Montrail Hardrock trail running shoes : Stability & Comfort

My family and I were heading to the East Coast for a little summer vacation, and I was looking forward to running on some of the old trails from my college days. I wore my new Hardrocks for the six-hour cross-country flight to Newark airport, and quickly broke them in chasing my two kids around the airport.

My internal clock always goes wacky when I go back east, but that wasn't going to stop me from taking my new shoes out for a spin. As soon as we arrived, I laced on my new kicks, and I was off. Almost immediately my flippy-flop ankles (too many sprains--I’ve lost count) knew that they were in good hands; they were in for a stable ride.

The Hardrock's cushioning system, with an added metatarsal gel pad on the insole, provided the right amount of cushioned comfort, and the rugged outsole came in handy on the narrow, crowned New England roads. I liked the fit of these shoes--the upper provided plenty of support and lateral stability. I even tried out the lacing recommendations that came with the shoes (a handy detail). Once I reached the trails I chose a route with pathways covered in bark chips, sand, and grass so that I could test out my Hard rocks on multiple terrains. With each step I gained more confidence in the shoes, and realized they would also be great for day hiking.

The Hardrocks were so comfortable and stable that I wore them every day - for running on sandy trails in CT, pounding the pavement in Manhattan, and hiking with my family through the woods.

Bottom LIne: I love these shoes. They are a bit heavier than a regular running shoe because they’re built for rough, rocky terrain. I was very pleased with how they performed, and I look forward wearing them hiking this weekend on the Oregon Coast.--M.P. (Sept '04)

Price: $89.99

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Manufacturer's Site : www.montrail.com