Mount to Coast M1 Men

The Mount to Coast M1 is a very good trail shoe for a variety of use cases. The irony is that the 'M' stands for 'Mountain', and I actually have a few reservations regarding its use in technical mountain terrain.

USAGE AND EXPECTATIONS
Evaluating a trail shoe is difficult. Not only are personal preferences and mechanics relevant, but the terrain on which they are used also determines how suitable the shoe is. Mount to Coast positions the M1 as a stable, comfortable shoe for the very longest trail races, optimized for the mountains. Prototypes of the shoe were used last year by Manu Vilaseca to break the Triple Crown record for American 200-mile runners. So think of lower speeds, a mix of walking and running, variation in terrain, and above all: comfort and stability.

I bought the M1 myself in search of a durable, versatile shoe that allows me to walk and run with my dogs in the Dutch forests, but which I can also take to the Alps as a lightweight mountain boot for treks involving sections of walking and running. If I want to go faster, I grab a Terrex Agravic Speed ​​or Speed ​​Ultra, and I don't expect the M1 to dethrone my favorite mountain racer—the On Cloudultra Pro. By now, I have been able to test the shoes on walks and trail runs in the Dutch countryside. In September, they are coming with me to the Alps, where I can put my suspicions regarding mountain use to the test.

THE SHOE
The M1 is elegant in its simplicity: a thick slab of a single type of foam (36 mm under the heel), no plate, a full Vibram rubber outsole, and a simple, airy upper with reinforcements in the right places. The new JETCELL foam – an ATPU – is the star here. It is firm, responsive, and wear-resistant, and reminds me of the FF Turbo Squared from the Asics Megablast. So expect deep cushioning without sinking into the sole, a modest amount of bounce, plenty of stability on flat surfaces, but little ground feel.

There is no carbon or synthetic plate in the sole. The foam is more than sturdy enough to be self-supporting. The advantage of this is that the shoe has a pleasant amount of flex in the forefoot, which will be comfortable and efficient during climbing. However, there is surprisingly little torsional flexibility. In the most technical terrain, this could become a limitation.

Nevertheless, the M1 feels surprisingly nimble. This is partly due to the responsiveness of the JETCELL foam, but primarily to the geometry. The combination of a low heel drop (4 mm), a pleasant heel bevel, and a subtle, early forefoot rocker makes the transition very smooth, and even in a shuffle, you roll through surprisingly quickly without feeling like you have to work hard for it. All in all, the M1 feels comfortable, light, and nimble.

LOCKDOWN
Why my cautious reservations about the mountains? I don't find the lockdown particularly precise, as I've come to expect from many Salomon shoes, for example. The Mount to Coast double lacing system is supposed to help regulate lace tension better and more precisely, but I haven't quite managed to get it right yet. In the Dutch woods, it's no problem: I can tie the top laces and leave the bottom quicklace practically loose for a comfortable fit that suffices on flat terrain.But when I try to tighten the quicklace, it creates an unpleasant pinching of my foot rather than the feeling that my toes remain securely in the toe box. Whether this will suffice on fast, steep descents remains to be seen.

PRELIMINARY JUDGMENT
In my opinion, the M1 is a very capable, all-round shoe for running and hiking on Dutch trails. I will be testing how the M1 performs in the mountains in the Alps in September. The low torsional flexibility could become a limiting factor in very technical terrain, while the awkward lockdown could become a problem on fast, steep descents. In any case, I expect it to be a fantastic hiking shoe there. In the Dutch countryside, the M1 has already given me more enjoyment over the past week than I had expected. If the wear resistance is as high as Mount to Coast promises, the M1 is an exceptionally good buy for 195 euros.

I ran in HOKA's for years and couldn't imagine switching the brands. But this shoe is in a league of its own! Very comfortable, great cushioning, and a unique lace system. Highly recommended!

Received great help with choosing in the store, and for me, truly a top shoe. Stable and fast in my experience.

I am sporty but certainly not a trail runner – but I have trouble with my big toe. I was looking for something that wouldn't cause me pain – and these shoes let me walk normally again without pain.