MEN'S ULTRA TR III

After years of wearing Hokas, I was looking for something lighter, yet with just enough cushion. Hoka has been changing their cushioning to be really firm lately. The new Challenger 4, their lighter trail shoe, is like concrete compared to the 3. So I was stuck with the gigantic and very heavy Stinsons (I wear a 14, and those big boys seem to weigh a ton after 3 hours or so).

I'd heard about TNF's RKT shoe--the other one with FastFoam--but not the Ultra Trail IIIs. The three reviews before mine made them sound like they were exactly what I was looking for, so I ordered them impulsively, even though I was a little worried they wouldn't be enough shoe for me.

I've only run once in them so far, but with lots of hills and varied surfaces. They seem to be everything I'd hoped: light, great fit (they lock down and feel really solid), and they feel cushioned when you need it. The FastFoam is a genuine breakthrough, I think. You don't sink into it on uphills or smooth flats, but you feel the cush on downhills and over rocks. Crossing my fingers that I can do my next 50k in them. Will update this if I change my mind after more miles, but so far I really recommend them, especially if you're tired of heavy and bulky max-cushioned shoes. Btw, to me they seem to be in the same category as the Hoka Challenger, but lighter and with more usable cushioning--maybe a tiny bit softer than the Challenger III, but not at all mushy. Only downside: they're so comfortable and good looking I want to wear them all the time. May need another pair...

These have become my new favorite trail runners, or honestly any running.

That Fastfoam feels both "springy" and "cushiony," like when you have your mountain bike suspension set just right (Boost can be a little too springy sometimes).

Dig how lightweight and supple the uppers are. I actually ran a double dipsea (13.7ish miles + 4500' vertical) in these guys straight out of the box, stock insoles, and they were great. Don't be thinking that these will offer any extra support than what you need if you pay attention to where your feet are going. These aren't going to monster truck over terrain like the ultra 110 looks like it would.

The outsole is the perfect mix of toothy but has enough surface area to not make it feel like your running on pebbles when the ground is concrete/ hard (the ultra vertical feels like this on pavement). This great since I'm now not switching shoes to do a run on concrete.

These would not let me put on the brakes! Total ATV

I know fastfoam is used in some of their other performance shoes, but for some reason these feel exceptional. So cush yet responsive! So far I've only run about 10 miles in these since I bought them last week on some fire roads and single track in the topanga hills (so cal) but I might have to say already that these could be the most versatile trail runners that TNF offers. It looks simple but it really performs on all kinds of terrain. and that internal gusset or whatever you call it , good touch for fit.