Trail runners work very well for hiking. They are lightweight, comfortable, breathable and less expensive. But there are a couple things to watch out for.

We’ll compare trail runners to hiking boots in this article but most of these arguments apply to hiking shoes as well.

Advantages to hiking in trail runners

Lighter

Trail runners are lighter than hiking boots. They’re meant for running so they have lighter soles and mesh uppers. They don’t have the tall ankles and often don’t have waterproof materials.

Lightweight trail runners are around 300 to 350 grams. The Altra Lone Peak 5 weighs 318 grams (11.1 oz), and the La Sportiva Bushido II weighs 298 grams (10.5 oz).

Larger hiking boots like the Tecnica Forge GTX weighs 595 grams (21 oz) or the Salomon X Ultra Mid 4 weighs 429 grams (15.1 oz). The thicker sole, beefier materials, waterproof membranes and taller ankles, all add 100 to 300 grams.

Cooler

Since trail runners are often mesh they are cooler than water resistant or waterproof hiking boots. Air can move in and out of the shoes keeping your feet dry and comfortable.

Fewer blisters

Lighter and more flexible materials give a closer fit with trail runners. Often you can hike with them right out of the box. An easier fit combined with good airflow through the mesh leads to less blisters from friction or sweaty feet.

More comfortable out of the box

Compared to larger, stiffer hiking boots, trail runners don’t need as much break-in time. Some people find they can just take them out of the box and go hiking

Less expensive

Trail runners are usually less expensive than hiking boots. They use less material and often have less structure and rigid parts to them.

From our examples above the Altra Lone Peak 5 trail runners come in at $175 CAD ($130 USD). And the La Sportiva Bushido II comes in at $160 CAD ($130 USD).

For boots, the lightweight Salomon X Ultra Mid 4 usually run $199 CAD ($165 USD) and the larger heat-moldable Tecnica Forge GTX is around $350 CAD ($270 USD).

Disadvantages to hiking in trail runners

Trail runners aren’t always rainbows and unicorns though. There are some downsides to them.

Not waterproof

There’s a caveat to this one. Many trail runners are mesh and very breathable. The increased airflow is more comfortable. Your feet dry faster after sweating or walking through rivers.

That said, most companies offer waterproof versions of some of their trail runners. They have the same waterproof membrane as in hiking boots. They’ll have the same downsides as a waterproof boot as well: less breathable, a bit more expensive, a bit heavier.

Less durable

Trail runners are not built to last as long as a hiking boot. If they were, they’d be as heavy as a hiking boot. Thru-hikers will go through multiple pairs of trail runners over months of hiking. For most the comfort, ease of movement and lack of blisters is worth it.

See Trail runners vs hiking boots below for an option that’s more durable but lighter weight than a hiking boot.

Less ankle protection

Boots have hiker ankles than trail runners. For bushwhacking or places that put your ankles at risk, consider taller boots. There’s still the comfort and weight to consider.

Trail runners vs hiking shoes

Hiking shoes are like smaller, lighter hiking boots. They have low ankles like a trail runner but tend to be a bit more durable, stiff and waterproof like a hiking boot.

They make for a good compromise between trail runners and hiking boots for when you need something a bit more rigid and durable but don’t want to lug the weight of a boot around.

A note on stability and stiffness

Hiking boots are stiffer in the midsole than trail runners. They often have a rigid shank in the sole that keeps the sole from bending too. They have stiff ankles that run higher up your leg.

This rigidity in the boots may help tired legs carry a big backpack but they’re also contributing to those tired legs. Lighter trail runners or shoes don’t weigh as much leaving some energy in your legs. It’s harder to feel the ground with stiff boot soles making foot placement more difficult.

If you have ankle issues, the extra stability might be worth the weight. For us, we definitely prefer the lighter weight and flexibility of the trail runners.

Can you always hike in trail runners?

If you’re always hiking in warmer weather then certainly trail runners are going to be more comfortable.

When the water gets wet and cool or snowy, then you have a choice to make. Trail runners can get through a bit of rain here and there and dry out. Days in the snow or hard rain will be uncomfortable.

The trick is to pick the features of a trail runner or a boot for the trail and weather conditions. It becomes another option to lighten the load when it’s warm or not as wet just like you’d take a warmer sleeping bag and 4-season tent out in the winter.

