I'm in love with this shoe. I just bought this year's newer model after putting 500 miles on the one shown here. I run a mix of trails and roads and I've got to agree with metaljonez when he says the sole is extremely soft--you'll feel the rocks if you don't watch your step. The newer model is a little stiffer there so hopefully problem solved. I just finished a marathon two weeks ago in these shoes and it is the first marathon where my feet were not sore at the end--seriously--the cushioning in these is great (I'm small 5'8 150 so bigger folks may or may not experience the same cushion).

These shoes have held up to pounding training runs, mud, rain, etc. and nothing has fallen apart. I love the boa lacing. Happy Trails! 4 stars because rocks can hurt you and if a shoe is going to be advertised for trails, it needs to have more protection.....

This shoe is simply excellent. I've drive by a marketing impulse as well (Karnazes, etc, etc) but I'm 100% satisfied. I'm a heavy runner 200 lb plus, I'm average arch type of feet, I recommend to buy a 1 full size over your regular size. Excellent support, and cushion. The lace system is outstanding.
Also the "chat" system is a helpful tool for an impulse runner like me.
Keep the good work!

I decided to try these shoes after reading about Dean Karnazes's endurance 50. Unfortunately, the shoes did not work out for me in size. Dean is apparently short with a narrow foot. I typically wear a size 10, D in almost any running shoe (asics 10's fit me like a glove). I had some discomfort on the side of my small toes that would have lead to problems, and it seemed like I would have been in between sizes to get the right length, might have even had to go an 11. The shoes were very cool otherwise, high quality and awesome lacing system. Too bad they didn't work out, I was very excited about them

Bought these as my training shoe for long off-road/singletrack running. Put 30 miles into them the first weekend without issue. My longest run in them was 20 miles and I didn't have any blisters. The lacing system is excellent and provides a nice fit without any pressure points. The bottom is OK but a little soft for true trail running. I felt rocks at times that almost bruised my feet. The cushioning is good for a neutral shoe. I recommend the shoe for neutral runners looking for a high mileage shoe on both the road and single track trail. They aren't the best shoes for true trail running given the soft bottom and tread. I will likely buy a second pair.

I really like these shoes for trail running; however, you need a full size larger than your fit - toebox room.

LOVE these shoes. Most comfortable and supportive shoe I have ever owned. I ran a 10 miler with them right out of the box and I was hooked. You can literally FEEL the support guiding your foot. I ran the Whiterock Marathon in Dallas with them and had no problems at all. GREAT SHOE!!

I'm on my 2nd pair of Boa Arnuvas, and first pair of BOA XCR's. I run about 300 miles a month on and off trail, rain or shine, and these shoes are great. Completed a 50K and two marathons this summer. The Arnuva's are extremely light, but sized a bit small (I am a true 10.5 but I wear an 11 in the Arnuva's). I'm also a bigger (180 pounds) runner and the support is more than adequate. I will never run in a pair of non-BOA running shoes again...you can get the perfect tension and never have to re-tie.

The shoe fits great, feels great, and makes for an overall enjoyable running experience, as long as you are running on trails with only a small percentage of your overall distance on pavement. Yes, I know it is a trail shoe but the marketing states that it is great on all surfaces. I have found that hot spots spring up in the forefoot when running on pavement for more than a mile, especially with a forefoot strike. The shoe conforms to the conventional sizing system, so if you usually wear a 10, get a 10. I would recommend this shoe to a friend.

I've got 200+ miles on these shoes. My terrain has varied from road, gravel, dirt trail, mud, and even ice (with the assistance of a traction device) and they have done great. I would say the only place where these shoes might not perform well is on very hard varied terrain for a long distance since they are not a hard-core stability shoe. Light-weight, with some stability, and a pretty cushioned ride, make this a great mixed terrain shoe. Add the BOA lacing system (at first seemed gimmicky and now I love)which greatly allows for adjusting fit quickly and you've got a great comfortable fit. I've run 2 50k's in these with no blisters. I'll buy another pair when these wear out.

I ordered these primarily because I am a Dean Karnazes fan and they look really cool. They are great for casual and gym wear, but don't make a good running shoe unless you already have near perfect biomechanics and you add a good footbed (like Dean does). I don't see how these could be called trail runners as the sole is extremely soft and flexible with no lateral support and no toe protection. The Boa lacing system is super cool, but I wouldn't depend on it to hold up through a lot of rough terrain. TNF generally does a fantastic job of combining looks with function, but these shoes are really just looks. If you want a real trail shoe with solid structure, look at a Montrail.

I was double-shipped these due to a shipping error and I'm keeping the second pair for a number of reasons. One, While I'm a lightweight footwear kind of guy (think Inov-8's line of fell running shoes), I've had some shin splint and knee issues and I opted for these heavier and more cushioned shoes: I'm glad I did. I still can't run more than six miles or so at a time, but that's an improvement over my 2-mile max two months ago: my toes would go numb due to compartment syndrome. These shoes seem to be taking care of that (well, the shoes and some other non-invasive therapy). The Boa system works well, it really does cradle my feet in comfort and I'm back on the trails regularly. No blisters, no hot spots and very happy lower legs overall! The only negative comment is that I'm getting more underfoot bruising than I'm used to, and that's saying a lot when I'm used to running in Inov-8's lighter-end shoes.

