MudGear Trail Socks Review

I have been on the search for the best trail running socks in preparation for my first ultra-marathon that I am training for, the Salmon Falls 50k (Folsom, CA) on February 25^th.  I ran across a company called MudGear.  Their products are built in world-class manufacturing facilities and their gear has been designed by legends in the industry.  The idea began using the name F3, which was named after a group in Charlotte, NC that met to do outdoor, military-style boot camp workouts.  They started by making gear for that group.  The company grew into making apparel for people who did Obstacle Couse Racing (OCR).

They wanted to make strong gear that could hold up to the tremendous stress that OCR puts on clothing and other gear. Their first custom product was the MudGear Fitted Race Jersey.  It took several tries before getting the fit and feel right because they wanted a shirt that didn’t become saturated with water and mud.  They went into production in 2012 and their items started to hit the shelves in late 2013. 

Their socks were designed to stand up to the longer distances of OCR and adventure racing.  They are made to handle mud and full submersion into water but not slow you down.  All of their products are made to last, but still remain comfortable.  I just finished testing the MudGear Compression Obstacle Race Socks and ¼ Crew Trail Socks. 

I have tested several compression socks over the years and have yet to find a pair that doesn’t make my feet blister or feel overly compressed.  That is until I ran across the Compression Obstacle Race Socks from MudGear.  They are not only comfortable, but they don’t compress my feet too much, and I have never had a blister or hot spot in them, which is usually a problem when I trail run or run long distances on the road. 

I know they are made for the mud, but they work in normal conditions too.  The Compression Obstacle Race Socks are made with 168 needlepoint compression and use a tougher yarn for a superior sock that will help you perform at your best while being tough enough to handle whatever stands in your way.  There is a built in layer of padding on the lower leg and calf to protect OCR participants against rope burns and other injuries.  That could be beneficial for trail runners when a rock gets kicked in your direction, or in my case, when I get tired and kick my own leg.  You can get your pair of Compression Obstacle Race Socks for $35 at the MudGear website.

The ¼ Crew Trail Socks are sold in a pack of 2 pairs for $27 and you can get them in Black/Orange, Grey/Black, or Grey/Green.  They have a high, quarter ankle that keeps debris out of your socks.  They are awesome for running in wet conditions and even if they get wet, they tend to feel dry.  MudGear simply made an awesome sock in the ¼ Crew Trail socks at a great price.  I am a true fan.

A few weeks back, I went out on a trail run to test the Salomon XA Alpine Shoes and the MudGear Compression Obstacle Race Socks.  It was raining fairly hard and the trail was rather muddy.  I was about 3 miles into the run when I found a great creek.  I step into the creek to test out how waterproof the shoes were and I quickly felt water gushing into the shoes.  I guess they weren’t waterproof, oops.  While the Compression Obstacle Race Socks were soaked, I never felt that squishing feeling I get with most wet socks. Within a mile, the socks felt completely dry (even though they weren’t).  Now that’s an awesome trail sock!

Pros:

Awesome fit

Excellent breathability and moisture wicking

Compression works to help fight fatigue

Dries quickly

Great price (compression $35, 2 pair of trail socks $27)

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I love both the Compression Obstacle Race Socks and ¼ Crew Trail Socks from MudGear.  They not only are extremely durable, but comfortable as well.  They are one of my favorite socks and I have found myself grabbing them for every run lately.  It doesn’t matter if I am running 20 miles, hitting the trail, or a short tempo run, these socks are perfect for any occasion.  The price is decent and they should last for quite a while.  The ¼ Crew Trail socks are not only my go-to trail sock, but I will be using them for almost all of my runs.  Give them a try and let me know if you come to the same conclusion.

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.

Salomon S-Lab XA Alpine Shoe Review

If you are into mountain sports like skiing, boarding, or mountaineering, you’ve probably heard of Salomon.  Born in the French Alps in 1947, Salomon has made products that portray their passion for the progression of mountain sports.  They are always striving to provide great new products with top quality materials and manufacturing technologies.  Their brand has grown to cover mountaineering, hiking, skiing, boarding, and trail running.  Salomon is really popular with ultra and trail runners because of the comfort and durability of their products.  I reviewed the following products from Salomon in the past and have been really impressed with everything I’ve tested (click on the links below to read my reviews). 

Park short sleeve tee

Sense Pro 2 trail shoes

S-Lab X-Series shoes

S-Lab Hybrid JKT

S-Lab Exo Tights

S-LAB Sense Set Vest

S-Lab XA Alpine Shoes

The S-Lab XA Alpine Shoes are a shoe and gaiter built into one unit. The inner shoe is very similar to the Sense Pro 2 trail shoes I tested in the past. The big difference is the gaiter that helps to keep snow, mud, and other debris from getting in your shoes. 

I have tested other completely waterproof shoes from other brands in the past.  I would stand in a creek and see if they are indeed waterproof.  The XA Alpine shoes are not listed as waterproof, but they sure look like it.  The website lists it as having a “water resistant textile” and the zipper looks like it has taped seems.  It was raining when I tested these shoes for the first time and the trail was rather muddy.  I was about 3 miles into the run when I found a great creek.  I step into the creek and all of the sudden, by feet start to get wet.  I guess they aren’t waterproof, for what it is worth. 

The gaiter is breathable and zips up on the side.  You simply put on the shoes and use the awesome Quicklace system to tighten your shoes in one easy pull.  There is a pocket in the tongue for you to store the extra lace.  Then you just zip up the gaiter and you are ready to go. 

My favorite feature of the XA Alpine shoes is that it provided the most grip of any shoes that I have tried on trails.  There were some really muddy areas and I could see that most other people were slipping in the area.  I ran through that section with no slipping at all.  In fact, I didn’t slip one time, the whole 12 mile run.  I am thoroughly impressed with the Contagrip outsole.  I ran both on and off the trail and felt confident that the shoe had my back (or feet).  It was designed for superior traction in wet and muddy conditions, and it definitely passed the test.  The protective toe cap did a great job of protecting my toes from those “toe grabbing” rocks. 

The XA aren’t an ultra-plush shoe, but do provide enough cushion to make your run enjoyable without making them unresponsive.  This is made to be an alpine shoe.  It can handle running on and off trails as well as on some very rocky areas.  The XA Alpine shoes felt lighter than they really are (350 grams or 12 ounces) and provide plenty of protection.  There is a protective ankle pad and the gaiter seems durable enough to be able to handle scrapes from jagged rocks as you are running.

The shoes have a midsole height of 22mm in the rear and 16mm in the front, which gives them a 6mm heel drop.  The XA retails for $250 on the Salomon website, which is a little pricey but if you run off trail and want to skip having an additional gaiter, these are a great choice.  I was able to find them on Amazon in my size for $187.39 with free shipping and returns (for Prime members). 

Pros:

Awesome fit

Built in gaiter keeps out snow, mud, debris, and some moisture

Excellent breathability in the gaiter

Fairly Lightweight (12 ounces)

Amazing traction in wet and muddy conditions

Quicklace system

Very durable

Cons:

The retail price of $250 can be a little much (but you can find them cheaper)

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The XA Alpine shoes, like Salomon’s other products has left me utterly impressed.  I am always blown away with the level of innovative technology, comfort, and materials and this shoe is no exception.  While it isn’t completely waterproof, it is water resistant and can handle any terrain you throw at it.  Give some Salomon gear a try and see what you’ve been missing.  I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.