Brooks PureGrit 6, $120
Natural feeling, comfortable ride
Weights: 9.6 oz. (men), 7.8 oz. (women)
Heel-to-Toe Offset: 4mm; 19mm (heel),
15mm (forefoot)
Stepping into this shoe is like put-
ting on a pair of comfy slippers:
The knit upper envelops feet and
the cushioning proves instantly
comfortable. But, unlike a pair
of slippers, the PureGrit 6 is well
equipped for the trail. A light-
weight rock plate is sandwiched
between the lightweight cushion-
ing and the outsole to block any
jabs. Hex-shaped lugs do a good
job grabbing hold of trail surfaces
without clunking too loudly on
sections of road. And the knit up-
per gets structure and durability
from lightweight, screen-printed
rubber overlays. This is a fl exible
shoe with a rounded heel and the
combination translates to smooth
running that makes road runners
feel right at home. There’s not a
ton of stability or support for those
who need it, but the PureGrit 6
aims to feel natural, and achieves
that goal.Arc’Teryx Norvan VT, $170
Super-breathable and quick-drying,
high-end shoe
Weights: 10.6 oz. (men), 9.9 oz. (women)
Heel-to-Toe Offset: 9mm; 26mm (heel),
17mm (forefoot)
The Norvan VT has tons of bells
and whistles, and at $170, it better.
An interior, gaiter-like liner keeps
trail debris from sneaking into
your socks, or between your socks
and shoes and irritating feet. Su-
per-breathable, quick-drying up-
per materials shed water and dry
quickly. The traction underfoot, a
combination of two types of Vi-
bram rubber, makes this shoe grip
rocks “better than any other shoe,”
according to one tester. And the
complex lacing system is meant to
alternate from a looser (but secure
enough) running mode to a
super-snug, rock-climbing mode.
Yes, this shoe is capable of low-an-
gle rock climbs and scrambles.
We also liked the feel of the very
responsive cushioning; it made us
want to extend our runs.42[MOST
COMFORTABLE]CM0617_FEAT_TRAILSHOES.indd 42 5/11/17 4:52 PM