A background note before we dive into the shoes. I run between 2,000-3,000 miles per year and I rotate my shoes. Since April, 2025, 90% of my runs have been done in Mount to Coast shoes.
Mount to Coast R1 Intro
The Mount to Coast R1 is the brand’s flagship road ultra shoe, built specifically for the long haul on pavement and multi-day efforts.
At roughly 8.5 oz (240 g) for a men’s US 9, it pairs a nitrogen-infused LightCELL midsole (claimed 50% lighter than traditional EVA with meaningfully higher energy return) with dual-zone ZeroSag inserts that resist compression even after hundreds of miles.
An 8 mm drop (35 mm heel / 27 mm forefoot), wide toe box, and the signature TUNEDFIT dual-lacing system let you independently dial in midfoot lockdown and forefoot volume as feet swell. The double-layered Jacquard upper (40% recycled polyester) stays breathable and adaptive, while the lightweight CPU outsole prioritizes durability over pure grip.
Positioned for races of 100 km and beyond (and paces roughly 6–13 min/mi), the R1 has already racked up serious ultra credentials, including multi-day stage records and high-mileage efforts where the midsole still feels consistent deep into the distance.
It’s not a max-stack carbon racer; it’s a purpose-built, highly adjustable tool for runners who need comfort and reliability when the miles add up.
My R1 Review
The Mount to Coast R1 is a lightweight road ultra shoe built for long efforts and everyday speed work. At about 8.5 oz with an 8 mm drop, it combines a responsive LightCELL midsole and ZeroSag inserts that hold up over high mileage. The wide toe box and TUNEDFIT dual-lacing system let you fine-tune fit as your feet change.
For me, it is rare to find high-quality shoes that need no break-in. The R1s were incredibly comfortable right out of the box. I am able to blast through my speed workouts in them… I actually have difficulty pulling my pace back sometimes to the prescribed pace because of how lively the shoes feel. I love having that problem.
As I write this review, I probably have over 1,000 miles in the shoes and I hardly see any wear, they have held up well. It is important to note that I take very good care of them. I only use them on road and sidewalk, and I try to avoid anything that will get them dirty. In general, I am gentle with my run gear, so it lasts longer. – This doesn’t mean that I don’t train hard because I definitely do!
If I ever race in Badwater 135, I would take the Mount to Coast C1s and R1s.
Mount to Coast T1 Intro
The Mount to Coast T1 is the brand’s first dedicated trail shoe and a natural evolution of the same long-distance philosophy that made the R1 stand out.
Clocking in at about 9 oz (255 g) for a men’s US 9, it features a responsive LightCELL midsole, a low 4 mm drop (36 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot), and a refined TUNEDFIT dual-lacing system with two independent cinch cords per shoe so you can adjust forefoot and midfoot separately.
The upper is a high-performance woven fabric reinforced with aramid (Kevlar-style) fibers for durability and abrasion resistance, paired with a quick-drying, anti-siphon tongue.
Underfoot, a Vibram Megagrip outsole with Litebase technology and Traction Lugs (4 mm depth) delivers confident grip across technical terrain while keeping weight in check.
Designed for technical trail running, hiking, and ultra racing, the T1 aims to feel light and nimble without sacrificing the all-day comfort Mount to Coast is known for, especially useful when feet swell or conditions change over long efforts.
My T1 Review
The Mount to Coast T1 is the brand’s nimble trail shoe (light, grippy, and built for technical terrain and long days).
I am a fan of how light the T1s feel. Their Vibram Megagrip gave me a lot of confidence through winter and early spring, when the trails were a mix of ice, snow, and mud. I also like being able to adjust the lower and upper parts of the shoe separately. That mattered on a Rabid Raccoon training run, where I learned I needed to tighten the toes for the steeper, rocky downhills.
I feel closer to the ground in them, which is something I like. I like being able to sense the ground.
It took a few months to break the T1s in the way I wanted. I had to be patient because I really wanted to try them at Rabid Raccoon 100. As the race got closer, I was not sure they were fully 100-mile ready. Weeks before the start I decided to wear them for the whole 100 and pack two backup trail shoes just in case.
I was incredibly happy with my 4th-female finish and 100-miler PR. The mud got worse as the race went on, but I stayed confident in the T1s. There is also a stream you cross eight times, and the shoes held up through that too.
My feet were the most wrecked from the combination of being wet or damp the entire race and the steep, rocky downhills. Two of those downhills are no joke, especially late in the race. Everything hurt, and I suffered through them. My feet kept sliding forward into the front of the shoes.
Maybe I could have tightened them more for those descents? Maybe that is just part of racing ultras? I lost four toenails, two on each foot, and the left side of my right big toe had a line of blisters. Other than that, I suffered well, and the T1s did their job.
The fabric on the back of the shoe has rubbed the back of my heel, not always, but sometimes. It may depend on the sock. I mostly wear Injinji. The black fabric tore on both shoes, so I can see the cushion underneath. I’ve seen this happen with many well-loved shoes, but I figured that it is worth noting.
I will be using them again at Rim to River 100 in October 2026. If I have any updates, I’ll let you know!
A final thought on these, I wish they had a way to secure a gaiter (I have ones from Altra Running) to them via velcro. I only wear gaiters during ultras, so this is one thing that I didn’t trouble shoot before wearing these to Rabid Raccoon. I used safety pins to secure the back and tucked the front under the cinch cords. That plan still worked, this was just something that I wanted to mention.
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Dang that’s sweet you’re up to 1000 miles in them and they’re still feeling well!
Yep, I’m a fan of them, and thanks for commenting, Coach Kyle!