Article by John Tribbia
X-Bionic TerraSkin X00/C ($300)
Introduction
X-BIONIC, a Swiss brand renowned for its high-quality, technical sportswear, particularly compression wear for athletes, has launched the TerraSkin X00/C shoe. This marks the company's first foray into the footwear market, leveraging its expertise in technical sportswear and socks. X-BIONIC views the TerraSkin not merely as a shoe, but as an integrated system, signifying a significant step for the brand.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Comfortable upper and fit,
toe protection,
outsole grip,
innovative,
downhill stability
Cons:
heavy,
low response midsole,
not ideal for fast running,
price point
X-BIONIC has taken a holistic approach in designing the TerraSkin system, emphasizing that the interaction between the foot, sock, and shoe is crucial. The company's expertise in technical sports socks allowed them to create socks that optimize the fit, comfort, and performance of the shoe. The shoe isn't designed to work alone and it's meant to be used with the X-Socks that come with it. This focus on the sock-shoe relationship as an integrated system sets the Terraskin apart.
The brand's Swiss roots, where their "playground" includes high mountains and steep valleys, heavily influenced the design and features of the shoe. The shoe is intended for mid- to long-distance runs in such environments.
The ISPO Award, a prestigious industry endorsement, recognized the innovative design of the TerraSkin X00/C. Even before its market launch, X-Bionic gained confidence in its new product due to the ISPO jury's unanimous praise for the concept and high level of innovation. The recognition highlights that the shoe represents a departure from conventional thinking in footwear design, a result of X-BIONIC's two years spent developing and breaking away from traditional design approaches.
Stats
Spec Weight: men's 11.25oz / 319g
Sample Weight: men’s 11.36 oz / 322g US9.5 EU 42 2/3
Stack Height: men’s 31mm heel / 26mm forefoot (5mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 95mm heel / 73mm midfoot / 115mm forefoot
$300. Available now. Will also be available in a plastic plate version
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
John: When I first unpacked the X-BIONIC TerraSkin X00/C, I was immediately struck by the unique design. This shoe definitely has a bold aesthetic, and it's clear that this isn't your typical trail runner. The quality of the materials is evident right away, and the included X-Socks highlight the "system" approach.
The seamless, booty-like construction of the upper looks very promising for a snug, comfortable fit, and the outsole appears aggressive and ready for technical trails. I was excited to try these out and see if the performance matches the interesting design.
The upper of the TerraSkin X00/C is a standout feature for me. It fits like a glove, thanks to its seamless construction that hugs my foot.
I normally don’t like the booty style fits, because the lacing feels awkward on the top of my foot. But the material feels both snug and secure, and the amount of padding adds to the overall comfort and lockdown.
I normally wear a Men’s US9 and received a US10 to test. While I think I could still be comfortable with ½ size down, even with the larger sizing, I feel confident that my foot will stay put, even on the most technical terrain.
I feel confident that my foot will stay put, even on the most technical terrain.
I also appreciate the exceptional toe protection, which is a huge plus for me when navigating rocky trails.
The tongue-free design, which X-Bionic calls the SkinKnit Upper, provides a smooth and comfortable wrap around my foot.
The TerraSkin X00/C is designed to be a "system" with the included X-Socks.
The socks have features like a "suppronation bandage" to help with foot muscle activation, "air cool stripes" for breathability, a "toe protector", a "heel cage", and "Gripfix yarn" for enhanced sock-shoe connection.
The socks are very technical, but personally, I don't notice a significant difference in comfort and fit when compared to other high-quality socks I own.
Midsole & Platform
John: The midsole of the X-Bionic TerraSkin is a mixed bag. Despite X-Bionic's claims of cushioning and dynamism, it feels firm and stiff, lacking responsiveness on uphills and flats.
The midsole consists of a high rebound EVA core with the outside Frame a denser IPEVA material. There are no supercritical foams in the mix. The overly rigid outer EVA frame and firm foam affected the shoe's performance on smoother terrain. The shoe should have felt snappier, but from my experience, it didn't.
The carbon plate (shown above) is barely noticeable on the run, and the heavy midsole contributes to the shoe's overall weight, making it feel bottom-heavy and somewhat dull. While providing ample protection due to so much material, the shoe feels more like a fast hiker than a nimble trail runner. However, the shoe excels on technical and service road downhills, providing excellent stability and a firm cushioned landing for heelstriking.
