Thursday, July 03, 2025

Mount to Coast T1 Multi Tester Review: 3 Comparisons

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

SHOP HERE


Thanks for reading our review!
Shopping at our partners below is much appreciated and helps support RoadTrailRun

FLEET FEET
T1


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.


Ben is the Senior Rabbi of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel of Elkins Park, PA. A cancer survivor, he has run 23 marathons. He holds PRs of 3:15 for the marathon and 1:30 for the half. At 46, he still enjoys pushing himself and combining his running with supporting a variety of causes. Follow him on Instagram: @RabbiBPD or Twitter: @BDinPA

Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. No compensation was provided by brands for writing this article. RoadTrail Run does have affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.

Comments and Questions Welcome Below! Please let us know mileage, paces, race distances, and current preferred shoes

RUNNING WAREHOUSE US
Men's & Women's SHOP HERE
FREE 2 Day Shipping EASY No Sweat Returns

EUROPE Men's & Women's SHOP HERE

Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products 


AUSTRALIA Men's & Women's SHOP HERE

REI 
Men's & Women's  SHOP HERE

AMAZON
Men's & Women's SHOP HERE

BACKCOUNTRY
Men's & Women's  SHOP HERE

ROADRUNNERSPORTS
Men's and Women's SHOP HERE

TOP4RUNNING EUROPE
Men's & Women's SHOP HERE
Use RTR code RTRTOP4 for 5% off all products, even sale products

SPORTSSHOES.COM UK/EU
Use our code RTR235 for 5% off all products

MARATHON SPORTS BOSTON
Men's & Women's  SHOP HERE
RoadTrailRun Official Store Custom Fractel Caps and Bucket Hats
Cap:$35                                                            Bucket:$39
Free US Economy Shipping!
Limited Release! SHOP HERE

Please Like and Follow RoadTrailRun

WATCH OUR YOUTUBE REVIEWS ON THE ROADTRAILRUN CHANNEL


Find all RoadTrailRun reviews at our index page HERE 
Google "roadtrailrun Shoe Name" and you can be quite sure to find just about any run shoe and all kinds of run and hike gear over the last 10 plus years

No comments: