When things get sloppy, and as with Jeff my runs have been on dry terrain, the deep lugs will be most useful.

A robust and aggressive grip makes it easy to dig into dirt safely whilst providing all the flexibility needed for ground feel and plenty of push-ups. That said, the traction of the sole and the responsiveness of the shoes lightweight feel all but make up for this lack of stability.

The ripstop fabric is perfect for trail shoes as it reinforces that ripping, abrasion, and tearing resistance. It was designed for the everyday runner or hiker who may not traverse the trail like a mountain goat. The fabric is also ideal for allowing the foot to move more freely and adjust according to the ground you are on.

Because the forefoot is wider, it’s possible for the fit to be loose depending on the shape of your foot. To go with the more easy going upper than say the Speedcross 4 shown above one gets some modern styling here with a swept back achilles collar above a stout heel counter so there is plenty of rear hold. Though it may not inspire speed, it certainly does not discourage it either and rises to the occasion.My sense is that this is due to the chevrons themselves having fairly large flat ground contact areas, no rock plate and the flexibility of the shoe. We test each shoe in the field and connect these with the results of our lab tests to provide a full view of each shoe. You can also see that while there are a lot of overlays on the upper, the crease point on the forefoot is left exposed to abrasion and early tearing. Truly, we have found these shoes to be some of the least stable we have tested, even less stable than similarly tall Hokas, which feature a relatively modest heel-toe drop.