I love Montrails but not Hardrocks. Started with the Vitesse, then the Continental Divides, before I tried these. They were to heavy and long for my taste. I kicked rocks and tripped more on one of my standard trail runs than ever before with the Hardrocks. I gave them a few more tries before I gave them to a friend.

Solid trail runners that can hold up on rocky terrain. I will definitely get another pair.

It's still true that I wish Montrail had not changed the design of the Hardrock, except for the "grab loop" on the back of the shoe. The front lacing loop (like an eyelet, but not a hole) is positioned EXACTLY where you'd fasten a gaiter. So, when you attach a gaiter, you end up pulling on one side of the shoe. A few days before my 100K trail race (Lookout Mountain 100K), I jammed the shoes under a bookcase that stands on legs that are about 8 inches tall. So, the shoes were squashed into a flexed position for a few nights (I wore the shoes all day). On race day, I was determined to give the shoes a try, so I could really write something meaningful for potential buyers. . .
December 20, 2008 was cold and raining in the North Georgia/Southeast Tennesee mountains. So, I slathered Bodyglide all over the tops of my Smartwool socks, hoping that the shoes' tendency to crush downward and forward wouldn't lead to a debilitating set of blisters, or something worse. I mean the socks looked like the tops got dunked in Crisco. . .
After the first very wet half of the race, running through everything without a care, I am pleased to report that the only unhappiness I had about the shoe was that when it gets completely soaking wet, when you run downhill, the insoles got slippery and moved forward, leaving me to run 3 miles with the insole moved an inch forward.
No blisters after 38.75 miles when I retired them. My feet would've hurt with ANY shoes. But, these Hardrocks, while not as perfect for me as the 2006 pair I own, did the job, and left me in good shape to run the remaining 23+ miles in a pair of Inov8 318GTX (another shoe they stopped making, and the "sequel" has a new lacing system that is unfortunately not an improvement, according to me and running buddies who own the 312GTX). I do NOT have tough feet. And I walked away from that 100K with NO BLISTERS. My faith in Hardrocks, while not restored, is stronger.

My first trail run was the Zane Grey 50k on APRIL 26, 2008. The trail is extremely rocky. I wore my Hardrocks the entire run. Because I did not size up 1/2 they were tight. My plan was to switch at the 17 mi. aid station to more comfortable trail shoes. I didn't. The Hardrocks protected my feet from the rocks and roots. If I had switched shoes my feet would have been more damaged than the already were. As for comfort.... but for protection they were excellent.

I thru-hiked the AT with a pair of Montrail Hardrocks. Unfortunatley, those wore out after the 2,174 mile hike and when I was buying new shoes for my summit of Kilimanjaro, Hardrocks were the only shoes I would buy. They are very light and comfortable. The mesh sides means your feet will get wet as soon as it rains, but will dry out much faster than any gore-tex shoe. More expensive than most light trail shoes, the quality is definetely worth the price. After summit Kilimanjaro in Hardrocks and sock liners and not a single blister, I am sold for life on these shoes.

As we all learn when we grow up. . . when you finally find a product that you really like, they either change it or stop making it. Well, I wish I had bought ten pairs of 2006 Montrail Hardrocks. The newer lacing layout causes the top of the toe area of the shoe to squash downward and forward on my toes with each push-off of my feet - leading to ripping the skin off the tops of my toes.
This is NOT how the old Hardrocks were.
Yes, both models have the same thick and stiff midsole. Yes, I have bent the shoes and left them under pressure overnight to "mold" them into a slightly curved shape that is ready for toe-off. But, wow, the change in design has left me wishing for an unused pair of size 11.5 2006 model year Hardrocks. BTW, I have a positive review for the Hardrocks from 2006, so I am in no way slamming without substance.

I've worn Hard Rock shoes for bushwalking, often off track in rough country, for several years. They are very comfortable and provide excellent support and protection. I've always been able to use them for long trips 'out of the box' without any need to break them in. Except probably for wet, slippery granite the Hard Rocks handle most surfaces very well. The heel and toe boxes are terrific for steep descents too. Unfortunately the shoes aren't waterproof. They aren't as durable as I'd like either.

Study trail runners with enough support for moderate loads and fastpacking. By managing to have flex in the forefoot, without having too thin a cushion, these shoes hit the sweet spot between comfort and protection. I also find these shoes to be the most comfortable pair of Montrails I own (I own 4 pairs) because they provide heel lock without pinching the top of the foot. Overall, the best hiking shoe I have owned. I use more specialized shoes for trail running, but I think these would also work decently in that capacity.

My running store fitted me in this shoe and I love it. 2nd year in a row i got this model!

I love these shoes, plenty of room in the toe box, but the heel isn't overly wide. They were a little stiff when I got them, but broke in and loosened up quickly.

My first ever trail running shoes.
I weigh 200 lbs. and wear neutral road running shoes. The trail I run on is a root infested single track. So, rolling my ankle was enough reason to finally upgrade to trail running shoes. I also have suffered from a neuroma and had the surgery a year ago.
My first impression obviously was the weight difference from a road shoe. But, I don't get any bruises on my feet and I have a lot more confidence running over the roots now.
Buy them!!

I bought these shoes before a 2 week trip to Italy. I actually recieved them about 3 weeks before the trip and right out of the box they were great! Light and comfortable, they fit my foot like a glove. I have a narrow foot and sometimes shoes just don't fit me right but the Hardrocks were great. I still have a pair of the Montrail XCR's and loved them also. Since I could't find a new pair exactly like the old XCR's I went for the Hardrocks and haven't looked back!! They were great on the trail along the Cinque Terra along the Western Italian coast!

These shoes are great for both trail running and hiking. They are extremely sturdy, durable, and comfortable. I have bought 2 pairs of these and even though I have moved onto a lighter faster shoe for trail running (these shoes aren't the lightest shoes on the trailrunning market), I still use these shoes for bumbling around in the woods for weekend hikes.