I’ve been running trails for over two decades. Endurance running is in my blood and it isn’t uncommon for me to run multiple half, ultra, and regular marathons a year. Because of that, I tend to be a shoe loyalist—sticking with brands that feel good over many miles on the dirt. Although with a little prodding, I’m willing to try something different, especially when it is new-to-market. So when I was offered to demo REI’s newest trail running shoe, Swiftland MT, Sandals GINO ROSSI 120AL0963 Grey.
Out of the Box
Converse Bosey-MC Gråa sneakers i gore-tex | Swiftland MT Trail-Running Shoes - Women's
Swiftland MT Trail-Running Shoes - Women's
When the REI Swiftland MT arrived on my doorstep, I had no expectations. When I unboxed them, the sturdy tread and burnt orange color grabbed my attention. Then, I was struck by how lightweight it was. A couple of other things that caught my eye:
- Inside the back, just above the heel, there is added a padded “V” piece, which I thought could prove helpful in tempering my off-and-on Achilles issues.
- Sneakers ACTION BOY CP-CM2734-01 Navy.
Upon putting them on, I noticed the heel-toe drop. The offset is 8 millimeters for this shoe, which equates to less stress on my Achilles on long runs with lots of ups and downs. In addition, the shoe rose to meet my high arches and offered solid support. It felt good right from the start. Another positive: All major components of the Swiftland MT feature either recycled or bio-based materials.
Running in REI’s Swiftland MT: A Diary
Run #1: Wrightwood Village Trail, Wrightwood, CA
Terrain: Golden Goose sneaker-print T-shirt
Distance: 3.47 miles
Weather: Really cute shoe
I only had time for a short run. The path is dirt and mostly flat, although running northbound is definitely a steady climb uphill. I completed a short out-and-back, so I had to climb the nearly half-mile hill up to my house, which is no joke. I live in a mountain community at 6,000-plus feet of elevation, where even the flat runs are challenging.
I thought that the all-in-one upper might be too close or too loose, but it was comfy. The shoe felt good on my feet, but the heel-toe drop was the first thing I noticed. Was this going to be a help or a hindrance?
Run #2: Wrightwood Village Trail, Wrightwood, CA
Terrain: Camper Minikaah cross straps sandals
Distance: 6.39 miles
Weather: Converse Bosey-MC Gråa sneakers i gore-tex
Today’s run was about testing my body after a few months away from trail running. I had stuck to flat asphalt—at lower elevations than where I live—for three months while training for a downhill road marathon I ran a few weeks ago, and I’d missed the trails.
The Swiftland MT felt good when I slipped it on (it kind of remind me of my fave casual shoe), and my feet were happy as I started my run. I tugged the laces just a tad, ensuring I’d have the least amount of foot slide on this run. The shoes molded around my feet, providing a stable and secure fit, almost as if they were extensions of my lower limbs.
I realized what the best part of the shoes was for me so far: the all-in-one stretchy upper. It perfectly hugged my feet and ankles, greatly reducing the amount of dirt, rocks, and debris that ended up in my shoes, even on short trail runs. Due to my skinny ankles, every trail shoe I’ve ever run in—except for the Swiftland MT—left little gaps on one or both sides of each foot, inviting every pebble, wood chip, and twig to jump into my shoe. Not the case today.
MEET THE TESTER: Michelle SpeersMichelle Speers
Advanced Runner | Injuries in the last year: Minor | Arch: High | Motion mechanics: Underpronator | Foot strike: Heel
Light Madder Root Marathon Running Shoes DV1746-812? Depends on whether I’m training for a race/adventure. When I have no events upcoming, I’ll do 15+/- miles per week. When I have a race or adventure on the calendar, weekly mileage tops out at around 35.
Womens Shoes Black Low Casual? Most of what I do is trail with lots of climbing, and my average moving pace is usually 13-14 minutes per mile.
Repasamos todas las sneakers de Travis Scott? Premiata Belle contrasting laces sneakers%
Run #3: Inspiration Point via Castle Canyon, return Sam Merrill Trail, Pasadena, CA
Terrain: SNEAKER J LUNARE GIRL CUIR ET TISSU
Distance: 11.12 miles
Weather: Adidas terrex swift r3 gore-tex hiking shoes grey five mint ton core black gz3046
With just the right amount of snugness, the shoes felt great as I slid them on. I can’t say enough about how well the uppers wrap around my ankles, providing a more secure and stable fit with less foot movement inside the shoes. Were they made just for me? I was starting to wonder.
I was so excited to do this route, as it’s one of my favorites. I took the steeper route of the three paths available for the last two-mile push to the Point, which is technical and full of rocks and roots—and the prettiest of the choices. I returned on a different trail; it’s still a bit technical but runnable. I pushed on some of the technical sections of the trail a bit to see how the Swiftland MT would manage in the loose dirt and rock, and the technical terrain didn’t pose a problem. The grip and traction of the outsole afforded me the confidence I needed to get through the more unstable parts of today’s course.
The lower section got busy with weekend hikers, and I had to do a lot of slowing and moving around the throngs of people in those final three miles. The Swiftland MT made all the starts, stops, and dodges in those last miles easy to maneuver.
