For those who prefer long miles along winding mountain trails threading through thick forested slopes to the monotony of city streets, you’ll want to check out these great new technical trail shoes… then follow that dirt road towards the sunset.
Fresh for the trail this Spring…
Yesterday we posted our favorite new road shoes for Spring 2013. But for many of us, after spending day in and day out living life in the concrete jungle, we crave some nature. Our outdoor soul longs for time with dirt roads and uphill climbs through heavy wooded forests. So for the moments you want to indulge your inner uncivilized self in a run that no ordinary trip around suburbia can satisfy, our run guru’s have picked out their favorite new trail shoes for Spring 2013.
Altra Zero Drop: Lone Peak
The Altra Lone Peak™ was designed to race the gnarly Wasatch 100 miler and excel on the toughest mountain terrain in the world. A Zero Drop™ trail shoe that gives you maximum protection in a comfortable platform to improve your time on the dirt. Included StoneGuard™ protection system that sandwiches the rock plate between a two layer midsole for maximum protection and stability. TrailClaw™ outsole and foot-shaped toe box are designed to do one thing—help you conquer the toughest terrain with comfort and stability. The updated version now includes a gaiter trap allowing you to never mess with glues or tape again, but keeps your gaiter in place every time.
Altra Zero Drop: Lone Peak (9.9oz Men’s / 8.9oz Women’s) MSRP $115.
TrekSta: Sync Trail
Long, satisfying alpine loops rely on your ability to get in a groove and let the landscape pass by in a blissful blur of strides.Following a successful debut into the trail running category last year, TrekSta continues to build on the ultra-innovative NestFIT design with the Sync Trail. TrekSta’s proprietary NestFit system provides a highly contoured support to encourage comfort and a natural gait, while a 4mm minimalist design makes this a great transition shoe for those looking to make the move to more minimalist running. Anatomical sensor zones in the Independent Suspension Technology (IST) sole sense and respond to the terrain for a pure connection between the runner and the trail.
TrekSta Sync Trail (10.9oz Men’s / 9.5oz Women’s) MSRP $125.
Salomon Sense Mantra
It should be illegal to build shoes that look and perform as well as the Salomon Sense Mantra – luckily for you, its not. The Sense Mantra is a shoe for runners looking to make the transition to forefoot running. This light-weight training shoe is made for mid-foot strikers who want a natural motion shoe as well as protection and neutral cushioning. This shoe is made in response to Salomon team runners looking for a high-mileage shoe to assist with making the forefoot transition. Want more comfort in your trail shoe? With EndoFit™ construction this shoe can also be worn without socks making your contact with the trail even more direct. Offered for both men and women, this shoe will make the trail feel like your second home.
Salomon Sense Mantra (9.2oz Men’s / 8.4oz Women’s) MSRP $120.
Helly Hansen: Rabbora Trail Low
Designed with the minimalist in mind, the Helly Hansen Rabbora Trail helps carry you further down the trail as you push relentlessly for the cardio burn, next loop on the logging trail, or spiritual satisfaction that trail runs bring you. Helly Hansen designed this as a lightweight low-cut, flat trail runner shoe that still offers great cushioning with a 12mm heel-toe differential. Aggressive lugs offer great traction so you need fear no terrain.
Helly Hansen Rabbora Trail Low HTXP, (12oz Men’s) MSRP $100.
Salomon S-Lab Sense Ultra
The Salomon S-Lab Sense Ultra is the next generation of the S-Lab series of head turning race shoes, made with input from Salomon team runner, Kilian Jornet. Try as we might, not all of us run just like Kilian, so the Salomon design team modified the original S-Lab Sense to be the S-Lab Sense Ultra. This version includes more traction from the mid-sole to the rear of the shoe, to accommodate the occasional mid-foot or heel strike. Low, light and fast, the S-Lab Sense Ultra is the top level race shoe designed to allow natural foot motion and forefoot running and adapted for the every-day runner. Offered in unisex sizing.
Salomon S-Lab Sense Ultra (7.4oz Men’s size 9) MSRP $180.
Merrell: Mix Master Move Glide
Taking the knowledge of ground feel and connection learned from Merrell Barefoot and blending it with 30 years of leading outdoor performance design, Merrell is expanding its running line through a concept it calls M-Connect for Spring 2013. Designed for multi-‐run activities, Mix Master run series of shoes are fast, flexible and light, and built on a 4mm drop for multi-‐tasking activities. A Merrell Float Midsole is 10% thinner and 25% lighter to provide more feel and ground control while a Merrell air cushion in the heel absorbs shock when the ground underfoot gets a little rough.
Merrell Mix Master Move Glide (8oz Men’s / 7oz Women’s) MSRP $100.
Pearl Izumi: Project E: Motion Trail N1
Built to deliver the ultimate smooth flowing responsive ride. The glove-like fit coupled with the dynamic offset-shaped E:Motion midsole features Pearl Izumi’s most minimalistic-level trail cushioning platform to date. Whether you’re in steep, loose dirt or traversing a rock slab, an aggressive multi-directional Carbon Rubber outsole offers superb traction and abrasion resistance. All told this trail runner from Pearl Izumi is ready to offer great trail feel and traction with enough protection and cushioning for bombing descents over technical terrain.
Pearl Izumi Project E:Motion Trail N1 (9.6oz Men’s) MSRP $115.
Helly Hansen: Pace Interceptor
The Pace Interceptor is Helly Hansen‘s most technical trail runner yet. Whether you’re in steep, loose dirt or traversing a rock slab, this shoe keeps you upright and going strong. Featuring Helly Tech Performance waterproof breathable protection, you won’t have to content yourself with the indoor track when the weather gets nasty. Helly Wear Protection to protect from unruly rocks and roots, while the HH Roll Cage, and C Zone cushioning keeps the foot stable and comfortable.
Helly Hansen Pace Interceptor (15oz Men’s) MSRP $120.
*Whether shoes or apparel, the selection of running gear is a very personal decision. As always, we recommend that before making your final decision on any product, head over to your local run shop, try them on and make sure you have the proper fit. Then feel free to spend hours on end blitzing the pavement and open trails.