Article by Jen Schmidt and Ben David
Mount to Coast T1 ($180)
Pros:
Grippy Vibram outsole with 4 mm lugs can handle pretty much anything - Jen/Ben/Sam/Jana
Light and energetic relative to similar shoes from other brands - Jen/Sam
Highly competitive weight of 9.25 oz / 262g US men's 9 for its 36 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot stack height and broad platform: Sam
Super pleasant, dynamic cushioning and very smooth flowing smooth terrain: Sam/Jana/Ben
Versatile: Ultra distance comfortable top to bottom or a fast rocket on smoother terrain: Sam
Fit is dialed through the midfoot even for narrow feet but has a roomy toe box - Jen/Sam
Breathable, flow moisture absorbing, fast drying; staying light weight even when wet: Jana/Sam
Ideal choice for a single shoe for a trip and multiple types of runs: Jen/Sam
Cons:
Lacing system and shoe volume can make lockdown a challenge for low volume feet - Ben/Sam
Midfoot hold is spacious and well held but not quite speed on technical trails ready for me: Sam/Jen
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 9.25 oz / 262g US9 // women’s 7.95 oz / 226g US8
Sample Weights:
men’s 9 oz / 255g US 8.5
women’s 8.15 oz / 231 g US8.5
Stack Height: 36 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot
Platform Width: 90 mm heel / 75 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot
Most comparable shoes
Norda 005
Salomon Genesis
NNormal Tomir 2
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro
Saucony Xodus Ultra
VJ Ultra 3 - Jen
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Jen: I had the privilege of interviewing Yeti Zhang, the co-founder of Mount to Coast, at TrailCon this year, a few days after my sample pair arrived (RTR Interview on YT). He spoke about the brand’s founding purpose of meeting the demands of the most extreme ultra races as well as the needs of the casual athlete. With the T1, their first foray into trail, their key stated principles are durability, versatility, and comfort.
The T1 is lighter than I expected and is a very attractive shoe. The woven upper is incredibly light, but in contrast to other lightweight uppers I’ve run in recently, the fine mesh doesn’t allow grit or dirt through.
It’s reinforced with aramid (Kevlar) fibers, so I have high hopes for durability here. The tongue is slightly thicker but still a minimal, very dense stretch knit like material, with very soft suede-like padding around the heel and ankle collar adding significant comfort.
The TUNEDFIT dual lacing system is designed for runners attempting extreme distances where their feet may swell and require the laces to be loosened at the top, mid-race. Given that my runs are measured in hours and minutes rather than days, I didn’t need the second lower lacing system and was a little worried it might catch on something since it doesn’t have its own lace garage (tuck it under the laces), but it hasn’t caused problems yet.
As Ben mentions below, the toebox is generous and the fit is slightly on the wide side (again likely designed for feet to swell during extreme endeavors), but I found it to be true-to-size and comfortable for my low-volume feet once I’d tightened the laces.
Ben: This was my first foray into the Mount to Coast world and I was super excited to get the T1 on my feet. Across the running media, this brand has been well-received by trail runners and ultra runners. The shoes’ expected longevity is part of what has distinguished it amid a crowded market. They are clearly made by runners and for runners, with lots of attention to detail. The T1 is billed as a trail running, hiking and racing shoe on the company website.
The step in the shoe is extremely comfortable, if a little long. I might be tempted to size down a ½ size. I found that I had almost too much room in the toe box. The width of the shoe, however, was just right for my size 9. It certainly does not come off as a wider shoe so those with broader feet might want to take this into consideration.
It also might take a minute to get used to the lacing system, which offers a ‘dual lacing system…with two cinch cords per shoe.’
The idea is that you can tighten the fit both higher up on the foot and closer to the toes. I spent more time on the upper cord and essentially left the bottom cord alone.The top lace tucks into a “garage” with top and both sides opening and thus there is no bouncing or sloppiness with excess cord. I found this to be a nice, helpful feature.
All of these elements are meant to allow for a comfortable ride whether going 5k or 50k, or longer. The site says that the upper is reinforced with aramid (Kevlar type) fibers which is ‘five times stronger than steel,’ making the upper ‘relentlessly durable.’
The woven upper is both breathable and meant to repel water, not an easy feat.
Midsole & Platform
Ben: The midsole is constructed with a nitrogen-infused PEBA-based foam called LightCELL. The company says that it weighs half as much as EVA while offering a greater energy return.
I can attest that the foam is highly responsive, if not a touch firm. I found this to be more true on the road than on the trail, where the T1 felt most at home.
On the trails, the shoe absolutely comes alive and has no trouble navigating anything from gravel to more gnarly surfaces, water, mud, etc. With their heavy emphasis on durability, the T1 is more than ready to take a beating and refuses to be phased.
The ride seems like it would be the same at one mile and a hundred miles. The platform at90 mm heel / 75 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot is wide enough to offer reassurance and stability but narrow enough to keep it nimble and spry. You can zip around turns and over logs without fear. It really is very good on uneven terrain. I never felt nervous even when picking up the pace through more wooded areas.
