Mount to Coast T1 Review: Trail Ready from Top to Bottom

Introduction to the Mount to Coast T1

TAYLOR: The show floor was buzzing around the top brands at The Running Event in December 2023. It’s easy to find the big brands with their far-reaching booths and loud branding commands attention. Sure, the event does its job. 

Somewhere on the fringe of that main hall was another company that was almost a little oasis from the hustle and bustle. Mount to Coast. Sleek and simple, it certainly threw out a different vibe than the masses. 

Robbe and I stopped by during a moment we had between meetings. Road ultra brand? Uncomplicated yet quality design? Upon first step-in it felt comfortable, premium, and even refreshing when compared to what was going on at the time. My mind went all ego-centric toddler, “But where’s mine? Where’s the trail shoe?” 

Only six months later, this brand had made a much bigger splash in the road running world than I thought. Because “road ultra” is such a niche segment of our sport, I had assumed that their bar to success was going to be a hard fought one. On the other hand, their quality design spoke for itself with performance.

Fast forward to now, and Mount to Coast has finally entered the arena of the Dirt Division. It’s trail time, baby! The Mount to Coast T1 comes to us with a very familiar design. While it’s certainly its own shoe, there are some distinct parallels between the T1 and Mount to Coast’s most successful model, the R1. Mostly, this includes a stack of high quality foam and a unique upper/lacing system that’s specifically formulated to go the distance. 

Trail specific details include a Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole, Kevlar yarn upper material, and a 4 mm heel-to-toe drop. All are welcome additions.

What we like about the Mount to Coast T1

TAYLOR: All of the Mount to Coast shoes that I have been in – R1, S1, now the T1 (also the P1 which I haven’t run in) – have all prompted a similar reaction. It’s that subtle but absolutely affirming, “Mhmmm… Oh, yeah,” kind of feeling. It’s not that I didn’t expect to have this sensation, it is more the fact that quality and comfort bleed through in a way that has to be felt. Let’s face it, none of the Mount to Coast offerings scream at you from the showroom wall or have neon arrows pointing out aspects of their shoes. They tend to speak for themselves on the run. The Mount to Coast T1 is very on brand in that sense too. 

The whole upper construction is a very familiar scene. Their debut and marquee shoe, the Mount to Coast R1, boasted a unique dual lacing system. The T1 does too. It finds itself somewhere between Salomon’s Speedlaces and Speedland’s dual dial Boa Fit System – it takes the materials of one and the function of the other.

Benefits are obvious on paper, and they certainly translate on the run. Think of breaking the typical lacing chain in half. With the Mount to Coast T1, you can cinch the top and bottom as desired. I appreciated being able to customize my fit based on my duration, pace, terrain, and even from foot to foot (my right has a wider forefoot compared to my left). Living in the mountains, most of my runs take on a little bit of gravel before going up, up, up. Then, down, down, down. My typical lacing convention with the Mount to Coast T1 was to have a looser fit (especially in the forefoot) on the ascent and do a quick adjustment to tighten up before descending. 

The Kevlar/mesh upper is an indicator of Mount to Coast’s commitment to quality, and it checked all the boxes. Comfortable? Check. This upper was light but structured enough to cradle my foot nicely, which was honestly a concern because light uppers tend to be voluminous and/or baggy. The adequately built/padded heel sets up the secure package. They even added a unique flex zone with the semi-gusseted tongue that acts like a dynamic vamp, similar to the Hoka Tecton X 3 and Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide. It bridges the midfoot and forefoot and allows for a unique sense of flexibility/maneuverability.

Durable? Absolutely. I doubt I’ll find weak spots in this upper thanks to the solid (yet minimal) overlays in necessary areas and the fact that it’s made from freakin’ Kevlar fibers. It still looks fresh after my testing period. 

Breathable? Certainly. I really love that an upper with these materials can be so lightweight these days and allow water and air to flow.

Overall, the fit was fairly standard in terms of width. It’s most comparable to the Merrell Agility Peak 5, New Balance Hierro v9, and The North Face Altamesa 500 where the midfoot and forefoot feel more relaxed but not wide. However, it does boast the ability to be quite voluminous depending on how one chooses to lace. So, if you do have a foot that takes up space, the Mount to Coast T1 will likely be able to accommodate your needs. Average-width footed folks, the same goes for you. 

Again, the beauty of both the upper and Tunedfit system is that there’s enough material to accommodate but is fitted enough to cinch up tightly without weird creases and folds in the upper.

