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GearWhat We Ran—2015 Trail Test
What We Ran—2015 Trail Test
Scott Hubbs and Emily McMahon Rand | Smith Rock State Park, OR On Scott: Smith PivLock Arena Max Sunglasses ($159; smithoptics.com), Salomon Elevate Seamless Tee ($75; salomon.com), Lululemon Pace Breaker Short ($64; lululemon.com), Darn Tough No Show Ultralight Socks ($15; darntough.com). On Emily: Arc’teryx Motus Hat ($39; arcteryx.com), Marmot Dash Hybrid Jacket ($125; marmot.com), Helly Hansen Aspire Printed Shorts ($40; hellyhansen.com), Feetures Elite Light Cushion No Show Tab Socks ($15; feeturesrunning.com). Emily McMahon Rand | Deschutes River Trail, Bend, OR On Emily: Pearl Izumi Flash LS ($65; pearlizumi.com), Marmot Layer Up Tank ($35; marmot.com), Helly Hansen Aspire Printed Shorts ($40; hellyhansen.com),…...
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RunMountain Kicks 2015: Mammut Comfort Low GTX
Mountain Kicks 2015: Mammut Comfort Low GTX
Light Alpinism Here’s an upgrade in protection and support for anyone who uses trail runners in place of hiking boots. The lightweight Comfort Low hikes like a running shoe thanks to a similar heel-to-toe drop and a smooth-flexing sole. Testers liked the responsive cushioning for loping along easy stretches and speedy footwork over rocks and roots. But here, a wide platform and reinforced arch deliver more support than the average running shoe. And the multi-directional lugs on a hard-wearing rubber sole thrive off-road. “The tread eats loose or chossy ascents and maintains control bombing downhill,” a tester wrote. A roomy…...
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RunMountain Kicks 2015: Adidas Outdoor Terrex Boost
Mountain Kicks 2015: Adidas Outdoor Terrex Boost
Mountain Running The Terrex feels custom-built for speed in rocky, loose, and steep terrain. Stability features abound: note the heel counter, medial arch support, toe rand, and a fortified upper from heel-to-toe. A highly effective speed lace system dials in the sock-like fit, which testers described as both “elfin narrow” and “racing fast.” Many commented on the shoe’s light feel and scalpel-like precision. There’s also a tech story here: Adidas uses “blown up” plastic TPU capsules for their Boost midsole. (Conventional midsoles primarily use soft EVA foam for cushioning and then stiffen it with materials like TPU.) The brand says…...
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BikeCurving Into Bend
Curving Into Bend
The Ring of Fire’s adventure epicenter erupts with seismic pleasures. By Rob Story | Photographs by Lee Cohen The hipsters of Bend (full sleeve tatts, square beards) appear to smile with greater frequency than big city hipsters (full sleeve tatts, square beards, tight pants). Beyond the looser trousers, Benders are beaming for a multitude of reasons: the sunny, dry climate in the rain shadow of the Cascades; tasty dining options like Peruvian-Tuscan fusion; downtown’s shimmering Mirror Pond, as lovely as it sounds; and the Bend Ale Trail, a mapped tour of 14 craft breweries honoring Oregon’s infatuation with fermented barley. But mostly the…...
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RunMountain Kicks 2015: Topo Athletic Runventure
Mountain Kicks 2015: Topo Athletic Runventure
Town to Trail For Topo Athletic, the guiding design principle is clear: When the foot moves in a natural motion, performance benefits. A close fit through the midfoot gives way to a spacious forefoot, allowing for natural toe splay—think shock absorption—with each step. Testers also found that the increased surface area improved forward propulsion and created better angles for quick direction changes. But just because the Topo supports a natural stride doesn’t mean it’s a minimalist shoe with no protection. Features like bonded overlays, a TPU rock plate, and slender, triple-density EVA midsole buff out light to medium trail. And…...
