By Lisa Jhung
Ours testers included short-distance trail runners, competitive ultrarunners, casual hikers, and long-haul backpackers. All told, we had a couple hundred years of run-hike-climb experience between us. For two months last spring, in and around Boulder, Colorado, we put nearly as many miles on 30 different pairs of shoes while running, rock hopping, and even Class 5 scrambling. Plus, time tested running gear, from the lightest windbreaker on the market to the our favorite sports bra.
Brooks PureGrit 5
Hoka One One Challenger ATR2
Icebug Anima RB9X
New Balance Vazee Summit
Pearl Izumi Trail M2 v 3
La Sportiva Helios 2.0
Salomon X-Mission 3
Altra Olympus 2.0
<Town-to- Trail>
Sometimes you have to slap pavement to get to the trailhead.
Adidas Terrex Agravic
Asics Gel-Fuji Endurance
Saucony Peregrine 6
Montrail Caldorado
Scarpa Neutron
The North Face Ultra Endurance
Topo Athletic Hydroventure
Merrell All Out Crush
<Mountain Running>
These shoes love climbing and descending—and navigating jumbled terrain.
Columbia Conspiracy Titanium OutDry
Dynafit Feline Vertical
Salewa Ultra Train
ArcTeryx Acrux SL Approach
Oboz Aurora [women’s only]
Ahnu Sugarpine WP
Keen Versatrail
Vasque Inhaler II Low
<Hike and Scramble>
Sometimes a walk leads to a Class 5 climb.
Columbia Conspiracy Titanium OutDry
Oboz Aurora [women’s only]
Ahnu Sugarpine WP [women’s only]
From our Early Summer 2016 issue.
