them over several weeks. We then survey and gather data in a multitude of areas and testers score their results from 1 to 5 (5 being the best). Below you’ll see everything we can provide on these awesome brands. We then leave it up to you to determine what is the best shoe for you.

OVERVIEW

Altra King MT 1.5 ($140) – As stated in the name, the King MT 1.5 has only received some minor changes to the upper and construction. Built of a TPU overlayed upper and layered over a Vibram outsole with 6mm lugs, this shoe is intended to be used on loose dirt, mud, and wet conditions. Altra has added a Foot Lock Descend Strap on the upper to allow runners to wrench the shoe down on those crazier descents.

Brooks Caldera 2 ($140) – The second iteration of Brooks’ premier mid-cushion shoe displays some impressive specs. The 3D rubber stretched outsole allows for ultimate protection with incredible flexibility and sensitivity to the trail. The wider toe box allows for those with wider feet or who appreciate more room up front. They claim the BioMoGo DNA midsole will actually adapt to the wearer’s foot. And the upper is built to drain and dry quickly, for those who run in the most challenging of conditions.

Brooks Mazama 2 ($140) – The Mazama 2 is a lower profile shoe. With a 6mm drop and thinner outsole, the shoe is meant for the competing runner or for those who like more sensitivity underfoot. With a slick and sleek design, the Mazama is meant for performance, whether on technical, rocky trails or on buffed out trails near home.

 

Hoka Challenger ATR 4 ($130) – Often called Clifton for the trail, CHALLENGER ATR 4 looks even more like a Clifton with its cleaner, less busy look and more breathable upper. And like the Clifton 4, Challenger ATR 4 is fast and light, offering a smooth, smooth ride. Where it diverges from the Clifton and takes the path less traveled is in its multi-lugged outsole. Arranged closer together towards the heel for a smoother, more consistent ride, its lugs have a wider spread in the forefoot to help with grip on the trail and in wet conditions. 5mm drop.

La Sportiva Lycan ($115) – The Lycan is the ideal mountain running shoe for training on off-road, rocky terrain where long-lasting sticky rubber and good shock absorption is needed. With a 6mm drop, the Lycan is meant for comfort and performance. Built on an Ortholite Mountain EVA midsole and a wider footbed, allowing wearers to be more comfortable for longer or more technical runs. This may be the first real shoe from La Sportiva that can handle ultra marathon distances.

Scarpa Spin RS ($135) – Inspired by the multi-winner SPIN model, the RS is the choice for the trail runner who looks for high cushioning and drop (8mm). Ideal for technical trails and long distances, it gives great stability and control in any terrain thanks to the Exoskeleton with a protective thermo-welded TPU film. Built for competition, the SPIN RS has the latest and most innovative Vibram® LiteBase technology with MegaGrip compound which reduces the sole’s weight and increases cushioning and grip performance. 8mm drop

Salomon Sense Ride ($120) – Salomon jumps heavily into the mid-cushion market with the Sense Ride. With a 27mm/ 19mm (8mm drop) cushion, you can Ride this shoe for any distance. It also has a slightly wider toe box and easier ride, providing a fit to meet a wider range of runners. The outsole is built of their Contragrip technology, which means it will hold onto just about anything.

Salomon S-Lab Ultra ($180) – Developed with Francois D’haene, the S/LAB ULTRA embodies his physical and mental preparation for ultra distance racing. It blends long-distance comfort, precise fit, and grip with a graphic treatment that expresses the different stages of an Ultra. This shoe is designed and built for racing. 8mm drop.

 

The North Face Flight RKT ($150) – Traverse the toughest terrain in no time with these award-winning ultralight, race-ready trail runners designed in collaboration with TNF ultrarunner Rob Krar. The energy-retaining FastFoam midsole is tuned for speed, and the low-profile sole has multi-directional lugs for superior traction. 8mm drop.

 

Columbia Montrail Variant X.S.R ($150) – Though not the best-looking shoe out there, the Fluidfoam cushion and surprisingly grippy outsole make the Variant an extremely versatile shoe. If you’re looking for a solid, stable shoe that can handle even the most rugged trails and can still jump straight from the trial to the road, the Variant X.S.R. is definitely a shoe to consider. 8mm drop.

