Montrail Bajada II - Women's Review

Name: Montrail Bajada II - Women's
Brand: Montrail

A traditional trail runner best for those in search of great foot protection and a narrow fit

montrail bajada ii for women trail running shoes review — Montrail Bajada II
Credit: Montrail

View at Montrail

Price: $110 List

Manufacturer: Montrail

By Amber King ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Oct 2, 2016

OVERALL
SCORE

Foot Protection - 20% 8.0
Traction - 20% 6.0
Stability - 20% 7.0
Comfort - 20% 6.0
Weight - 10% 7.0
Sensitivity - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

This Version of the Montrail Bajada is Discontinued as of May 2017

REASONS TO BUY

Protective

Durable

Quick to dry

REASONS TO AVOID

Lacks sensitivity

Bulky

Stiff

The Montrail Bajada II is a workhorse, perfect for long distances and moderately technical trails. Most similar to traditional trail runners like the Asics Kahana 8 and the Brooks Cascadia 11 - Women's, this shoe hosts a rigid midsole and protective cushioning throughout the shoe. In exchange for this protection, it sacrifices weight and comfort. Its traction is decent, but is limited to moderately technical trails and doesn't do so well on snow. Its narrow toe box is also confining for some, and best matched with a narrow foot. That said, we liked its great breathability and affinity to dry quickly. If you're a lady in the market for an ultra-protective, traditional trail runner who is willing to compromise a little on weight, this may be your perfect match.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Bajada II isn't anything special. It stands out for its protective midsole and traditional ride, best for narrow feet and moderately technical trails at best.

Performance Comparison

montrail bajada ii for women trail running shoes review - the montrail bajada ii is a great traditional trail runner. — The Montrail Bajada II is a great traditional trail runner.
Credit: Amber King

Foot Protection

The Bajada II is the workhorse of the Montrail trail line, featuring fantastic foot protection all around. This traditional trail runner is loaded with fluid foam in the heel and throughout the midsole, providing a protection from all trail hazards. The mesh does a great job at keeping any kind of particulate matter out of the shoe while the hard toe cap prevents against stubs. Even though this shoe scored high in this category, it wasn't as protective as beefy maximalist options like the Hoka Speedgoat and Hoka Challenger ATR 3 - Women's. In addition, this shoe doesn't integrate a rock plate, which we didn't think it really needed anyway.

montrail bajada ii for women trail running shoes review - the toe cap and cushion in this shoe provides decent protection from... — The toe cap and cushion in this shoe provides decent protection from the trail.
Credit: Amber King

Traction

Featuring a Gryptonite outsole with a variety of square lugs, this show performed middle of the road performance for traction. Since the lugs aren't particularly deep or well spaced, it isn't the best option for super steep or slippery terrain. When testing on snow, we found it did not grip well at all. However, we found it did perfectly well on less steep terrain where the terrain was moderately technical.

montrail bajada ii for women trail running shoes review - the lugs on this tread design are cuboidal. though it sticks well to... — The lugs on this tread design are cuboidal. Though it sticks well to well groomed surfaces, we learned it didn't do the greatest on loose terrain.
Credit: Amber King

Take it with you on nicely groomed trails and dirt roads. But leave it at home when planning a mountain summit or technical descent.

Stability

With a heel-toe drop of 10 mm, this shoe feels traditional. The heel is the most cushioned of any trail runner tested which takes away from the lateral stability of the shoe on technical, loose, and rocky terrain. Again, this shoe is truly best for neatly groomed surfaces.

Comfort & Fit

The Bajada II provides decent comfort with its fluid form midsole. The shoe isn't soft or plush, but feels rigid and lacks flexibility throughout the midsole. It also does not become more flexible upon break-in.

montrail bajada ii for women trail running shoes review - the uppers are comfortable and fairly breathable. — The uppers are comfortable and fairly breathable.
Credit: Amber King

If you're looking for a more flexible shoe with a similar design, check out the Asics Gel-Kahana 8 - Women's instead. It also provides quality breathability, however the uppers are a little thicker than most. Save this shoe for cooler days, and strap on a more breathable option, like the Saucony Peregrine 7 - Women's, on hotter days. This shoe features a traditional ride with ample heel cushion, and is a perfect option for narrow-footed heel strikers.

The fit of the shoe is best for narrow feet. The toe box is narrow and confined, allowing little to no toe splay. Many of our narrow-footed testers loved this fit, while other wide-footed tested earned hot spots on edge of pinky toes.

Weight

Trading in foot protection for weight, this shoe sits at the heavier end of the spectrum. It weighs 10.8 oz per size nine shoe, making it one of the heaviest shoes tested. When performing the dunk test, we found it didn't hold as much water as others (just 3.2 oz), which is surprising considering the thickness of the upper material. In addition we found this shoe dried quickly after being soaked.

montrail bajada ii for women trail running shoes review - weighing in at 11.05 oz, this shoe sits a little on the heavy side. — Weighing in at 11.05 oz, this shoe sits a little on the heavy side.
Credit: Amber King

Sensitivity

In exchange for foot protection, this shoe sacrifices sensitivity. The thicker cushioning and rigid sole inhibits an intimate trail experience which some ladies love, but others don't. If you're looking for a similar ride with a little more sensitivity, check out the Asics Kahana instead.

Best Application

This shoe truly excels as a cross-over option. Long runs on groomed single track and dirt roads are a perfect use for this burly workhorse.

montrail bajada ii for women trail running shoes review - the montrail bajada is a great after work trail runner. best suited... — The Montrail Bajada is a great after work trail runner. Best suited for moderate to mellow terrain.
Credit: Amber King

Value

At just $110, this is one of the most affordable shoes tested. However, our past Best Buy winner, the Asics Kahana 8, provides a little better performance for just $85.

Conclusion

This traditional trail runner is perfect for narrow footed ladies looking for a protective and more traditional ride.

— Amber King