Happy trail running hiking!

The post Can You Hike in Trail Runners? first appeared on Pack & Trail.

There’s carbon fibre in there?

Yes, there is.

Most training shoes are clunky to run in. They excel on the gym floor and the Crossfit box as a stable platform for lifts and HIIT workouts but then feel stiff and flat when out running.

The Vimana Carbon shoe is the carbon version of the Vimana Hybrid, a gym and training shoe that also runs very well. The carbon version takes it one step further and introduces a Carbitex AFX carbon plate just above the outsole which makes the shoe more stable and protective without increasing the stiffness at the forefoot when running.

But how can it do both at the same time? We’ll look at that in a second.

First up though, who’s STRIKE MVMNT?

Who is STRIKE MVMNT?

STRIKE MVMNT is a group of movement entusiasts out of Vancouver, BC, who love moving. It doesn’t matter if it’s parkour, CrossFit or trail running they just want to bring together everyone that loves moving too. They started building shoes that could help them do all of those things in 2010 and released their first in 2012. Their goal is to help build a fit, happy and healthy community around moving.

We share their love of movement. One of our favourite things is just getting outside in a human-powered way. It doesn’t matter if it’s trail running, mountain biking, paddling or climbing, it’s all human powered and feels great.

STRIKE MVMNT have a few principles that they have created their brand around too:

UNITED BY MOTION® = Unity through movement. Inclusivity of all movement modalities, sexes, ages, races, and orientations.

INTELLIGENT MINIMALISM™ = Perfect balance of versatility and protection for broad-spectrum athletic performance.

NEW ATHLETIC STANDARDS® = Quality. Performance. Timelessness.

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Though we doesn’t have any physical products like shoes, we certainly think exactly the same way as STRIKE.

So that’s STRIKE MVMNT. What’s the deal with the carbon fibre in this shoe?

What is Carbitex AFX?

Carbitex is the big deal in this shoe. It’s carbon fibre but it’s not just any carbon fibre.

Regular carbon fibre can be made to be very stiff or very flexible but it’s usually all very stiff or all very flexible.

Carbitex AFX (Asymmetrically Flexible Carbon) is a specially woven carbon fibre that is flexible one way but not the other. The amount of flex and twist allowed can be tuned for the shoe.

The Vimana Carbon uses a 3/4 length plate of Carbitex AFX between the outsole and the midsole providing support and rigidity without much weight. It bends at the ball of your foot, just like your foot should, but won’t bend the other direction when you need support on the edge of a rock or log. The plate prevents the shoe from twisting in weird directions as well.

The AFX plate not only supports your feet but protects them as well. Nylon rock plates are great but can be stiff and heavy. The AFX plates are lightweight and flex in the right way but still protect your feet when sharp rocks poke through.

Details

• S2 last with anatomical toe box
• 4mm drop from heel to toe
• 3/4 length Carbitex AFX carbon fibre plate
• Cush50™ EVA/EPE midsole
• Meta Platform Outsole with faceted triangular tread pattern
• TRES-FRESH antibacterial treatment on upper and lining materials

Fit and the anatomical toe box

The fit is great out of the box. They are comfortable and didn’t take a lot of getting used to.

The S2 Last shape the Vimana’s are built with is average width in the heel and mid-foot and I found it just wide enough in the toe box. I prefer wide toe boxes like Altra’s. It wasn’t so narrow it was restrictive or caused blisters but for a trail runner or hiking shoe, I like nice and wide.

I’m not sure if the narrow toe is better for the gym. STRIKE likes to make shoes that are good for all kinds of movement, not just one, so they tend towards features and designs that will make the shoes perform better over many kinds of movement, not just trail running.

Grip and the Meta Platform Outsole

The Meta Platform Outsole isn’t like any other shoe sole I’ve seen.

Small rubber pyramids cover the bottom in a consistent pattern. No lugs, just the small bumps across the shoe. STRIKE likes to make shoes that can be used for many different things. They can’t have big lugs if they are going to be any good in the gym.

On the trail, the Vimana’s are comfortable and easy to run with. The carbon plate doesn’t make the shoe stiff at all and adds protection for sharp rocks. I’ve run with thin soled shoes before and it becomes a game of avoiding the sharp pointy things. I was hammering along the trail jumping every pointy thing I could find and had no issues.

