ROUGH AND STABLE
Meet the grizzly bear of trail runners. The XT Wings are tough, unstoppable in rugged terrain, and, best of all, faster than their heft suggests. A broad heel base and medial pronation support provide stability on both flats and descents, while the pull-cord lacing delivers a snug fit for tricky footwork. With a stout toe guard and reinforced synthetic exoskeleton integrated into a breezy upper, this shoe is protective but not stifling. The outsole is not as grippy as others in its class, though, and its habit of collecting mud on wet trails—as one tester discovered on a soggy run in northern Mississippi—is its only failing. 12.6 oz; salomonsports.com