tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post3530567075040922834..comments2024-03-28T12:59:38.363-06:00Comments on Road Trail Run: Columbia/Montrail Fluidflex F.K.T Review. - Fast, Responsive Race MachineSam Winebaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17969086391170473784noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-53815339220721338322017-04-05T22:41:26.172-06:002017-04-05T22:41:26.172-06:00Well put SG, it is amazing what a difference the p...Well put SG, it is amazing what a difference the positioning, thickness and size of a rock plate can make in a shoe (along with outsole design/flexgrooves and cushioning). Montrail did a great job with the Fluidflex FKT in my opinion, as it contours well over rocks without that tippy feeling, yet protects well enough to not feel every little rock and pebble in the trail. Jeff Vallierehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08106877622296558733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-25181018265271352362017-04-04T18:12:01.224-06:002017-04-04T18:12:01.224-06:00While I've enjoyed both he original and the ST...While I've enjoyed both he original and the ST model, the addition of the rockplate in the ST did make the shoe feel more tippy on rocky terrain. That matches my experience with pretty much all rock plates that are layered right next to the outsole. I'm not sure why more companies don't take the salomon approach where the rock plate is deeper into the sole. That way the cushion conforms better to the terrain and mutes ankle torque. I added a homemade rock guard that I slide under the insole on my fluidflex II's and they are noticeably more fun and stable on technical terrain than the ST's. I feel the same way about the caldorado's, if the trailsheld were stacked above the fluid foam, they'd provide better passive grip and feel way torsionally stable. SGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02642805447577670684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-31034702902368857622017-04-04T09:25:55.610-06:002017-04-04T09:25:55.610-06:00I liked the original Fluidflex better. It was both...I liked the original Fluidflex better. It was both lighter and softer.Stefannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-67442252570923685062017-04-03T17:05:41.304-06:002017-04-03T17:05:41.304-06:00Interesting review. Years ago, I loved the origina...Interesting review. Years ago, I loved the original Montrail Fluidflex. It was a beautifully stripped-down minimal shoe: just enough upper to hold the sole onto your foot. Everything about it felt functional, light, and fast. My only objection was that the sole didn't provide enough rock protection for longer races: I found myself wincing when running on sharp gravel roads near the end of 100k. When Montrail updated the shoe to the "ST", I was very pleased that they added a small rockplate in the forefoot but was dismayed that they added (in my opinion) unnecessary structure to the upper (and heel collar in particular) and created the "FluidFrame" to add torsional stiffness. Instead of making the shoe better, I felt this made it worse. Running on off-camber and uneven trails, my feeling is that this makes a shoe less stable. Can you talk a little about torsional stiffness, and why you think it is a good thing in a trail shoe?Telemarkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464416054977970508noreply@blogger.com