Looking for a hill-climb and FKT shoe? Mammut’s Aenergy Trail Speed might be it

Introduction to the Mammut Aenergy Trail Speed

MICHAEL: Summer is in full swing here, folks. For me, that means craving light and fast runs in pared-down footwear over technical terrain. Then again, isn’t that every time of the year? It’s the perfect time to dive into the latest offering from Mammut, a relatively new player here in the performance trail space.

The new Aenergy Trail Speed, which is of course bound to be cool because it mispells energy with a weird vowel situation that makes you wonder how to pronounce the name (which, mind you, is key to creating a sort of mystique and interest around your brand’s offerings — RIP Hoka One One), offers a race-ready, ultra slim-fitting upper atop a 30/24mm stack of Mammut’s proprietary Core Plus foam with generous Vibram Megagrip Litebase traction underneath.

It’s built along the same design language as the Salomon Pulsar and S/Lab shoes of old, and the bright baby blue sings like an expansive summer sky. Over the past year-ish, there’s actually been some decent movement in the “light and fast” space following the maximalist craze of the pandemic and pre-pandemic eras. Noteworthy examples include the Scott Supertrac RC 3, the Brooks Catamout Agil, and let’s see how the Aenergy speed stacks up.

What we like about the Mammut Aenergy Trail Speed Low

MICHAEL: Overwhelmingly, my first impressions of this shoe were that of precision construction and knife-edge handling. The upper is constructed from a tight, breathable engineered mesh that contoured to my foot like a glove, allowing for little to no side-to-side movement from the heel through to the forefoot. This sort of fit can get uncomfortable for long hours, but the Aenergy speed is made for a different kind of summer than the one spent standing in line at Disney World. Instead, this gave the shoe supreme confidence, allowing it to point down technical descents and whip around corners.

The technical design language continues underfoot, where the midsole features faceted cutouts that minimize excess material, much like the Adidas Takumi Sen, leaving only what is necessary for stability and protection. The Core Plus supercritical EVA foam is a real winner here, as it absorbs shock and rebounds without feeling too soft. It reminded me of Brooks’ DNA Flash material that we’ve loved before in shoes like the Catamount, and I think it was the perfect choice for the Aenergy Speed.

Additionally, a mellow plate underfoot helps slightly stiffen the shoe. All this is familiar for a shoe of this type, but where I think the Aenergy stands out is in its slightly higher stack height: 30mm in the heel and 24mm in the forefoot. I found this combo to be better suited to longer descents than a lower-stack shoe like the Scott Supertrac RC3, which comes in at 20mm in the heel and 15 mm in the forefoot and can sometimes beat up my quads on descents longer than a mile.

Rounding out the Aenergy Trail Speed, there are features that add a touch of premium construction to the shoe that I found refreshing. The aforementioned upper material is a winner in the summer heat, and the ankle-height gaiter was a nice touch for keeping debris out of the shoe without sacrificing aesthetics. On that note, the shoe looks fantastic in the bright baby blue colorway with red accents. Naturally, the Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole performed admirably.

With some improvements to a few sore spots I found below, I could absolutely see myself employing the Aenergy Trail Speed for a hill-climb race or FKT that required a shoe to climb efficiently for 3 miles or so to a mountain summit, then quickly turn it around for a prolonged technical descent.

What we don’t like about the Mammut Aenergy Trail Speed

MICHAEL: By design, the Aenergy Speed simply won’t be a good shoe for all runners, including but not limited to anyone or anybody that either requires or simply enjoys a roomy toebox. In a style reminiscent of older Salomon models, this shoe’s last is simply too constrictive. It’s great for keeping your foot locked in on steep descents, but it’s critically narrow for anyone who likes breathing room.

Additionally, the upper materials are rather harsh and plasticy, and never seemed to loosen up or break in during my review period. The heel cup features little to no padding, and had me reaching for thicker socks during my runs to ensure I didn’t blister. Nothing here hampered the shoe’s potential for what it’s designed for, necessarily, but it could use some polishing in my opinion for round two.

Final thoughts on the Mammut Aenergy Trail Speed

MICHAEL: For their debut trail lineup, I think it’s safe to say that Mammut is kind of crushing it. While the design language doesn’t vary much from shoe to shoe, the overall construction quality throughout the lineup is rather impressive, especially given what we’re seeing these days from legacy brands. It’s no surprise the Aenergy Trail Speed capitalizes on those impressions, and looks to be a great option for anyone looking for a truly dialed-in shoe for fast mountain excursions. With a few tweaks to the formula, I think this could easily turn into Best In Gear material in the next few years.

You can pick up the Mammut Aenergy Trail Speed for $170 from Mammut by using the buttons below.