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Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's

Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's

Item # 781256
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This item is currently sold out or unavailable online.

For your reference, this page contains historical product information.

These Montrail Hardrock trail-running shoes combine the breathability and lightness of mesh with the security and durability of a protection plate.

  • Breathable nylon mesh uppers with supportive synthetic leather overlays offers superb flexibility and ventilation; gusseted tongues
  • Nylon linings wick moisture off your feet and dry quickly to keep feet comfortable
  • Dual-density EVA midsoles provide support and cushioning for all day comfort
  • Trail Shield™ thin hard EVA plates protect against stone bruising by dispersing point pressure; molded midfoot thermoplastic urethane shanks supply torsional rigidity
  • Aggressive Gryptonite rubber outsoles feature a multidirectional tread pattern for traction on rugged trails and paved paths

Average weight specification is per pair, based on size 9.

Imported.

Item 781256

Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's Specs

Specification

Description

StyleTrail-running
CutLow
WaterproofNo
UpperSynthetic leather/nylon mesh
LiningNylon
MidsoleDual-density EVA
SupportThermoplastic urethane and hard EVA plates
OutsoleRubber
Running shoe typeTrail
Average weight23.5 ounces
Average weight - metric0.66 kilogram

Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's
 
3.3

(based on 9 reviews)

33%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Good traction (8)
  • Lightweight (7)
  • Stable (5)
  • Rugged (4)
  • Comfortable (3)

Cons

  • Uncomfortable (3)

Best Uses

  • Mixed terrain (7)
  • Arch Type:
  • Low arch (5), High arch (3)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Casual/ recreational (4), Competitive athlete (4)

Reviewed by 9 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-9

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Mar

15

2009

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

 
2.0

Comfortable, cushy, protective, flawed

By Part-Time Nomad

from Boulder, CO

About Me Casual/ Recreational

Site Member

Pros

  • Good Traction
  • Lightweight
  • Rugged
  • Stabilizes Foot

Cons

  • Uncomfortable

Best Uses

  • Mixed Terrain

Comments about Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

These shoes have fantastic traction on rock, sand, dirt, gravel, and most trails. They're protective against rock dings. They fit my oddly-shaped foot nicely. They felt stable. Other than not breathing enough for my hot-running feet, they regulated temperature well. The insole was well shaped. The midsole was nicely squishy and the underfoot protection made rocks feel like nothing.

Should have been a great shoe, no? I loved everything about it...except the flex point.

If you look at the picture, there's a plastic guard that comes down from the heel, down the side of each foot, and which terminates at the top of the toes. There's little windows for the mesh. Works great to protect your foot. Only problem is that that protective bumper runs across the tops of your toes, right were the shoe flexes, and with every step, the shoe flexes that stiff, gummy plastic into the top of your toes or into the side of the ball of the foot. It's exactly as uncomfortable as it sounds. It sucked during a dayhike; if you're a long-distance runner your toes would be flayed by halfway. As the shoe broke in, the formerly roomy toebox was reduced in volume as a permanent bend appeared in the plastic. Not a good design feature, Montrail! Worse, it appears almost entirely aesthetic, because that bumper could have terminated further up the foot and the flex zone constructed from meshy stuff only.

  • Gift:
  • No
  • Sizing:
  • Feels true to size
  • Width:
  • Feels true to width
  • Arch Type:
  • High Arch

Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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Jul

10

2009

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

 
3.0

Shoe has changed; search the web!

By Syzygies

from Concord, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Good Traction
  • Lightweight
  • Rugged
  • Stabilizes Foot

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Mixed Terrain

    Comments about Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

    On outstanding staff advice, I bought the 2006 Montrail Hardrock at REI Concord exclusively for hiking on Mt Diablo: rocky climbs, slippery, sandy descents in what can be very hot conditions. That shoe was perfect for the task, and lasted three years. Going to replace it, I found that REI only stocked it online, and reviews elsewhere on the web ("Did Columbia ruin the Montrail Hardrock?" is representative) complain that a legendary shoe had been gutted. There are some indications that by 2010 Columbia will manage to restore an approximation of the original shoe. Meanwhile, I'm still looking for a replacement.

    • Gift:
    • No
    • Sizing:
    • Feels true to size
    • Width:
    • Feels true to width
    • Arch Type:
    • Low Arch

    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

    (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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    Apr

    18

    2009

    (1 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    BEST SPECIALTY SHOE

    By Bill

    from Phoenix, Arizona

    About Me Competitive Athlete

    Pros

    • Comfortable
    • Good Traction
    • Rugged

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • All Weather Conditions
      • Mixed Terrain
      • Technical rocky terrain

      Comments about Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

      The other two reviewers before me obviously did not understand this shoe. This shoe has been so successful, Montrail has not changed its design in 7 years, thank God! This shoe is the choice of ultra-distance runners: i.e., 100 mile plus Badwater, etc. Also choice of trail runners for highly technical rocky terrain. This shoe will hold up twice as long as other shoe brands , which literally get torn to shreds in just a few hundred miles. Believe me I have tried them all. Nothing holds up like the Hardrock. If you run on cushy forest trails, you can get by with other trail shoes. But if you run ultra distances or on trails like the Grand Canyon, Copper Canyon (México), La Barranca de Zapópan (México), or the steep rocky mountain trails of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, or Utah, this is the shoe for you.

      • Gift:
      • No
      • Sizing:
      • Feels true to size
      • Arch Type:
      • Low Arch

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (1 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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      Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

      Mar

      4

      2009

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

       
      2.0

      Nothing Special

      By Remmer

      from Houston, TX

      About Me Casual/ Recreational

      Pros

      • Good Traction
      • Lightweight

      Cons

      • Uncomfortable

      Best Uses

      • Grass
      • Mixed Terrain
      • ROCKS

      Comments about Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

      I bought these to get into trail running and for light trail use. They were quite nice until I wore down the padded insole. The arch is built into the sole of the shoe. I guess this makes the shoe more durable, but less versatile and comfortable.
      I have wide feet and a low arch. These may be right up your alley if you have narrow feet and a high arch.

