Home/Reviews
Fresh experiences from real runners, collected from Reddit, YouTube and blogs and linked to their sources.
Blog · iRunFar – Craig Randall · 2 days ago
Extremely happy with the fit, comfort and looks: a roomy, cushy forefoot suited his wide, bunion-prone feet and eased his metatarsalgia, and it's a blast at normal paces on smooth trails. But the wavy, sparsely lugged outsole gets clumsy at speed on steep technical terrain. Very pricey.
Blog · Believe in the Run – Taylor Bodin · 2 days ago
No plate, no problem: one of the smoothest shoes he's ever run in, with gobs of soft cushion and a true bounce when pushing. He felt himself gliding over the trail, and his feet felt fantastic after long runs. Priced as a racer, it could equally be a superbly made daily shoe for comfort-first runners.
Blog · Switchback Travel – Maggie Slepian · 2 days ago
The shoe that made running fun this season: the most stable, locked-in feel she's tested, well-spaced lugs that grip on steep terrain, and rebound second to none. The upper, outsole and lugs still look new, unlike shoes she's worn smooth in under 200 miles. Sizing ran nearly a full size off.
Blog · RunToTheFinish – Alyssa Leib · 2 days ago
83%: grip this good, light, bouncy cushioning and a snug, secure fit let a Golden, Colorado trail runner pick up the pace on technical trails. But it's very narrow with no wide option, it only comes in unisex sizing and one bright colourway, and the lacing can't be adjusted, so it's not a go-to for everyone.
Blog · Run Oregon – Matt Rasmussen · 2 days ago
A lightweight, high-performance trail racer that thrives on short, fast, technical efforts: smooth over rolling hills and short, steep climbs, with energy return that stays controlled on descents. All Terrain Contagrip bites well on dry rocky singletrack. Not for muddy slogs or 50-mile days.
Blog · Believe in the Run – Taylor Bodin · 2 days ago
Still an exciting, versatile racer, now centred on technical terrain: extra protective foam and a bit more stability give it reach for efforts up to 4–6 hours, though it's less suited to smooth trails. But a pinch in the throat cost forefoot mobility, and chunks of foam were missing after his first 2-hour run.
Blog · Running Shoes Guru – Olivia Yoder · 2 days ago
A lightweight, well-made, great-looking entry-level road-to-trail shoe for gravel paths, dirt roads and mild trails, with little outsole wear after 50+ miles. It was firm and constrictive, needing many runs to break in, felt too high for her weak ankles on rocks, and the upper held water.
Blog · Doctors of Running · 2 days ago
A solid, lighter rockered trail shoe with good ground feel and some road-to-trail ability, best for moderate miles on mild to moderately technical trails; little outsole wear at 40 miles. A go-to for horse and bluff trails, if a tad flexible up front on climbs. Another tester wants more forefoot room.
Blog · Believe in the Run · 2 days ago
One tester sees it as a sign On is turning a corner: Helion foam and CloudTec pods work surprisingly well from sidewalks to gravel rail-trails. But it's narrow with a shallow toe box that left his big toe aching; size up half. Another tester: light and versatile, but too rigid for 10–15+ miles or technical terrain.
Blog · RunToTheFinish – Constance Mahoney · 2 days ago
A significant update (93%): plenty of stable, slightly springy cushion that kept her legs fresh on long runs, downhill impact absorption so good she forgot her shoes, and chevron lugs that bite better into loose dirt and rock. Good for hot trail runs. The midfoot is snug, and there's no high-energy pop.
Blog · Road Trail Run · 2 days ago
One tester (8.85/10): a comfortable, protective ride with excellent lockdown over varied terrain and a very durable build, though not the lightest; she rolled an ankle in a race, so heel stability needs work. Another tester: not light at 316 g but never sluggish, balanced and controlled, with enough cushion for ultras.
Blog · CleverHiker – Nathan Allen · 2 days ago
One of the more comfortable trail shoes they tested: solid for everyday training, with good traction, excellent on mixed pavement, dirt and gravel, breathable and stable, with no durability issues near 100 miles. The midfoot runs narrow; not ideal for technical, steep or slick trails or racing. 4.1/5.
