The Mount to Coast C1 Adds More Stack to… Transcend More Distance

Introduction to the Mount to Coast C1

KARL: Mount to Coast has come out swinging since its debut just a few years ago. I remember back when the R1 was the flagship and the only shoe they had. Fast forward to the present and, while the line is still relatively small, Mount to Coast seems to be filling in the gaps. It’s got stability covered with the P1, a true trail shoe in the T1, and a hybrid gravel shoe with the H1 (which, if you haven’t heard, BITR teamed up with Mount to Coast on a collaboration model of the H1).

The natural progression would be to release a higher-stack trainer, a max-cushioned counterpart to the R1. And that’s where the Mount to Coast C1 comes in. We got our first glimpse of this shoe at The Running Event in 2025, where foam master Yeti gave us the rundown.

CHAD: Not sure there’s a brand out there that has made a bigger splash in the industry this early in its existence than Mount to Coast. Between being the title sponsor of the fledgling Burrito League this year (IYKYK) and signing some pretty big-name athletes in the ultra space like Killian Korth, Canyon Woodward, and Meg Eckert, Mount to Coast has really made a name for itself. Sprinkle in the fact that they have dropped some absolute bangers in the shoe market in various categories. But would you expect any less from a brand that designs its shoes so that athletes can “transcend distance?”

I have spoken very highly of the R1, which I believe is a great daily trainer for bigger runners, and the H1, which I think sets the bar incredibly high for gravel/hybrid shoes. But this review is about the newest offering from Mount to Coast, the C1, sort of threading the needle between a super-trainer and a max stack daily trainer offering.

How so, you ask? Well, it has the max stack trainer stack height and cushioning, with the ride and stability you’d expect from a super trainer. With a 42 mm / 36 mm (6 mm drop) stack height, a top layer of CircleCell bio foam underfoot, and EVA underneath, this shoe on paper seems right up my alley.

What we like about the Mount to Coast C1

KARL: Off the bat, I dig the overall aesthetic and design. It’s very reminiscent of the R1. I like the all-white colorway with a slight pop of red on the lacing system, along with the thin red line above the midsole. It looks simple and very clean with unembellished branding and Mount to Coast’s trademark mountain silhouette on the lateral side.

The upper is breathable and well-ventilated. The gusseted tongue is lightly padded, which I prefer over a thick, padded tongue — a design norm for the modern max stack trainer. The heel collar, while also generously padded, is not overdone. It’s a good balance in the max cushion world between performance trainer and plush, comfy cruiser.

The fit is pretty solid on my end. I know there may be some who won’t get along with the dual lacing system. I’m a “take it or leave it” kind of guy when it comes to the TunedFit lace system, but it’s never bothered me. The platform is also a bit wider, which, along with the rubberized EVA bottom, makes the shoe very stable.

The Mount to Coast C1 weighing just about 10 oz / 283 g in my US M10.5 is also a plus. I wish it felt lighter (more on that soon), but for the amount of stack underfoot, I think the weight is suitable. There’s a decent rocker to it as well to help roll through the stride. The dual-density midsole consists of Mount to Coast’s signature CircleCell on top and rubberized EVA on the bottom, which lends to a somewhat firmer ride. As someone who strikes more mid-to-forefoot, I also like how there’s more CircleCell foam present under the forefoot than in the heel.

I was a bit torn on the ride for the first few runs. I didn’t think it was bad; it just didn’t feel very tantalizing, and it didn’t strike me the same way as when I initially tried the H1. But, admittedly, towards the end of my testing miles, I felt the ride soften a touch, and I was able to comfortably cruise at a solid pace for a seven-mile recovery run the day after a 21-mile trail run (in the Mount to Coast H1).

The outsole grip is also very satisfactory. There’s lots of rubber coverage scattered throughout. I’ve never had problems with traction in any of the Mount to Coast offerings thus far, and don’t expect the C1 to be any different in that regard.

One last positive I will add is that the C1 feels super resilient. Much like other Mount to Coast shoes that have been taken thousands of kilometers, there’s no doubt in my mind that this shoe will last, and the foam will not degrade in a short time.

CHAD: Aesthetically, this shoe appeals to the side of me that appreciates a simple, clean look. Basically every Mount to Coast offering initially comes in a white colorway with black accents; however, the C1 deviates from that pattern a bit by dropping in a red highlight in the lacing system and on the midsole. It was a nice touch because the red, put in to symbolize the spirit of ultrarunning, really pops. I dig it.

But call me an archeologist, because I dig a lot more about this shoe than just the looks. The upper is extraordinarily comfortable and breathable, an absolute must for a shoe engineered to go the ultra distance. One thing that I believe Mount to Coast excels at in all of its models, including the C1, is making its shoes accommodating while not being cavernous; and by offering the dual-lacing system of the quick-lace bottom and the traditional lace top, individual runners can really dial in the fit to their specific, preferred fit. Also, it makes it super easy to adjust over time if your feet swell or you realize you need things a bit more snug due to the conditions.

