Montrail Highlander : Light, Rugged, Stylish

It was the fifth and final day of an adventure race in Borneo. Headlamps on, my teammates and I headed up the mucky trail in the predawn chill en route to the top of Mt. Kinabalu, at 13,450 feet the tallest peak in southeast Asia. Because the teams had been started in reverse order, slowest to fastest, two hours into the slog I glanced back and saw Team Montrail approaching like mountain goats on a latte high. My teammates and I stepped aside to let them pass and I immediately fell in behind pro racer Mike Freeman. For five minutes (OK more like 4 minutes and 55 seconds) I fixed my eyes on his brightly-colored, high-tech mud-splattered trail runners; I clicked into his step-and-breath rhythm until imminent cardiac arrest forced me to let and him and his fleet-footed teammates go.

I’d not thought of that breathless climb in years but when I tried on a pair of Montrail Highlanders last month the smart shoes that set off Freeburn’s ripped calves came vividly to mind. I can now see why so many of the big guns favor the brand: the Highlanders have the structural integrity of a light hiking shoe but feel like road runners. And they provide plenty of giddy-up when you need to make hay.

The mesh upper, which has webbing along the side for support, allows the shoe to drain should I nail a puddle or need to dash through a stream. The sole's triangular-shaped nubbins (called “gryptonite”) offer great traction on roots and rocks. While running shoes are lighter and thus more comfortable, the Highlanders will do just fine for a workout on a treadmill on those days when I can’t make it to a nice muddy trail. Athletic shoe aficionados like me will appreciate the orange and gray color combination (with the partially obscured Montrail letters on the outside) for that “my-trail-shoe-is-cooler-than-your-trail-shoe” swagger necessary on the competitive streets of Brooklyn, N.Y. (or on the rocky trails of Mt. Kinabalu.)

Bottom LIne:  These strong, snazzy trail runners are great for hoofing up slick mountain trails in Southeast Asia, but they’re also comfortable enough to use if you’re running on the road, in the gym or trying to impress the adventure racing groupies at the bar.--J.G. (April ’06)

Price: $85

Manufacturer's Site: www.montrail.com

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