» Montrail Men's Hardrock Trail Running Shoe (Spring 08)

Montrail Men's Hardrock Trail Running Shoe (Spring 08) Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Montrail Hardrock (pre-Columbia) as walking shoe
Comment: I bought this shoe as a supportive shoe for daily use rather than for trail running, to alleviate the pain in the heel known as plantar fasciitis. Such a shoe must have (1) a strong cupped back to keep the heel down and immobilized, (2) a rigid arch that will not bend or twist, and (3) a stiff toe, so that when walking the foot more rolls off the end of the shoe than bends. An orthotic (like Superfeet or Prothotic, etc.) is usually also recommended. The most recommended shoes seem to be the New Balance 926 and 845, but these are determinedly ugly; the 926s look like barges, and the more gracefully shaped 845s come only in a muddy black or a white, like nurses' shoes. The Montrail Hardrock is good looking and, less well-known, has the above supportive characteristics. (Columbia has since bought out Montrail, so I do know if the their recent version of the Hardrock offers the same support; some chatroom chatter suggests it does not.) I use a 3/4 length Birkenstock orthotic under the regular Hardrock footbed. I have experienced considerable relief wearing this shoe and orthotic, so I am quite pleased. (I use a 3/4 length orthotic with the Hardrock because it does not have the boaty toe of a New Balance, and a full-length orthotic will lift the toe too close to the top of the shoe. By the bye, I also get much added relief by the unlikely expedient of wrapping a single strip of 2" duct tape around my arch--my bare foot not the shoe--with about a 1/8 inch gap in the tape on the bottom of the arch; I wear it under my sock by day and remove it at night for the skin to breathe and apply a new strip before putting weight on my foot next morning.) I hope the designers at New Balance come up with a less clunky more attractive shoe in the future, but for now I am very satisfied with my Hardrocks for the purpose, and I continue to look for appealing shoes with the above characteristics. Ciao

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Customer Rating:
Summary: HardRocks ROCK!!
Comment: We like our hardrocks for city walking in the mean, rugged, uneven Bangkok streets... Lately my wife has problems with her feet hurting, and we think that the HardRocks may be too hard for daily walking and working out use for her... But these are sturdy, yet comfortable shoes... Highly recommended...

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Shoes
Comment: Hardrock Trail Runner - Men's by Montrail
Shoes top quality though tight in width; would prefer tab on back to use in putting on the shoes.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent for rough and rocky trail running
Comment: I've been a road runner for many years and have done quite a few marathons and a few trail ultras as well. In the last few years I've been starting to do more trail running. Recently I finally decided to look into buying trail running shoes--I've always just used my favorite road shoes, the Brooks Beast. Now I know what I've been missing! The Montrail Hardrocks are outstanding. The stiff sole means you're not feeling the sharp rocks and roots underneath. They've got really good protection for the toes too. For someone looking for a sturdy trail running shoe for hard trails, including trail marathons and ultras--this is the way to go.

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