From my first run in the C1, I was a big fan of the ride. In my discussions with others who had run in it, they were a bit disappointed that it wasn’t as soft as it appeared with the stack height and use of CircleCell foam underfoot. However, I think the slight firmness of the foam helped me, as a bigger runner, feel like I was actually getting something back from the shoe. Between that and the deceivingly aggressive rocker (which isn’t as apparent when you look at the shoe), every step during my runs was incredibly smooth and stable, thanks to the nice width of the platform underfoot and the use of dual-density midsole foams.

Now, to put this all into context, I decided to bring the Mount to Coast C1 with me to New York City for the United NYC Half Marathon on March 15th. I was in the middle of a training block for my first 50k and treating the race as a fun training run from Prospect Park in Brooklyn to Central Park. I had no goals or expectations, just planned to enjoy the sights, surroundings, and the company of my fellow runners. Well, that was what happened for the first two miles (including a 2-minute bathroom stop); then all of a sudden, my pace kept increasing despite my relative effort remaining in what I would classify as comfortably hard.

At no point did I feel like I was out over my skis out there, and I ended up cruising to an 8-minute PR of 1:59:19 — first time under 2 hours. Was it all the shoes? Probably not, my fitness has definitely increased since November 2025, when I set my last PR, but I got to the end of that race and felt like I could have kept going mile after mile, and I felt great the following day. Now that is a testament to the shoe’s quality, and why I think it sits on the fringe of the super-trainer category.

What we don’t like about the Mount to Coast C1

KARL: The only real complaint I have is that I wish the overall ride were a bit softer and airier, whether that means softening the CircleCell or using less of the very firm rubberized EVA. Because of that, even though it’s only 10 oz, this is one of those rare cases where the shoe felt just a tad heavier than it actually is. Don’t get me wrong, the feeling of smoothly transitioning through your stride is great, I just wish it had slightly more dynamism, like I get from the H1.

I know that when Thomas was in China and ran in a prototype of the C1, he mentioned it felt firm and suggested softening the midsole in general. And, according to him, they did — but it still isn’t exactly tuned to my desired preference, personally speaking. But if you’re a bigger runner or prefer slightly firmer shoes, the Mount to Coast C1 could very well be up your alley.

CHAD: I think Karl nailed his assessment; the shoe probably could do with slightly more bounce, which would help alleviate the feeling of some of the weight, especially if you’re designed to take this more than a marathon. But he is also correct that, as a bigger runner, I appreciated the firmness. I think the majority of the shoe’s weight being underfoot lends itself to a heavier feel.

Also, now that Mount to Coast is really entrenched in the running shoe world, give me some more color! I enjoy both ends of the spectrum: the clean, simple colors, and the bold (some might say) crazy colorways. We’ve seen you can do clean/simple/muted; let’s go nuts with some colors.

Final thoughts on the Mount to Coast C1

KARL: Overall, I think a high stack trainer is welcome in the Mount to Coast lineup. And although I wish it had a bit more pep to make it more versatile in my rotation, I find the ride to be perfectly adequate for what it’s trying to accomplish and naturally fits into the current catalog.

At $180, it sits right in there with a bunch of other trainers that I feel are a bit more charged in terms of sensation and versatility (Nike Vomero Plus, Puma MagMax Nitro 2, Hoka Mach X 3). I was initially ready to give the Mount to Coast C1 a “C” down the line (that would be too easy and on-the-nose, wouldn’t it?), but speaking more generally and outside of my own preferences, if you enjoy a slightly firmer but still energetic ride, the value is there considering most shoes that fit in this silo are similar in price (Diadora Cellula 2, Brooks Glycerin 23, Asics Gel-Nimbus 28). The Mount to Coast C1 definitely wins when stacked up against those shoes — boasting a lighter weight, a cleaner look and style, and a comparatively more enjoyable ride, despite my personal preference for it to be a tad softer.

All-in-all, I think Mount to Coast is headed in the right direction and has a pretty solid lineup of v1’s, with the H1 currently being the star for me, but the Mount to Coast C1 is a viable option if you’re looking for a high stack workhorse that is plenty cushioned, but not exactly soft or plush.

CHAD: I tried not to let the success I had with this shoe in NYC bias my review, but that was hard to do. At the end of the day, I think this is an incredibly solid option for me as a bigger runner. It reminded me a lot of a slightly softer Superblast 2, with a more aggressive rocker and a more accommodating fit. I mean, the Superblast 2 is one of my favorite shoes ever, so to be in the conversation with it, the C1 definitely brought it.

I echo Karl’s comments that at $180, it’s sort of getting into that super-trainer price range, while for most people it’s a premium daily or max-stack trainer. But if you like to run in the types of shoes that I do, $180 is worth it, since I imagine you’ll also get a lot of miles out of the C1, given Mount to Coast’s heralded longevity.

You can pick up the Mount to Coast C1 for $180 at Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.