ROAD-TO-TRAIL WONDER
Admit it: For most of us, the odds of running wilderness trails 100 percent of the time are about the same as the likelihood we’ll win the Leadville 100. Which is why the Wave Ascend 2 received high marks from testers who ran on a mix of trails, paths, and roads. It’s a high-mileage hybrid, with ample cushioning for hard surfaces but just enough protection to run mildly technical trails. “It feels as smooth as my road shoes,” remarked one tester after running loops on the hardpacked trails of Boulder Valley Ranch. For these reasons, as well as its “buttery-smooth heel-toe transitions,” several testers rated it the best do-everything shoe in our review. 12 oz; mizunousa.com
Bonus: Why don’t all laces have an hourglass design? The Ascend’s laces never, ever came untied.
Bummer: Wide-footed testers found the fit too slim.