The Mount to Coast T1 came out of nowhere for meâbut itâs been one of the biggest surprises this year.
The T1 is an all mountain trail running shoes designed for serious mountain terrain. It hits that sweet spot between comfort, control, and long-distance trail durability making it the perfect candidate for ultra running.
After putting them through steep climbs, technical descents, hot days, and fast efforts, I can confidently say theyâve earned a permanent spot in my trail running shoe rotation.
Key specifications
- Price: $180 at mountocoast.com (Pre-order starts May 16)
- Weight: 9.1oz (258g) for US Menâs size 9
- Drop: 4 mm with stack height of 36 mm (heel) / 32 mm (forefoot)
- Upper: Kevlar-reinforced mesh
- Midsole: LightCELL PEBA-based foam
- Outsole: Vibram Litebase Megagrip with traction lug
- Extra attributes: Split-zone lacing system, breathable and durable construction
Sizing and fit
The T1 fits true to size with a medium-wide width profile.
Thereâs a really thoughtful amount of room in the toe box, which helps on long runs when your feet start to swellâbut the shoe doesnât feel loose or sloppy.
Heel lock is great and the secondary lacing system allows for a more custom midfoot fit
Heel lock is excellent, and the lacing system lets me fine-tune the fit, especially around the midfoot with the secondary lacing system, which helps avoid pressure points or sliding around on steep descents.
Alastair Dixon
Performance review
What stood out to me straight away was the comfort, but then again, this should be no surprise to me based on my reviews of the R1, P1, and S1âMount To Coast's other running shoes, all of which are incredibly comfortable.
Some trail running shoes need some amount of breaking inâespecially ones designed for rugged, mountainous terrainâbut not the T1.
Straight out the box, the fit was spot on for me. The upper wraps your foot securely without hot spots, and the Kevlar weaved upper mesh feels tough without being stiff.
That split-zone lacing system deserves praise too. Itâs the kind of feature that sounds minor, but it makes a big difference when youâre out there for hours.
I can tighten the midfoot for security, without over-tightening the forefoot and squashing my toes.
It takes a bit longer to adjust the first time, but once itâs dialled in, it stays lockedâeven through rough climbs, descents, and switchbacks.
I also like that there's a lace garage on the tongue so that I can stow away excess lacing, in order to stop them getting snagged on the trails.
Alastair Dixon
The midsole is what ties everything together. The LightCELL PEBA foam is stable, balanced, and just springy enough to keep things feeling lively over long distances.
That combined with the 4mm drop gives good ground control and doesnât get in the way of your stride, even over technical terrain. I find I can run very confidently down steep trails in these.
Now letâs talk grip. The Vibram Litebase Megagrip outsole with Traction Lug is awesome but I already knew it would be based on all the trail running shoes I have reviewed that feature Megagrip.
Iâve tested these across most surfaces and the traction stays reliable every time.
Whether I'm grinding uphill or bombing down steep declines, the grip gives me that extra confidence to commit to each step.
Durability is another win; the Kevlar-reinforced upper feels seriously rugged. It handles trail abuse really well and still lets enough air in to keep things comfortable on hot days.
Alastair Dixon
I mean look at the sweat coming off me in this 30 degrees celsius heat with extreme humidityâbut my feet don't feel like they're overheating (see below).
My verdict
The Mount to Coast T1 isnât just a great trail debut from a new brandâitâs a genuinely excellent all mountain trail running shoe, especially if you spend time running technical terrain and long distances.
Itâs light enough for long runs, rugged enough for technical trails, and comfortable enough to wear all day.
If you want a trail running shoe that does a bit of everything well, with a bias toward long-distance mountain comfort and control, this oneâs definitely worth checking out.
You can buy a pair on May 16 at mounttocoast.com â Use code #TRAILKALE8 for 8% OFF your order.
