This shoe stays within a very technical lane, but doesn’t drift admirably outside of it. Adventure runners and mud-enthusiasts will find this kick a very welcome precision tool to their arsenal, and I could see it cropping up at certain adventure races (i.e. Spartan, Tough Mudder, etc.).
PROS
This shoe packages lightweight materials in a very durable package. As with all SensiFIT shoes, the quicklace system remains consistent, durable, and convincingly made.
I love how the lug structure is a simple, single piece of rubber, not a glue-up of shoe-designer artistic excess. The heelbox cradles the foot securely, especially in the lateral dimensions.
I’d wager that even after the most hellish tallus scramble, the bottoms of this shoe won’t lose a bit of outsole.
CONS
Unfortunately, the lugs present a slight liability on slabby rock or the occasional pavement.
The lugs protrude too far and too infrequently, which results in “lug-roll” on slabs, and instability on certain rocky terrain.
Additionally, the height of the lugs can cause a lateral or rotational “drift” when the heel is fully weighted.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
This shoe stays within a very technical lane, but doesn’t drift admirably outside of it.
Adventure runners and mud-enthusiasts will find this kick a very welcome precision tool to their arsenal, and I could see it cropping up at certain adventure races (i.e. Spartan, Tough Mudder, etc.).
I think this shoe will absolutely slay looser, off-trail terrain, but some runners will find it too sharp a scalpel for most trail operations.
FIT
I loved the fit. It runs small in my opinion, but not unpleasantly so. The lateral tensioning wings provide a secure fit, as well as a very protective wall against debris.
This shoe admirably employs the sensibilities of a hiking boot in the construction of a lightweight running shoe.
RIDE
The 8mm drop gives these shoes a punchy burst after the heel-strike, but I found the ruggedness of the lugs to be distracting some of the time.
I liked how flexible the shoe was for how burly the bottoms were. I think the lack of a rock plate contributes to this.
TRACTION/PROTECTION
The lugs grab dirt but grease off rock (at least sandstone). As I said earlier, these shoes work better on looser, dirt-driven trails, but not as well on hard-packed trail or slab.
The mesh upper and molded DreamTex tension wings are superbly constructed, and provide mid-foot armor without stifling heat or compression.
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