Tackling 65km with 2.5k Elevation Gain – My Trail Race Shoe Decision

Another race, another tough shoe decision. 

I focused on the running experience this time rather than hitting a specific time.

I didn’t have a good selection, considering half my shoes were sold before moving to NZ. But there were some on the shortlist. 

• Altra Mont Blanc Carbon
• Vivobarefoot Primus Trail FG
• Xero Shoes Mesa Trail II
• Freet Calver
• Free Feldom

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The WUU2k is a race in the urban hills around Wellington, New Zealand. 

The race was a daunting 65km with ~ a 2500m elevation gain; the trail conditions ranged from muddy and wet to exposed and rocky.

Since the race is almost in the city at points, you’d expect the course to be fairly mellow, with lots of road running or smoothed-out trails. 

Wrong! 

Wellington is nestled into rugged earthquake-formed hills, creating deep gullies and barren peaks. It’s not just that; it’s also the middle of winter, and Wellington is one of the windiest cities on earth, with an average of 198 days per year with wind gusts exceeding 61 km/h!

So, I had to expect mud, wind, rain, steep tracks, and poor trail conditions.

Xero Shoes Mesa Trail II

Although I love these shoes, their worn-out outsoles and minimal grip ruled them out for this challenging race.

The uppers and outsoles are looking a bit sad, having endured around 8-900km of trail beating. 

Considering I needed grip and more protection underfoot, the minimal nature of the Mesa Trails and worn-out outsole made these a no-go. 

Freet Calver & Freet Feldom

Despite their appealing features, both pairs were too new to trust on race day.

These two pairs of shoes were shipped to me in New Zealand months ago, but they arrived only three days before the race.

The Calver’s 6mm lug depth, nice wide, deep fit, and all-around protective design made it a natural choice for this race. 

The Feldom, which is very similar but has a 4mm lug depth and more upper protection, also seemed like a good contender. 

But the age-old rule of no new shoes on race day had to ring true. I couldn’t get enough miles in to build confidence in either shoe. 

Altra Mont Blanc Carbon

Some of you may know that I competed in my last trail marathon race wearing the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon. 

And holy moly, was that race fast. 

But a few weeks before the WUU2k, I decided that my goal for the race wasn’t to be fast; I wanted to have fun out there. 

My training had been up and down in the months preceding the race, and many of those miles before on flat road (testing the Altra Escalantes!), pushing for a fast time just didn’t seem logical.

Therefore, choosing the Mont Blanc Carbon just didn’t seem logical. The tighter, and more uncomfortable fit had no benefits if I wasn’t going fast. Moving towards an optimal and more enjoyable fit, like minimal shoes, made sense. 

No shoe is perfect, but this time, the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail was the least imperfect shoe. 

1. Protective
2. Still had some lug depth left! 
3. The fit is optimal for me (with caveats)
4. Still minimal and enjoyable at the end of the day

Fit

I know some of you bash Vivobarefoot for the fit, and I get it. 

The shallow depth and aggressive little toe taper can be uncomfortable for some foot types. But again, I was looking for the least imperfect shoe.

The squared-off toe box around the big toe fits my splay very well, and due to my foot shape, the little toe taper is not that bad for me. My little toe does not splay well, likely due to football and conventional running shoes from a young age. 

The solid and fitted midfoot and heel provide a secure fit, ensuring my foot doesn’t slide around in the shoe. Which is a plus point for all those steep descents, 

Protection

One major reason I chose the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail is its impressive protection level, which I found lacking in Xero Shoes. 

The semi-solid plastic materials in the upper, toe box and outsole shielded my feet from scuffs, scrapes, and trips, allowing me to push on confidently.

While this protection does reduce ground feel and flexibility, I prioritize protection in races and reserve the grounded experience for training to maximize gains.

Drawbacks

As I mentioned, the Primus Trail isn’t perfect. 

The grip was adequate but not exceptional; for better traction, I would have preferred the Vivo Soft Ground model with its 5mm lug depth.

The Firm Ground option is certainly made for dry conditions and mellow trails.

Otherwise, to nitpick on the fit, I would also love more room for the little toe. I know I said it’s not a huge issue for me, but I think this could open the shoe to a wider audience with little drawback to the current users. 

Reflecting on the race, the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail was the right choice, offering a balance of protection, fit, and minimalism. Despite some tumbles due to grip issues, the overall performance and comfort confirmed my decision.

Considering I’ve come away from a 65km race with no foot issues, bruised toes, or injuries is a testament, partially thanks to the shoes.

Time will tell if the Freet options could have been contenders (reviews incoming once I’ve put the mileage in). After the first run, I’m pretty confident they would have worked. 

Could I have gone faster in the Mont Blanc Carbon? Maybe. But I’m sure my feet would reflect why fit is super important in racing shoes—they’d be battered. 

I hope this breakdown can help you make your next race-day shoe decision. I’d love to hear what the last race-day shoe you tried was and why!