i honestly try to avoid gortex shoes. this is because they don't typically drain very well. what keeps moisture out, REALLY keeps moisture in as well. so they are great until you dunk the foot in a puddle and water runs over the top. i still stick to that. however this shoe has been great on those wet in between days in the pacific northwest where it's wet, but you can avoid submerging the foot completely. i also love them for snowshoe running. perfect for that. they are supportive and the gortex upper gives the shoe a bit more protection while being light and comfy.

in the 2006 primal quest adventure race my teammate wore these shoes. it was 120 degrees in moab and super hot. we all had more "breathable" shoes on, while he went with the gortex to keep the sand out. after just 2 days of non stop racing our feet were torn up from the sand and the friction. his were pristine. so if you are running sandy canyons or beaches these gortex is great for keeping the sand out.

I have other montrails and love em (READ: i drank the montrail cult koolaid)

B-U-T-

these were not cutting it at all...

-stiff, far stiffer that i could ever need or enjoy

-enrty and exit hampered by welded tongue

-heavy

-fit was off for my feet

-sole pattern not good or grippy (perhaps due to the sole stiffness)

but does clear debris very well

these just werent for me gone the way of the dodo is perhaps the best fate.

Shoe is excellent. Wear it to the gym, running outside in rain, snow, sun. Perfect lightweight hiker as well. Only gripe is at times it's tough to put on due to the Gore-Tex and the sock-like structure. Once it's on it aint going anywhere. STRONG TIP: Buy a 1/2 size larger than what you normally would wear. For whatever reason Montrail makes the shoe small. I'm normally a 10 and went with 10 1/2. Shoe is great.

I've worn Montrail and the Hurricane Ridge shoe exclusively for over 4 years and this is the first pair that I will return. After 1/2 day of wearing, both big toes went numb and no the shoe's aren't fit too tight. I've also developed a solid pressure point on the top of my foot in the right shoe. This is really disappointing because I've lived in my Montrail's until now. Oh well!

Recently ordered my third pair of the Hurricanes. They are great trail runners that have a nice blend of support & stability. The Gore-Tex seemed unnecessary but it much appreciated during runs with morning dew and rain.

I wanted to like these. I had two pair. The first pair didn't keep water out. Neither pair breathed worth a darn. My feet were always hot. It sounds like the perfect shoe, but I was always much happier in leather, non-goretex shoes. Do not buy these as it will be an expensive mistake.

I bought this shoe as an alternative to a hiking boot and have used it for extended day hikes (12+ miles) and for trail running. The comfort of the shoe is amazing and the XCR tends to flex with any foot movement. The traction is incredible and has saved me many times on steep rock slopes. The shoes are very breathable and the full gusset prevents most of the rocks and water from getting in. Expensive shoes, but well worth it.

I run around twenty to thirty miles a week in these shoes. Loose, muddy, steep, nasty, nasty trails. They are absolutely supurb. Feet are always dry, have never had a blister, my knee problems resolved, and no issues with being a pronator.

I wore these for about 3.5 months, almost everyday. They are really comfortable, except for the 3 weeks of really painful breaking in. I supinate and don't have anymore ankle pain. Then both soles ripped crosswise across the ball.

Background: I live in So. Cal., southern orange county up against the local mountains. I run fairly rocky and steep hardpackish trails, and also run when wet, I'm new to running in general, mostly only doing mountain biking prior to taking the running plunge. This is my first pair of trail running shoes, I was very concerned about stability and not tweaking an ankle, one reason I chose these.

I'd say shoes have awesome stability good traction, and keep your foot dry. They also feel light and are fairly confidence inspiring on downhills. Padding is good, for my feet I've found on anything over 40 minutes I start to feel it more in my feet that I'd like to. That may just be because I'm running too flat footed, or because I'm not fully broken in yet. I've always had issues with blisters, amazingly I've had none with these shoes, fit is awesome requiring no break in time for me.

For the type of mud we get where I'm at, these pack up quite badly, the tread spacing is narrow and doesn't clear. Even running the day after a decent rain, it's really too muddy for them. That may just be our flavor of mud.

I'm really enjoying the running and right now I'm looking to purchase another pair of shoes with extreme mud shedding capabilities, and perhaps another pair geared toward longer runs like the La Sportiva Pikes Peak.

To summarize:

Pros:
Awesome stability
Awesome Fit
Good traction
Nice tough toebox, and roomy in toe area
Zero blisters or hot spots
No break in time for me, and my feet were noob and blister prone
They feel light and agile
Keep your feet dry
Good padding, thick base

Cons:
Pack up with mud (at least where I live)
Might need more padding for longer runs, may just be me

Purchased a pair for last winter and was very pleased how well they kept my feet dry and warm. The tongue of the shoe fits very snug on my feet and takes about a week to break in. Put about 300 miles on these over the winter and never had any problems with blisters.