Blog · Believe in the Run · 2 days ago
Both were On sceptics; past road models left rocks wedged in the outsole. Fans of On's signature ride will find it a great fit: lightweight, responsive and firm, with a connected-to-the-ground feel plus the durability and traction trails need. On won him over on pavement and now on the trails too.
Blog · iRunFar – Natalie Chirgwin · 2 days ago
An excellent choice for mountain running, technical trails or simply going fast, with a lightweight, responsive ride and a breathable yet protective upper; smooth even on concrete. After 150 miles the upper shows minimal wear, though midsole longevity is unproven. The forefoot fits slightly tight.
Blog · Believe in the Run · 2 days ago
Great and comfortable but too close to the Pegasus Trail 5 for $10 more: a plush road-to-trail grinder. Another tester found it uber-comfortable but wobbly on technical descents, with forefoot slide and an unstable heel. A third tester found it narrow, a bit heavy and short on traction, but great on gravel.
Blog · Gearist – Brandon Wood · 2 days ago
A switchblade of a shoe: it cruises easy miles or goes whip-fast without fuss, with an upper that holds the foot on any terrain and no break-in. After 60 miles, much of it on abrasive rock, there's very little wear. It may feel stiff for cushion lovers, it's narrow-ish in the midfoot, and $260 prices many out.
Blog · iRunFar – Alli Miles · 2 days ago
After 250+ miles she trusts it opening up on steep descents, hopping boulders and scrambling peaks: a high-performance trail trainer and racer whose durable build handles sky races to cruisy ultras. Fun for daily runs, but the price reflects super-shoe tech; runners without big goals don't need it.
Blog · iRunFar – Kristin Zosel · 2 days ago
Her favourite shoe in the line and one of her all-time favourite lightweight daily trail shoes: a smooth heel-to-toe roll with firm, efficient energy return that invites pushing the pace. At ~150 miles the upper hasn't stretched and the outsole looks new. It's not burly enough to be an all-mountain shoe for her.
Blog · Believe in the Run · 2 days ago
Possibly one of the best walking shoes money can buy and a solid all-rounder from roads to trails; fans of the last version will love it as much or more. Another tester recommends it for gravel and dry, groomed trails and for anyone wanting higher drop. A third tester: one of Nike's best 'everything' shoes.
Blog · Runnea UK – Imanol Urrestizala · 2 days ago
An ultra trail runner found it perfect up to 10–12 km, secure and responsive, and fine on road-to-trail mixes, but a ~20 km mountain route left his feet tired. A versatile, comfortable, affordable gateway trail shoe, soft yet stable; traction and durability could improve, and it's not for technical terrain.
Blog · Running Shoes Guru – Henry Howard · 2 days ago
Wise improvements over the debut model: even lighter and built for speed, a reputable option for shorter trail days on flat, fast surfaces, and it held up reasonably well after 50 miles. It's niche, not for muddy, snowy or technical terrain or distances over a half marathon, and the narrow forefoot won't suit everyone.
Blog · iRunFar – Alli Miles · 2 days ago
After 100+ miles it still has a place for a specific runner: light, fast and fun, and a cheaper unplated alternative to $250 racers. The glove-like fit suits long, standard-width feet with a narrow heel and may be too snug for wide feet. Not an ideal daily trainer; plated shoes do better at 50K+.
Blog · Doctors of Running – David Salas · 2 days ago
A traditional racing flat for the trails: fun, fast, nimble and aggressive, with good forefoot and midfoot lockdown, good traction and a grounded base. A very good option for sub-ultra trail racing. The heel isn't secure enough on sharp turns and switchbacks, and it struggles in mulchy or soft mud.
Blog · Believe in the Run · 2 days ago
One tester enjoyed it as a rotation shoe for short, speedy trail runs, almost the anti-HOKA: light, interesting and fun on non-technical trails. But $160 is a bit much for such a specific shoe, and the foot shape may exclude many runners. He suggests the cheaper Altra Superior or Nike Terra Kiger.