Cheers,
Alex

I bought these for trail running.
-great traction, even on downhill on with loose surface
-light and breathable
-good cushioning
-run about 1/2 size too small
-tends to squeeze the toes together(perhaps would not have been an issue in larger size)
-Boa system can be adjusted in small increments to tighten it, but to release tension you have to release it almost all the way
-the sole has soft areas so if you step on small rock just right it digs into the foot quite noticeably

Great shoe, does all that I expected. Would consider getting 1/2 size bigger for next pair.

The Arnuva Boa trail running shoes are great. These are the best running shoes i've ever owned. I weigh 220lbs and they give me the support and comfort i need. Being in the military and doing PT everyday and running on my own I put in alot of miles. It is worth spending the money to protect my back and knees.

I run approximately 50-70 miles per week, and I'm hard to fit when it comes to shoes. The Boa system works well to lock my heel comfortably in place without cranking down too hard on my instep. I was initially wary of the gimmicky nature of the shoes, but I'm on my second pair. They endure long-distance punishment very well, and I've found them to perform remarkably well on both pavement and trails.

Very comfortable, light, awesome traction and love the lacing system. Absolutely trashed them on a trail run and after one good soak and wash they were good as new!!!!

I bought the shoes, inspired by Dean Karzanes, I know victim of marketing, but the shoes are great. I run some local trails and wore them in the Tucson marathon. They are comfortable, and absorb shock well. I am 225lbs so that matters. My feet tend to swell so the adjustments with the lacing system are awesome. Well worth buying.

The shoes are definitely cool. My pair rubbed on the heel where the dial is. My wife tried a pair as well, and her pair rubbed her pinky toe into a large blister. As we are both seeking long-distance shoes, the rubbing just isn't tolerable. Too bad because we loved the heel cushioning, the materials and the concept.

Great multi-purpose shoe, ready straight out of the box. I've already ordered a backup pair. The lacing system is an amazing combination of simplicity and function. Highly recommended for all you folks that are rough on shoes, I've put mine to the test and they have passed.. (10K races and running from the police). Thanks to North Face for making an innovative product they've been slacking as of late, IMO. Happy running......

The first weekend I had them I went to the trail. My only complaint is the rubber is a little soft. I had a few lugs ripped of after 3 miles. Other than that this is a great shoe that keeps my feet cool. The BOA works very well.

I bought these shoes about 10 months ago, got injured and had to stay of them for awhile. I wore them to the gym, a lot of low impact stuff. anyway, the plastic coating frayed on the left shoe (nearly a year later) and now the boa system does not function. luckily it was at just the right spot that i can slip the shoe on and off and it's tight enough to run in. other than this, this is the most comfortable shoe i've ever worn. take care of the boa and you cannot beat this shoe.

These shoes were a bit short...didn't fit like all my other size 9.5's. After a while these shoes start to squek....not sure if its the boa lacing system, or if its something in the sole, which by the way is too soft for trail running.

I just ran a middle-distance run, and let me say that these are just alright on the road. They're not the most comfortable shoe around, but they do alright. That being said, these are GREAT trail running shoes. They offer a lot of support. Also, the lacing system is simply amazing, and they have to be tried in order to be appreciated.

These are most definitely the most awesome shoes I have ever put on my feet! So incredibly comfortable and easy access baby!

I'd definitely recommend these The North Face Arnuvas. This is a really light weight shoe that's well vented so your feet stay cool. The boa lacing system is super slick. Just crank the dial on the heel & pull it out to loosen.

Well, I purchashed these shoes thinking that north face quality would be put into these shoes so I ordered two pair. One I sent to where I am stationed in Iraq the other to my home state side to wear on leave. I slipped on the pair here in iraq after looking for a pair of shoes that would hold up against the gravel/rocks around my patrol base when I go running. Quickly the cable system became lose not holding my feet where they needed to be, after that the sole seemed to just fade away. They faded away so bad that two holes appeared in the bottom of my shoes (both in identical spots) The top part where the cable tightens the most ripped. These shoes are crap and would never buy them again. Now you may be thinking that this is just my pair of shoes but you are wrong a buddy of mine bought the same shoes and he also has had all the same problems.

I ran with shoe only a couple times until the soles started ripping, and then finally the mesh on the inside of each shoe ripped. The boa system in one shoe went completely loose, and stopped working. This is a horrible purchase.

Not a bad running shoe, very comfortable, no blisters, but still a little frustrating. The durability is a little disappointing for something coming from a brand with the reputation of The North Face. Nothing outrageous, minor rips on the fabric at the heel of one shoe, and the coloring on the soles are rubbing off like crazy. The BOA's a little frustrating, I think I could tie laces to the same tightness more consistently than I could with this cable system. It is really cool though. And it is nice to be able to just turn the wheel to tighten it all up without having to retie the shoes. Fix the durability issue and I'd be a lot happier. I should note that I'm deployed in Iraq and these shoes spend all their time walking on packed gravel. Nothing outrageous, but I'm sure it's had some impact on their performance.