Rossignol Vercors Review: A Ski Brand’s Trail Shoe Built for Everyday Adventures

The Rossignol Vercors trail running shoe will compete with other popular trail shoes, despite their recent entry into the market. They’re durable and I expect them to remain reliable after many miles.  

I’m not a skier, so this was my first experience with Rossignol and it felt like a good place to start. We try to keep an open mind about new to us shoes because you just never know which one is going to be like DANG that’s what I’ve been looking for.

Trail running is exploding and everyone wants in, so not a big surprise we’ve got another ski brand sending us shoes soon too.

The current running shoe trend is aimed at being the best in a category: the lightest or the fastest or the most cushioned option on the market. With so many shoes at the ends of the spectrum, the Vercors perform well in the middle.

A balance of cushioning, ground feel, and traction. This wouldn’t be my first choice for an ultra or highly technical, rocky terrain, (they have the Vezor for that!) but these will appeal to the majority of everyday trail runners who want a good feel and confident footing.

The Vercors is a versatile trail shoe with enough cushion to provide comfort without going soft. While these shoes will be less precise on the most technical terrain, the lugs are well-suited for gravel, dirt, and weathered trails. It’s a great option for runners seeking both traction and cushioning.

Rossignol Vercors Overview

Rossignol markets these as long-distance trail running shoes. We’re more likely to say moderate runs and adventures that are less of the technical terrain variety, but yes in those cases and well round option.

I tested these on packed gravel, a mixed terrain trail, and a rocky trail with steep claims. Ultimately, I would not be reaching for these for an ultra or a highly technical trail, as noted they actually have the Vezors shoe which is designed for that task. 

But let’s talk about when I will use them and what the experience was on various terrain.

My first run in these was on a moderately hilly, gravel trail. My initial impression was that the shoes felt stiff and tight through the upper. But, after about a mile, they broke in. The upper loosened a bit and was comfortably holding my foot.

I also felt the E+FOAM midsole warm up as the mileage progressed. I did enjoy the responsiveness of the midsole. It made those hilly miles feel easier on the legs. 

The lug size on these trail runners is not as deep as I prefer for highly technical trails. On mixed terrain, mud, or large rocks, I had good grip and ground control. On a rocky trail with steep climbs, I was not as secure underfoot. With the scree, loose rocks, and midsole foam, I lost traction.

Again, that’s might not be what many trail runners are going outside of us Colorado mountain goats so I think it’s plenty of grip and traction for many runners.

The Vercors are durable. I expect the outsole to hold up well over time. I had no issues taking these over streams or muddy trails, they would also do well over light snow.

One note, The Dragonfly Light Upper is breathable and thin, but will allow water ingress. This makes them fantastic for hot summer running and hitting streams, but less ideal in cooler conditions.

The outsole will protect your feet from water but there is no GORE-TEX membrane for that extra protection. 

As someone who uses my trail shoes for both runs and hikes, I see myself reaching for these for my everyday trail runs or moderate hike with the dogs. 

I ran in the “Jelly Mint” colorway, which is bright and bold. It is in line with the latest trend of running shoes that are highly recognizable by their unique colors (looking at you: Asics Superblast 3). There are color options to fit all preferences. 

Rossignol Vercors Fit

The Vercors fit true to size for me, consistent with other brands. 

The heel counter on these shoes is fairly rigid with a high heel flare. I did use heel lock lacing to securely lockdown my foot, and I didn’t have any slippage. Although, the laces on these shoes are very short. With the runners loop, there was just enough lace to tie + double knot my shoes. With the tight upper, I would have liked to play around with lacing styles. Especially because the shoes feature additional lacing holes for customization.

Some reviewers have commented that the toe box is narrow. I did not feel like the shoes are inherently narrower (like a Saucony), but I would not recommend these for wide feet runners. 

The tongue is fully gusseted and minimally padded. This seems to be the trend in new shoes, and I love that the tongue stays put.

Rossignol Vercors Feel

The Vercors were a bit stiff straight out of the box and required some break in. After that, I enjoyed the response from the shoe, this is evident in a few features of the shoe:

Midsole rocker – again another reason this feels better suited to moderate trails where you can take advantage and pick up the pace.

Removable insoles – the PU insole helps with that responsive feel, which is where we’re getting energy back from the shoe.

The second anatomical insole increases the comfortability of this shoe. Naturally hugging my arch, this would keep my feet feeling fresh and supported on long trail days.

Like I said, this shoe falls nicely in the middle of the spectrum with a little bit of cushioning and a little bit of rebound. The feel is what I expect from a reliable, everyday trail shoe. 

The midsole has the E+FOAM along with an anti-torsion insert. The foam was firm yet responsive and left my feet feeling fresh after miles, but it is not the lightest.

At 32mm this is not a max cushioned shoe, it’s got plenty for what most folks need but won’t have that big plush cushioned feel if that’s what you’re looking for.

With the additional cushioning, I liked the addition of the anti-torsion insert to improve stability, but the shoe was still too stiff for the most uneven terrain. On the loose rock and scree, my ankles were working harder to maintain stability. 

Who Tried It?

I’m Jen: a former gymnast, turned runner and mountaineer. I ran my first half marathon in 2022, and haven’t looked back, now logging 40-60 MPW, while often simultaneously training for my next climb. When I’m not running, you’ll find me somewhere within the Colorado Rockies with my 2 pups, Badger (lab-mix) and Lupin (weimaraner). 

Currently training for: Denali Summit Expedition

What to read next?

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