Jen: As Ben notes, the LightCELL foam is extremely light, energetic, and on the firm side. I think this speaks to the shoe’s intended use as a trail quiver-killer: one design for everything from multi-day efforts to the casual daily jog. The cushioning isn’t as soft and squishy as I might have expected for a shoe made to go long, but it grew on me the more I ran in it.
The T1 doesn’t feel as high off the ground as its 36 mm stack height might suggest. It felt stable and agile on a variety of surfaces. I received it just before Broken Arrow, so tested it on steep and rocky sections of the Broken Arrow and Western States courses as well as less technical trails around north Lake Tahoe and Auburn. It really does handle well on a variety of trails and even roads - if I were traveling with limited luggage space, this would be an easy choice for a single shoe to pack.
Outsole
Ben: The Vibram outsole offers supreme traction. The grip is almost unparalleled in anything I’ve tested. The Mount to Coast website notes that the T1 outsole in fact contains three Vibram technolgies: Megagrip rubber for tenacious traction in any condition, Litebase for 30 percent less weight without compromising performance, and Traction Lug micro-features for up to 25 percent more grip.’
The lugs are deep and rugged, spaced strategically across the outsole to maximize hold. While somewhat cumbersome on the road, they go to work on the trails with precision. These are trail shoes after all.
Jen: As Ben notes, the Vibram outsole capably handles any terrain. The 4 mm lugs aren’t excessive, but provide excellent grip on both wet and dry surfaces. I actually didn’t think the lugs made the ride too harsh on roads, and have been wearing the T1 on plenty of road-to-trail runs for that reason.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Ben: Mount to Coast is an exciting new brand. The T1 is a highly capable trail shoe that’s fun to run in and ready for nearly any surface. Despite some early, minor issues with lockdown, it’s protective, lightweight and eager to traverse anything from roads to gravel to more technical trails. Designed for long distances, the T1 is comfortable, breathable and holds up to the conditions quite well. This is a good Mount to Coast shoe to try if you haven’t had the chance yet. It’s a brand that is growing and promises to attract more and more fans.
Score: 9.4/10
😊😊😊😊
Jen: After running in the T1 for a few days, my first question to the Mount to Coast team was, “Who and what is the shoe designed for?” It was so good across a variety of conditions that I couldn’t pin down a particular distance, terrain, or runner that it would be best suited to.
When they clarified that versatility was one of the key design principles, it all made sense. There may be shoes better suited to very specific scenarios, and ultrarunners in search of max cushion might want to keep looking, but it would be hard to go wrong with the T1 for almost any use case. Personally, I’ll reach for it on daily miles, including long runs and workouts, though I might reach for something with a slightly narrower fit and more pop on race day. With sustainability in mind, I especially appreciate that the T1 is designed to last hundreds and hundreds of miles.
Jen’s overall score: 9.43/10
Ride (30%): 9.5
Fit (30%): 9
Value (10%): 9
Style (5%): 9.5
Traction (15%): 10
Rock Protection (10%): 10
😊😊😊😊1/2
3 Comparisons
Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4 (RTR Review)
Jen: The updates to the S/LAB Pulsar 4 mean that this version is a much closer comparison to the T1 than the Pulsar 3. Both clocking in at ~255g for the men’s US9 sample weight, they’re lighter than some competitors despite moderate to high stack (36/32 mm for the T1, 34/28 for the Pulsar). Both outsoles are fantastic. The Pulsar feels a bit snappier to me, with a more dialed fit, with the T1 likely being a better match for wider-footed runners. I’d reach for the Pulsar for workouts and races, especially on more technical terrain, but the T1 may have the edge on durability.
Saucony Xodus Ultra 4 (RTR Review)
Jen: Both the Xodus Ultra 4 and T1 are great all-around trail shoes. The Xodus is nearly 2 oz heavier (283 vs 231 g US W8.5) thanks to the thicker upper and more generous depth of midsole foam. The T1 is lighter, a bit firmer, drains better, and seems more durable, while the Xodus is more cushioned and has a better fit for low-volume feet.
VJ Ultra 3 (RTR Review)
Jen: Both the VJ Ultra 3 and Mount to Coast T1 will appeal to ultrarunners seeking a roomy toe box, good cushioning for the weight, and grippy outsole. The primary difference to me is in the cushioning, which feels more substantial in the Ultra 3, whereas the T1 felt slightly firmer and more responsive. The Ultra 3 has double the drop (8 mm vs 4 mm) as well, and weighs about half an ounce more (248 vs 231 g in my US W8.5).
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Jen Schmidt's T1 Interview at TrailCon with Yeti Zhang, co-founder Mount to Coast
The T1 is available at Mount to Coast
Tester Profiles
Jennifer Schmidt found trail running in her mid-20's and began dabbling on the roads a few years later. Trail 50k's are nearest and dearest to her heart, and she recently took the win at the 2025 Way Too Cool 50k and placed sixth at the 2025 Black Canyon Ultras 50k. These days, you can find her primarily on the sweet California singletrack around Auburn, chasing competitive and personal goals over a variety of surfaces and distances. Depending on the season, she also competes in the USATF road and XC circuits for Sacramento Running Association's racing team, with a marathon PR of 2:41.
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
1 comment:
Hi! Thanks for the review, MTC seems to be a great new brand in the trail world.
@sam, could you compare them to prodigio max?🙏🏻
Post a Comment