Montrail FluidFlex II Review

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In the past, Montrail shoes have generally been too narrow for me. This one was not, so right away, I was pleasantly surprised! Aside from the width, I initially noticed that this shoe was very comfortable. The upper was very soft and I didnโ€™t notice any potential โ€œhot spots.โ€ Also, it felt quite light.

The size 10 weighed 8.2 oz on my scale. I actually weighed it twice because I was a little surprised! It felt like you were getting a lot of shoe for that little weight.

The heel measures 22mm and the forefoot measures 17mm for a drop of 5mm.

I liked the design of the laces. There was a very simple yet effective lace-holder built into the tongue and it would definitely prevent slipping.

The sole of the shoe is also very soft. The โ€œFluidFoamโ€ has a bit of give and I think it would provide a nice cushion for longer runs. Not only that, but the outsole is designed with little lugs that would provide great traction on most trails. With that being said, Iโ€™m not sure how well they would hold up on pavement.

Finally, I think this is a good-looking shoe. It could certainly be used as a lightweight trainer and I think it would be suitable for racing pretty much any distance on trails. As I said above, Iโ€™d be reluctant to run too much on pavement because I think the little lugs on the forefoot would get torn up.

Pros:
โ€“ very comfortable fit
โ€“ lightweight
โ€“ wider toebox than most Montrail shoes
โ€“ nice lacing system
โ€“ slightly more affordable than comparable shoes ($90)
โ€“ nice outsole for most trails
โ€“ a good-looking shoe

Cons:
โ€“ I think the sole might be a little too soft (this may just be a personal preference)
โ€“ Iโ€™m not sure these would hold up that well on pavement