First Look: Ampezzo Shoe by The North Face

First Look: Ampezzo Trail Shoe by The North Face
Weight: 9 oz (W’s); 11 oz (M’s)
Drop: 6mm
Price: $130
Best Features: Durable; comfortable cushioning; great daily trainer
Room for Improvement: Grip is not the best for mud and slick rock

The Ampezzo trail shoe (women’s version here) has a narrow forefoot and a medium-cushioned midsole that has an airy yet stable-feeling ride. The mesh upper was found to be durable during testing through prickly brush and felt supportive and breathable. With a 20mm stack height and 14mm forefoot, the shoe is middle range for drop—great for anyone wanting a balance between traditional and minimalist shoes. The dual-density XtraFoam midsole feels airy but was lacking responsiveness on aggressive downhills.

This shoe is pretty light for a trail shoe and, despite the moderate midsole, doesn’t limit proprioception over rocks and roots. The outsole features an ETS traction system which was great on dry trail, yet was not terribly tacky on mud and slick rock.

I am recently recovered from foot surgery and am an over-pronator with a narrow forefoot—I found the Ampezzo comfortable and secure. This shoe has become a go-to daily trainer for me.

—Kylee Van Horn, an avid road and trail runner lives in Carbondale, Colorado. She loves a good adventure, craft beer and talking about sports nutrition.