Montrail always makes a good shoe, and their newest, the Badrock, doesn't let the family down.
One great feature of this light, stability shoe is Montrail's new "Fluid Post" pronation control system, which basically makes this shoe feel like a stiffer, but still soft, neutral.
"We've developed a progressively denser construction delivering a smooth transition from soft cushioning on the lateral (heel strike) side to a denser and more supportive material on the medial side," say the folks at Montrail.
morePersonalized pronation control, you say? Well, I guess so. If anything, it makes the medial side of the side of the shoe look pretty cool, you can clearly see where the different materials have been poured together to create one solid surface. This makes the shoe softer where you want it on the outside and stiffer where you need it on the inside.
The little elves at Montrail believe that even efficient, neutral trail runners can benefit from a little pronation control on uneven trail terrain, theory being that even if you normally land well, rocks, roots and other trail trash will cause you to land unevenly, i.e., pronate, on the inside of your foot.
Do I notice a difference? Not sure. Do I roll my ankles less on the trail? Probably. I've taken this pair on two vastly different 50Ks in the last month and ended each with fairly happy feet and barely any blisters.
The Badrocks come with Montrails popular Gryptonite tread and Trailshield on the toe. When these puppies were brand new, I felt extra sticky on the rocks, so much so that at one point, I almost left my feet behind.
I did notice that the Badrocks run a hair larger than my same-size Masochists. They are just long enough that I'd often catch a toe and faceplant, sometimes more than once per run. Now that I've spent quite a few miles in them, I've learned to pick my feet up that extra half-inch; too much mud in your teeth will help you remember. The rest of the fit is typical Montrail: The heel is snug and the toe box is roomy, both of which are why I love this brand. For comparison, these Badrocks (size 8 ) weigh 9.4 oz to the Masochists' (size 8 ) 9.2 oz.
My only other complaint is about the laces. For the life of me, I cannot keep them tied. Hey Montrail, did you change the lace material? These seem too slippery to stay put unless they're double knotted. I know how to tie my shoes. I got a sticker for it when I was 6.
All in all, this is a great trail shoe. My favorite shoes are the ones that are unnoticeable, the ones I don't have to think about or fuss with all the time. I don't want to have to pay attention to how my feet are feeling when I'd rather be enjoying the trail. If you like the Masochists, you'll love these.
Look for these in early spring 2011. MSRP $100.
Sara Davidson is an ultramarathoner and the GearScout knot aficionado.
