Winter08 Trail Shoes

REVIEWSREVIEWSBrooks Adrenaline ASR 4 $95

The Adrenaline ASR (All Season Running) is builton the platform of one of the bestselling tech-

nical road running shoes on the markettoday: the Adrenaline GTS. The sta-

bility and cushioning of the twoshoes are comparable; if youlove the road version, chances

are good that you’ll be happywith its trail twin. The newly added

MoGo midsole is particularly well suited toproviding a great ride on the pavement (as anyone who has run thethe Adrenaline GTS can attest), but it also does a good job once youget to the trail. Paired with the effective tread design, it’s well suitedto the roughest trails. While the upper is a closed mesh that shedsmuch of the water and protects from trail debris, it’s still quite breath-able with well-placed overlays providing support.

“Really knew what to expect because of my success with the Adrenaline GTS. It was like having an old friend on the trails. Fit well, performed well, and thetraction was everything I needed in the hills.”

HYBRID TRAIL Sizes: M 7–13; W 5.5–11 Weight: 12.8 oz. (M’s 11); 10.9 oz. (W’s 8) For: medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

Winter ’08 Trail Shoes by Cregg Weinmann

Saucony ProGrid Guide TR $90The updated Guide TR brings ProGrid to the trail

and proves that a good cushioning technol-ogy can work well on multiple surfaces.

The upper offers the expected trailtouches: closed mesh, a gaiter

ring at the bottom of the tongueand a lace-keeper at the top,

and abrasion-resistant bumpersat both the toe and heel. These trail-

specific features are accompanied by the effective andsupportive overlays that provide the distinctive fit of the

Guide road models on which this shoe is based. The sta-ble dual-density midsole handles both on- and off-road sur-

faces. The outersole is fitted for the trail with two densities of rubber,and is lugged for traction that matched anything our testers challengedit with. For its combination of value, features, and its performanceboth on- and off-road, the ProGrid Guide TR earned honors as thebest shoe in the Hybrid Trail category.

“Saucony has brought their comfort to the trail in a big way. The fit is just right.My feet felt secure and the traction meant no slipping on hills.”

HYBRID TRAIL Sizes: M 7–13,14,15; W 5–12 Weight: 12.5 oz. (M’s 11); 10.6 oz. (W’s 8) For: medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

La Sportiva Crosslite $90La Sportiva is strongly committed to trail running

and racing, and the Crosslite is a testament tothat commitment. The Crosslite (and the

Skylite, its lighter-weight sibling)now represents La Sportiva’s besttrail racing offering. The Crosslitefeatures Frixion rubber in an ag-

gressively lugged outersole that, in ad-dition to cushioning, allows the lugs to

interact with the trail surface and actually improves their ability to gripthe trail. The midsole is a low-profile EVA with the rubbery TrailShockinsert in the heel for cushioning. The upper has been stripped downwith minimal stitched overlays running heel to toe in an abbreviatedsaddle that still provides midfoot support. Three layers of protectionride on the thin, mesh shell: strategically placed, imprinted, high-fric-tion overlays; a rubber toecap; and a stretchy mesh shroud that cov-ers the laces for a little extra security and protection.

“Snug fit, but not too tight; nicely supportive. Amazing traction, really handles thetrails well. Worked great for mid-length trail races.”

PERFORMANCE TRAIL Sizes: M 6–13; W 6–10 Weight: 11.8 oz. (M’s 11); 9.9 oz. (W’s 8) For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics, for trail racing

Salomon Speed Cross 2 $110The Speed Cross 2 builds on Salomon’s tradition of

performance trail running shoes. The outersoleveers slightly from their usual Contagrip

compound, employing instead a thin,carbon-rubber layer with tall,sharklike lugs that provide supe-rior traction and a little extra

cushioning. The breathable upperis a closed weave that provides some

protection from the elements. The forefoot is double-lasted to reinforce the vamp and the lacing system is the

kevlar cinching Salomon employs to great effect across itsline. The dual-density midsole offers a good blend of stabil-

ity and cushioning, especially on the trail. This combination of stabil-ity, traction, flexibility, and light weight earned the Speed Cross 2 ourbest Performance Trail shoe honors.

