The North Face Ultra 103 Trail Running Shoe - Men's - 2007

This is the first pair of shoes I have purchased in 5 years that wasn't by New Balance. I bought them to go to London but before I've even left I've been hitting the local trail and they've been phenomenal! They've saved my ankles as well when walking over tree roots and they also grip incredibly well when walking across boulders...all in all these shoes have crushed a dynasty!

Been running the Ice Age trail in Wisconsin now that the snow is gone , the shoes work great on rocks and roots 15miles no problem. Great shoe great price very happy :0)

The Ultra 103 are not nearly as good as the Ultra 102 were. First, they should bring back the two-tiered lacing system, as it was very helpful for people like me that wear custom orthotics and need to "tweak" the fit. With the new "traditional" style lacing you just can not modify the fit as was possible with the 102. Also, the 103 do not have as much cushion as the 102 did, and for people like me with orthotics that is a major negative. Having less cushion is also quite noticeable after a longer run, or on rocky terrain. Lastly, the last is slightly more curved than the 102 were, and allbeit slight, it is noticeable for severe over-pronators like myself. Bottom line, good, stable shoes if you are a neutral runner that does not need much (if any) cushion. But be forewarned, they are not up to the same standard as the Ultra 102 were.

I have owned 2 pairs of North Face trail running shoes. The first pair was fantastic. The Ultra 103 don't really work for me. They have good support in the heel and midfoot but no where near enough protection and cushioning in the forefoot area. Every little rock, root and pebble can be felt on the ball of your foot. Ok for a gravel path but not good for rocky, uneven surfaces.

Love the North Face brand, great fit, looks. Only downside is the connections for the gaiters which can be hard to attach to initially. Otherwise a true, you can count on product! I'm sold on the brand.

The North Face Ultra 103 shoes provide good cushioning and comfort while running. These shoes have a very nice design. On the other hand, when you run on wet rocks they don’t show a good traction and you should be careful because they can become slippery. Moreover, I ran on ’em for about only 150 miles (but in rough terrain) and the rubber sole now needs some glue to remain attached to the bottom of the shoe. So, in my opinion, they are good running shoes, but have some cons.

This years model of The North Face ultra is a little different than previous models. They got rid of the two tiered lacing which I always thought was a pain. The excellent support and stability remains the same. This has always been an excellent shoe for long (marathon plus) distances and wide ranging trail surfaces. My one criticism of this model is that it doesn't seem as cushioned as the earlier models. I'll go with a flat spenco insole for distance races. Runs true to size, but the toe box is not as wide as Montrails.

I bought these for trail running/light hiking in the dry Arizona desert. They’re very breathable which is a must in the dry desert heat. I was running trails in my old New Balance running shoes, so I thought it was time to step up to a real trail shoe. These 103s have great support and the roll control has saved me a couple of times already. They are a great all around shoe, and I wear them to the gym as well as running on pavement. I was a little hesitant to order a shoe online without trying it on first, but they run true to size and I am very happy with the fit. If you live in a dry climate and don't need Gore-Tex, this is the one.

I recently purchased these shoes and after two 10 mile runs on rough trails, I think these shoes are great. Very stable and they have a great trail feel for a "bigger" made shoe. I am used to Saucony shoes so it did take a couple of miles to adjust to the higher heel and the slightly different fit. With these shoes, they are made for the long haul. So far so good! I heard these shoes feel more like hiking shoes and I disagee. They look as if they are but they are certainly the real deal...a long distance trail running shoe.

I ran a 75k mountain race in those shoes, and although it was rainy and they were completely wet all the time, they felt fine. Recently I ran 158k race around Mont Blanc, and now I know pretty much about those shoes. They have great stability, great protection and you feel the terrain fine. But what they lack in my opinion is good cushioning. This is not really an ultra shoe as it's too hard for a tired runner. As long as you have enough strength and your feet are not tired, it's perfect. Later it's comfortable too, but it's just too hard to run. You feel every step, as though you were running barefooted. It's very good for rocky, mountain terrain and under 100k distance. It's useless for flat terrain and constant running.

For running on a uneven, jagged, rocky courses. Very supportive and protective. Absolutely no break-in required (did a 30 miler first day out of the box). Good blend of firmness and cushioning. Bottom sole is great against stone bruises. Traction adequate. Very breathable. Reflective piping is very visible. Quite possibly my new favorite trail shoe.

I got these pair as a gift. I have been using Salomon XA's for the past 5 years.

The shoe is well made. The comfortable, with enough cushioning but still breathable. The addition of reflector strips is a nice touch for running at night.

The only downside I can say about the shoe is that it has poor grip on wet surfaces, especially concrete/rocks. The almost flat sole must be the culprit. Running them on wet trails (soil/grass) doesn't offer any problems regarding grip.