I am undecided on these shoes. They look great and are fairly lightweight. However if I ran in them they gave me blisters (not really their fault as I get blisters in this spot with lots of running shoes) and on my first trip hiking in them one shoe started coming apart at the seam. It lasted me the rest of the weekend but I returned them for the Namche Mids. Backcountry customer service was awesome by the way.

I'm on my second pair of Hardrocks and getting ready to order a third pair. These have been great shoes for rough trail running. I've worn them in several trail ultramarathons and a Rim to Rim to Rim 50 mile one-day crossing of the Grand Canyon. They've provided exceptional stability and support for my large (6'2" 215lb) frame.
These are pretty beefy shoes, and work well for big guys. They may be a bit too much shoe for someone lighter... the Continental Divide might be a better choice for the non-clydesdales out there
Pros:
- Exceptional support and stability
- Durable and long lasting
- Real rubber soles (vs Polyurethane) offer better grip in the mountains, especially on wet rock.
Cons:
- Fairly heavy and beefy shoe... might be a bit much for the lighter runner.

I am on my second pair of Hard Rocks. I use them hard for an old guy. What I really like is the roomy toe box. I even wear them while backpacking with a heavy pack. My feet are comfortable and cool at the end of a long hike. The other old goats are groaning as they take off their leather boots and put on their tennis shoes. I'm already there with my Hard Rocks. I know it's hard to teach an old dog ....

I have sworn by the Hard Rock for Ultra Marathons for the past 5 years. The shoe has great protection in the toe box and a cushioned sole to absorb everything the trail throws at you. The shoe is heavier than other shoes which makes it less adequate for short & fast races, but when you are heading out for several hours on the trail, your feet will appreciate the Hard Rock.

I bought a pair of these, sight unseen, for a trip to the UK. I literally received them, unboxed them, and boarded my flight. With no break in, I was walking between 20 and 35 miles a day in all sorts of terrain (from urban settings to rocky hiking trails) with a 30 lb pack on my back. Two weeks later, not a single blister, and my feet are very comfy. Highly recommended. Just make sure you order a half a size larger than you normally wear.

I bought these mostly to use as summertime ultralight backpacking shoes in the northeast, with a lesser degree of trail running. My sumer pack weight is typically 13-20 lbs, and these shoes have provided good support under those loads. Their weight is very respectable, and they're very breathable and dry out pretty quickly, even after a total soaking. I've got them paired with Shock Doctor insoles.
The tread is good on dirt and mud, but could be a little stickier on rocks. My last shoe was the Montrail Vitesse, and they have a less aggressive tread design, but because of this, they're better on the rocks.
The only real negative I've found is the durability of the upper. After about 175 miles, the seams are starting to fray a bit, and the toe cap is starting to peel away a little bit. However, I think this is mostly due to extreme use, and probably wouldn't be an issue if you're hiking/running on relatively nice trails.
A good buy, especially for trail running. For UL backpacking, though, I'll probably go back to the Vitesse's, which seem to be a little more rugged. Good shoes, though.

Waited until I had some miles on these before I gave it a review. I like to run and hike up in the Wasatch. My foot size is 11 and I got these bad boys in size 11.5. I have run, hiked, and worn these all over and I have yet to get a hot spot or blister from my runs to my 6 hour excursions up in the hills. I love them. I like to have gear that will function in more than one activity, if you are same you will love these shoes.

I have sworn by the Hard Rock for Ultra Marathons for the past 5 years. The shoe has great protection in the toe box and a cushioned sole to absorb everything the trail throws at you. The shoe is heavier than other shoes which makes it less adequate for short & fast races, but when you are heading out for several hours on the trail, your feet will appreciate the Hard Rock.

After the advice of Amy, staff member at BackcountryStore, purchased what I consider to be the best trail shoe on the market for larger runners who happen to promote. These shoes were not only very cushioned, but very, very supportive and had great stability/motion control(has several opporunities to turn my ankle and did not!), fantastic traction from the outer sole(almost tripped over the aggressive sole traction). If you are larger runner looking for great trail shoes, look no further!! This are the Shoes!!!