“Great traction in all types of terrain; no slippage in dirt, rocks, or uneven surfaces. Light trail shoe; doesn’t feel like you are even wearing a trail shoe theyare so light and comfortable.”

PERFORMANCE TRAIL Sizes: M 8–14; W 5.5–11 Weight: 11.7 oz. (M’s 11); 9.7 oz. (W’s 8) For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation, for trail racing

UK Gear PT-03 Winter $139 UK Gear worked with the British Army to develop a line of running shoes equal to their elite forces (though it’s so good that it’s

also been adopted by the German, U.S., and Norwegian armed forces). The PT-03 Winter was over a year in developmentin the UK before final testing in winter conditions with the Norwegian military. The upper is a tightly woven, waterproof

mesh called SEALTEC, with a gusseted tongue, and a full rand of abrasion-resistant synthetic overlays. The outersolefeatures triangular lugs for traction that really dug into the trails when our testers put the shoe through its paces.

The midsole has been specially formulated to stay resilient in cold conditions (down to –4º F), but it worksequally well in warmer temperatures, which is where we tested it. Though a little on the stiff side, the PT-03 Winter is supportive, responsive, and durable, like the dependable military conveyance it is.

“Good fit for medium-arched feet; secures comfortably. Pretty good cushioning, no problems on long runs. Very stable, well designed. Good lugged sole, suitable for any terrain I encountered.”

HYBRID TRAIL Sizes: M 6.5–14.5; W 6.5–12 Weight: 15.6 oz. (M’s 11); 13.3 oz. (W’s 8) For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

Cregg Weinmann is footwear and running products reviewer for the Running Network LLC. A competitive runner for the past 43 years, he also has coached runners at all levels for over 25 years. He can be reached via fax at 661.872.1233 or via e-mail at [email protected].

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REVIEWSREVIEWSadidas adiStar Revolt $120

Significant changes resulted in a new shoerather than simply an update. The adiStar

name is the primary carryover here, in-dicating that it’s a top-tier technicalproduct from adidas. The upperfeatures HF-welded supports overopen mesh with the requisite

rubbery bumpers and a plush inte-rior. The fit and comfort are retained,

as expected, and set the Revolt apart fromthe other adidas trail offerings, as well as the Supernova and Responseseries shoes. The midsole is single-density, but incorporates a newdual ForMotion cassette that offers more gait variability than ever be-fore. Because it’s tuned medially and laterally to accommodate the dif-ferences between runners and the variability they encounter on thetrail, it’s a little like the suspension on a radical off-road vehicle. Theoutersole is pure trail and provides an outstanding grip on whatevertrails you’ll encounter, whether wet, dry, rugged, or groomed.

“The cushion on these shoes is great. When running downhill, I didn’t feel like Iwas pounding the ground. Especially effective on rough trails.”

RESPONSIVE TRAIL Sizes: M 6.5–13,14,15; W 5–12 Weight: 14.4 oz. (M’s 11); 12.0 oz. (W’s 8) For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to moderate overpronation

Winter ’08 Trail Shoes continued

Lowa Celeste Lo $110Lowa has a long tradition of outdoor footwear

(hiking boots, anyone?). Now it’s focusingon trail running, as well. The Celeste,

Lowa’s soft shell counterpart to themeshy Arete Lo, is designed tohandle cold and inclementweather running. The soft shellfabric is paired with the GoreTex

water- and weather-proof membranefor breathability and comfort. The upper is

a smooth fabric with supportive HF-welded overlays laid out like arand but with varying spaces between them. The dual-density mid-sole is stable and supportive with pretty good flexibility, and an extracushioning layer in the innersole adds a touch of support throughthe arch. A full-length TPU plate provides protection from rough trailsand a bit of support without overwhelming the foot’s natural ten-dency to flex and roll. The carbon rubber outersole has an effectivelylugged profile which our testers felt really dug into the trail surface.

