Walsh Spirit Peak -
Review
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Price:
£70
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Weight:
660
grammes (pair 43)
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Features:
Lightweight trail-running shoe with full rand, fabric uppers,
dual density EVA midsole, Pyra Grip outsole, reflective trim on uppers
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What Is It
For?
Walsh is a renowned fell-shoe specialist, but for spring 2010, the
brand's introduced a range of trail-running shoes intended for use in
less extreme terrain like mountain paths. Walsh says the Spirit Peak is
'a lightweight trail running shoe offering high levels of comfort and
performance over longer distances'.
Technical
Lowdown
There's nothing particularly ground breaking about the Spirit Peak
generally, there's a dual-density EVA mid-sole with denser material
under the inside of the heel to promote stability.
The new Pyra Grip outsole is a bit different for a trail-running shoe
though. It's a development of Walsh's fell sole with distinctive studs
that look like wider and shorter, sawn-off fell sole studs and a tried
and tested rubber compound that's designed to give good performance on
both rocky and softer terrain.
How They
Performed
A lot of so-called 'trail running' shoes are basically beefed-up road
shoes with a slightly lower sole unit and midly up-toothed grip down
below. The Spirit Peak though comes at things from a different
direction and, as you might expect, is more of a slightly more
comfortable take on a fell shoe.
Compared to Walsh's fell kit, there's more padding inside for instant
comfort and more room in the forefoot, but still a good close heel fit
giving a feel of security and stability. The relatively low profile
mid-sole means your foot is closer to the ground than with many
trail-running shoes, meaning they feel very secure on rough terrain,
though there's still enough cushioning to cope with harder surfaces
when needed.
The outsole gives reassuringly brilliant grip on both soft terrain,
where fell-style sawn-off pyramids dig in nicely at all angles and on
rock, where the rubber compound sticks and grips nicely. The
combination makes for sure-footed running progress on both rough paths
and on open fellsides too.
They're definitely far more of a running shoe than a walking one
however. The sole unit allows a lot of forefoot flex and has less
torsional stiffness than most trail-running shoes and the thinner sole
unit is less of a boon for walking when a little more cushioning would
up all-day comfort.
The fabric uppers will let water in, but are nice and breathable and
the all-round protective rand does give some puddle-splashing leeway.
Good compromise between rough terrain sure-footedness and comfort, the
Spirit Peak shows its fell-running roots with a tenaciously grippy
outsole and low to the ground stance that makes it capable both on and
off the trail. It lacks stiffness and cushioning compared to some
so-called 'trail-running' shoes which makes it less attractive as a
lightweight walking option, but if you're after a halfway
house between a fell and trail-running shoe, it's a great choice.
Buy if
you're looking for a trail-running shoe with fell ancestry capable of
capable running performance on all but the very roughest terrain.
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Good grip underfoot on all terrain, sits close to the ground, secure
fit but still comfortable.
 Less cushioning
and stiffness than some makes it less suitable for lightweight walking
use.
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Performance
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Value
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