If you haven’t heard of Mount to Coast in the last year, then I dare say you’re not on Instagram. They have been partnering with influencers left, right, up and down. Which we admit, always leaves us a bit skeptical and yet we’ve had a lot of good things to say about the R1 and S1. Now they’ve released their first trail show with the Mount to Coast T1.
The brand is determined to be seen as a go to ultra running shoe. Or more aptly a shoe that’s going to last far longer than the standard 300-500 miles of other running shoes.
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.
Which leads us to their first trail shoe! I love just how quickly I got this one dirty to test it out!
Who Is It Good For?
- Wide Feet: Slightly more room than average, but still not an overly wide shoe.
- Technical Trails: The Vibram Mega-Grip outsole provides great grip, we wish there was more alternating directions in the lugs.
- Long Runs: Designed to hold up over long mileage, but not overly cushion to ensure you still have ground feel.
- Front of the Pack: Light and nimble, this is a great choice for many racers.
The Mount to Coast T1 is a well rounded trail shoe for runners or hikers wanting a long lasting shoe with grip. You won’t find a plush cushion, but you will durability and security in your shoe.
Mount to Coast T1Overview
I’ve now run in all models of Mount To Coast and that’s hard to say about most brands, but they are keeping it streamlined and rolling out slowly. I really appreciate how much thought this brand has put in to bringing a new shoe to the market.
In fact, it’s an ISPO 2024 winner which is impressive for shoe the rest of us are just now getting to use! They flagged it for not only performing well, but being sustainable. Now this is something we’re starting to see more of, but MTC is really nailing it.
Mount to Coasts LightCELL™ foam is one of the reasons it stands out. While this isn’t a plush shoe, it’s more firm, the foam is key to the overall feeling.
The midsole uses a PEBA-hybrid material that’s processed through something called supercritical foaming, which creates an incredibly efficient foam structure. What you actually feel is a shoe that’s noticeably lighter on your feet—the foam weighs half as much as the EVA you’d find in many daily trainers—but still gives you that responsive, bouncy feeling with every step.
All of that to say, it’s a great moderate cushion. You won’t lose your feel of the ground, but you absolutely know you’ve got cushion underfoot to keep you feeling good.
In fact, MTC claims it delivers 45% better energy return than traditional materials, which is part of why ultrarunners are so drawn to this brand. The combination of being lighter while actually giving you more spring back means less fatigue and a more propulsive ride. It’s one of those technologies where the engineering actually translates to a real performance benefit you can feel.
What makes this model a trail version?
- Gaiter hooks
- Vibram outsole – Litebase is actually 30% lighter and yet still every bit as grippy
- Kevlar woven upper for extreme durability
- Designed for quick drainage and trying
Kevlar is going to help prevent rips and tears from rocks, weeds, and all the other things we encounter. But the tongue was also designed to be quick drying which is huge during an ultra where a water crossing or time in the rain is often inevitable.
The outsole is exactly what you’d expect from Vibram! I the weenie of downhills felt really confident over dirt, lose rock and some slick rock that I was easily picking up traction. And the little notches on the lugs made me feel like they were giving me extra dig deep grip on the way up.
Coach Laura took these on her month-long trip to Hawaii and said that the dual-sized lug design offered fantastic traction over loose rock and sandy conditions. The cushion felt great on sections where she transitioned to packed dirt and asphalt.
They felt light and fast on her feet, she’ll 100% grab these for her upcoming trail races.
T1 Specs
The ZeroSag feature of the R1 is carried over here, which gives the shoe a bit of a supportive feel through the arch. But that’s exactly what helps the shoe outlast the competition for durability. They’ve made claims of lasting up to 1,000 miles. We have not yet verified that ourselves.
- Weight: 9 oz Men’s size 9
- Stack: 36mm
- Heel Drop: 4 mm
- Not available in wide
- Available in two colors
- Available from mounttocoast.com for $180
My only complaint right now is the unisex sizing. It could explain why I had a little bit of heel discomfort, there is a difference in the shoe last (form shoes are built on) around the heel for men and women.
As always, I like that MTC shoes have a more casual look to them. While many of you have said bring on the bright colors, I am a fan of this style. And for once a brown shoe is actually pretty fabulous when hitting the trails instead of another white option that looks grungy instantly.
T1 Fit
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.
Coach Laura noted that she wore the T1’s a little too tight on the first run and since the tongue is so thin it did not offer much cushion. She liked that you can adjust both the forefoot and mid foot separately and that is one of her favorite features.
The top lace easily tucks in to a little slip, but the bottom is kind of left to it’s own. I didn’t particularly notice it, but I could imagine the potential for it to flap around and be annoying. Because everything is mildly annoying when you’ve been running all night long.
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.
As noted, I did have some heel troubles. It wasn’t so much an issue with my foot pulling out of the shoe as just maybe not feeling locked in around the heel. This could be because mine is a little more narrow and that’s where a women’s last helps me out.
That being said, I have more miles planned in the T1 because I do like the overall feel and fit. I’m curious to see if I can dial in the lacing more and resolve any issues there.
Similar Shoes to Mount to Coast T1
Still trying to grasp what we mean by moderate cushion…we get that. Here are some comparable shoes:
- Hoka Speedgoat – Similar all-arounder trail shoe that’s good for many with 5mm drop
- Saucony Peregine – 5 mm drop and great traction, maybe a little less cushion, definitely more narrow
- Merrell Agility Peak – 6mm drop, phenomenal traction and similar cushion
Our Verdict
We love the sustainability of this brand and the focus on durability. This is truly a shoe that can handle it all, so our only drawback is currently the unisex sizing and we wouldn’t mind a smidge more cushion.
All right, there you have it our Mount to Coast T1 review says the shoes really do live up to all of the hype you’re seeing online! Why wouldn’t you opt for a shoe with a longer lifespan even if you aren’t cranking out 100 milers?
Feels like a no-brainer.
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