The Blissfeel Trail, Lululemon’s first off-road offering in its growing footwear collection, was released in May earlier this year. Occurring simultaneously with the shoe’s launch was the announcement of the brand’s “Further” initiative—which features a women’s six-day ultramarathon, commencing on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024. Runners training for the event include 10 Lululemon ambassadors such as Camille Herron, Mirna Valerio, and Devon Yanko.
Pros
- Running Shoes & Gear
- Nutrition - Weight Loss
- Protective film on the upper
- Running Shoes & Gear
Cons
- High collar caused irritation for some testers
- Who It’s For
| Type | Trail |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8.7 oz |
| Drop | 9.5 mm |
| Heel Height | 33 mm |
| Forefoot Height | 23.5 mm |
- Who It’s For: Women who want a soft yet stiff shoe that’s versatile for runs of up to six miles on groomed trails and moderate hiking.
- Preceded By: Blissfeel, Blissfeel 2
- Running Shoes & Gear: Best Hydration Packs
- Midsole Foam: Same thick layer used in the Blissfeel and Blissfeel 2
- Key Tech: Lugged outsole, protective film upper, women-specific design
The reason for mentioning Further is two-fold. Further’s ambassadors—a handful of ultrarunners, a marathoner, a strength and wellness coach, and a Brazilian jiu jitsu athlete—were among the first to test the Blissfeel Trail. Secondly, the shoe descends from the Blissfeel, a neutral road model with a construction guided by research on women-specific anatomy.
The shoe’s upper and midsole geometry provide the different support women need when compared to men for balance while running. For example, women’s wider quadriceps angles, broader hips, and narrower heels were all considered in the tailoring of the Blissfeel road and trail shoes.
The Blissfeel’s three supportive layers of midsole foam deliver pop on the run, turning casual jogs into six-mile jaunts that feel easy and smooth. Lululemon’s first running shoe wasn’t an attempt to dress up a lifestyle sneaker as a performance trainer. After just a couple of runs in the shoe, we knew it had earned its rightful place among the RW+ Membership Benefits in the daily trainer category. After conquering the road, the Blissfeel’s next obvious step was traversing onto the trail.
Reverse Engineering a Road Shoe for the Trail
Before working on the Blissfeel Trail, Lululemon took learnings from what runners liked in the Blissfeel and Blissfeel 2. Lululemon preserved the Blissfeel’s softness and rebound, transferring the original’s midsole foam to its trail counterpart.
Transitioning involved some reverse engineering of features so the shoe could perform well in a trail environment. This included a hardier upper with protective film for durability, and unconventional rounded lugs on the outsole for traction on uneven, mixed terrain.
When it comes to cushioning and protection, our trail-running testers often look for a balanced midsole. Many of the best off-road shoes we’ve tested offer a platform that buffers trail debris, guarding the pads of the feet from stray stones and knotty roots, while also allowing for some ground feel.
Tester Emily Roland, who takes to the trail on 70 percent of her runs, deemed the shoe “versatile,” and ranked the Blissfeel Trail’s comfort as a favorite feature. However, that comfort has its limits.
“This shoe felt comfortable—until it didn’t,” said Roland, who has a medium arch height and averages 30 miles of running per week. “The cushioning felt present enough for shorter runs, but upwards of six miles, it just didn’t seem to offer the support I need beneath the midfoot. I would start to feel some discomfort after taking these shoes on rockier, ruddier trails.”
Other testers echoed Roland. While the shoe’s cushioning is solid, it performs better for middle-distance runs rather than long efforts into double-digit mileage.
“I wouldn’t wear these shoes for speedwork or on runs any longer than six miles,” said wear-tester Jenny Stump, who has a forefoot strike and neutral gait pattern. “My sweet spot with them was around three miles at easy, base-building pace.”
A Mid-Distance Trail Shoe...or Hiking Shoe
My own testing with the Blissfeel Trail required a breaking-in period. The heel collar also rides up a little higher than what I’m used to. I realized tying my laces extra tight caused mild irritation above my instep and around my ankle. I loosened the lacing just enough to keep the fit secure while also alleviating pressure.
I ran on a groomed rail trail where I live, changing from pavement to crushed gravel and dirt. The shoe was fairly stable on these surfaces; however, I proceeded with caution when the ground became wet, loose, and muddy.
I too went the three-to-six-mile route when testing the Blissfeel Trail. I found the shoes to perform well at these distances for around a 7:30 pace—after some warming up.
Breaking in the shoe caused the upper to have more give, but no amount of break-in period could change its stiffness. When you get the rhythm right and work with the Blissfeel Trail, you’ll experience a little roll and snap for efficient turnover. But working against it can turn your run into a slog, like it did for tester Maura Henderson.
“This shoe was not very flexible. It made me feel very heavy-footed and uncomfortable,” said Henderson, who also averages 30 miles per week, and has a midfoot strike and a medium-height arch. “I ran on a variety of trail surfaces and terrains, and the shoe did not feel especially functional on any one of them.”
Tester Sarah Pezzino, who has a flat foot and a forefoot strike, described her runs in the shoe as “very slow” and preferred the shoe for hiking over running.
“This is a great shoe for beginner-level to moderately-difficult hikes, but it is not a good trail-running shoe for me,” she said. “I found the durability and cushioning lacking for long efforts on rough terrain, and my running mechanics did not feel as fluid while training in the shoe.”
Later Feedback on the Blissfeel Trail
Now that a few months have gone by since initial feedback was sent in, I wanted to circle back with Henderson and Pezzino to see if their feedback had changed.
Pezzino stood firm with her opinion, saying the Blissfeel Trail is a good hiking shoe. “I’ve noticed that the traction is best for hiking. When running, the shoe weighs you down and feels rather heavy,” she emailed to Runner’s World.
Without even suggesting hiking to Henderson, I found that her impressions closely aligned with Pezzino’s—with a little conversion. Since her initial testing, Henderson said the shoe feels more capable for trail runs.
“The Blissfeel Trail has become a bit of my go-to shoe for camping. Maybe it just needed a little more time to break in,” she wrote. “The tongue still sits a little lower on my foot than what I’d prefer. But overall, the shoe is great for easy trail running on the weekends!”
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