“Fit well, fairly roomy, with a plush feel. Very stable on the trail. Could have used alittle better flexibility, but not boot-like or inflexible. They did a good job for me.”

RESPONSIVE TRAIL Sizes: M 7.5–12,13,14; W 5.5–11 Weight: 15.2 oz. (M’s 11); 12.9 oz. (W’s 8) For: medium- to high-arched feet with very mild to moderate overpronation

North Face Chinscraper $120The Chinscraper is one of the beefier trail shoes

in this review because it’s designed for ne-gotiating rough running trails. The

upper features a breathable softshell with DWR for protection

from the elements, a completerand with a high-friction treatment

at the toes and heel, and a support-ive extended saddle for added protec-

tion. The forefoot is nicely flexible and features a serpentinethermoplastic structure called Snake Plate that protects the forefootfrom rocks and roots without eliminating the ability to feel the trail. Theoutersole is aggressively lugged and omnidirectional, providing effec-tive traction on all trail surfaces. The midsole is well cushioned withquality EVA foam and the rubbery, crashpad inserts are encased in theXDome TPU cage to stabilize the heel for overpronators without elim-inating the effectiveness of the shoe for neutral runners.

“Very stable—not likely to turn an ankle in these shoes, and the traction is wonderful. They seemed a little bulky, but the protection was worth it, and the ride is stable, but cushioned.”

RESPONSIVE TRAIL Sizes: M 7–12,13,14; W 5–10,11 Weight: 13.3 oz. (M’s 11); 11.4 oz.(W’s 8) For: medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

Reebok Premier TR Exhibition GTX $95

Like all the Premier shoes, the Premier TR Ex-hibition GTX features the necessary trail

ingredients, including GoreTex,without breaking the bank. Theupper is a breathable, closed

mesh with a gusseted tongue, PU-coated mud guard, and a full rand

that breathes while it repels the ele-ments and protects from abrasion. The dual-densityrubber outersole, while more modestly lugged thansome of the others we reviewed, employs “sticky rub-

ber” in a tread pattern that’s effective for most trails. Thesingle-density midsole has good flexibility and a soft step-in

feel, but it’s durable enough to get you over both roads and trails witha nice responsive level of cushioning. The combination of overall per-formance and price earned the Premier TR Exhibition GTX honors asthe best shoe in the Responsive Trail category.

“These shoes have a good, roomy toebox and a sense that the shoe is ‘loose’but not too much so. They have a lot of forefoot flexibility.”

RESPONSIVE TRAIL Sizes: M 6.5–14,15; W 5–12 Weight: 14.7 oz. (M’s 11); 12.6 oz.(W’s 8) For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

Montrail Wildwood $110 Because the Wildwood is designed for tough trails and the hardcore trail runner, it has traded off a little flexibility for a little extra

support. The upper is open mesh with overlays providing an almost complete rand, and its well-finished interior feels plush. Theheavily lugged outersole is as good as it gets for traction, protection, and durability. The midsole, however, could use some

improvement. Though the cushioned layers provide a comfortable feel when initially stepping into the shoe, its perform-ance on the run left something to be desired in the flexibility department. The outersole features a wavy, cupped de-

sign of what are essentially convex lateral flex grooves that should have made the shoe very flexible. However,the Trail Shield layer made the shoe feel stiff and reduced the versatility of the performance we expectedfrom the Wildwood. Some of our testers liked it, but others thought the stiffness compromised the feel forthe trail. Bigger and stronger runners will probably find this to be less of an issue than will lighter runners.

“The fit said Montrail, but they felt very stiff and bulky. They were protective, but the feel for the trail was dampened,” and “The stabilitywas better than expected. These were well cushioned but firm, like a tank on rocky trails.”

RESPONSIVE TRAIL Sizes: M 7–12.13,14,15; W 5–11 Weight: 14.4 oz. (M’s 11); 12.5 oz. (W’s 8) For: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

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