Our Verdict

This shoe strikes an interesting balance of having sturdy protection underfoot—thanks to a hard plastic rock plate sandwiched between the outsole and the midsole, and remaining relatively lightweight. The rock plate stops jabs from poking through the outsole, but hinders the flexibility of this shoe a bit. We didn't mind that, however, as the lightweight shoe flexes enough to climb steep trails and run comfortably on flats. It's a supportive shoe, with nice cushioning around the heel collar, and traction from multi-directional lugs on the outsole made us feel sure-footed on all sorts of terrain. And since the Mountain Masochist is still lightweight and well-cushioned, it's an extremely versatile shoe.

REASONS TO BUY

Protection and traction in a relatively lightweight shoe

REASONS TO AVOID

Doesn’t flex as well as others

As of July 2015, the Mountain Masochist is Discontinued

Our Analysis and Test Results

Traction

Multi-directional lugs grip the trail whether you're running uphill, downhill, on slick or dry surfaces. The lugs achieve traction without being too bulky and protruding hugely, which is a bonus when you're running on smooth trail and even road.

Cushioning

For how nimble this shoe feels, it has a surprising amount of cushioning. The midsole softens the blow of pounding out mile after mile, but doesn't feel too squishy for a responsive ride.

Protection

A hearty toe cap protects from kicking a rock or stump, and a flexible rock plate underfoot stops jabs from poking through the outsole.

Stability

Rather unique to a trail running shoe, the Mountain Masochist has a medial post in the midsole which helps stave off pronation.

Weight

This shoe achieves a lot in a relatively lightweight package. We'd even wear it in a shorter trail race.

Flexibility

The Mountain Masochist flexes well at the forefoot for a smooth gait overall. It's a tad stiff torsionally, but we think that helps with stability.

— Chris McNamara

Montrail Mountain Masochist Review