Mount to Coast H1: Road to Trail With Insane Durability

After taking the ultra world by storm with their claims of shoes that last up to 800 miles, Mount to Coast has released two new shoes this year, here we’re reviewing the new Mount to Coast H1 as a road to trail option.It’s clear from one look at the lacing of these shoes they’re thinking about those on their feet for extended periods of time. The laces are ready to adjust to swelling feet, but what about their new cushion? The 2mm lugs? Do they pass the sniff test for a good option on both the roads and trails.

Our own, Coach Laura put the R1 to the ultimate test during a 48-hour road ultra, racking up 80 miles in them.

She raved about the roomy toe box and how comfortable her feet felt during and after her run. In fact, she’s already planning to wear the R1 for her next part-road ultra, which says a lot about the shoe’s long-distance potential.

With that rave review, we were ready to check out the H1 and had some high hopes!

Mount to Coast H1 Overview

I’ve now run in all models of Mount To Coast and even though this one has some new tech, they all have a very similar feeling.

It’s lightweight, it’s a moderate cushion, it’s a moderate drop and a roomier toe box than many shoes. The biggest shift for this model is going to be the new foam, so if you liked previous models I think you’ll like this even better (I did).The H1 is now using their CircleCell midsole which is a variation on the LightCell we’ve seen in past shoes. This is a100% renewable material, which we really love to see in terms of innovation with comfort.

They claim that it has nearly double the lifespan of standard PEBA foams with the same energy return. And through their supercritical foam processing (basically adding air) they’ve managed to give you a great cushion at a really light weight.

I will say this shoe feels a little softer than the road shoes and definitely softer than the Mount to Coast T1. Which for me is an improvement! I didn’t mind the original cushion, but actually think I would find these more comfortable on longer days.

As noted they are a moderate cushion, not a max cushion shoe. I LOVE having this type of shoe in my rotation because we don’t always need that big stack and with this you can easily pick up the pace if needed.

What makes this model a road to trail version?

• 2mm lugs – these are low enough to feel fine running on pavement and still give you some traction on light trails
• Versagrip outsole – again you’ll get that nice traction and extra durablity for the outsole running on gravel, but not so much grip that you’d want them on technical trails
• Dual zone upper – the lower part actually has kevlar fibers to help prevent snags tears and other issues you get from trails
• TUNEDFIT lacing – carried over from other shoes to ensure they are made for long days on your feet

I haven’t been able to take this out for 750 miles to test that claim, but I know we’ve had good reports from the early models, so the H1 should also have a long life. We’ll keep you updated as we continue to use it.

Tester Rebecca:

I tested these shoes on the rail trail, dirt roads, grassy fields, and light trails near me. They performed well on a variety of gentler terrain. They are less grippy but still functional on steeper pitches, technical climbs, and wet, muddy conditions.

I love using these when running with my kids’ cross-country team. They perform well on the mixed terrain we run during practices.

I tend to lean in to the running shoes that also have a casual look because well, I’m in my running shoes ALL THE TIME. So Mount To Coast has appealed to me from that aspect all along. The H1 colors look a little more trail shoe, but the overall vibe of the shoe is the same.

They did however go in harder on branding with the T1 and H1. Now you’ll see Mount To Coast along the heel in large letters, where it was not really seen on the original models.

H1 Fit

Dual lacing system here matches that of the R1.

TunedFit lacing is their term for it. I’d call it a lot like having Lock Laces pre-installed and it’s a great feature. My husband has used this style of lacing for a decade because it provides a more customized fit. Plus it’s just easier.

How is theirs better? The dual lacing system allows you to adjust around the forefoot and upper separately. This can be a massive thing for any runner dealing with toe pain or pain across the top of the foot. And of course for ultra runners as feet swell during the course of a race, you can quickly adjust without unlacing the shoe.Very similar fit to the R1 with a slightly wider toe box than most shoes. Not to call it foot shaped, it’s not that wide, but more room and very comfortable.

While I had some heel discomfort with the T1, I am not finding that in the H1. This is back to the more road style fit and feel of their original models and I like it. There’s just enough padding to the heel and with the double lacing system I didn’t need to mess with any heel lock.

Mid-foot has a decent amount of volume and width, not sloppy, but definitely not narrow like a Nike.

Tester Rebecca chimed in with some additional feelings on the fit and lacing!

Usually, I would overlook these shoes as they have a traditional foot shape. My feet are not traditionally shaped. They have a wide forefoot and a narrow heel. When I tried on the shoe, I noticed that its sole was narrower than my forefoot.

Despite this, I was able to adjust the dual lacing system so that the shoe felt comfortable. My foot was cradled, not cramped.

Out of the box, I love that I can easily adjust the shoe’s fit with the system. As I continued to use the shoe, the lacing sometimes felt fussy. I had to secure all four laces before I could hit the trails. Additionally, the upper laces are too short for my preference. The shorter length is harder to tie tightly, and I found myself pausing my run to retie my shoe.

But the system shone when I wanted to adjust the shoe’s fit while running. A simple tug released the tension on my foot. Towards the end of a long run, my feet tend to swell, and it was a relief to release the tightness in my toes.

All right, there you have it our Mount to Coast H1 review and this might be our top pick for MTC shoes so far. In fact, we are looking forward to seeing their other shoes updated with this new foam. We don’t have a timeline on that yet, but foreshadowing.

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