Maximum Trail Running Stability: Montrail Hardrock

By Jonathan Berohn

If you're someone who can walk into any shoe store and fit perfectly into whatever medium width shoe you happen to think looks cool, then I hate you.  Oh-and this article is probably overkill for you.  Certainly, the Montrail Hardrock is still a great shoe that will perform superbly for you, but it really shines for those of us that are hard to fit or need some extra support in their shoes (or both.ahem).

Width Choices!

Unfortunately for me, I have a wide foot.  This means my running shoe choices-especially trail running choices-generally come down to-"you might be able to cram your foot into this one."  The Montrail Hardrock actually comes in a wide.  And unlike many wide shoes this doesn't simply mean sloppy.  Montrail makes their shoes so that wide does not mean they expect your heel to be the same width as your toes.  The long and the short of it is that it fits great.  Oh-and the regular medium width probably fits pretty well, too (grumble).

Comfort and Stability

The comfort factor of the Montrail Hardrock doesn't end with proper width.  For a sturdy trail runner, it is amazingly light-especially considering the stability it offers.  The stability, in fact, is the key to the whole if you happen to pronate (fall in on your ankle) when you walk or run.  If you do much running, you know how serious a problem this can be.  I actually ended up with a case of tendonitis in my Achilles' tendon because of pronating and bad shoes.  The Montrail Hardrock essentially eliminates this problem by making sure the sole extends fully under your arch-pretty much preventing your ankle from rolling in at all. The Hardrock also takes insoles and orthotics well (meaning it has plenty of room for them) if you need that extra support.

Versatility

Another great thing about the Montrail Hardrock is that you don't have to just use them for trail running.  They are light enough to serve as normal running shoes.  They are comfortable enough to just wear around for everyday use.  And they have an aggressive sole (that's some shoe store lingo I picked up for "big treads") that makes them excellent for hiking as well.

Buying

While most of the time in these articles I like to point you toward places to buy things on the web, this time I'm going to explicitly tell you NOT to buy these over the web.  If you are going to go to the trouble to buy a good shoe, go to the trouble to make sure it fits.  Your best bet is a local running store, or even an outdoor store if they know what they are doing.  In any case, make sure you find someone who knows how to fit shoes, and you will get the best bang for your buck-and save your feet some agony.