REI Co-op  Swiftland MT Trail-Running Shoes - Men's

Great for flat trails, not so much declines

Out of the box the swiftland feels great on the feet. The mesh is breathable, the cushioning is soft yet supportive, and the fit is just right. I tried this on multiple terrain and where it excelled was on flat non technical trails. They work great on gravel, bark, etc. unfortunately due to the breathability of the knit upper though the lateral support just isn’t there for technical terrain. In downhill segments I was sliding forward in the shoes and on sharp turns I felt unstable. Just like most running shoes this shoe is great so long as it stays where it is designed for and for these I would say flatish non technical trails are it’s jam.

Very comfortable and perform great on trails

Was really impressed with these shoes. They have a fairly thick sole and are very comfortable. The tread is great, not too aggressive, but aggressive enough. The uppers are super comfortable. They are knit type with an elastic opening which hold very well. The durability seems like it will hold up for plenty of miles. I have loved using these on my hikes and runs. Even just wearing them around town because the are so comfortable. I also think the colors are great. If you like a more minimal trail running shoe, these might not be for you, but otherwise they are wonderful!

Poor fit for me.

I received this shoe in Jan '23 to test and review. My experience has been very poor because it is a very bad fit for my foot. The size is 10.5 D, which is the size of all my other shoes, none of which are wide. Construction, quality, and detail are all top notch. But it can't overcome a poor fit. The length and width are correct for this size, but there is very little vertical height. It does not give enough room for my foot such that it creates so much compression pressure on my foot. I did in fact test them on a run with the thinnest socks available. After less than a half mile in, it was so painful that I had to remove the insoles just to relieve the squeeze. If you've got thin or flat feet, it might work for you. With the insoles removed, I was able to insert my bare foot into the shoe without any wiggle room left. Add socks and it is uncomfortably tight already. If you're interested in other aspects of the shoe, construction is on par with what you'd expect from REI. The fabric and welded top are a positive. The flat laces, however, seem to unravel easily. I typically don't double knot my rabbit ears (usually don't need to do that). Had to re-tie three times in my abbreviated run. I do like the slightly stiffer outsoles so that they don't bend at the toe box. The color I got was a dark orange due to the blend of two shades of thread weaving. Bottom traction are of a lighter shade of orange. There is some additional padding on the back of the heel that adds a bit of extra structure and stiffness which makes it easier to insert a foot. There are some speckled paint splatter on the grayish outsole. Traction on the bottom work well after recent storms in So Cal (a rarity nowadays). Added some photos in direct sunlight (Galaxy S21) *before* they got worn. Summary: My sore, swollen feet is telling me to pass on these. I post these reviews to help you make decisions so you're not just looking at product descriptions, tech specs, and studio pictures. Thanks for reading.

Worked for me

Some bad reviews on this product, to the point that i probably would have passed on them, even at 40 bucks, had i read them... so i thought id give a good review. First off i normally wear 10.5 and bought 12s as they fit my feet. I typically wear wide when available and i can certainly see how this shoe would be a disaster had i bought my usual size without trying. That said, i wore them for the second time to summit Guadalupe peak and they felt wonderful, nary a blister. For $40 they'll remain as backups or maybe as my go to trail shoes. Not much ankle support, as expected from a mesh upper trail runner. Excellent traction comfort though.

I wanted to like these!

I really wanted to like these shoes! Very well-built and fit was true to size. The cushioning and rock plate made them so comfortable starting out on a rocky mountain trail. But after a couple miles, I developed a blister on my left achilles, right where the outer collar pad contacted my foot. Also had a hot spot developing in the same place on my right foot. This was while wearing darn tough socks as I always wear. There's nothing wrong with these shoes, they just didn't work for my feet. I returned them and ordered a pair of REI Coop Flash hiking boots.

I've not had these shoes all that long. Both shoes have failed at the same point in the heel cup.

A great pair of trail running shoes!

When I bought these shoes I wasn't sure what to expect. These shoes were on sale when I purchased them. I liked what the bottom traction looked like and they looked like they would be comfortable. Ok, so I've had these for a couple months now and wow. These are now my favorite shoes even above Hoka. I really like the sock like feel to them. I pull them on using the straps so I don't untie them. I did add a insert that I purchased from REI to add a more cushioned feeling due to my flat feet. The traction is really great. It's a harder rubber so it does wear away quickly like Hoka's. They are very lightweight. For me they are true to size. I highly recommend these trail running shoes to others.

Not bad, but not the best either

Pros: breathable, comfortable upper. Easy to put on/take off. Love the concept behind them with recyclable materials. Cons: They gave me heel blisters after only 2 wears. I went up a half-size from my standard 10 knowing that I would be using these primarily for extended exercise periods, but not full-on running. Without the extra lace hole to create a heel lock, my foot wouldn’t stop sliding forward, exacerbating heel friction. Summary: stick with your standard size, work the heel a little bit to break them in prior to wearing, and consider blister pads to avoid the pain on your heels. I’m going to give a 10 a try before fully swearing off these shoes.

Decent first version from REI

I’ll be concise. This is a fair showing for their first attempt at a trail runner and worth it if you can pick it up cheap. It’s not a $130 TR. While the sock like upper fits great at first, it’s hot and can cause your feet to get warm and sweat = blisters. It also doesn’t hold my foot as securely as I’d like on descents. The sock like upper hugs your foot well but it offers no protection from rocks and sticks. It would be a fine “lifestyle sneaker” if your just putting around in it. The sole is decent, solid heal toe drop and cushion between a Salomon and a Hoka. The bottom tread is too hard and I find myself slipping more than I’d like on rock and pavement leading to the trail. The lateral layout of the tread makes it great for moving forward but I find that side to side movements like plants and turns are not as planted in this shoe. It has potential but some of the kinks need worked out. I’d feel good about picking it up for 40-60 bucks but it’s not as strong as a speed goat or a trail sense (Salomon).

Comfortable and stable

I have been wearing top brand running shoes, and enjoy 3-5k road running almost everyday. Personally, I don't do trail running, so I haven't tested these shoes on unpaved trails, extensively. However, these shoes are very suitable for my road running and perform not much different from the top-tier products of other famous brands. Specifically, these shoes are very stable and durable, while flexible. When you wear them, they feel very comfortable to wrap your feett. Also, when sprinting, there is no discomfort in the movement of the feet, but they give a feeling of stability. As they are made for trail running, needless to say, they are durable. Recommended!