Tracksmith Eliot Range: First Thoughts

Tracksmith hits the trails

REESE: When I heard Tracksmith was launching their first trail shoe, the Eliot Range ($240), I was curious but cautious. I love their apparel, but a shoe is a whole different game, especially for trails. Upon first look, it looks more like a very, very, fashionable version of the (and I’m dating myself here) Montrail Rogue Racer from 2010. It’s like a New England fashionable version. I’m not knocking Tracksmith here, but when I saw it, that’s where my mind went, and I can’t unsee it. It’s definitely a far better shoe than the Rogue Racer, rest in peace, my friend.

I didn’t get to log as many miles in these as I wanted, and part of that comes down to one of their more unconventional design choices: instead of using a traditional dual-density midsole, they use a single supercritical foam midsole and let the footbed insert act as the second foam density. For most runners, that’s probably fine, maybe even great. But my feet are flat as a pancake, and I need more supportive inserts, so my testing window was a little shorter than I’d hoped.

The same Eliot, just a little different

REESE: Still, in the miles I did run, a few things stood out. First, the comfort is exactly what you’d expect from Tracksmith. The Merino wool lining and collar feel like slipping into their Brighton base layer, soft, breathable, and naturally odor-resistant. My feet don’t normally sweat much when running, so I can’t validate the odor-resistant claim, though I bet there are some people out there who can. The upper lacks a lot of the stability and protection features I’d normally want to see on a trail shoe: A more robust toe protect material and some kind of stiffer or tougher material around the midfoot to provide a more snug, locked-down fit. This comes in handy on techy trails when you feel like you’re just bouncing from rock to rock. I recommend using all the lace eyelets to ensure a snug heel.

The Eliot Range uses the same last as their road shoe, the Eliot Racer, which means it has a bit more drop than many trail shoes: 9mm, with a 34.5mm heel and 25.5mm toe. This shoe feels a bit more road-oriented than trail in terms of fit and materials. Maybe light trails. The fit was snug throughout my foot, which I liked, but I wouldn’t say this shoe is built for the most technical of trails. It’s tough for me to comment much on the midsole (see above comments on my footbed swap), but based on my short time using it, this isn’t your next ultra trail shoe. I’d stay under a marathon with this one. I happen to like a responsive shoe with a rocker, and I found this lacked the pop that I typically want from a trail shoe. The midsole felt a little on the stiff side.

Boldly (almost) going

REESE: Clocking in at 9.9 oz for a US M9, the shoe is a decently lightweight trainer or even an all-around training and racing shoe. I have to keep in mind that this shoe is designed for New England running. Tracksmith isn’t shy about being hyper-specific about what terrain this shoe is meant for. Still, I wish they incorporated more practical design choices in the shoe for more all-around usage.

As it stands, it feels like the perfect fit for being a terrific gravel road or smooth singletrack trainer, which is on brand for the New England vibe. But if you’re in the back country of Colorado, you might need a more robust shoe. Vermont country roads, here I come. More like, maple creemees, here I come… Am I right?

The full-length injected nylon plate does a great job of taking the sting out of rocky terrain without being overly harsh. The Vibram XS Trek Evo outsole has solid grip on most mixed surfaces I tested. That being said, the outsole was dicey on wet technical sections. I slipped on wet trail obstacles (wooden steps/rocks). I think this shoe is better suited for dry surfaces. Again, see my gravel road comment above.

I’m not ready to say this is my new go-to trail shoe; it hasn’t earned that yet, but for a first crack at the category, Tracksmith built something that is true to their brand. They built something sleek, comfortable, and fully trail-capable. If Tracksmith plans to incorporate more of the rugged mountain terrain into their next iteration of the shoe, a more durable upper and outsole would be welcomed. I’ll be curious to see where they go from here.