Behind The Design - TRAILTALON

The new TRAILTALON footwear series features our most versatile running shoes ever. Carefully crafted to surf all of earth’s unpredictable terrains, they master soft mud as confidently as they tame hard trails.

The three models in the series are the TRAILTALON, TRAILTALON SPEED and TRAILTALON GTX.

Each shoe features our new anatomical foot-shaped design and enhanced locked-in fit. All share a grip pattern inspired by the hooves of mountain goats, while the underfoot foam gives a perfect balance of cushioning and ground feel. The trio boast protective uppers that flex and breathe for an overall feel that is fast, light and natural.

The TRAILTALON and TRAILTALON GTX are built the same, except the GTX includes a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane. The lighter TRAILTALON SPEED has less cushioning and a lesser drop, allowing the foot to sit closer to the ground for an even faster, more natural feel.

The series sits perfectly between the TRAILFLY (4mm lugs designed for hard trail grip) and the MUDTALON (8mm lugs designed for muddy grip). The 6mm lugs on the TRAILTALON shoes give them the versatility to tackle both hard and soft ground. True all-rounders.

But how did we design them? In this Q&A blog post we go behind the scenes with Graham Jordison, our Head of Footwear.

DESIGNING THE TRAILTALON

1. The TRAILTALON range replaces the iconic ROCLITE running series. What design DNA did you carry over?

The ROCLITE sole is where we’ve kept the DNA consistent but with some improvements, naturally. Lug shape, positioning, balance and proportions have remained similar to ensure the continued optimal functionality of a true all-round trail shoe that is as capable in the mud as it is on the road.

2. There are three shoes in the TRAILTALON range. What are the design differences?

The main difference between the TRAILTALON and the TRAILTALON SPEED is the midsole. As the name suggests, we use a lower stack and profile for the Speed with a more stripped-back upper to reduce weight and performance for when racing. The GTX uses the exact same specification and pattern as the TRAILTALON with the obvious exception of the breathable waterproof membrane.

Birds eye view of shoes on a table above sketches and plans

3. Which element of the TRAILTALON range design did you enjoy the most?

I really enjoyed looking at how to integrate the engineered mesh upper. By having zonal areas of protection and breathability, I was able to keep the overlays focused on the toe-bumper and the lightweight structural support of the MET-CRADLE. The result is an optimal performing shoe that works not only for soft trail but is a really good all-rounder.

4. The 6mm lugs are shaped like the hooves of mountain goats. Why is this?

Cloven hooved mammals have an almost finger like dexterity. Their split hoof combines a hard outer shell with soft inner pads that provide excellent traction in their precarious habitats. By adding this feature we feel that we have been able to improve upon the classic ROCLITE lug design.

Mountain goat inspired lugs on the TRAILTALON

5. Did you use any influences from outside the running sphere in the design?

Aside from the sole unit development being inspired by mountain goat hooves, I wanted the upper of the TRAILTALON to be somewhat evolutionary and keep the DNA of the previous models. The main focus was therefore around keeping it lightweight, breathable and protective.

6. How did you decide the amount of foam cushioning to include?

We have a somewhat modular approach to our sole units which means we can fine tune the drop and stack to the required end use. For the midsole, we are using our POWERFLOW PRO compound which provides a really responsive ride. When utilised on our lower stack shoes, this allows the runner to really feel the terrain underfoot. Too much stack in trail can lead to instability.

7. What is it about the design that makes the TRAILTALON shoes so versatile to run in?

The proportions and balanced positions of the lugs mean they are perfectly capable both on and off trail. The cleats have a relatively large surface area allowing them to grip well on smooth surfaces yet not too much so that they are still able to dig through softer ground.