Ultrarunners are a special breed of athletes with particular needs. Not to mention an insane amount of calories and upbeat playlists, these long-distance fiends require dynamic shoes that can accommodate swelling, offer consistent cushion and response, and won’t break down mid-race. Launched in April, Mount to Coast is inventing tech to serve this nuanced niche.
And although they’re new to the scene, they’re not inexperienced. Footwear knowledge runs deep among former Nike, Brooks, and New Balance shoe experts on the R&D team. They’re based out of Hong Kong, where they’re vetting products at an in-house Run Research Lab.
So far, Mount to Coast has dropped two models: First is the R1 ($160), a shoe that’s optimized for long-distance racing on roads with adjustable laces that let runners recalibrate fit as their feet expand. Then there’s the S1 ($150), designed for long-distance training with a focus on durability and longevity to help prevent overuse injuries common among runners.
Already, the shoes are setting records. This spring, British ultrarunner Justin Montague reportedly wore a single pair of R1s to run from the northern tip of Scotland to the southern tip of England in a multi-stage ultra race called the JOGLE. In 17 days, he ran 854 miles in the Mount to Coast model, shaving 40 hours off the previous record and breaking each day’s individual stage record. Photos of the shoes don’t show them as wrecked as I’d imagine.
As a noncompetitive, everyday runner recovering from sprained ankles (yes, both of them), I wondered if the shock-absorbing midsole, made from a material originally used in F1 race car suspensions, could help me bounce back faster. I’m not an ultrarunner, but even over a few miles, I could use some extra adjustability and support when my ankles inevitably balloon.
Yeti Zhang, Mount to Coast's Head of Product, says that even though they’re building shoes tailored to the ultra running community, other runners aren’t excluded. “We’ve made shoes that function at a high level for everyday runners logging high-mileage training weeks or athletes who want their shoes to last longer before breaking down and needing replacement,” he says.
Since the launch in April, I’ve been running shorter distances in my S1s (my R1s are still in their box until I can ramp up my mileage again). I’ve noticed more consistency and stability in my footfall and rebound, with no drag or clunkiness tripping me up. My knee and ankle pain is still a bother, but that’s likely due to me skipping my stretches and not the shoe. Mileage-wise, I’ve logged only about 100 miles on roads in these, meaning they have plenty of life left.
Aesthetically, both shoes are strikingly sleek, offered in black, white, or black and white. Given that conversations about color palettes eat up designers’ time, this limited range allows Mount to Coast to focus on performance over trendiness. Zhang says that the brand’s simplicity was inspired by the minimal ink and rice paper of Eastern Asia’s Zen Buddhist landscape paintings.
In the tranquil yet bustling lab (which, by the way, is open to the public), runners, scientists, and students work in harmony. “With a reservation and a stated purpose, they can utilize our facilities for free,” Zhang says. They even provide a free training/running gait check for students.
Technologies born in the lab that are unique to Mount to Coast shoes include GoFlow, the midsole geometry that supports a natural stride; ZeroSag, the shock-absorbing midsole insert that offers energy return at any temperature; LightCELL, a PEBA-hybrid midsole compound charged with pure nitrogen that’s 50 percent lighter than EVA midsoles; and TUNEDFit, a dual lacing system that allows the forefoot and midfoot to be adjusted separately.
Later this year, Mount to Coast will launch a second everyday long-distance trainer focused on stability for runners who overpronate. Then in 2025, runners can expect two more models: a trail-focused ultrarunning shoe and one with a midsole made from biodegradable material derived from organic waste. Both are being put to the test right now by a team of ultrarunners.
Published 08-14-2024