 

FIT & FEEL

The La Sportiva Lycan was the clear standout in this crowd. Historically, La Sportiva has built a shoe with a more European fit, meaning it’s much tighter in the heel and midfoot. With the Lycan, however, they seemed to have really found the right ratio of support, comfort, and stability. Testers responded that they were “roomier, without too much room (I hate sloshing around). These still fit perfectly in the heel.” Another tester felt La Sportiva was spot on with sizing (they usually run small) and nailed it with comfort.All of our testers are seasoned trail and ultra runners. They’ve run in more brands and models of shoes that can be counted. They know quickly how a shoe will feel and perform and because of that, we found it surprising that scores for Fit & Feel didn’t come back higher. While testers liked a lot of models, there was only one that really stood out as a great fitting shoe.

Fit & Feel is a tricky thing to test, as every runner is different and what they like varies so greatly. Our testers felt that while the other shoes in the review were good, they simply weren’t magnificent. See some of their comments below.

Brad, Chelsea, and Brent all felt similarly in regards to how the Altra King MT 1.5 fit. “Fit is greatly improved over the previous version as a result of the revised forefoot strap and better heel cup fit. The strap has been revised to allow for greater control over how tight or loose it is cinched down. The heel cup feels more secure and appears to use a different type of material on the inside that locks the heel in place much better than previous versions. The result is a very comfortable, very confidence inspiring shoe.” (Brad)

Susy and Pete saw some great potential in the Brooks Caldera 2 – “The new Caldera’s 2 offers a comfortable fit for runs on trails or on the road. This shoe adapts well to any terrain surface delivering a smooth transition from heel to toe, the toe box is just wide enough to let toes remain dry during those hot/humid training days. The lateral support could have been a little bit snugger for a more secure overall fit.” (Susy)

Scott and Robin both liked the Columbia Montrail Variant X.S.R., but felt it still has a few improvements to go. “the shoe was a lot more comfortable than I thought it would be. There was a little more lift in the heel than I would have liked, but overall the fit and feel of the shoe is really good. The toe box was roomy without being sloppy. It had a very comfortable feel and I rarely noticed them on my feet.” (Scott) Matt was impressed with the fit and ended up reaching for them more often than not “this shoe really surprised me in terms of fit and comfort, its a great contender as a distance shoe.”

Kristyan and Pete wore the Salomon Sense Ride on runs on local trails and in the mountains. The shoes were comfortable and broke in easily. “Surprisingly wide enough and comfy. It took 13 miles to develop any type of minor hot spot in my inner arch. Overall, the shoe hugs in all the right spots for plenty of space without slippage.” (Kristyan)

Craig loves the Hoka One One Challenger ATR 4. It was the perfect balance of max cushion comfort and weight. “These don’t run like a max cushion shoe. The Challenger ATR fits really well in the heel, but leaves plenty of room in the forefoot to expand.” (Craig)

Both Pete and Dana felt that the Brooks Mazama 2 still ran a little narrow in the forefoot and the sizing ran a bit long. For a race shoe, they both expected it to be a bit more dialed in the fit and feel category. “I keep getting disappointed by the Mazama. I really want a solid light weight racing trail shoe. The Mazama has a long last and feels about a half size or full size large. The shoe is narrow, even for a race shoe. The initial feel of the shoe is soft and comfortable minus sizing.” (Pete)

Brent, Erik, and Craig all agreed that the Scarpa Spin RS was a little stiff out of the box, but worked in well. “Loved the fit. I was a little hesitant to test it as the previous Spin I wore was really narrow in the forefoot and was not comfortable. The Spin RS erased my hesitations.” (Erik)

Pete and Craig can see the Salomon S-Lab Ultra being a great short distance race shoe. “The SLAB Ultra seems to have moved to a more narrow last. But the initial fit and feel is great. Some hot spots after the first log run, which never happened in the first version.” (Pete)

Opinions seem to vary about The North Face Flight RKT. Pete felt the shoe was amazing right out of the box, whereas Dana and Craig really struggled with it, finding it low quality and too tight. “First impression, the shoe is missing support in the midsole.” (Dana)

UPPER

Once again the La Sportiva Lycan came out on top with a perfect score of 5.0. Our testers felt the shoes upper was the perfect combination of lightweight, protection, and flexibility. At first glance, the toe cap would appear to be too bulky, potentially even offering discomfort while running. However, that was never the case. It provided optimal protection without the risk of catching on roots or rocks. The rest of the upper kept dirt out but drained water well. Overall, nearly flawless.The upper can make all the difference in a shoe. Whether it can reduce weight, increase protection, allow water to drain, or allow for flexibility of movement, the upper is an essential ingredient into whether someone loves or hates a shoe. In this shoe review cycle, we experienced the full spectrum of how an upper can be made and you will find that opinions varied as widely as the styles.

