6/4/2023 0 Comments Trailrunner shoes![]() Gear editor Amanda Furrer experienced this reliable grip during a 5K, mid-December, on a morning damp with flurries and nonstop drizzle. Testers found the TrailTack rubber outsole “super grippy” on wet logs and in freezing rain. ![]() “So, I wasn’t surprised I was feeling more of the ground with the Catamount 2.” “My current go-to is the Brooks Caldera 6, which has a mattress-like midsole,” said a tester. Testers liked the shoe’s pop, describing the ride as “fast and fun.” Some, however, said it traded support for a lighter weight. The plate is curved in the forefoot to help propel you quicker off your toes on the ascents. The Catamount 2’s SkyVault midsole plate is specially made for enhancing proficiency on the uphill, and then smoothing and stabilizing the ride on your descent, making it primed for rolling trails. Plus, it’s Litebase, to help keep weight in check-Litebase makes the sole thinner and lighter, without diminishing traction. Each lug has three distinct tiers, giving you an enormous amount of sharp edges to cling to the ground. The outsole has been redesigned and there’s a lot more rubber underfoot. When you get into steep or muddy terrain, the shoe still shines. The bottom layer is durable and firm enough to crush over sizable rocks and protect the bottom of your foot. The Profly+ midsole puts a lightweight, bouncy foam closest to your foot, which boosts comfort and makes the shoe feel alive when you’re running along hard-packed ground. There have been a number of big changes to this model that make it more runnable and comfortable than before, including a new two-layer foam setup. I found it had more than enough bite on black diamond ski trails so I could claw my way uphill, but the cushioning protected my body when I had to dash back down 4,000 vertical feet over just 3.4 miles. With a wide range of trail options to pick from, the Mafate was the race day choice for both myself and video producer Pat Heine-Holmberg to tackle the Olympic ski hill in New York’s Adirondack Park. We found this out firsthand by using the shoe to race up and down Whiteface Mountain. The Speedgoat might be more popular, but we’re going to claim the overhauled Mafate Speed is Hoka’s best trail running shoe right now-especially if your trails require comfort and versatility. (It’s the same bouncy material used in Topo’s Ultraventure Pro model.) To ensure stability, the platform was widened, too. The thicker midsole is composed of a new Zipfoam compound that’s lighter and more responsive. Even though the shoe doesn’t have a rock plate, the increased stack height-Topo added 5mm to the heel and forefoot-serves as a buffer on rugged terrain. “The Vibram outsole is sticky enough for rocky trails, but it’s not like a cleat,” said a tester. Its lugs are shorter and wider as well, making the shoe versatile for both roads and trails. (The Ultraventure 3’s lugs measure a fairly modest 3.5 mm in length.) The outsole, made of grippy Vibram rubber, is more lightweight and sectional than the previous iteration. For gnarlier trails, you’ll want to choose the brand’s MTN Racer or Terraventure, which have toothier treads. He also noted how ultrarunners like Topo’s shoes because of their wide toeboxes. This is the long-haul shoe,” one tester declared. Hybrid shoes have shorter lugs (2mm to 4mm) and a softer on-road feel than their burly siblings, and are well-suited for soft singletrack and local wooded trails that don’t make you slow to a walk due to unsure footing. These shoes will serve you better the more rugged the terrain and may work for day hiking as well. Rigid shoes with deep lugs (5mm+) are best on technical trails with poor footing, but they’ll also be far less forgiving, even uncomfortable, on road runs. With the latter, try to think about whether the trails you encounter are technical or smooth, flat or steep, have loose or firm footing, and whether or not you cross water. ![]() The two main things to consider before purchasing trail running shoes are what type your feet need (think stiff or pliable, neutral or stable, wide or narrow, high or low heel-to-toe drop) and what type of shoes the terrain demands. Whatever your preference or personal ideology, we think everyone can be a trail runner, especially with the help of a good pair of shoes. Trevor Raab What to Look for in a Trail Running Shoe A quality trail shoe needs to be ready for the trail’s obstacles, like rocks, roots, and wet leaves. ![]()
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