Salomon XA Pro 3D Mid GTX Ultra Running Shoe - Women's - 2011 BCS

I bought these off a buddy because he said they didn't provide enough ankle support. Anyone who tries them on would understand that they're not for the weak ankles, heavy pack crushing treks (I mean they're shoes not boots). They're perfect for everything else though. I wear them all the time: river crossing, dry hikes, sloppy treks through the woods when hunting or doing photography and even into town if I'm dressed according to the shoes lol. The reviewer below unlocked the secret- in the top of the tongue is a mesh pocket-like holder for the laces! It took me about 5 months of wear to figure this out lol. I personally love the quick pull laces. I can make crazy fast adjustments on the trail if I need a little extra wiggle room or need to get a pesky pebble out. What really wins me over though is how lightweight and well-fitting they are. These are incredibly light-weight and that's with a green super-feet insert replacing the original insole. Very comfortable, very functional. I will miss these when the sole wears through!

I haven't done much running in these yet, but I love them for hiking. I wore them on a steep 10 mile hike with no break in and got no blisters. I hate heavy, stiff boots and have always done most of my hiking in trail runners. Because of the higher cut and GTX liner, these are the perfect blend of protection, light weight and flexibility. They weigh half of what my other (supposedly lightweight) boots weigh. The quick lacing takes a bit of getting used to, but works fine and once you stash the extra in the pocket on the tongue you never have to worry about catching a lace on brush.
I think they will be good for winter trail running, but suspect I'll find them too warm for running in warmer, drier weather. I won't hestitate to use them for backpacking and snowshoeing.
Note on sizing: These run a little bigger than most shoes, so recommend you order a half size down from your normal size (I wear a 7 in most shoes, but have plenty of room in the 6.5) My feet are very narrow and low-volume, but I was able to get a good fit with thick socks and a "Superfeet" insole.