The North Face Hyper-Track Guide (Spring 2013)

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9.4 ounces / 8mm drop / $120

 

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The Dirt: The North Face Hyper-Track Guide is designed as a versatile hybrid shoe, offering enough cushioning to handle the roads and enough tread to eat up trails.

The seamless upper minimizes hotspots and breathes exceptionally well, with supportive TPU-welded overlays for lateral support on uneven terrain.

With no rock plate, the low-riding Hyper-Track allows plenty of “ground feel”—perhaps too much so on extremely rocky trails—but most testers praised its agility.

Best For: Fast training runs on mild terrain—or for when you have to pound a little pavement on the way to the trails.

Traction:
Low-profile lugs are particularly suitable for smooth trails.

Fit: The neutral-cushioned Hyper-Track is built on a curved last that suits narrow to medium-width feet well. While the toebox is spacious, the shoe runs snug through the arch and mid-foot.

The Downsides:
As a hybrid, it compromises a little performance in both arenas—testers found it a bit stiff on the road, a little lacking in traction on more technical trails.

Tester-Monial:
“On smooth trails and wet pavement, the shoe provided adequate traction without being bulky.”
—Aimee Brown, Crested Butte, CO

www.thenorthface.com

Check out the other 10 shoes in our Spring 2013 Shoe Review.

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