Outsole
John: The outsole is a highlight of this shoe. It uses Vibram Megagrip rubber compound and Spinweave technology, and the grip is truly exceptional.
Whether I'm running on mud, rocks, or wet surfaces, I feel a high level of confidence in the traction. The shoe really shines on downhills, where I feel totally in control. Ideally I would have taken them to higher elevations, but stayed local in Boulder where I could find a variety of terrain. The skeletal design of the lugs adapt to the terrain well, providing outstanding traction. However, on uphills, I didn’t notice the outsole helping me much, and I don’t think it would be the best for hard-packed or gravel trails (even though that’s where most of my training runs are).
The lugs are 3.7mm high, and the outsole's relative narrowness enhances precision on technical terrain.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
John: The TerraSkin is designed for mid-to-long-distance runs on steep, technical terrain. The sock, shoe and traction are meant to work together, allowing the foot to engage with the terrain with less slippage. It really excels in providing control when going downhill. However, because of the heavy midsole and lack of responsiveness, I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone looking for a fast, dynamic shoe for racing or faster-paced training runs. In my view, this shoe is built for high stability, fast hiking in mountainous terrain with downhill control, and ventilation.
John’s Score: 8.33 / 10
😊😊😊
Ride: 7 (heavy midsole and lack of responsiveness)
Fit: 9
Value: 7 (despite having innovative technology, I think the shoe is expensive )
Style: 9 (love the colorway but it looks bulky)
Traction: 9.5 (great traction for technical and loose terrain)
Rock Protection: 9.5 (great toe protection, firm cushioning, and outsole provide great protection)
Watch RoadTrailRun Editor Sam's X-Bionic TerraSkin Interview with X-Bionic & 1st Test Run Review (8:32)
4 Comparisons
La Sportiva Cyklon (RTR Review)
John: The TerraSkin provides more cushioning and stability, enhancing comfort over longer distances compared to the Cyklon. The Cyklon prioritizes lightweight performance and aggressive grip, making it ideal for technical ascents and descents, while the TerraSkin is slightly heavier. Both excel on technical terrain, but the Cyklon has a slight edge in grip and responsiveness.
Kaiias Fuga DU BOA (RTR Review)
John: Both shoes are designed for technical terrain. The TerraSkin prioritizes grip and stability for challenging trails, while the FUGA DU emphasizes a secure and customized fit through its innovative Dual BOA system. This system allows for precise fit adjustments, potentially benefiting runners with wider feet or those who require a customized fit. The FUGA DU's focus on fit may make it a suitable option for a wider range of foot shapes.These two shoes perform similarly on fast hikes and technical terrain, offering comparable ride and trail performance. Based on my testing, I don’t consider them fast running shoes.
Scarpa Spin 2.0 (RTR Review)
The Xbionic TerraSkin emphasizes grip and stability on technical terrain, while the Scarpa Spin is geared towards speed and agility (though it also offers solid grip). The Spin provides a firmer, more responsive ride, suitable for dynamic trail running and fast ascents and descents. While the Spin handles technical terrain, it might feel less stable than the TerraSkin on very rocky or loose surfaces. Runners who prioritize maximum traction and stability on challenging trails might find the TerraSkin a better choice, due to its emphasis on grip and control.
Salomon Sense Ride 5 (RTR Review)
The Salomon Sense Ride 5 offers a balanced ride with good cushioning and a smooth transition, making it suitable for a wider range of trail conditions and distances. It is more forgiving than the firmer ride of the TerraSkin, making it my go-to for comfort on longer runs. The TerraSkin is probably a better choice for runners who want maximum grip and stability on challenging trails.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
The X-Bionic TerraSkin X00/C is available now
X-Bionic HERE
Tester Profiles
John Tribbia (5' 6", 130lbs) is a former sponsored mountain/trail runner who has run with La Sportiva, Brooks/Fleet Feet, Pearl Izumi, and Salomon. Even though he competes less frequently these days, you can still find John enjoying the daily grind of running on any surface, though his favorite terrain is 30-40% grade climbs. He has won races such as America's Uphill, Imogene Pass Run, and the US Skyrunner Vertical Kilometer Series; and he's held several FKTs on several iconic mountains in Boulder, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah. If you follow him on Strava, you'll notice he runs at varying paces between 5 minutes/mile to 12 minutes/mile before the break of dawn almost every day.
1 comment:
following
Post a Comment