Dry dirt and rock are great with the Vimana. There is slightly less grip without big lugs on the bottom but unless the pitch is really steep, they don’t do much.

Wet rock and mud is another story. There’s enough grip for these to be a good option for wet, gross weather running. I found rock a bit slick and muddy hills a bit treacherous to stay upright. Something with bigger lugs (and maybe waterproof) is still my choice for wet weather running.

Clearly that didn’t slow down testers with Strike while the shoe was being developed. One tester was setting ascent and descent records on trail runs and was doing 100km off-road runs in them.

Final Thoughts: Strike Movement Vimana Carbon Shoes

Rating: 8/10

Verdict: Recommend for gym and urban running

I love when a brand uses brand new technology. It increases the performance of the product and brings the level of the whole industry up. The Carbonite AFX plates in the Vimana Carbon shoes is that new technology. They work well ripping around the concrete jungle and the gym. I’ve spent years in the local CrossFit box and it feels good in a good shoe.

The Vimana’s excel on the concrete but need some work for the trail. The small, smooth lugs on the sole just don’t have the traction on wet or loose dirt like we encounter so much in the mountains.

If you are a gym rat looking for something that can handle dry dirt no problem, the Vimana Carbon’s feel great. They’re flexible without the flat gym shoe feel. If you spend most of your days in the mountains, you’ll likely stay on your feet more with something with bigger lugs.

I hope Strike comes out with something with the Carbonite AFX plates with bigger lugs. That would be a killer combination.

The post STRIKE MVMNT Vimana Carbon Running Shoe Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

And they’ve always wanted to create the perfect trail-running shoe.

Pulling experts together from Italy, Netherlands and China and and putting together their 60 years combined footwear experience they’ve created the norda 001 trail running shoe.

The norda 001 trail running shoe is the first shoe in the world to use a seamless bio-based Dyneema upper to keep the shoe very light and very strong. A Vibram Megagrip outsole and stable SLE midsole give a comfortable ride through any rock, dirt or concrete on your run.

Wait. What’s Dyneema?

Dyneema

Dyneema is one of the worlds strongest materials. 15 stronger by weight than steel. It’s extremely strong and extremely light. Ultralight weight gear like Hyperlite Mountain Gear backpacks and tent are made out of Dyneema.

Norda worked with Dyneema to create a seamless upper on the 001 shoe. It’s fast and lightweight but at the same time extremely strong and durable.

Along with the upper, the laces are also Dyneema and recycled polyester, 4 times stronger than normal laces.

Not only it is it strong and light, it’s sustainable: bio-based and BlueSign approved. Renewable sources supply 75% of the energy used to manufacture the Dyneema. Out of all the other upper materials for shoes Dyneema results in the lowest carbon footprint per unit strength.

The point of using Dyneema is that it let’s norda use the highest performance materials on earth but also be sustainable and kind to the environment. For norda “performance and sustainability always run together.”

Norda x Vibram Formation outsole

The outsole is a custom Formation outsole developed with Vibram. It uses Vibram’s Litebase technology which really boils down to being thinner and lighter compared to previous outsoles while still being as durable and grippy.

The outsole is made with Vibram’s Megagrip rubber which is their grippiest rubber that is still durable over the long run. Some rubbers are very soft but don’t last long, others are durable and hard but aren’t as sticky. Megagrip aims to do both. It grips wet and dry surfaces very well. The recently-reviewed Tecnica Magma trail shoes use Megagrip as well

The pattern with 5mm lugs was inspired by the Canadian Shield, a rock formation that underlies a lot of Canada that is the largest and strongest pre-Cambrian rock formation on earth.

Is all this good? Let’s see.

First all the specs and then we’ll get into what this all gets you on the trail.

All the Specs

• Seamless bio-based BlueSign Dyneema upper
• Dyneema and recycled polyester laces
• Norda x Vibram Formation outsole using Vibram Litebase and Megagrip.
• 5mm lugs
• 360 degree hi-vis sections
• 247 grams (8.71 oz) per shoe with Ortholite insole
• 4mm drop (23mm to 19mm) with Ortholite insole.
• $285 CAD ($288 USD)

What I like

Comfortable

Right out of the box the 001s are comfortable and easy to wear. The midsole provides plenty of cushion.

They’re comfortable to run on the road and enough cushion and spring on the trail. I found they’re were a touch on the narrow side but I have slightly wider feet and prefer wide toeboxes like the Altra’s.

Sticky outsole

The 001s are nice and sticky on any surface. I found I could easily rely on them going up steep slick rock or dry, dusty dirt. With it being so dry and hot right now in PNW, I haven’t seen much for wet and muddy on my runs. I look forward to jumping on that as soon as the rain comes back.

Strong and Light

That Dyneema is about as strong as you can get for an upper. If it can’t withstand the rigors of trail running over long distances over time, nothing will. At only 247 grams per shoe, they are on the light end of running shoes but not the lightest. I expected it to blow it out of the park and be ultralight but the large cushion in the midsole accounts for a lot of that weight.

Improvements

norda Lock System

The edges of the tongue and collar around the ankle are very thin. Norda calls this the Lock system to hold your foot in place without adding much to the weight of the shoe. I don’t have any issues with the edges of the collar, it’s quite comfortable. The tongue is a bit thin, not providing a lot of cushion when the laces are done up fairly tight.

Price

Anything made with Dyneema is going to be a bit more expensive. It’s a premium material on a premium product. I think if it extends the life of a trail running by a meaningful amount it will be worth it if you run a lot.

Who is this good for?

If you are looking for a slick design on a trail running shoe that should last for a while, check out the norda 001 trail running shoes. A couple weeks testing certainly won’t show if they will last 5 years of hard use but with Dyneema’s reputation, I’m betting they will. As with all Dyneema outdoor gear, the price isn’t for everyone, but it is for someone. If you’re looking for the highest quality materials on the planet in a trail runner, the norda 001 shoes are one of the few choices.

Buy online at Valhalla Pure Outfitters

The post Strong and Light: norda 001 Dyneema Trail Runner Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Many hikers are switching over to smaller and lighter trail running shoes that don’t offer the same stability but are much lighter and more comfortable to wear over long distances. Many trail runners didn’t have the support in the sole, the grip or durability that make hiking boots good over long distance.

So which do you pick?

The Magma trail shoe from Tecnica is first trail shoe that’s firmly aimed at being light enough to be a trail runner, supportive and durable enough to be a hiking shoe, and sticky enough to be an approach shoe for getting to climbing areas.

So it’s trying to be three different things that are apparently opposites to one another. Can it really be good at all 3?

XO Shield outsole with Vibram Litebase and Megagrip

Excuse me? That’s a mouthful. Let’s unpack that.

Tecnica calls the the outsole on the Magma (grippy rubbery thing on the bottom) the XO Shield outsole.

It’s made with a rubber compound from Vibram called Megagrip. Megagrip is a sticky but durable rubber that lasts longer. Usually when rubber is sticky, like on climbing shoes, it doesn’t as as long. It wears through and gets holes fast but is very sticky. Or on the other side you can have very hard rubber like on hiking boots, that’s very stiff and last a long time, but it’s not sticky and can have a tough time on smooth surfaces like dry or wet rock. Megagrip is a bit better at both.

We tested Megagrip on the Norda 001 trail runners recently as well.

Instead of gluing on an extra protective rand around the outside of the shoe for protection and stickiness, the sole just wraps up around the edges too.

Vibram Litebase is just a technology they developed to make the outsole thinner and lighter but still have the grip and durability their old outsoles did. It just makes the shoe lighter than it would have been with their old outsoles.

The tread pattern which has lugs of many different sizes and patterns from the front to the back, is inspired by mountain bike tires that can grip in wet mud or dry dirt and rock.

And one last part about the bottom of the shoe is the wide heel, and stability fins down the sides on the back to help with stability and breaking going down hill. I like to be able to stop when I’m on steep terrain.

Oh, and one last last thing about the bottom of the shoe. There’s a bit of curved rocker under the toe in the midsole to help roll you into the next step. It’s not super noticeable like having curved shoes but it doesn’t help with each step when you’re running. An ESS shank in the midsole controls twisting and a rockplate keeps your feet happy when you’re bashing them against hard, sharp rocks all day.

Fit

The fit out of the box for the Magma is snug around the heel and a mid-weight in the toe area. It’s not as wide as a Altra shoe in the toe area but I found it plenty wide for my mid-width feet.

The heel and sides can be heat-molded with Tecnica’s Custom Adaptive Shape (CAS) technology, just like in ski boots. Their Forge hiking boot can be heat-molded in the same way.

The insole is heated and then put into the shoes, and then with the shoes on your feet, giant, sock-like heaters compress around your legs pressing the shoes (or boots) into your feet, molding them to the shape.

Tecnica says the shoes are somewhat pre-molded and I found them a great fit out of the box. I think if the the sole or heel bugged you a little bit, then you could get a custom fit at an outdoors shop with a heat molder.

For being pre-molded, the insole support was very mild, which I liked. Some supportive insoles are aggressively tall and I spend dozens of kilometers running with sore feet trying to bash them down lower.

The tongue is a classic tongue, separate from the shoe all the way down, with a small loop to run laces through.

This version is not waterproof but there is a Gore-Tex version available.

All the Specs

• 8mm drop
• Ventilated 3D mesh
• 5mm lug height
• ESS Shank
• Forefoot rock plate
• Anatomic fit
• Classic tongue, laces can go through the tongue
• Vibram Litebase outsole with Megagrip rubber
• CAS – Custom Adaptive Shape around heel and with insole.
• High-rebound compression molded EVA Midsole
• 310 grams (mens size 9)
• $190 CAD ($140 USD)

What I like

The Fit is Great

I love when I can pull a pair of shoes out of the box and go for a run. No hotspots, no plantar fascia pain, just a nice fit right away. The heel was snug immediately and has yet to rub on any of my runs or hikes.

The grip is very good

So far in our hot dry weather, the Magma has easily gripped everything I’ve thrown at them. Dry rock, gravel and dusty dirt are no problem for the Megagrip sole. The smaller, round lugs at the front and larger stiffer lugs in the bag seem to help with gripping anything underfoot. I’ve stood on dusty dirt and dry rock on extremely steep parts of the trails hiking and running. The degree of the slope has been well past what I’m comfortable walking on (and my ankles turn to) and I can stay standing.

Light enough to run but stable for hiking

The Magma’s aren’t going to be the lightest trail shoes on the market at 310 grams but it’s not bad. Typically hiking shoes have thick outsoles and midsoles to beef up their stability and durability but that makes them heavier. The Magma’s feel great running on the trails.

Improvements

Cushion a bit stiff for the road

The Magma’s aren’t meant for running on the road but I tested them there anyways. I usually run a bit on the road to get the trails when I head out. They aren’t soft and cushy on the road, but they don’t hurt either. Hitting the road in the new shoes usually gives me sore feet but they were happy after couple kilometers to and from the trails over the last few weeks.

Video Review

Prefer video? Here’s the video version.

Who is the Tecnica Magma good for?

If you are looking for a trail shoe that you can run and hike in, the Magma can absolutely do those things. This is not a great shoe if you are putting in a lot of kilometers on the road but that’s what they’re meant to do. They’re meant to be a 1-shoe quiver. You can trail run on the weekends and hike during the week no problem

See on the Tecnica website

Buy on Valhalla Pure Outfitters

Buy on Vertical Addiction

Buy on Outter Limits

The post Run, Hike and Scramble in the Tecnica Magma Trail Shoe first appeared on Pack & Trail.

The Lone Peak series of trail runners has become the a go-to shoe for long distance hikers. Even though they’re fantastic for hiking as a lighter shoe with a wider toebox, they’re actually a trail runner. But whatever you do use them for, you’ll likely find they’re well suited for it.

Most of the Lone Peak line are not waterproof, they let water in and let water out just as fast. When the weather is warm this might be fun. But when it’s cold and miserable it’s nice to have drier feet.

The Lone Peak All-WTHR Low trail runner is basically a Lone Peak 5 but with a burlier mid-sole and a waterproof membrane wrapped around it.

Specs

• $160 USD
• eVent waterproof membrane
• MaxTrac outsole
• GaiterTrap
• FootShape toebox
• 25mm stack height
• Zero drop
• Balanced Cushioning
• Ego midsole
• 374 grams (13.2 oz)

MaxTrac outsole

The outsole or grippy lugs on a shoe is important. The MaxTrac outsole on the Lone Peak 5 has solid grip without being unstable. The lugs grip but won’t hold on to mud if it’s wet.

The new Ego midsole in the Lone Peak 5 and the ALL-WTHR provides a bit of bounce and cushion. It’s just enough to run on the road if that’s your thing but it feels great on the trail.

I typically run a bit on the road to get to the trails and it’s plenty for that. I wouldn’t do long road runs with them.

There is a rock plate in the forefoot which is nice on the gravel and rocky trails. It adds a bit to the weight but helps keep your feet from getting beat up on the trail.

Zero Drop

Most shoes have some drop in the height from the heel to the toe. High heels are obviously a ridiculously large drop but most running shoes have drop of 10mm from the back to the front. So if a shoe was 35mm from concrete to foot in the back it might have 25mm in the front and a 10mm drop from the back to the front.

Altra have made the ALL-WTHR and Lone Peak 5 zero drop. They take a bit to get used to but they are excellent for mobility and leg strength. When you are walking barefoot, that’s obviously a zero drop how nature intended. Schedule time to work into a zero drop shoe if you have never run or walked in one before.

These ALL-WTHR are 25mm from front to back.

How wide is the toe box?

The FootShape toebox is one of Altra’s signature specs. The extra wide toe box allows your toes to spread out in the shoe just like they would if you were walking barefoot. They say this allows your big toe to line up correctly with the rest of your foot give you more power on each pushoff.

I just love the wide toebox for comfort. It doesn’t feel sloppy but enough for my toes to spread out where they want to. After longer runs or hikes, your feet are going to swell and there’s extra room for that.

The rest of the shoe in the forefoot and heel are narrower to prevent any slipping around. It just leaves space for the toes to do what they need to do.

I haven’t tested the Lone Peak 5 but other testers online mentioned the ALL-WTHR being slightly narrower and slightly shorter than the LP5. If you need every millimetre of that space, the ALL-WTHR’s slight size down might not work.

What is the waterproof membrane?

The waterproof membrane in the Lone Peak ALL-WTHR shoes is the eVent membrane. It’s very similar to the Gore-Tex membrane but is more breathable, allowing sweat to pass through easier from the inside.

The eVent membrane bootie inside the shoe is completely waterproof. You can stand in puddles if you like. The only downside to a waterproof running shoe like this is the low sides. The waterproofing only goes to the top of the shoe!

Running or hiking through snowy, wet or dewy trails is a dream with waterproof shoes like this. Your feet stay dry and warm the whole time. If any water does get in though, it takes a bit longer to get out. If you plan on running through massive puddles or streams over the tops of the shoes, mesh shoes that will drain faster would probably work better.

All waterproof membranes make the shoe a bit warmer. It’s another layer in the shoe that reduces airflow so using a shoe like the ALL-WTHR on hot summer hikes will be hot on your feet. They feel great when it’s cold, snowing and wet outside, when you want the extra warmth to keep those toes moving.

What I like

There’s so much to like about the Lone Peak ALL-WTHR low running shoes. They can run, they can hike, they can go straight through the miserable weather in the winter.

Waterproof eVent Membrane – keeps your feet warm and dry through the slush and puddles.

FootShape toebox – lets your toes spread out and expand on longer hikes and runs.

Zero drop – reinforces more natural movement while running and hiking.

What I don’t like

Heavy – Because of the waterproof membrane, the ALL-WTHR are a bit heavier than the lightweight Lone Peak 5. On slushy days, I’ll take the extra weight if that means I can be more comfortable.

Warm in hot weather – Not the best shoe for hot days running. Something vented like the regular Lone Peaks are better. Most days running in the Pacific Northwest I’m happy to have the waterproofing.

Is there a mid version?

If you’re looking for a lightweight hiker and just looking for higher waterproofing, there’s a mid version of the Lone Peak ALL-WTHR. Same basic shape and features but just taller sides with a bit more support and waterproofing. I haven’t tested these but they look like they’d be excellent light hikers for wet conditions.

Who is this good for?

If you ever hike or run in wet, muddy or snowy conditions, definitely have a look at the Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR shoes. They have a ton of space for your toes and keep them dry in gross conditions. They’re going to be very warm when it’s hot out but when the weather turns, it’s definitely nice on the trail.

The post Altra Lone Peak All-WTHR Low Trail Runner Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.