Craig – “The first thing I noticed about the Lycan was the quality of construction. It’s clear that La Sportiva takes great pride in their quality standards and they have set the bar for craftsmanship with this shoe.”

Pete – “They are a little more lightweight than the Akashas. They still have the signature construction with reinforced uppers. I worried the toe plate would be a trip plate, but it wasn’t.”

The rest of the shoes in the review fared well, for the most part. As we stated earlier, opinions varied and were many, so check out our thoughts regarding the other models we tested.

Our testers really liked the upper on the Brooks Mazama 2, feeling that it was well made, was breathable, and provided good protection. Pete had this to say, “Seamless upper with 3D overlays. The heel counter is a bit rigid and the toe guard is firm but not intrusive. The lacing works, nothing innovative, simply good.”

Salomon made some significant changes to the upper of the S-Lab Ultra. While increasing stability, it maybe came across as too much of a fix. Now it’s just stiff and narrow. “I loved the simplicity of the first version. The upper has been completely changed. The materials are generally very soft and the inner liner gives it the feel sockless runners may enjoy. The rubberized overlay on the upper is actually very functional and has helped with some durability and slight rock protection. The newest feature is the sense wings. An effort to provide a more secure and snug fit. The combination of the lacing and the wings makes the midsole very snug, but perhaps too snug as it created a blister.” (Pete)

The Hoka Challenger ATR 4 came in a close 2nd to the Scarpa Lycan. Craig has been wearing this shoe for a couple of months now and was blown away. “The upper is clean, provides solid protection, keeps dirt out, and is extremely comfortable. It is simply spectacular.”

The Columbia Montrail Variant surprised testers with its quality and performance in the upper. Scott says, “The upper is very light and the materials are soft while also providing a supportive feel. the upper breathes very well and also dried out quickly when the shoe became wet. After several runs in difficult terrain, there wasn’t any visible wear on the upper.”

All of the testers agreed that the Scarpa Spin RS upper is very well made, comfortable, and breathed well. “Great upper. Lightweight PU skin offers good support and protection without adding weight, the mesh is breathable without allowing excess dust and grit penetration.” (Erik)

Opinions about the Salomon Sense Ride were pretty even with all of the testers. Well made, comfortable, and breathable. “The uppers are extremely durable. The materials are comfortable, and protective without being constricting. Sometimes the lacing was a little irritating around the ankle.” (Kristyan)

The North Face got so close to a great upper with the Flight RKT. The problem is the disconnected tongue and poor quality construction of it. “Lightweight and simple with the seamless upper and 3D printed overlays. The heel counter is barely noticeable. The lacing and tongue are detractors here. I have to crank down the laces a lot but that makes the metatarsals unhappy, due to the flimsy tongue.” (Pete)

Susy pretty much sums up our feelings about the Brooks Caldera 2 in these words. “Over 300 miles on the Caldera 2, the upper still looks great. It collects a lot of dust and that is quite alright when running on the trails for hours but the overall construction has proven to outlast to any conditions. On hot days has been fantastic and it breathes through its upper fabric allowing the foot to stay cooled and dry giving the benefit of no blisters. The fabric used for the heel tab, unfortunately, started peeling off as early as four weeks into my training, it didn’t affect performance but it’s definitely a premature wear and tear. On the back, it has a gaiter velcro strap for those runners that choose to use them, it helps to keep the gaiters in place. Another cool future of the upper is that it has a cool shoe laces built-in pocket on the upper part of the tongue.”

All of our testers were impressed with the Altra King MT 1.5 upper. Brad had this to say. “The Altra King 1.5 has one of the best upper constructions made so far. A carefully plastic lining designed along the sides provides minimal lateral reinforcement. An additional rubber material was added to the inner side of the shoe to provide added support. A gaiter trap for those runners who enjoy wearing gaiters during a run, now they can easily strap the gaiters to the gaiter trap located in the back of the heel. The fabric used for the upper was made to deliver comfort, it is made out a breathable material, can get wet and dry within minutes. The toe box has a strap reinforcement that runs across the front end, this helps by protecting the toes when hitting roots/rocks. Velcro strap across the shoelaces helps with extra reinforcement across the foot area, it can also help by tucking the end of the shoelaces.”