      • Gift:
      • No
      • Sizing:
      • Feels true to size
      • Width:
      • Feels too narrow
      • Arch Type:
      • Low Arch

      Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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      Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

      Dec

      10

      2009

       
      3.0

      Soles separating from the shoe.

      By RGRAY

      from Phoenix, AZ.

      About Me Casual/ Recreational

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Good Arch Support
      • Lightweight

      Cons

      • Poor Traction
      • Wears Quickly

      Best Uses

        Comments about Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

        Purchased on 11/04/09. One month later the inside edges of the sole have seperateed from the left shoe. I've used them about twice a week on Arizona trails. Also used them on the Phoenix Summit Challenge. They feel great but I'm not happy with the construction. They could also use more grip.Sad to say I have to take them back. [$] is to much for shoes that bread down in 1 month.

        • Sizing:
        • Feels true to size
        • Width:
        • Feels true to width

        Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

        Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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        Dec

        4

        2009

         
        2.0

        CHANGED MY MIND ON APRIL 2009 REVIEW

        By Bill

        from Phoenix, Arizona

        About Me Competitive Athlete

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Good Traction
        • Lightweight

        Cons

        • Poor Funcionality

        Best Uses

        • Mixed Terrain

        Comments about Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

        My initial review above covered the pre 2009 model. Most everything has about this new design. Lacing has changed from eyelets to loops thus precluding "Shirpa method" of lacing. Shirpa lacing preventslacing movement. (Shirpa lacing insures lace will remain exactly where tightened at each eyelet.) Shoe is now wider - bad for a very narrow foot. The sole design has changed. Now it does not provide the former great cushioning of the previous models over long distances on highly technical terrain. Montrail has completely destroyed a former great specialty shoe. Very sad!!

        • Gift:
        • No
        • Sizing:
        • Feels half size too big
        • Width:
        • Feels too wide
        • Arch Type:
        • Low Arch

        Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

        Was this review helpful? Yes / No

         - You may also flag this review

        Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

        Nov

        27

        2009

         
        3.0

        Changed and now just "ok"

        By AdventureRacer1970

        from Athens, TN

        About Me Competitive Athlete

        Pros

        • Good Traction
        • Stabilizes Foot

        Cons

        • Uncomfortable

        Best Uses

        • All Weather Conditions
        • Mixed Terrain

        Comments about Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

        [...]This shoe has definitely changed manufacturing location/country when Columbia took over. I've spoken to an REI agent who stated that, and I've spoken to a Montrail customer service person who stated that. You can look for online blogs to find more. It was a great shoe for adventure racing, but then it changed and the forefoot flex point changed to less of a natural bend location, and the overall feel was not as form fitting to the foot as the earlier models. It is now just an "ok" shoe. Like others have said, it does have good traction and stability, and it does have one of the most solid soles that protects you from the rough trail, but still allows you to run well. But, it does not have the same fit as earlier years. I really hope Columbia goes back and tweaks it to the original fit.

        • Gift:
        • No
        • Sizing:
        • Feels true to size
        • Width:
        • Feels true to width
        • Arch Type:
        • High Arch

        Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

        Was this review helpful? Yes / No

         - You may also flag this review

        Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

        Aug

        5

        2009

         
        5.0

        Perfect for its Purpose

        By C-LO

        from Atlanta

        About Me Competitive Athlete

        Pros

        • Good Traction
        • Great for Over-Pronators
        • Lightweight
        • Stabilizes Foot

        Cons

        • Hot

        Best Uses

        • Mixed Terrain

        Comments about Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

        I am a competitive runner who has many issues with my feet (I use orthodics). I have somewhat flat feet, wide feet and I severely over-pronate. These feet issues effect my performance even more when the terrain is uneven.

        This shoe is perfect for runners like me. It's got exellent traction and it provides the best stability out of any trail running shoe I have ever purchased. Montrail also makes this shoe in widths for those with wider or narrower feet. It's also durable. Overall this shoe is best for runners who require stability.

        • Gift:
        • No
        • Sizing:
        • Feels true to size
        • Width:
        • Feels true to width
        • Arch Type:
        • Low Arch

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        Was this review helpful? Yes / No

         - You may also flag this review

        Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

        Apr

        22

        2009

         
        5.0

        The best trail runners I know

        By Anatoly

        from CA

        Site Member

        Pros

        • A lot of toe room
        • Comfortable
        • Good Traction
        • Good ventilation
        • Lightweight
        • Rugged
        • Stabilizes Foot

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Summer oriented
          • Trail running

          Comments about Montrail Hardrock Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

          Great trail runners - the first one that did not cause me any problems at trail marathon. Look like stability shoes, but work fine for me and I need neutral ones. Won't work for road running though.
          Fill more comfortable and quite lighter than the last year model.
          Fills slightly on larger size and like rather a wide shoe. Will fit to average to wide feet.
          Good feeling on rocks and mixed terrain.
          Overall - great improvement of the last year model that was not bad either. Hope it still has similar to the last year model durability (that was outstanding - way above 500 miles).
          Comparable shoes are inov8 and La Sportiva - but these are on narrow side. Also La Sprotiva lasts only about 300 miles (not sure about inov8).

          • Gift:
          • No
          • Sizing:
          • Feels true to size
          • Width:
          • Feels true to width
          • Arch Type:
          • High Arch

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          Was this review helpful? Yes / No

           - You may also flag this review

          Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

          Displaying reviews 1-9

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