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GearTime Tested Gear: Spy Optic Discord Sunglasses with Happy Lens
Time Tested Gear: Spy Optic Discord Sunglasses with Happy Lens
Field Test: Sunlight can be nasty. If you haven’t tried any of the new lenses that filter out the worst of that light then you have no clue what I’m talking about. Put on Happy Lens equipped sunglasses by Spy to find out how much nicer the world looks. Why It’s Timeless: Not only does the natural world look better—grass greener, roses redder—but objects appear more sharply defined as well, especially in flat light. $130; spyoptic.com —Marc Peruzzi From the Early Summer 2015 issue....
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GearTime Tested Gear: SAXX Underwear Co. Kinetic Boxer
Time Tested Gear: SAXX Underwear Co. Kinetic Boxer
Field Test: The problem with men’s underwear? There’s man stuff inside. That’s where SAXX comes in. Instead of featureless shorts built for eunuchs, here two subtle mesh panels provide an unobtrusive pouch to keep the Swami-hood where it belongs. You choose the fabrics—wool, cotton, poly blends—based on demands of sport and everyday life. Why It’s Timeless: The design offers support, but not jockstrap style constriction. $37; saxxunderwear.com —Swami From the Early Summer 2015 issue....
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RunKroger’s Canteen
Kroger’s Canteen
On July 10, 140 runners jammed behind the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run start line in Silverton, Colorado. They looped a 100.5-mile course that climbs 33,992 vertical feet—at an average elevation of 11,000 feet—through Telluride, Ouray, and back to Silverton. Spanish phenom Kilian Jornet set a new course record in 23 hours and 28 minutes, while Anna Frost topped the women’s field in 28 hours and 22 minutes. They were followed across the line by 126 racers. Each one visited Kroger’s Canteen, an aid station perched at 13,100 feet—and so did Salomon’s filmers....
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RunMountain Kicks 2015: Scott Kinabalu Supertrac
Mountain Kicks 2015: Scott Kinabalu Supertrac
Mountain Running Does spattering mud make you happy? Charge through muck with this deeply lugged off-road trainer. As one tester noted, “the outsole is downright rowdy.” Flexible lugs find purchase when you hit loam or wet roots downhill. (It’s the shoe we’d grab for summer runs in earthy places like Oregon or New Hampshire.) Done with the run? Mesh windows draw moisture out of the shoe for quick drying—there’s also a Gore-Tex version of the shoe for colder weather outings. Beyond the sole (it’s like a DH mountain bike tire) our testers praised the molded heel, midfoot overlays, and the…...
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RunMountain Kicks 2015: Brooks Cascadia 10
Mountain Kicks 2015: Brooks Cascadia 10
Town to Trail First-time trail runner? Start with the Cascadia 10. A Brooks stalwart for 10 years, the Cascadia’s standout feature is a proprietary midsole that adapts to your stride and customizes the cushioning. Brooks calls it BioMoGo DNA; essentially, long-chain molecules grow more fluid as you apply force. Find your stride and it feels cushy and energetic, but not squishy. At rest, the midsole rebounds to its original state and, near as we can tell, breaks down slower than EVA. Brooks updated the Cascadia 10 with a seamless mesh upper to combat blisters. Four posts (firmer materials that reinforce…...
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GearTime Tested Gear: REVO Huddie Sunglasses
Time Tested Gear: REVO Huddie Sunglasses
Field Test: Because UV rays get stronger at elevation—and I live at 5,430 feet with 300 days of sun a year—I wear polarized shades daily. REVO’s Blue Water lens blocks 100 percent of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays, and cuts glare on the ski commute or when I sight fish. Lightweight acetate frames and anti-slip nose pads also work for bike commutes, shorter trail runs, and the skintrack. Endurance factor: Scratch-free after four months of wear and drops. $189; revo.com —Olivia Dwyer From the Early Summer 2015 issue....
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BikeSteamboat and the Good Time Swine
Steamboat and the Good Time Swine
By Marc Peruzzi | Photographs by Liam Doran I recently heard a stodgy Sierra Club type (zip off pantaloons; canvas sun hat; engraved hiking stick) categorize all those who would not subscribe to the idea that hiking is the only appropriate activity in nature as senseless “funhogs.” With all due respect Mr. IBMer, your colon is blocked by Gorp and your heart is a bag of sulfur. As for your propaganda, it resonates as thinly as a tin drum. Mountain bikers ruin trails, whooping kayakers destroy the serenity of rivers, fly fishers torture fish, and on and on you droll,…...
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GearMountain Kicks 2015: Salomon X-ALP MTN GTX
Mountain Kicks 2015: Salomon X-ALP MTN GTX
Light Alpinism Most of us reserve our traditional hiking boots for high elevation backpacking in marginal weather. The X-ALP MTN GTX, though, is no conventional clunker. Take a few strides on even ground, and you instantly feel the smooth, rolling heel-to-toe motion. But in variable terrain—boulder fields or steep scrambles—the sole stiffens for confident lateral moves. Credit the “carbon edging chassis” featured throughout the X-ALP line. Milled cutouts in a thin carbon sheet underfoot allow fore and aft flex, but supply torsional rigidity. Two layers of EVA foam pad each step; Cordura and leather uppers shield from abrasive forces, and…...
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GearTime Tested Gear: Outdoor Research Deviator Hoody
Time Tested Gear: Outdoor Research Deviator Hoody
Field Test: This versatile hybrid piece is essentially a fleece jacket with a front vest cut from Polartec Alpha, an air permeable synthetic fill. The combo works like a thermostat. On the move, body heat can circulate and escape. At rest, heat gets locked in and the hood adds warmth. Why It’s Timeless: Ideal for stop-and-go alpine climbing. $185; outdoorresearch.com —Ryan Stuart From the Early Summer 2015 issue....
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RunMountain Kicks 2015: La Sportiva Mutant
Mountain Kicks 2015: La Sportiva Mutant
Mountain Running Euros call it skyrunning—rugged, high altitude courses with massive vertical gain and mandatory summits. (Google Colorado’s Pikes Peak Marathon or The Rut in Montana for the U.S. equivalent.) That’s the ideal habitat for Sportiva’s Mutant. We found it excelled at ascending through boulders, surfing scree on switchbacks, and rock-hopping downhill. On smooth track the stride is buttery smooth. Credit the injection-molded EVA midsole stiffened with a TPU shank. “Strong and stable in billy goat terrain,” said a tester. Another raved about the Mutant’s “genius upper design.” An overlapping tongue and intricate lace harness customize fit, while strong TPU…...
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RunMountain Kicks 2015: Montrail FluidFlex ST
Mountain Kicks 2015: Montrail FluidFlex ST
Town to Trail Montrail delivers the elusive combination of speed and stability in this update to the FluidFlex, a past Trail Test winner. In the compression-molded EVA midsole, blended foam increases midfoot support and torsional stiffness. Coupled with heel-to-toe grooves in the midsole and a 4mm drop, the neutral platformed shoe lets you maintain a quick, natural stride on uneven surfaces. Up front, a solid foam rock plate guards against sharp stones. Abrasion-resistant overlays fortify the upper, and still more strategic foam creates a close, no-slip fit around the heel and collar. Swami gripe: A few testers would like to…...
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Culture
Bend Hits Full Stride
Bend Hits Full Stride
Runner: Chris Paterson | Tumalo Falls, Bend, OR How a mountain town became a running destination By Olivia Dwyer | Photographs by Dave Cox Hipster facial hair is trending with endurance athletes, but any talk of running and mustaches should rightfully start with Steve Prefontaine, the Oregon phenom who stormed to American records at every distance from 2,000 to 10,000 meters in the early ’70s. Prefontaine’s success kick-started the running boom in Oregon—where his college coach went on to help start a shoe company called Nike and establish a pipeline for America’s best distance runners. Meanwhile, on the eastern flank of…...
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GearQuick Tip: Perfect Fit for Trail Runners
Quick Tip: Perfect Fit for Trail Runners
Teague Hatfield, owner of FootZone in Bend, Oregon, reveals how to get a perfect fit for your trail running shoes. Visit footzonebend.com to connect with Teague, and check out summer’s best shoes for trail running, mountain races, and anaerobic scrambles with the full results from our 2015 Trail Test. ...
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