I already mentioned i have not been to TRE 2 weeks ago, but Sam, who already did the Tecton X3 review in this space few weeks ago, was. So i’ll share some of his observations. Also i wanted to combine TRE and ISPO, but honestly i was getting sick already when i went to Munich, did my panel talk and head to the hotel almost straight afterwards. Enjoyed meeting some friends, had some good talking but didn’t manage to see very much of the expo. Nontheless i posted a small recap carousel from Munich incl. the pretty cool Hoka Project Transport (sneaker) that will be out in January. Nice one!
TRE 2024 REPORT
Trends in the Trail Shoe space:
I was able to spend time visiting with several brands at The Running Event a couple weeks ago, getting a sneak peek into 2025 lineups. I noticed a few trends that I saw several brands following. Super shoes were a big hit, with many brands improving on their existing shoe or introducing new models. Stack height seems to continue to get higher, indicating the want for more cushion. I wonder if next year we’ll see a reduction in stack and some more minimal models. Lots of innovation coming from the outsoles, with various lug patterns or new rubber compounds. Most brands are headed towards a simplification of their shoe lines as well, to make each model’s purpose more clear. Many brands introduced a new category of trail shoe, intended to focus on road-to-trail or “gravel” conditions like dirt roads - Salomon and Craft will have two great gravel shoes for 2025. I've highlighted some of my favorites below, with my emphasis on trail as that’s my expertise.
Hoka Mafate X:
Hoka will introduce a new carbon-plated shoe in 2025, the Mafate X. This shoe will be ultra cushioned with a super high stack (49mm heel). The midsole is composed of a supercritical EVA stacked on a PEBA core with an H-shaped carbon plate in between the foams to add snap and stability. This shoe, different to the Tecton series, is envisioned for anyone who wants the responsiveness of a plated shoe, but doesn’t want to have to push the pace.
ON Cloud Ultra Pro:
The cloud Ultra Pro will be ON’s first ever plated trail shoe. ON has positioned this shoe as a “super shoe for everyone” meaning you can wear this shoe at any level, despite the plate design (similar to the Mafate X). ON decided to go with a fiberglass and nylon material for their plate rather than carbon, giving the plate a little more flex and stability. The plate is sandwiched between two layers of PEBA foam. With a 38mm heel stack height, this will be a super good shoe for long days on the trail, where pace varies from fast to slow.
The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro 3:
TNF updates their super shoe with a supercritical midsole blend that features stacked plate technology. They’ve embedded a full length carbon plate in the midsole that acts as propulsion, then on top of another layer of foam, a recycled carbon chassis that will help keep your foot stable and centered in the shoe. This tiered approach to the plate system is super innovative in the trail space and I’m excited to run in these. Not to mention, the shoe just looks really good.
Norda 005 + new colors:
This shoe has been teased for a while and will finally see its release in 2025. Norda has opted for a non-plated super shoe, developing their own TPEE compound for the midsole that provides tons of cushion and speed. Norda wants this shoe to maintain a connection with the ground, thus opting for no plate. These shoes are super light and relatively low in stack height. The upper is solid, featuring Norda’s signature dyneema compound that is rugged and comfortable. This will be a banger.
Additionally, we’ll also see some new colorways of the 001 and 002 coming in 2025, which I was able to get a sneak peek of.
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro:
The edition of a Pro to the Prodigio line at Sportiva is awesome. This is one of my favorite shoes I saw at the whole show. A non-plated racing shoe, the Prodigio Pro has a nitrogen infused midsole, featuring a layer of EVA and a layer of TPU. The fit is wider than a traditional Sportiva model, but the upper is snug and fits like a glove, with a sock-like closure instead of a tongue. This shoe will be great for mountain racing on technical terrain, with the midsole providing enough response to lay down some fast miles. I’ve already put several miles on this shoe and it’s amazing. Keep your eyes on this release.
NNormal Kjerag 2 and Kjerag Brute:
Kilian Jornet’s brand NNormal will be releasing two new iterations of the Kjerag. The Brute is a new shoe in NNormal’s line, intended for soft ground conditions like mud or snow. It features deep, 6mm lugs with an upper meant for water drainage. These will be super fun for muddy days or fresh snow runs. The Kjerag 2 features an updated midsole compound that should be a bit more cushion than the previous version. 2.5mm in stack height was added to help provide a more robust midsole. Look for the Kjerag 2 to be everything the first was, but more versatile and comfortable.
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail:
Enter Puma, with a minimal history in the trail space, introducing a new carbon-plated trail shoe. This one looks like a lot of fun and will build upon the current Seasons range from Puma. The outsole is minimal, but with a heel stack of 36mm this shoe should have some good cushion. Puma uses the same nitrogen foam from the Deviate Elite 3 road shoe for this, which indicates it’ll be snappy and fast. I’m interested to see how it performs out on the trail. I would imagine it’s not super technical, but the upper looks comfortable enough and super cool.
Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide:
I’m sure everyone is familiar with this model that debuted at UTMB. This was my first time seeing the shoe in person and wow it looks great. I’m super excited to try a pair. Salomon uses a supercritical energy foam in the midsole with a 41mm heel stack. The signature wavy outsole design was constructed by the Salomon team to eliminate hotspots on your foot - the design team did heat mapping during wear testing to determine what places on the foot received the most friction. It’s also a wider fit than traditional Salomon. I think this will be one of the best shoes in 2025 for the ultra distance.
Satisfy Rocker + Women’s line:
Again, a super highly anticipated shoe for 2025 that will release early summer/late spring. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take any photographs of the shoe as it’s yet to be announced. However, I can say that everyone should look forward to the creative outsole design and the sleek upper. This is a cool looking shoe that should also perform well on the trails. Look for more teasers coming up.
The women’s line looks great: lots of textures and earth tones, as we’ve come to expect from Satisfy. Look for some great moth-tech tops coming and a really interesting modular vest that will enable various levels of warmth.
For those interested: here’s the last newsletter and you can still check it out, if you need!