OUTSOLE


Hello Scarpa! Wow, the Spin RS showed up and delivered. While a little stiff right out of the box, it didn’t take long before they blew our testers away. Put to the test on some seriously rocky trails, loose dirt, and nearly vertical rock scrambling, the Scarpa Spin RS had no weakness. Just listen to our testers’ feedback.Traction is the foundation of a great trail shoe. A shoe, at first glance, can look like it will work well, but once it gets out on the trail or on rock, if the traction isn’t there to support the needs of the runner, the shoe will be worthless and given away. Durability, protection, and performance of an outsole are essential to every trail runner.

Erik – “The Vibram Megagrip sole held onto everything I ran over, including mixed ice/mud/rocks and sandy trails. There was no breakdown over many miles of rough, technical terrain.”

Brent – “Just wow. I took these on a number of technical runs/climbs and they are tacky on rock, wet and steep terrain!”

For the most part, responses about each of the shoe models were very positive. Only one came back with a poor user experience. Ultimately, the type of trails you run and how you use your shoes will help you select with brand/model is the right one for you.

Let’s just start at the bottom. Our testers struggled with not only the traction but the durability of The North Face Flight RKT. It ran more like a road shoe than a trail shoe. “Not much traction. The shoes were good on dry trails, but I worry they would not have enough traction on more slippery/technical trails. They look and feel more like a road shoe.” (Dana)

The Hoka Challenger ATR 4 is a crossover shoe, so it isn’t expected to have a mind-blowing amount of traction. That said, our testers felt the outsole was durable enough to handle rough terrain and provide enough protection to withstand sharp rocks and roots. “Surprisingly grippy on loose dirt and rocks.” (Craig)

We had consistent appreciation for the outsole of the Brooks Mazama 2. It definitely lives up to expectations. “Outsole performed great in multiple conditions including smooth single track, doubletrack, steep technical trails and mixed conditions of dirt/mud/snow. The only times the outsole performed less than desired, was on areas of frozen/icy snow, or steeper trails with a thin layer of sand/grit over hard rock. But there’s not much that performs perfect in those scenarios.” (Erik)

Salomon decreased the lug depth on the S-Lab Ultra just a little from its predecessor, but it didn’t seem to impact outsole performance or durability. “I thought the low profile outsole worked extremely well and I felt comfortable in any terrain.” (Craig)

Susy nailed it for our thoughts. Other testers concurred. ” Brooks never disappoints on the performance of their outsole. Running up gnarly uphills and with different obstacles along the course, the Caldera’s outsole performed great with anything that came along the trail. The Brooks Caldera 2 will deliver the traction needed to maneuver on difficult terrain, giving the runner the ability to run with confidence when he/she faces the unexpected loose gravel or sandy stretches or muddy trails. Although the outsole is made to provide good traction on trails, it is yet comfortable to run on flat roads. This shoes is great for runners who like to mix their training on road and trails.”

Testers were consistent with their feedback regarding the construction and performance of the Columbia Montrail Variant X.S.R shoe. “The outsole performance was one of the bigger surprises that I had while testing the shoe. Based on look alone it doesn’t seem like it would be very aggressive in technical terrain, but I never slipped or lost traction because of the shoe and I took these in some pretty technical and slippery terrain. It performed excellently on the trails and pavement.” (Scott)

The Salomon Sense Ride received solid marks for construction and performance. Exactly what we would expect. “The outside lives up to Salomon reputation. Excellent traction, superior quality.” (Kristyan)

We had several testers using this shoe and they all came back with high marks. The Altra King MT 1.5 has a killer outsole. “The Vibram Outsole is solid and tough. With some very prominent (and big) lugs, I wasn’t sure how the sole would feel. Surprisingly, I felt comfortable in the rocky desert terrain. The lugs provided plenty of grip to feel stable and confident on the rocks, and the lug size didn’t get in the way of my strike or transition. There isn’t much cushion in the midsole. I definitely felt the rocks, although nothing was painful. Because of the minimal cushion, however, I preferred to use these shoes for shorter runs, not more than 12-14 miles for me.” (Lisa)

If there one thing you can count on from La Sportiva, it’s a top quality outsole. The Lycan is no exception. This is a lower profile sole, but still aggressive enough to handle loose rocks/dirt to granite slabs. “I thought the outsole performed pretty well over technical rocky terrain. Where it really shined, however, was when I hit the steep, loose downhills. Then it was game one!” (Craig)

LOOKS

Here, again, the La Sportiva Lycan wins out. When you’ve been around since 1928 and you’re born in the heart of the Dolomites, Italy, and worn and tested all over Europe, style and looks should come naturally. Sportiva kills it in this area. They simply know how to make a pretty shoe.Should looks matter? It does if you’re looking for a love interest. Maybe finding the right trail running shoe has a similar set of requirements. The reality is, yes, looks matter. So we took this to heart as we tested each of these shoes.

