One was a softshell version of the awesome XT Wings shoe and the other a show that I wasn’t familiar with called the XT Hawk. I snapped a couple of pictures of the shoes, but that’s about all the info I’ve got. Once the PR situation gets sorted out at Salomon, hopefully I’ll post an update with more information, but for now… enjoy the pictures.

Salomon XT Wings Softshell Trail Running Shoes

The refinement of the XT Wings line now includes a softshell Gore-tex version. Now a total of three flavors will be offered: mesh, Gore-tex and Gore-tex softshell. There are plenty of softshell-type trail running shoes on the market today and I really like how they perform in cool or wet weather.

Honestly, I’m a little surprised that they feel there’s a market for two varieties of Gore-tex shoes. It seems like they could go sans Gore in the softshell version to provide a more breathable, yet weather-proof trail runner that would be perfect for Rocky Mountain weather conditions (dry, cool, dry snow, light rain)  Whatever your running conditions are, there’s bound to be an XT Wings style to suit them.

Salomon XT Hawk Trail Running Shoes

A recent introduction to the line, the Salomon XT Hawk  features a lighter version of the outsole chassis system called ACS Lite (Agile Chassis System) and feels like it’s a tad lighter than the XT Wings. It appears that the little Quicklace garage has been removed and potentially the laces shortened. Looks like a great trail runner that’s not quite as supportive as the XT Wings, but should be a little swifter on-trail.

More Info: Visit SalomonSports.com

Trail running shoes come in all varieties from ultralight endurance race shoes to heavier and more stable trail shoes. I’ve got a variety of trail running shoes to flog this Fall and have been looking forward to some head-to-head testing of some of the finest trail shoes on the market. The first review of the season comes from a relative newcomer to the industry, Oboz with their Ignition trail shoe.

About the Oboz Ignition Trail Running Shoes

Made with comfort and stability in mind, the Ignition is a versatile trail shoe that sports some excellent technology. The Dynamic Bootie construction is meant to provide a solid and comfortable fit while the floating forefoot cage ensures consistent pressure and feel. Traction is provided by Z Grip High-friction outsoles with burly treads.

More details on the Oboz Ignition shoes:

• Dynamic Bootie construction for even, comfortable fit
• Z Grip soles for all-terrain traction
• EVA midsole cushioning
• Nylon footplate for stability and protection
• Mix of nylon mesh and synthetic leather uppers
• MSRP: $99.95

Oboz Ignition Trail Running Shoes Review

When these shoes arrived, the first thing that caught my attention was the burly tread. These shoes are definitely meant to tackle all types of terrain without flinching. On top of that, the Dynamic Bootie is unique amongst the other trail running shoes in the hopper (Vasque Celerator, Vasque Blur, Salomon XT Wings and Salomon XA Pro 3D).

The snug, comfortable feel of the bootie is great. It cradles your foot and ensures a stable feel. With the combination of the floating front “cage”, it really provides the most even pressure of any trail shoes I’ve worn. Too many shoes attach the front straps to the shoe, but the floating nature of the cage really allows for a more comfortable fit.

I like the even pull of the laces through the eyelets from top-to-bottom as well… some shoes require that you tighten the laces manually from bottom to top, these provided even pressure with a single pull. With the bootie and the floating cage design, I was able to wear my favorite Lorpen ultralight socks for a close-to-foot fit. Some shoes require a little thicker sock, but these were perfect.

With no break-in period, I headed right out to the local trails and my feet were well taken care of. I instantly noticed both the amazing traction and stability provided by the Ignitions. These shoes are at home in the dirt. So much so that when I looped back and checked my tracks, I was digging in with the tenacity of a wolverine.

As I said, in the dirt, these shoes shine. They feel very comfortable and shield your tootsies from sharp rocks, etc. While not the lightest shoes on the block, they don’t feel heavy on the trail by any means. The bootie does offer excellent fit and keeps your foot in place on uphill and downhill sections. But, it isn’t as breathable as some shoes. For warm weather trail running, the Ignition may be a little toasty, but in the 50-70 degree temps I’ve been running in, they are perfect.

To test the versatility of the Ignitions, I took them out for a run while pushing the kids in the BOB Duallie stroller on the Provo River Trail. While they felt excellent on in the dirt, they were “acceptable” on pavement, but definitely aren’t my first choice. The trail-devouring treads don’t translate so well to pavement and end up feeling a little clunky. Many of my trail runs involve short stints on pavement between trail networks, so that’s why I notice the pavement performance.

Cushioning and support has been great thus far. I’ll post long-term durability results in the Spring.

I must note that with my super-flat feet, I always use SOLE orthotic footbeds in all my shoes and did so throughout the test of these shoes. Regardless of your foot type, I highly recommend using SOLE or Superfeet footbeds in all your shoes.

Good Ignition

• Superior tread traction
• Bootie wraps the foot and keeps it super stable
• Excellent support
• Great with SOLE footbeds
• Lacing tension is even top-to-bottom with a single pull

Bad Ignition

• A little toasty when it’s warm
• Heavier than some shoes
• A bit clunky on the road

The Bottom Line on the Oboz Ignition Trail Runners

These are the first Oboz shoes I’ve ever worn and hopefully they won’t be the last. I’ve really enjoyed these shoes on the trail–especially on slower and steeper climbs or descents. The extra traction provided by these shoes is awesome. Just keep in mind that these shoes are trail shoes first and foremost with the ability to run on the road on a rare occasion. On the other hand, they are suitable as lightweight hikers, which may not be an option with some trail runners.