Just last weekend I ran a 15k race in them (due to rainy weather) and they were quite comfortable, however after the race I noticed I got a blister on the top of my left foot from the liner. The liners wore out and rubbed on the top of my foot. In defense though, these shoes were really beat up from all of the mileage I have on them and they still kept my feet dry which was the most important thing.

As the weather heats up I don't use these shoes because they tend not to breath as well as non-Gore-Tex Running shoes. In the cold of winter though you will appreciate the warmth of the Gore-Tex-XCR.

The bottoms tend to wear down, but I spent a lot of time running on cold hard concrete and city roads. They probably hold up better on trails.

Got a pair of these and loved running in them, although they're a bit stiff. However after my third run (12 miles total), I noticed the plastic piece (top lacing hole) disconnected from the shoe. It made it so that I couldn't lace them all the way up. Poor design, otherwise rugged shoe.

I bought these shoes for an adventure race in Kansas after trying on over 9000 different pairs of shoes in different sizes. I have moderately narrow, tall, feet. The solomon's wouldn't fit in any size, the north faces didn't seem to fit either, but these were perfect. I'm now on half a year with them, and am completely satisfied. My soles didn't delaminate, in fact they are wearing quite nicely. They never allow water to contact my foot, but they do seem to get wet, which I thought was weird. Running through puddles is no problem, and sometimes I wear them to the gym since they work so well at just about anything.

I think mine fit true to size, and my only gripe is that they're relatively stiff, so I have to save them for beach running or dirt, or for bad weather, since they don't cushion nearly as well as a proper road shoe.

I loved this shoe to heck. Fit comfortably, kept my feet dry, great traction, great arch support, look good, everything about these shoes are perfect for the trails. My pair made me happy, but I also run on the road and I also do parkour, and I usually try to find a shoe to do all 3 with. In this case, these shoes did not pass the road running and parkour test. The grey squares on the sole came off after a week of abuse. A sad day indeed. Buy these shoes if youre going to stick to trails. For you concrete pumas out there, these arent for you.

The grey pieces on the sole came off after a week.

Shoe designers these days need a kick in the pants.

This shoe was perfect until the grey pieces of the sole started to tear off after a few days of use. All they have to do is make the sole 1 color and 1 piece and you can save the world in these shoes, they'd last SO much longer. BUT, I did do alittle parkour in them, so, if youre planning to do just running and no saving the earth, get these shoes because they kick alot of... you know what. I think everybody should start reviewing shoes and complain about the multi-color multi-piece soles everyone has these days, create a demand for single color single piece soles so we can have no limits on what we can do with our shoes. End this madness.

These shoes are perfect for me. They fit perfectly, they breath perfectly, they look perfect, feel perfect, and perform perfectly. I needed a multi-purpose shoe for doing things like parkour, trail running, swimming, hiking, everything, and I think these are going to work perfectly. When I run in them, I know I made the right buy. Great shoes for a ninja.

This is a GREAT shoe ! I have a thin foot and these shoes fit great an provide excellent support. Have used it on extremely wet and muddy terrain and gore tex membrane has kept my feet dry. Good traction on slippery terrain

Love it! No issues at all. Does everything it was designed to do. True fit. A bit heavy compared to the Masochist and a bit firmer. Would buy more if I could find a size 12.5 or 13. Also has been very durable for me.

Great trail running shoe. Stable footing with comfortable support.

First of all DONT PAY TOP PRICE!! My first trip with these was a 20mile hike in the Gila in NM and they were great. But for some reason after that these shoes decided to bite me on the top of the foot. So I decided to try and skip some eye lets to relieve the pain and that worked well for the time being. The sole began to seperat as well. Not a little shoe goo could'nt fix though. So my next two trips were the inca trail in Peru and the Na Pali coast trail in Kauai. All was well until the eye lets began tearing (I'm assuming this was due to the alternate laceing technique that was needed to relieve the pain the shoes would cause on the top of my feet) and before i knew it the only eye lets that were left were the ones at the toes and the ones at the ankle area. Also the soles didnt last very long. All in all kind of disapointed in the shoe especiall for the price. they are now great yard working shoes

At first I thought this was going to be a great time together... running through the forest, splashing around Seattle puddles... And that is what happened for the first 2 months... Then the shoes outer soul started to come off letting water get in, right where the foot bends.
Other than that, they worked great. But I haven't owned shoes this expensive before that just came apart like this.

The last eyelet (I think that's the name?) up top came off mine. I could not tie the shoe properly.

I'm on my third pair of these great shoes. Waterproof & breathable, I wear them everyday so they only last a year or so. I normally wear a 10.5, in these I wear an 11.

These shoes work great for trail running or just running in wet conditions. I've owned two pairs and they've both developed the same issue: in less than a year they both began taking on water. Specifically, the toe area starts to separate from the sole. I'm using the hell out of them though and I suspect any shoe would do the same. Here we go again with pair number three!

I've taken these on a couple trips so far, backpacking and hiking. Walked through shallow creeks a couple times...no leakage. They are super comfy and for Gore lined sneaks they breath well. Try not to stub your toes on junk in the trail though...on my first hike they were nicked up pretty well...I'm diggin' em.

These are great shoes!!! This is my 3rd pair of Montrail Hurricane Ridge, and I love them!! BUT, I would nornally wear a 10, but the 10 was too small/tight on my toes. So I ordered a 10.5 and they fit great. Order a half size larger than usually. I use them for climbing 4,000 footers in the white mountains in N.H. and running. The new ones(size 10,5) are the same size as my old ones (size 10), I measured them. Love Montrail...

I've had both road running and trail running shoes, and these are the best I've had. Light enough for non-trail running - which is what I use them for. Excellent value.

After spending a week in Canada in the trails around Powell River BC rain started on and off for the next 3 weeks.
The trails stayed firm and so did my steps with my new shoes, warm feet and dry the shoes got muddy but washed clean in a snap and ready for another day of running around after dried in the sauna with me.
Anselmo

Shoes did great on a multi-day hike with a heavy pack on rocky terrain. Comfortable right out of the box, great support and traction on the trail.

I bought this shoe because I had the 2001 version and they were the best trail running shoes ever. Very breathable good in wet or dry conditions. I wear them everywear.

Best trail shoe I have ever owned. On my 3rd pair. Light weight. Wide toe box, neutral, curved last. Sole is firm and supportive yet flexible makes for a very comfortable, stable ride. Despite XCR Gore-Tex lining still breathes relatively well in hot conditions.

These are the first pair of running shoe that I have purchased in over 10 years. These are very comfortable shoes. Great grippage on certain surfaces, however I have found that small pebbles have a tendency to stick on the bottom treads of the shoes and can sometimes make me slip, especially if I am on a pea gravel or other small pebble trail. I have to stop and knock the pebbles out of the treads. These shoes are definitely better for running on dirt or a plain pavement surface. I like that my feet keep dry on wet conditions.

The XCR is a great trail running and hiking shoe. Make sure you size up 1/2 size because they do run a little small from true. They are nice and stiff and can handle hard hiking as well as trail running. They are built well and comfortable. Great Shoe.

I run about 15 miles a week in these on muddy trails near Seattle. They have great traction and do an admirable job keeping my feet warm & dry. I also used them on a recent climb of Mt. St. Helens and they held up to the pumice and scrambling great -- the sole is still in good shape and the uppers are unscathed.

I have run 50+ miles to date in these, and they have been GREAT. From the first run they are the most comfortable shoes I have ever tried. I just bought a second pair for rotation.

I have enjoyed my Hurricane Ridge XCR shoes. It is nice having dry feet as well as good traction when running in less than ideal conditions. The shoe seems to be a bit more narrow than most running shoes that I have used in the past which is not a problem for my foot. I am anxious to see what the durability is as they are used more.

This is the best trail running shoe that has ever been made. Light, tough, great support and cushioning. Even a great design. I don't know if the new model is this good technically but it doesn't match up in the looks department.

While the Hurricane Ridges are pretty supportive, that's not what I'm talking about. I picked these shoes because I wanted to support Montrail as they support the local trail running scene here in MN. Since I got the shoes for this reason, they have performed very well. I am replacing my Asic Trabucos and mainly wear them on the trails and to run to and from work in wet/snowy weather. A few weeks ago we got 9" of snow and, while I could have used snowshoes for the run home, they kept my feet nice and dry except the snow that got in the top (note: need gators). I also am recovering from a bout with PF and the support these shoes offer seems to be very adequate. My other shoes are Asic Kayanos and Brooks Beasts. One more thing, the shoes appear long and narrow but they fit great?!?

I'll tell you what. These shoes performed great. I did a 20k trail run in them and not one blister, no problems with soreness in feet, ankles or knees. Highly recommended, great traction and support. All I did was wear them for a week and changed out the insoles before my run.

Very nice and very comfortable. Keep in mind that the shoe has no traditional tongue, like other running shoes. Everything is one piece design, so getting your foot in and out of it requires some pushing and pulling. Not that big a deal, but one that should be noted. Other than that, one of the nicer pair of running shoes I've owned. The on-line help was excellent as well.