Robin – “Everything about these shoes is pretty. They are high-quality construction and they don’t have anything distracting-they are mountain runner’s shoes.”

Craig – “This is, by far, my favorite La Sportiva ever made. It actually looks like a running shoe.”

As for the rest of the brands. Well, to put it simply – some have it and some don’t. Some felt futuristic and out there, while others felt like a trip back to 1997. Take a look and see what you think.

Salomon kind of went for it with the S-Lab Ultra. While they may have stuck with the traditional red and black colorway, the rest of the shoe is launched into the next century. “The modern appearance doesn’t appeal to me.” (Pete)

Opinions about the Altra King MT 1.5 were all over the place. For most, however, they struggled with the color scheme. “The hot pink and light grey weren’t my favorite color combination that Altra has used. It looks a bit like a kid’s shoe.” (Jenna)

The Hoka Challenger ATR 4 is a clean looking, no frills shoe. For some that might not be appealing, but for the runner who appreciates the simplicity and solid color schemes, this is a great shoe. “I just love them. Blue and yellow works and everything else is just simple.” (Craig)

The Brooks Caldera 2 as the feel and looks of an old school trail runner. Kudos to them for keeping it around. “Love love the color combo used on this specific women’s model. Colors used on the midsole/outsole light turquoise with some darker blues, upper construction was a combo of navy blue with a cute violet shade colors, also used for the laces. Cute mountain tops designed with the name Caldera written below it was imprinted on the built-in stretchy pocket for the laces, adding a nice touch to the upper design.” (Susy)

Salomon Sense Ride. Red. Black. Or a version of red and/or black. Fuscia is still red. Honestly, what else can we say about them? “I feel like they made my feet look big. Other than that, they are a good looking shoe.” (Kristyan)

It feels like The North Face just missed the mark with the Flight RKT. A muted gray camo just isn’t going to win with the trail audience. “The grey color scheme is boring, but there is a market for that. They aren’t ugly, but they don’t look ‘cool’.” (Dana)

The Brooks Mazama 2 seems to have hit a good spot with testers. Even for those who are not fans of neon, the shoe seems to be a hit. “I love the look of the shoe. Yes, the shoe is pink, but still looks like it means business. Feminine, but not too girly!” (Dana)

Experiences tell all. Erik has an incredible experience with the Scarpa Spin RS that pretty much sums it up. “While on a run last week, I stopped to talk to a couple friends. Mid-sentence, one of them looked down at my shoes and said-“Wow- what are those shoes? They look awesome”.”

The Columbia Montrail Variant X.S.R. is not a horrible looking shoe, it just looks like it would have been cool 15 years ago. At first look, it doesn’t “wow”, instead it leaves the potential buyer feeling like it will underperform. “The shoe looks good, but the color scheme doesn’t stand out or really impress. It tends to have a bulky look to it. that said the shoe performed so much better than I thought it would just based off of it’s looks.” (Scott)

PERFORMANCE

So this is what it all comes down to. If you take all of the ingredients that make a great shoe, the one that stands out the most is how the shoe actually performs. It might look cool, it could have great tread or a well built upper, but if the shoe doesn’t truly stand out on the trail and perform when you need it to, nothing else matters. For our testers, this is where they are most critical. We recognize that every shoe will be different from every runner and in differing parts of the country or world. Trail conditions vary as the sands of the sea. It’s our job to try and offer our thoughts on what might be the best all around for the masses.

When it came right down to it, the Hoka One One Challenger ATR 4 was our top performer. For a max cushion shoe, it ran more like racing shoe. Stable and responsive, but with plenty of comfort, the Challenger ATR 4 could do it all. We wore it in the rocky terrain of the Wasatch Mountains to the desert sands and slickrock of Zion National Park. Craig even did the Zion Traverse (49 miles, 8000 vert) in them and could have turned right around and gone back. They are simply that good.

