Patagonia Release with Vibram, a shoe review

The first thing I notice about a pair of shoes when I slip them on is usually how heavy they are. I like to feel like I have slipped on something that is going to help me rocket propel myself up massive hills, take tight corners on a muddy downhill and have me sprinting along the road sections which inevitably we hit in training and racing. No matter how hard I try to a redeeming factor in a heavy pair of shoes, I always find myself wondering, “can’t you keep support, stability and enough cushioning to go a 100 miles without the shoe feeling like a lead weight?”

Part of this issue comes out of the roots of trail running shoes. Many trail running shoe companies are born out of an evolution of a hiking boot. For many years there were no light and fast options, there were no “road shoes with teeth”, you had the heavy boot like shoes or road shoes. Over time outdoor companies have evolved and now there are many more options available and trail shoes are becoming lighter and faster. However, history dies hard when companies enter into the market for the first time.

One example that holds true is the Patagonia Release . When I slipped them on, my feet instantly felt fortified and protected. The toe box is roomy and even after logging many miles provides ample room to protect the toes. The upper around the heal is extremely cushioned, but lacked a true hold on my very narrow feet. I have flipper feet (wide toe box, narrow heal) and need a combination close to what the Patagonia Release provided. My feet felt good in the shoes, and once running, the shoes provided ample cushion to keep my feet feeling protected and not pounded, even on road and other less forgiving surfaces. The top of the shoe is heavily supported at the expense of some breatheability, but in general protects from errant rocks and trail debris well. The Dynamic Fit Lacing System kept my laces tight and secure, though the laces could be several inches shorter. Despite this comfortable fit, I did not feel as if I had on a pair of running shoes. I felt more like I was wearing a low-rise hiking boot.

The hiking boot feeling is easily traced to the sole of the shoe. Patagonia uses a Vibram sole and the foot plate itself is quite dense and heavy. The description of the contents of the shoe from Patagonia’s website even sound heavy: “3DM triple-density 15% recycled EVA midsole provides extra control for women’s unique biomechanical needs; air Cushion Plus and forefoot shock absorption pads; 70% EVA/30% rubber heel strike pad with asymmetrical alignment absorbs shock while reducing the impact rate; TPU Shock Plate distributes pressure and protects the foot; TPU Arch Bridge provides midfoot stability and alignment; multi-surface high density TPU studs in outsole forefoot provide traction in uneven terrain; women’s-specific Vibram® Release trail running soles with TC5+ rubber compound provides excellent grip and traction with specific tread placement for women; slip-lasted construction; semi-curved last, medium width forefoot with narrow heel, medium-high arch support, performance fit” (from Patagonia.com) Wow, what? All that translated to was feeling like I had really comfortable lead weights on my feet. At 23 ounces, they outweigh my normal trainers by nearly double.

It is a very stiff shoe and felt very unresponsive on more technical terrain. There is only a very light tread on the bottom, so this shoe would be even less responsive in slippery or wet conditions. They didn’t just feel heavy, they felt unnecessarily heavy and didn’t make up for it in responsiveness. The combination of heaviness and stiffness is something that generally characterizes hiking boots and while this combination can ensure foot health over long hikes, in a trail running shoe it feels counterproductive. The bottom line of my feeling is that while the Patagonia Release may ultimately turn out to be a great shoe when running 100k-100miles or more, I don’t want to have to wait until mile 83 or something to start liking the shoe. If I don’t want to run 10 miles in a shoe, I am not going to see if I like to run 100 miles in them.

But that is not to say that the Patagonia Release fails. In fact, it is quite successful for what it is: a stiff, heavyweight that is prepared to carry you the long haul. There is a good deal about this shoe that works. With a strong market offering lighter, less rigid shoes that can sustain for the similar distance, I don’t anticipate the Patagonia Release gaining much popularity. That said, Patagonia has got the right idea and their evolution as a trail running shoe company should be interesting.

Written by trailrunningSoul Staff · trailrunningSoul maintains the blog trailrunningSoul and these are the latest posts:
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