Converse Bosey-MC Gråa sneakers i gore-tex | Run #4: Short Trail Hike, Wrightwood, CA
Terrain: The Perforated Sandal and Pump Hybrid
Distance: 2.68 miles
Weather: Sunny, 68 degrees F
I definitely felt my Achilles after yesterday’s longer, steeper outing, and putting on the Swiftland MT gave me a little relief during my recovery hike. The padding inside the back of the shoes applied a little pressure on that area of my ankle when I first put them on, but within several minutes, I forgot about it. Also, the greater heel-toe drop feature proved to be a boon for me, providing that bit of lift in the heel, thus alleviating some pressure on my Achilles.
Run #5: Glorietta-Beaudry South Loop, Glendale, CA
Terrain: City street at start and finish, middle six miles fairly steep, smooth fire road with 2,800 feet of elevation gain/loss
Distance: 8.38 miles
Weather: sneakers grises talla 41
I’ve done this loop many times when tapering at the end of training for an ultra I do on Catalina Island every year. I ran the street over to the trailhead and powered up the fire road, which is straight up until the turnaround at mile 4, then hit it straight down until returning to the street for the last bit home.
My feet—heck, my entire body—felt fatigued today. However, the Swiftland MT kept my tired dogs adequately supported and stable, making today’s effort less taxing than anticipated, which made pushing the pace on the downhill part of this run really fun.
Run #6: Bailey Canyon-Mt. Wilson Trail Loop
Terrain: One mile of city street, 6.5 miles of steep, technical single track, with 3,375 feet of elevation gain/loss
Distance: 7.49 miles
Weather: Aquazzura Tutti Frutti embellished flat sandals
I run this loop when I want something short but hard. The climb is a challenging single-track trail, with steep walls and tons of switchbacks. Powering to the top of this one left me breathless, and I was happy to finally hit the down where I ran, hopped, leaped, and jumped my way to the bottom of this technical route.
I was pleased with how secure my feet felt in the shoes on this steep uphill course. My heels didn’t have the usual amount of slippage during the incline that I'd experienced with other shoes, giving me a steadier, more stable stance with every step. The fit in my heels/Achilles area supersedes that of any trail shoe I’ve run in up to this point. I especially like that little padded “V” at the base of my Achilles.
On the steep downhill, my feet slid into the front ends of the shoes, which tends to happen with many of the shoes I’ve run in.
Run #7: Wrightwood Village Trail, Wrightwood, CA
Terrain: Z32213 Sneakers bassa
Distance: 3.14 miles
Weather: Iceberg MEN BOOTS WELLINGTONS WELLIES
I needed to get in one last test run in the Swiftland MT , but I really didn’t feel like going out today. It had been snowing since early morning, and although the white stuff had already melted off the road by 10:30 a.m., it still stuck to everything that was not asphalt. After bundling up, I ran the street down to the snowy trail, then headed north for a short bit before retracing my steps home. The snow on the trail was slushy and slippery, so I was careful and slow. The Swiftland MT gripped pretty well through the slush, but I didn’t push to really test the aggressiveness and responsiveness of the shoes in snowy/icy conditions. I still slipped a bit here and there, so I held back to avoid falling.
SPEED REVIEW
Shoe Tested: Hot Ones Question Mid Shoes
1 is poor, 4 is average, 7 is best
Weight: 7. The shoe was light and agile, and I enjoyed the spryness of this shoe.
Fit: 7. After the first two runs, I looked forward to putting on the Swiftland MT. This model really fit my feet well.
Lacing/closure system: 7. They slide on, so loosening and tightening the laces is not a thing. Slip the shoes on, tie them and you’re good to go. Easy peasy!
Comfort: 7. Super comfortable for me. I’m a lighter runner with narrowish feet, and these shoes provided all the comfort I needed for all my runs. I didn’t have to lug around a heavy shoe—as I have in the past with my prior choices in trail runners—which made me feel lighter and more agile, especially on single track.
Heel cushioning: 6. Not the cushiest heels of all the trail runners I’ve worn, but definitely above average since I experienced no heel issues during the test period.
adidas And Created A Sick Sneaker For March 2016. Once again, not the cushiest I’ve ever run in, and instead of a super-plush forefoot, this shoe boasts a decent heel-toe drop, which worked well for me.
Final Thoughts
I truly enjoyed every run in the Swiftland MT, and they performed well on fire road, single track, the little bit of street—and a surprise snowy run—that were part of the courses I ran over the two weeks.
I’m a lighter runner with a relatively narrow foot, and I’ve never found a trail runner that supports my feet from all angles like the Swiftland MT. Truth be told, I’ve never even considered a lighter-weight all-in-one model. Instead I have always gravitated toward more aggressive, super-rugged shoes, believing they’d be better for all the variety in the trails I run. However, after the opportunity to test the Swiftland MT, I’m convinced this style of shoe serves my body type and foot shape better than clunkier trail runners for most of what I do.
Everytime I put these shoes on, they felt like an extension of my feet, providing the right amount of comfort, stability, and security within the shoe. I’m a fan of the one-piece upper and love the way the opening hugged the tops of my ankles, serving to keep out dirt and debris from the trail. These shoes are the ideal solution to my aversion to gaiters! I appreciated the rugged soles that kept me feeling confident on both smooth, fast fire roads and rocky, technical single track. None of my runs were in high temps or through water—except some snowy/slushy trail for a couple of miles on my last test run—so I can’t speak to how well they hold up in those conditions, but I would expect the lightweight fabric to breathe well, dry quickly, and still offer all the benefits of a solid, reliable, and agile shoe.
Jimmy Choo Yola 80mm wedge boots
Swiftland MT Trail-Running Shoes - Men's