Craig – “There are other shoes I absolutely love (like the La Sportiva Lycan), but when it came right down to it, the shoe I knew I could trust to take me 50 miles was the Challenger ATR 4.”

Don’t get us wrong, there were other great shoes in this test cycle. Whether for training or racing, there is definitely one or two in here that will be great for any runner. Ultimately, the decision is up to you, these are just our thoughts and our experiences.

Pete found his perfect shoe in the La Sportiva Lycan. Out of the box, they were amazing. “I wore these shoes out of the box at the Wedge on a very hot day. I loved the performance and the fact they were perfect. They will be my go-to shoe except when I’m on very technical trails.”

The Altra King MT 1.5 gets pegged as a specialty shoe, but it is really so much more. While it may not be your next ultra distance shoe, it performs impressively everywhere else. “The Altra King 1.5 delivers an exceptional performance on rugged/gnarly trails. This shoe is extremely flexible allowing the foot to move freely and helping the runner to focus on a more natural stride.” (Brad)

The Brooks Caldera 2 may not be the lightest or most responsive shoe, but it can really perform. Comfortable and roomy, this shoe can go for miles. Susy put it best when she said, “This shoe has lasted over 300 miles and still performs great. The versatility of this shoe is a convenience as it can be used as a trail or road shoe, performing well on both surfaces. Caldera 2 was constructed with enough cushioning to deliver good comfort on uneven terrain, some lack of lateral support but not extremely bad were the overall performance of this shoe was compromised.”

Salomon continues to deliver with a high-quality shoe that can seemingly do it all. The Sense Ride is a really great shoe for the all-around runner. “A solid shoe. The turnover and weight are good. A great shoe without a rock plate. Not a go to for technical terrain.” (Pete)

The Scarpa Spin RS was probably the big surprise out of all of the shoes we tested. Out of the box, they are a bit stiff, but they break in quickly, and when they do, be ready, they are amazing. “Super comfortable. Excellent response. No heel slippage on steep climbs or sloshing while on mild inclines/declines. The only negative is that on steep descents, no matter how much I cranked down the forefoot lacing, I had a significant amount of toe banging- enough that I considered taking them off and walking down barefoot.” (Erik)

Testers were pretty spread out regarding their opinions of the Brooks Mazama 2. It seems the shoe worked better for women vs men, possibly due to a narrower foot. Our male testers found the shoe was too narrow and underperformed, whereas our female testers thought they were remarkable. “I forgot I was wearing them. This speaks volumes for feet that blister constantly. If I can run and not think about my toes or my feet or the shoes at all, then I have found a winner.” (Dana)

At first glance, the Columbia Montrail Variant does not scream “performance”. However, for a couple of our testers, this was a real surprise. A great all-around shoe, the Variant held it’s own and performed admirably. “The shoe performed well in every environment that I put it in. It fit well and provided an excellent balance between cushion and performance. The shoe is very versatile and can be used on the trails or pavement and performs equally well on both.” (Scott)

The Salomon S-Lab Ultra was the hopeful great performer of the bunch. We expected it to stand out like it’s predecessors. However, we found it under-whelmed across the board. Let’s hope they can make some subtle tweaks in the next iteration and get it back on track. “I loved the first version. These are a moderate shoe option. The first version was the best ultra shoe. I would run 200 in them, these seem the same but due to fit they wont work for most people.” (Pete)

It needs to be said. The North Face Ultra Cardiac was/is maybe the greatest trail running shoe ever made. Whatever possessed them to trust Rob Krar with the design of the Flight RKT boggles even us. We expected so much more and got so little in return. Even though one of our testers loves them, the other testers felt they were a complete disaster. Proof that every shoe is different for every runner. “I felt nothing but unstable and unsupportive in the Flight RKT. There is simply nothing about this shoe that screams performance.” (Craig)

FINAL THOUGHTS

We’ve mentioned it before, but will briefly comment on it again. We recognize that every runner is different. Where one shoe stands out to one runner, it can be horrible for another. Ultimately, it comes down to your body type, your gait, and your basic preferences. We’ve attempted to thoroughly test and review each of these shoe models in the most objective way possible, using a number of reviewers and testing the shoes in as many conditions as possible. We hope that it has given you some insight into your next shoe purchase and that TAUR can be used as a resource for future reference.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *