Hoka One One Mafate 2 Trail Runners

www.hokaoneone.com
Call them the anti-barefoot shoe. These thick-soled, ultra-cushy trail runners combine lightweight uppers with a rockered EVA midsole that’s 35% wider, 30% softer, and 2.5 times thicker than standard trail runners. French manufacturer Hoka One One claims the design dissipates up to 80% of the strike force in a running stride, and after training on two pairs since last December, our stocky Clydesdale tester raved about their impact protection and cushioning.

“I’ve been struggling with Morton’s neuroma (underfoot nerve pain), a chrome steel hip replacement, and deteriorating knees for years,” he reported. ”For me, they’ve been a new lease on running. I can even train on pavement with no resulting joint tenderness or foot pain, and minimal soreness in quads and calves.”

For those same reasons, Hokas (available in trail, road, and combo models) have gained quick acceptance among ultra-marathoners and heavier, injury-prone runners. Some minimalist-shoe fans incorporate them into their footwear spectrum for recovery days and high-mileage training. When we first put them on, they felt a bit tall and tippy. Lateral dodging and nubbin edging are not their forte, but a polyurethane rearfoot cradle, and a wide sole platform avoid most ankle rolling, even on sidehills. The underfoot rocker and lack of a heel block make gravelly uphill sprints and muddy descents a bit insecure, but the cushion also meant we could heel strike aggressively on secure downhills.

The actual stride feels like running on stiff marshmallows. Stones disappear underfoot, and the rockered geometry, which incorporates a 4 mm drop between heel and forefoot, creates a natural mid-foot strike and easy forward momentum with no fold point between heel strike and toe push. This works well for devotees of Zen running technique. The shoes look massive, but they come in at a lightweight 11 ounces per shoe.

Hokas don’t work for everybody, but if you have stress injury issues with feet, knees, hips, or lower back, the Mafates are worth checking out. They cost a bit more, but ours still have plenty of cushion after 500 miles of running and hiking, so the value seems there. Mafate 2s run true to size in men’s and women’s, but other Hoka road models we’ve tried can run a half-size small.
-Steve Howe

$150

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Tecnica Dragon X-Lite Trail Runner

shop.tecnicausa.com, 11 ounces
The Tecnica Dragon X-Lite is a good looking shoe that confidently offers stability and comfort on the uneven and often treacherous ride that is trail running. As you can tell by simply glancing at the shoe, the Dragon X-Lit eschews the minimalist’s movement that’s been dominating the running scene. The resutt is a shoe with a wide base and attentive cushioning that work harmoniously to navigate challenging terrains, whether it’s steep up hills, muddy tracks, or precarious descents. Its oversized platform and multidirectional lugs in the outsole facilitate confident footing over rocks and roots. The TRS cushioning system, padded tongue and collar, and Ortholite insole afford ease and coalesce for an exceptionally snug ride. Perhaps a trade off to the comfort and stability offered by the Dragon X-Lite is a lower degree of responsiveness, resulting in stiffer turnover on occasion. And while the suede upper and padded environs lend to added comfort, this comes at the expense of some breathability, most noticeable on hot summer days. Bottom line, this shoe achieves a balance hard to find in trail running shoes if you are willing to sacrifice some degrees of responsiveness and heat is less of a factor.
-Pawan Bhatia

$115

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Outdoor Retailer: Merrell Preview

This spring Merrell will take the ample lessons learned from their successful Barefoot Trail Glove shoe and apply them to a new line. Dubbed the M-Connect, this series will carry across four key collections (including the Barefoot) to provide minimalist, all-natural fit in fast, flexible designs that cater to the needs of outdoor exercise, from trail running to hiking to aquatic environs. We’re particularly interested in the new multi-hike Proterra line, whose designs originated from insights gleaned from the University of Virginia’s SPEED Performance Clinic and Motion Analysis Lab. Their studies indicate that greater surface contact with the ground improves overall performance. These fast, breathable hiking shoes and boots will have a modest 4mm drop, inverted lugs, a wider mid-foot, and will employ a new technology that infuses the foot cage and the mesh uppers to allow for lightweight, natural movement without sacrificing durability. Other shoes in the M-Connect line include Mix-Master 2, with 4mm drop and 12 to 8mm of cushion and the Bare Access (zero drop, 8mm of cushion).