I've never been really wild about any pairs of shoes, Chacos excepted, but these are different. At first, they were just OK. Then I began to run, more and more, and now I do 25 miles a week. Due to this, I view my shoes with reverence. I have never had a blister. Not one. Ever. Even on a half-marathon. My dad got very similar shoes (the highline) and is similarly enthused. I believe the Hardrocks are easily the best shoes out there. I got horrific blisters from my boots on a 3-day backpacking trip, and plan to wear my Hardrocks on my upcoming 4-day. Why not wear shoes that are always comfortable? They look nondescript, but after you log a hundred miles you will revere them. Absolutely fantastic all-purpose shoes. They even dry fast.

This is a great shoe. Right out of the box I went on a 3 mile trail run. I ran in nasty, cold, and rainy weather. With the combo of smartwool adrenline socks any puddles I hit were no problem. These shoes dry quickly and push the moisture out of the shoe. I highly recommend these shoes they are great.

I've had my Hardrocks a few weeks. I've already put about 60 miles on them, all on rocky trails and scree fields. I step where I want to with no slipping and no pains in my feet. Thanks to the somewhat stiff midsole, I also wear my Hardrocks to ride MTB XC with toe clips when training for duathlon. This is the shoe you want for the long haul. I am ordering more.

Well constructed and very rugged shoe. Very stable shoe with very good traction. Narrower than usual toe box (for me). More narrow than the Leone Divide. The shoe does not seem overly heavy, but is somewhat stiff. I don't think I would wear them in a marathon or further distance.

Before buying these I tried on the Vasque Velocity. They felt like moon boots. But the Hardrocks fit snug, were super light, and had zero excess materials. I wore a pair of Leona Divides into smush, and in comparison the Hardrock is trimmer with a narrower toe box. Whereas I wore fat Thorlos with the LDs, the HR fits fine with a thinner sock. Zero blisters. Squishy comfort. Heel stays put. Tip-top performance on rugged trails (Tantalus on O'ahu); except for broad, slimy rock faces and wet roots on which it can slide out (but probably every trail shoe would). The tongue slides over on one foot (though to no effect), unlike the LD which is sewn to the base. Just enough laces. A waterproof version of the HR would be supreme. To improve, I imagine next years version will induce levitation. Order a half size bigger than your street shoes. And where are generic Montrail gaiters?

Montrail has great shoes, but this hardrock fit quite differently than most others (Continental Divide, Hurrucain Ridge, Odyssey), and ran at least 1 full size smaller than the others. It also had, in my opinion, an excessively thick sole. I returned for a new pair of Continental Divides.

This does not make it a bad shoe, just a little outside Montrail's "normal" fit and design.

I walk in rough, rocky country, mostly off track. The Hardrock trail Running Shoes are great for this. I've had 2 pairs of Hardrock Trail Running Shoes before and they'd been fantastic so I was fairly confident which size to order. When they arrived I was really disappointed to find that these shoes were a bit smaller (tighter?) than the previous ones had been. I wore them to work for a week to break them in and they quickly loosened up. I've done several long, hard walks in some tough pagoda country (20 kilometres & 35 kilometres) since in the new shoes. Like their predecesors I they are extremely comfortable and they provide lots of support (walking & scrambling up steep rock faces). I just hope they last a bit longer than the last pair (10 months).

These are sturdy shoes providing excellent comfort and support on easy mountain hiking and trail running in stony areas. This obviously impacts on their weight, so I find them to heavy for runs on regular trails or asphalt.

I used these shoes recently in a trail race where sharp rocks were prevalent. The TPU plate was great...sharp rocks didn't faze these shoes. Great shoe for rocky terrain...will be perfect for the Ridge Run in Bozeman.

