The FreeVision VILTA is a 3-axis gimbal designed for use with the GoPro Hero 3, 4, and 5. I’ve been using the FreeVision VILTA on most of my latest hikes, and will focus this review on applications for hiking, trail running, and backpacking.Â
The La Sportiva Wildcat is a trail shoe that’s well tuned for hiking, trail running, and backpacking. The Wildcat combines a sticky and versatile outsole with a well cushioned midsole for a solid base that will handle a wide variety of trail conditions. The breathable nylon mesh upper offers good protection without inhibiting breathability too much.
The Sense Ride is a new trail shoe from Salomon that’s being marketed as a “quiver killer”. To put this claim to the test, I brought the Sense Ride along for a two week trip to Iceland as my only footwear option. I’ve also taken the Sense Ride out for a few hikes in my local mountains. I don’t think the Sense Ride will replace ALL of the shoes on my shoe rack anytime soon, but so far they’ve done a great job at tackling a wide range of trails and conditions.
The La Sportiva Bushido is an aggressively built shoe that’s equipped to handle the toughest of trails. The low-volume upper allows for very precise foot placement with zero slop or movement. The 6mm drop midsole is stable and handles very well with a heavy pack. The FriXion Red outsole provides phenomenal traction on a wide variety of surfaces, and although the outsole pattern isn’t the most aggressive, it provides more than adequate grip when things get sloppy. Â
The Wildhorse 4 is a trail shoe from Nike offering loads of comfort, protection, and performance. At just over 13oz (12.5 US), the Wildhorse 4 manages to stay light for the amount of trail protection it offers. Built on an 8mm drop platform and having a last with a wide toebox, this shoe has a stable ride, and is one of the only non-zero drop offerings with enough splay room upfront. For the Wildhorse 4, my standard size 12.5 fit true to size.
A few years ago, Ultimate Direction changed that by combining running vest comfort with backpacking capacity for their Fastpack 20 and 30. Ultimate Direction is best know for their running vests and hydration products that are used by some of the world’s elite ultra runners. Â This year, Ultimate Direction has released a revamped lineup of packs they’re calling the Trail Collection. This includes the Fastpack 15, 25, 35, and 45. For this review, I’ll be taking a look at the 35 and 45.
The Salomon Sense Pro Max is a max-cushion trail shoe from Salomon that comes in at 12.8oz (12.5) and has a 6mm drop. With 33mm of midsole stack height in the heel and 27mm in the forefoot, the Sense Pro Max provides a lot of underfoot protection. Unlike the softer max-cushion offerings from Hoka and Altra, the Sense Pro Max feels pretty firm and responsive on the trail.
The Akyra is the newest trail running shoe from La Sportiva. With a burly upper, plush 9mm drop midsole, and an aggressive and grippy outsole, there is a lot to love about the Akyra. I wrote a preview post for the Akyra after a few outings with the shoe. Now that I’ve logged a few more outings, I’ll be adding additional thoughts in this full review.
The Adidas Terrex Agravic is a stable and rugged trail shoe that’s made to tackle the gnarliest of adventures.
For all of you planning your gear setup for a John Muir Trail or Pacific Crest Trail thru hike in 2017, the time to get your footwear dialed in is right now!