Buy Now: Search for Oboz Footwear on GEAR.com

A few months back, I heard about END (Environmentally Neutral Design), a small Portland, Oregon startup with big ambitions. I was intrigued enough by the secrecy of the company’s products (no products are currently displayed on their Web site) and their mission that I had to stop by the END booth for a visit.  I’m glad I did as I was able to chat with END co-founder, Andrew Estey and find out just what END is up to.

About END Outdoor Footwear

Not satisfied with building a “green” end product and ignoring the actual manufacturing process, END has re-engineered both the shoe designs and the production lifecycle from the ground-up. Their shoe designs may look like many other shoes from afar, but a closer look revelals the little details that allows END to reduce waste and manufacturing steps while still producing functional, stylish and durable products.

Other “green” products have been slow to sell because they lacked style and/or function. END is aiming to change the game by producing sustainable products that not only reduce their environmental impact, but will also nail the tastes of their target market of outdoorsy youth.

I’m told that a typical trail running shoe will take upwards of 300 hands to produce each pair of shoes, but END has cut that in half through product simplification and removal of unnecessary steps. All in all, this reduces materials usage, ensures a healthier production process (no toxic chemicals are used) and even a reduction in consumer pricing… something that has beleagured previous “green” products.

END is making huge efforts to get their products into the hands of world-class athletes who are flogging them in adverse situations. Feedback has been positive thus far and the product launch is poised to begin in September at REI, then in November on Zappos.com with a full-blown launch January 2009 at retailers nationwide.

The product line consists of both trail and road running shoes, versatile water shoes and sandals.  Here are a couple of highlights.

END Stumptown 12 oz Trail Running Shoes

A hot-looking trail runner that utilizes a mixture of recycled and new materials to produce the right mix of sustainability, durability and good looks.  These softshell shoes are built with simplicity in mind, but they are by no means a step back in function. I was very impressed with the overall design of these shoes and look forward to trying them out in person.

The women’s-specific version of the Stumptown 12 oz. is built specifically for a woman’s foot, which I don’t have, but I’m sure a woman will appreciate the improved fit and thought-out design.

A few more highlights:

• Single-mold, 25% recycled carbon rubber outsole
• 10% recycled EVA midsole
• Reduced amount of foam by 50%
• 25% bamboo infused linings in collar and tongue
• 100% recycled PET laces and webbing
• MSRP: $85

END Trail Thong Sandals

Functional and stylish flip-flops are hard to come by these days. With so many people wearing them day-in and day-out, it’s about time manufacturers (let alone green manufacturers like END) started building comfortable and anatomical flip-flops. The END Trail Thongs look great and sport a supportive footbed with super-grippy rubber outsoles. Cool flips for the flip-flopper in all of us.

A few more highlights:

• Available in whole sizes
• Single-mold 25% recycled carbon rubber outsole
• EVA/Cork footbed
• Leather strap

More Info: Visit ENDoutdoor.com

Now I primarily use the Raid Race as a rugged trail runner but I know that it is completely functional and reliable in just about any adventure I get myself into.

Born from the desire of adventure racers need to have a shoe that would do it all and take abuse in the meantime, the Raid Race was designed with some very specific features and needs in mind. The desingers set out to build a shoe that would fit comfortably, lace up and adjust quickly, incorporate a running shoe build and sole with the durability of a backpacking shoe, be lightweight, prevent rocks and debris from getting in, and breathe so your feet don’t overheat. I think the good folks at Salomon can mark one up for mission accoplished.

The most apparent feature is the quick fit kevlar lace system which allows you to adjust the fit in a split second. The lace will never break and it adjusts easily through a self locking slider. The excess lace stores nicely in the little neoprene garage which is built into the top of the tounge. This lace system comes in handy when you need to tighten your laces and you’re not interested in taking a break to untie and re-tie the laces. Just pull the lace and cinch down the locking slider. Voila! The ergonomic and assymetrical eyelets and lace system are designed to pull the shoe tight in a cross foot angled direction rather than the traditional accross the top of the foot which can bunch the tongue, leave the forefoot loose and cause discomfort. In addition, the lace system seems to snug more of the shoe to the foot while pulling the foot into the deep heel pocket. Its a design which I’ve found gives me the perfect fit weather I’ve got it tight or somewhat loose.

Ever been running and you step on a little pointed rock and you feel it for days to come? I know you’re nodding your head cause if you do any amount of running, particularly trail running, it’s happend to you too. Say good-bye to bruised trail feet. The Raid Race was built using an EVA foam midsole for nice cushioning and reinforced with a polyamide (flexible plastic for us non-engineer types) plate which is sandwiched between the EVA foam midsole and the outsole. This all but eliminates bruised trail feet and adds some torsional rigidity which comes in handy when the terrain gets more rocky and challenging. I put 30-40 trail miles a week on these shoes and I haven’t had my foot bruised once. The outer sole is made of Salomon’s dual compound Contagrip 2 which is basically two kinds of rubber to fit most any natural surface, firm or soft. Another cool feature is the molded heel pocket which is the yellow plastic outer of the heel as seen in the image below. This keeps the heel in place and helps to prevent heel slip. Lastly, the tongue is part of the continuous upper which is key for keeping trail debris out. It’s a rare day I have to stop to get a pebble or twig out of my shoe.

Overall these shoes rule. The Raid Race is the perfect shoe for the all around outdoor adventurer. They are built to last and if you’re looking for one shoe this summer that can do it all, look no further. It retails at $99. .

Some people find these shoes to be a bit much if you are using them primarily as a trail runner. If this describes you, perhaps you’ll like the Salomon Raid Sport or the Vitesse and Leona Divide from Montrail which provide the same functionality and durability as the Raid Race but in a trail running specific built.

Other Options
Salomon XA Pro – Newer version! Lightweight trail runner, perfect for Adventure Racing.

Visit Backcountry.com to purchase a pair of Salomon Raid Race shoes.