It's tough to complain about these shoes, although I had my doubts at first. Very comfortable and fit like a glove. Performance: I run a rocky mtn. bike trail and the shoes are stable and have not slipped a bit. Some doubts are the traction will go before the rest of the shoe- but a common problem I suppose. General shoe construction so far has gone for the long haul. Overall, very happy with this purchase.

Got a chance to see if shoe lived up to billing, as I had 2 weeks of trailrunning and hiking in Acadia Nat'l Park in Maine. Lots of granite boulders and some great elevation gains/losses on their trails. Shoe held up amazingly well. Just enough stability, didn't "feel" any pains from rocky surface, but did have just enough trail feel to know what I was running on. Also shoes provided some good grab - both on dry and wet rocks. I'm not a very experienced trailrunner (first season), but between these and the Brooks Trespass, these Montrails are definitely the better and more comfortable shoes.

Worked great so far for both trail running and 3 day backpacking trip. Light and tough.

This shoe is best for long distance runs/hike over SHARP rocky terrain, for people with normal to narrow feet. I owned two pairs of Montrail Hardrock shoes (bought in 2005 and 2007) before, loved them both, just bought my third pair (July 2008) but decided to return it because it seems the new Hardrock is sized 1/2 size smaller then its predecessors. Got the Asics Cumulus instead which is a neutral road shoe. Less protection but more "feel", closer to the earth - and I am discovering that less protection equals more awareness, and since I run on rocky, rugged Arizona desert trails all the time, I am loving this new concept.
I also like the TNF Ultra 104 (and 100), the Ultra 104, it fits my wide forefeet better then the Hardrock of the same size.
These shoes were very protective and had great traction even when all the tread was worn away (tested on East-cost rock, root and mud during down-pour). Very durable, my first pair lasted a really long time. The second pair began wearing much faster, not sure why, Montrail said it was normal wear.

SHOES ARE SOLID THROUGH AND THROUGH AND OFFER A SOLID FOUNDATION OF FOOT ARMOR ON THE TRAILS. THEY ARE THE GREATEST FIND I HAVE COME ACROSS FOR TRAILS, HIGHWAY MEDIANS AND EVEN ASPHALT PAVING. I RAN THE CHATTANOOGA STUMPJUMP 50K AND THE NASHVILLE MARATHON IN THEM AND WAS VERY PLEASED. I RECOMMEND THE MONTRAIL HEAT MOLDABLE INSERTS. RUN ON REGARDS!

Awesome shoe - great for technical, rocky, rooty running. Wouldn't want to wear it for hard pack running though.

Very stable, great heel cup keeps you from moving around on tough terrain and provides ample support. The toe box is big and comfortable and the cushioning is great. I run in the 80's to mid 90's temp range without any foot overheating issuse's.

blah, I've worn a size 12 in a bagillion different running shoes, and my six pairs of hardrocks have all worked just fine for me in 12's.

Hardrocks have set a standard for what is expected in a beefy, durable shoe for trail running, hiking, and general trail use. I really have had six pair, and although at the moment I'm trying to use lighter shoes, I miss the motion control and the protective hard plastic midsole plate in the hardrocks. My one gripe is that the flap of sole rubber on the toe of the shoes delaminates reliably.

Felt a good size smaller and tight at the toes, provides good support and feels light, not appropriate if you have wide feet. Not as good as it is rated to be.

I have a wide foot and wear a size 13 (Nike's have been my best true fit over the years) so far The Montrail Hard Rocks have been a perfect fit. Only issue for me is that there seems to be a bit too much padding in the heel. It feels good, but gets in the way when slipping them on and off and I don’t feel like I get enough support when bombing down a hill. For the record - great shoe! Highly recommend!

