XTERRA XR1.0 Trail Shoe - Product Review

I have always done my trail running in my regular running shoes.   Traditional “trail running shoes” always felt heavy and stiff with a tread pattern similar to hiking boots.  As it turns out, I am the target market for the XTERRA Footwear designers.  

The XTERRA shoe designers, who have worked for some of the best footwear brands in the industry, set out to make a lightweight, yet rugged trail shoe.  When they asked me to test drive a pair of their XR1.0 shoes I jumped at the chance. 

The shoes arrived right in the middle of heavy mileage prep for a 50K trail run.   Right out of the box the shoes looked and felt like a traditional lightweight training shoe.  There was no “break-in” period as the shoes felt comfortable on the first run. 

After a month of winter trail running in rain, snow and ice I was impressed with the comfort and stability of the shoes.  They provided excellent traction in all conditions.   I gained additional confidence in wet and slippery situations where I would normally hesitate or slowdown in anticipation of sliding and skating around in my normal “road” shoes. 

The big test arrived at the Sylamore Trail 50k Run.  The trail offered a perfect proving ground: mud, ice, rocks and two river crossings.    My main observations:

• The shoes offered sure-footed “grip” in the mud and on the slick rocks.
• Quick drainage after the creek and river crossings.
• No foot issues at all, no hot spots, no blisters.
• My feet felt stable inside the shoe… no sliding around inside.

The XTERRA XR1.0 is a great shoe.  It transitions well from the trail to the road.  I totally agree with their statement:  “The ultimate all-purpose neutral running shoe:  optimal flexibility, breathability, cushioning, and support to handle the roughest trails and the smoothest roads.”

Some great technical background from the XTERRA designers:

1.Outsole: There are 4 areas around the forefoot and heel which are positioned symmetrically as the main contact points. The center part and the waist areas are raised up and therefore have less contact with the ground. This gives us a shoe with better cushioning, balance adjustment, and lighter in weight. The use of blown rubber in the forefoot , and the high abrasion carbon rubber in the heel allows for optimal durability where we need it and maximum weight reduction.

2.Midsole: With a dual density midsole, the bottom layer provides stiffness like, a "chassis", for better support and stability, while the top layer provides the softness under the foot for better cushion and comfort while running.

3. Shank: The shank is the major part of the "chassis" which provides the stiffness and torsion performance plus adds to the aesthetics of a light and speedy product.

XTERRA also sent me a pair of their new XT2.0 shoe to test.  My first impression was “what the heck is this?”  The shoe is billed as the “Outdoor Play Shoe”.  I found it to be a great all around shoe.  It is comfy and super-light (under 10 ounces).  From their website:
We designed the XT2.0 for XTERRA Training.  XTERRA Training is all things active and fun, training for life as well as your next race.  Put these on your feet and you might never want to take them off.  The XT2.0 is designed and built to work well as a runner knowing that running is a key part of the XTERRA Training regime. We never intended anyone to run an Xduro or a marathon in it, but ensured it was great for shorter trail events, or the local 5K. However some of our product testers have loved running in it, and just wont stop.

Visit their website for complete details and selection:  XTERRA Footwear