The underfoot squeeze also comes with the premium juice. With the same PEBA-blended midsole compound as the R1, the T1 is going to please a lot of folks. Lightcell is a blended midsole that contains PEBA-based nitrogen infused foam and achieves high marks in a lot of categories. In this case, it felt cushioned but not pillowy. It was certainly energetic but not “bouncy.” It was also stable but not rigid. At a 36/32 stack, this one is fundamentally well-protected too. There’s no real need for a rock plate to be guarded and it managed to have trace amounts of ground feel for connection. This is the type of midsole that gives the best of all worlds.  

I think of shoes like the Salomon Genesis, The North Face Enduris 4, Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed, La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, and Nike Ultrafly.  The T1 is a little softer than the Altra Mont Blanc Speed, Hoka Mafate Speed 4, Merrell Agility Peak 4, and VJ Ultra 3. It also ends up being a little more structured than shoes like the New Balance Hierro v4, Hoka Tecton X 3, and Norda 005. I know that’s really getting into the weeds, but it’s a good portrait of where the underfoot feel of the T1 sits. 

Geometry is another aspect that Mount to Coast has nailed down. In the T1, there’s an obvious rocker but it’s not too aggressive. It’s efficient without forcing speed. That’s where this can easily be called an “ultra” shoe. Many other trail racing options have figured this out too, but to see this geometry in both their road and trail models lets us know how intentional Mount to Coast is about going the distance.

I love that even though the Mount to Coast T1 is in the high-stack category, it runs as if it has a much lower stack because of the underfoot properties. In its first iteration, it is already knocking on the door of what the Hoka Speedgoat has become known for. The T1 simply has a lot more character in the midsole alone, though.  

I know there are a lot of good options out there for outsoles these days, but I am personally delighted that Mount to Coast went straight to the top by adding a Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole. Of course, the rubber is tacky and durable. The 3.5 mm lugs are a unique shape that performed in a very well-rounded manner. Whether I was on gravel, soft singletrack, or granite, the grip was what I expected out of Vibram. I only had a couple notable slips, but it was on a frosted over piece of rock that I only had my forefoot on and in mud that was deeper than the midsole – both are excusable IMO.

What we don’t like about the Mount to Coast P1

TAYLOR: Here’s something that’s typical of brands with niche components or markets. Oftentimes, the things you love about them have the potential to be a negative. Now, I’m going to state this outright: I do not think there is anything inherently bad about the Mount to Coast T1, but preference will play a major role in runner’s decisions to buy or pass on this shoe. 

A prime example of this is the lacing system. Much like any pull cord lacing system, the Tunedfit system can be finicky. It certainly took a few runs for me to figure out how to lace up optimally, which only got more complicated as terrain and pace changed too.

The extra space within the cabin made it especially hard to find a technically proficient fit. I did eventually figure out how to make it happen but it did come at the expense of really tightening up across the bridge of my foot. This is where I would really appreciate either 1) A touch more padding through the minimalistic tongue, or 2) Trimming the upper in the midfoot a little bit. Tightening up for a variety of trails would be more comfortable and more secure if one or both of those were to happen. 

Lastly, with the lacing system again, if I did run on more technical terrain, the lacing system would slowly but surely lose its hold. This was most true on runs with tight switchbacks, steep downhills, or a lot of rocks and roots to dance around/over. 

The Lightcell foam is also a bit of a concern for me. As mentioned, it will please a lot of people, but for how long? Visually, the foam compressed quite a bit in the first 50 miles. On foot it didn’t feel as drastic. I’m curious how much more this foam will get beat up simply because there are so many more angles and various pinpoint pressures put on a trail shoe than a road shoe.

Final thoughts on the Mount to Coast T1

TAYLOR: Qualifying something as “good for a first timer” tends to push the notion that it is of a lower class. That’s far from the truth with the Mount to Coast T1. Sure, it is the brand’s first trail shoe. And, yes, it is good for a first timer. It’s also a solid option among the perennial favorites. 

After being in a few prototypes of this model, I find myself really pleased with where Mount to Coast landed with the first iteration of the T1. Even though Mount to Coast is known for their ultra pedigree, the T1 is a very good all-around trail shoe. A versatile outsole design, well-rounded upper, and crowd pleasing midsole make this a really competitive option. The Mount to Coast T1 will be especially pleasing to those who want a more generous fitting upper, custom fit, and softer – yet lively – underfoot feel.