Awesome shoe, took it out on the PCT for what turned out to be a 5 hour 'run' when the shoe had only 20 miles on it, no blisters at all. Equates to four wheel drive for your foot, super stable, but still light and nimble. I'll buy another pair.

shoes run small, recommend ordering 1/2 size up, mine are shorter than I expected. that said I like the feel of these shoes they feel light,and low to the trail and have a very solid/stable feel. Have worn them on three winter trail runs now and the traction on frozen surfaces is average but on dirt traction is great. they are a good value. I rate the performance and feel of these shoes a 4 1/2 . the fit a 2. I would buy them again if I could try them on first.

Montrail has somehow figured out how to combine light weight and extreme "airy-ness" (wonderfully breathable) with incredible support! I normally have to buy expensive insoles to support somewhat weak ankles and bad knees (one has been replaced), but these shoes are perfect just as they are. I bought a pair on recommendation at a sports store, then loved them so much I bought another pair here in case I can't find them again or mess up a pair. If you want superb support for trail running (personally, I do lots of light to moderate mountain hiking), especially for the summer when hot feet just won't cut it, these are definitely for you.
Hoping they keep making this great shoe,

Best overall trail running shoe I have ever worn (since 1983). Strong, protective, stiff and long lasting.
I have always liked Montrail trail running shoes.

Too narrow!

This shoe runs one size too small and has a narrow last. This can be good if you have a narrow foot and can try them on.

It took a very long time to break in these shoes. I still don't use them for long outings. I bought them on sale so I'm not too disappointed but something is off with these shoes.

This is my second pair or Hardrocks and I love them. They are great for hiking especially with jagged or uneven rocks. My first pair felt a bit stiff but broke in quickly and lasted nearly a year with pretty heavy use. I wear the men's shoe because they run very small (a whole size) but narrow enough to fit my foot. My only complaint was the black/red color....I ended up returning for the grey/blue that aren't as clunky looking.

I have always used the Montrail Hardrock for a trail running and hiking shoe and it has always worked very well. The sole is stiff enough for rough terrain and they are quite durable. With this latest pair, however, both my wife and I have experienced problems with blistering our heels even after several outings. I'm not sure if they changed the design. But everything else works well

These shoes are Montrail's best. Great cushioning, traction and forefoot protection. Uupper supportive. Only improvements would be - slightly wider and longer tongue, other wise a great technical and off trail shoe.

I have run in numerous trail shoes and have always had problems with them. The Montrail Hardrock is by far the best trail shoe I have tried. After only about 20 miles on the Hardrock, I went to the mountains for a 3 1/2 hour run. This trail run even included running through streams. Great fit, no blisters, no hot spots. I can not say that about any other trail shoe. This is a shoe to try.

I run about 80 mile a week, mainly on unforgiving hilly, rock-laden trails. My last pair of Hard Rocks last 100 runs (a record for me). They are sturdy without being cumbersome and heavy. They are stable. I recommend you get them here, since I have received a defective pair from another company.
The forefoot is just roomy enough.
The only negative is that they are difficult to put on and take off. The right shoe always seems to have laces that are too short so that tying the shoe is an arduous chore.

The Hardrock is a very comfortable shoe. I have relatively narrow feet, but also have a friend with wide feet who likes them. They have a thick comfortable sole, which has kept my feet feeling good on trail runs or hikes up to 30 miles. The sole isn't very grippy, and I've found they don't work all that well for scrambling and boulder hopping. But on the trail they are awesome. Also, I wish they had a pull tab for putting the shoes on.

I'm on my second pair of these and as I near the time to buy a new pair it's looking like I'll stick with these. These are very comfy and durable and are great for running in the wasatch. I'd classify these as on the stiff side and I rarely feel rocks underneath, although this makes them a little less cushy, but they work for me so I'm staying true to the Hard Rock.

I loved my hardrocks '07 and '08 and was looking forward to another pair when I purchased the '09 model. They are not the same quality, unfortunately. They don't have the same support as the previous year's models. I discussed this finding with my local outfitter and they agreed with my experience. Look for a different shoe unless you can find an earlier year model.