This shoe is great in cold weather and/or wet conditions. This shoe has a great fit. The stretch tongue is great. It doesn't rub and doesn't slip off to the side. Although the shoe is made of the breathable Gore-Tex XCR, these shoes do not breathe well enough for hot conditions. When I first got the shoes I ran in about 70 degree weather and my feet got too hot. However, I have used these on many snowy, winter runs and my feet have been just fine. These shoes are truly waterproof. I have no worries about wet feet while running through the snow, shallow river crossings, and mud. The sole offers great traction in all conditions. Overall I am pleased with this shoe.

i've owned several pair of the old style hurricane ridge and i loved them. they have now "improved" them through several style changes and i hate them. the fit is wrong, the toe box has gone from roomy to cramped. these will be going back and i'll be looking for a new running shoe. too bad. Montrail has become just another crappy shoe company with flashy advertisements. if you can find the old style hurricane ridge get them. you wont find better running/hiking shoes. the new ones are terrible.

I bought the Montrail XCR's a few months back. My early impression: I have used them on about 5 runs so far. First, as stated in other posts, they are pretty stiff out of the box. On my last run they started to loosen up (25 miles on shoe). I bought these to run the trails near my house in wet weather. So far I really like them. My feet have stayed totally dry. I run on fairly rocky terrain and the soles provide great protection. Also I like the ankle support they provide. The only drawback so far I see is the weight of the shoe. This is my first pair of burly trail running shoes, previously I ran in a pair of Adidas XCR's which feel much lighter.
To wrap it up I'm a fan, looking forward to more runs with dry feet.

i've been wearing this shoe mdoel since I found them 5 or so years ago. this is my 4th pair. Each conception of them seems slightly less quality as the model before, but they are still a good shoe. I wear an 11.5 US and the size remains true with this model. My foot is slightly wider and flater than normal and i have never had a problem with the medium size width. The neoprene'ish sock-like tongue is my favorite component of the shoe. The dual foam for pronation control is also still good. The clear plastic arch support and ankle strap is cheesy. The shoe is fairly warm - it's warmer than my previous model of this shoe. It's been my experience that the soles hold up well for lightweight hiking, but scree slopes are vicous on them. Mine ussually live for about 1.5 years of near daily townie use and 150 or so backcountry hiking miles. The gortex will rip if you hike in rough terrain - the waterproofness goes out the window after that - it's a pointless amenity in my opinion. The toe seems better design on this shoe than previous "running shoe" style toes - this model has a rubberized nylon on the front of the toes instead of suede-like toe box - it seems like a durability improvement..

I'm not a hard core runner. I use them in winter for everything, ski trips, gym and road. In Summer I use on rainy weather days. I've had four surgeries on one foot and these shoes have the best cushion and protection of all the Gore-tex shoes I've experienced. Make sure you get a least a 1/2 size larger that you normal size.

I was very reluctant to try a Gore-Tex shoe, but I wanted a warm shoe to run long distances on snow/ice conditions. Once I received the shoe, I took them straight to the Columbia Gorge and did such a run. The Hurricanes performed very well for being straight out of the box and running up very steep, snowy, and icy conditions for a long period of time. I received some small, yet expected, blisters. Other than that, these shoes are exactly what I was looking for. They have excellent traction, support, rigidity, and allowed me to stand around for several minutes without letting my feet freeze.

First off, this is a great, great shoe, by a great, great shoe company.
They are comfortable for running in the wet, and they actually keep your feet dry.

The problem is, they have a defect, which makes the shoe a ticking bomb.

There is a grey plastic eyelet at the top of the show, and it is stitched on in such a way that it can be snapped off where it is stitched. Once it breaks, it is not possible to properly lace the shoe. I babied mine, only wore them when it was wet, and I got much less use out of them than I would expect for a 120 dollar shoe when one of the plastic eyeles snapped off unexpectedly during a lace up.

Junk.

I have owned 2 pair of these shoes. I have used them not only for work in cold weather(thick socks needed), but I recently used the trail runners for a 20 + mile hike in the desert of southern Utah. Great running shoes, Great Hiking shoes. Highly breathable and very comfortable. I suggest them to everyone I know.

Great shoes though they took a couple days to break in. I like the Gore-Tex waterproofing.

this is my second pair of hurricanes. i love them. they hold my narrow feet wonderfully. i use them for trail running and just kicking around. it is true that running on pavement kills the tread but that isn't what these shoes are made for. they are excellent in the woods!

I owned the hardrock prior to this shoe. These weren't quite as comfy off the bat but they've broken in nicely. I wear these extensively and haven't had any problems with them. I hike the Utah backcountry in them and they do well in all conditions. They are light and well constructed. One complaint is that I can't keep the shoes tied if I ever have to bushwack or go on extended hikes. Maybe that's my problem?

I've been running in Hurricane Ridge XCR shoes since 2002. These are amazing. This is my 4th pair, and while having tried several other brands along the way, I keep coming back. I have average width, average arch feet and these fit like a glove. They are durable, and the one problem I had with an old model, Montrail warrantied without question. Also, I highly recommend the Montrail foot bed insert which I just started using - Awesome, too!