Geology Rocks!

I used to run in Nike ACG back in the early-to-mid nineties. Then I started running in Montrail Vitesse in the late nineties. I loved the Vitesse, but I couldn't understand why I kept having problems, turning my ankle, slipping on the trail, and the like. I went back to thinking that I needed something like those old Nike 'cross-training' 'outdoor' shoes that I wore until the soles fell off, so I tried the Excelerace and ran in the Stratos even though the latter was more of a boot than a shoe. Those were fine, like the Montrail Namche, for trail running and day hiking at a moderate pace. Then about a year-and-a-half ago I found the Inov-8 RocLite 315 . . . It was as if speed were a girl I used to date who suddenly came back into my life. I almost felt like a kid again, running barefoot along the trails that criss-crossed up and down the dry creek bed. These are true trail-running shoes that provide the best combination of speed and nimble support that I have ever experienced. If you like to run on trails as fast as you can like you did when you used to play 'war' with the other kids on the block down by the creek, you should buy these shoes now. I run through creeks nowadays, but most of my time is spent criss-crossing old lava flows that jut out at an angle here in the Connecticut River Valley. The trails are riddled with jagged rocks - angular pieces of basalt and diabase, not rounded boulders of till or old, weathered, chunks of granite with the edges all softened. The RocLite 315 shoes provide the grip and reinforcement necessary to negotiate these wild paths with speed and grace. AND . . . if you find yourself unable to stay on the trail and before you know it you are moving through the thickets and winding your way along a deer path on the side of the mountain, you should buy these shoes. I cannot compliment Inov-8 enough - I think I'll buy another pair right now!

I do not recommend these boots. They are uncomfortable and unweildy. Maybe it was simply a case of the wrong boot for the wrong foot. I found them unsupportive, loose in the middle of the foot with socks and sock liners, and yet extremely tight and uncomfortable in the ankle area. Bulky bricks, these, and I returned the boots because they were not for me.

These boots are fine, except that the toe box is too narrow and they don't wear very well and aren't very comfortable. Garmont used to make a boot called the Vegan that I wore religiously as a backpacking boot for a decade, moving through about five pairs of them over that period of time. If Garmont representatives read these reviews they should know that we want the Garmont Vegan boot manufactured again, with a Gore-tex bootie, please. I will return these boots shortly and look for an alternative.

These pants are comfortable. I bought two pairs at an EMS store closing a couple of years ago at half-off half price. Those were in the large size and they fit me fine then, I like the freedom provided by the gusseted crotch. I dropped about twenty pounds, retired the large pants, and purchased a pair of the medium-sized pants. They are even better, providing a flattering look along with the comfort that comes with the quality craftsmanship one can expect from Mountain Hardware. I now wear the shorts, too - they fit better than my old hiking shorts from Sears. I will continue to buy these comfortable, loose-fitting pants.

I found the two pairs of Montrail Enduro insoles that I heated in the oven and fitted to my feet to be too bulky. I think it may be that they provided more arch support than I want or need - if you are looking for good arch support for your high-arched feet, these soles might do the trick. I wear them in my Montrail Namche boots - the fit is perfect within the brand - and enjoy the extra comfort but dislike the extra height in the arch and heel areas. I put the other pair in an old pair of trail running shoes to add new life to them but found the same problem - they were too much for me. I will not buy these again - I like the feel of the Superfeet line of insoles better.

Montrail Vitesse are excellent, award-winning shoes. I've been through about six-or-seven pairs of these shoes over the past decade and used them for trail running, hiking, kayaking, and as daily street shoes. They are some of the most comfortable trail shoes one can find and they fit like a glove. They are roomy in the toe area and have a soft feel that is nice both on and off the trail. I moved on to other Montrail models, including the Excelerace and Stratos over the past few years. Both of those sported a Gore-tex lining and I went through a phase in which everything had to have the Gore-tex lining. The Vitesse is a great long-distance running shoe, not shoe/boot combination as those other models. Instead of the Vitesee I am now using the Montrail Namche for day-hiking because it provides more ankle support. For true trail running, I recommend the Inov-8 line of trail running shoes, particularly the Roc-lite 315.

The first pair of Montrail Namche boots I received had a manufacturer's defect with the exterior mesh, but by using backcountry.com's helpful return policy I was able to put myself in a new pair quickly. The Namche was awarded the fastpacking boot of the year and it does indeed provide a nice combination of stability and speed. The boot/shoe wears comfortably and provides enough ankle support to allow me to safely run along rocky trails with a pack. I also wear these for hiking with a pack and one of my boys on my shoulders (15-20 lbs. for the pack and 35-45 lbs. per child). The fit is close with no pinching - comfortable and stable. The mesh design helps keep my feet cooler, too. I would recommend this boot and would buy them again.