Merrell will also introduce the Bazaar collection in spring 2013, a group of laid-back, go-anywhere shoes and sandals for men and women that incorporate vibrant fabrics akin to those found in the markets of the world. The evocative line should make for a solid pair of travel shoes, and will likely pair nicely with the continuation of their apparel line, which brings performance-oriented technology into urban, travel friendly designs. We love the looks of the women’s Hawthorne, a poly, DWR-treated jacket with a pleated back for cycle-friendly application, and the Aquatia, a fully-seamed waterproof/breathable jacket with a femme-yet-functional cut and a heathered exterior. The men’s line will mirror this form-function merge, including the commute-friendly Freewheel Short-Sleeved Shirt, the Lake Hood Short, and the streamlined, technical Charlton Shirt. These travel-friendly pieces will be part of the spring 2013 Urban Mobility line, which aim to marry athletic apparel with a touch of style and tech for trail running, hiking, and…pretty much any other active pursuit in which you wear clothes.

Prices vary.

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Outdoor Retailer: Patagonia Preview

While some brands aim for exponential expansion in spring 2013, others will hone in on what they do best—and then do it all over again. And we’re happy to report that Patagonia’s footwear line will follow that latter strategy. Focusing in on trail running, they’ve culled input from a cadre of high-performance athletes to refine and revamp their trail runners. They’ll introduce the EVERmore ($110, pictured), which boasts a 4mm drop and will be the lightest shoe in their line at a modest 7.8 ounces (men’s model). Durable, breathable mesh uppers join forces with drainage ports, a soft heel, flexible mid- and outsoles, and an integrated footbed to perform on a variety of terrain. Even though it’s a shoe catering to mid-strike running, it’ll still have ample padding, with 10mm in the heel and 6mm in the forefoot, along with a rock plate for long-distance protection.

We also like the look of their new multisport-inspired mountain shoe, the Fitz Sneak ($100). The punchy, low-key sneaker should provide all-day comfort, with a sticky rubber sole and a cushioned EVA midsole that could be a solid, go-to travel shoe. We also like the graphic, which integrates the Fitz Roy silhouette across the uppers.

On the casual side, they’ll introduce the C-Street collection—relaxed suede and textile sneaks that look to be eminently packable (prices start at $80). And they’re unveil two new women’s models in their Advocate line, vegan-friendly Mary Jane slip-on ($70) and a lace-up sneaker ($75). We’re looking forward to ‘em both, in part because the shoes will come in a blast of fun, funky colors, and also because the Advocate line showcases Patagonia’s partnership with 1% for the Planet—something that’ll never go out of style.

Prices vary.

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Outdoor Retailer: The North Face Preview

The Verto Micro Hoodie, Pro Jacket, and the Satellite Pants, Part of the Verto Climbing Kit

Deciding what to wear in (and what to buy for) the mountainous backcountry will get a lot easier in spring 2013 thanks to the new Verto Climbing Kit from The North Face. This four-piece apparel set up delivers pretty much all the clothes you need for an alpine adventure in a ridiculously lightweight package. Start with the Litho t-shirt ($80), an all-merino base layer with a mid-rib zipper pocket. From there, toss on the Verto Micro Hoodie ($249), a featherweight down jacket with 800-fill goose down, strategic use of stretch, and Flashdry water protection. Then don the Verto Pro Jacket ($199) for Gore Windstopper protection against the elements and a pair of the soft shell Satellite Pants ($130), and you’ve got a go-to kit that collectively weighs in at less than two pounds.TNF athletes have been putting this combo to the test and we anticipate this to be one of the best-dialed alpine solutions on the market.

The North Face will also continue to refine their line of trail running products, including the Better Than Naked line of high-performance apparel for men and women, and new shoes like the Hyper-Track Guide ($120), a highly responsive runner designed to perform equally well on both the trail and the pavement.

They will also introduce a new Optifit harnessing system in their backpack line, said to greatly enhance both ventilation and load control. The Matthes Crest and Conness pack series will both boast this new technology, with a variety of custom-fit options in various sizes. We’ve got one of these new packs in the field right now, and we’ll report back on how well it performs shortly. Stay tuned for additional The North Face product reviews over the coming months.

Prices vary.

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