Montrail Streak Review
As a long time Montrail wearer it’s been interesting testing the latest models to bear the name. The Streak’s are a lightweight trail runner complete with Montrail’s traditional leaning towards blending performance with comfort and protection.
The upper is mostly mesh with a support structure that ties into the laces and this actually does pull the shoes together for a nice snug fit as well allowing quick draining and giving reasonably quick drying. The tongue has a bit of padding for instep happiness and the laces are stitched intermittently to give them an uneven profile and help stop wet laces slipping out of their knots, tripping you onto your face and making you buy Salomon’s the next time. I’m not joking either, Montrail laces have always been pish.
There’s Montrail signatures here, the look is right, there’s proper toe protection with a big rand and some stiffening and the giveaway that it’s a Montrail is a sturdy heel construction.
The heel is the beefiest part of the shoe, both upper an lower. The philosophy they seem to follow on most models is to make the heel a pivot about which the foot and leg do their parts from a point of stability. The uppers are always strong here and there’s rarely much flex around the heel on the sole unit no matter how flexible the front of the foot area is. This might feel unusual or disconcerting for some, but for me it works (after initial misgivings in a pair of Leona Divides) and I think it gives great stability and confidence on the roughest of ground.
Also, internally they have some shaping which, while not as severe as an insole, contours around your foot giving something of a sock-like feel. Some folk hate all this, and indeed the whole heel area and general construction quirks that run through the range means that some folk just can’t wear Montrails. I like the fact that all this remains, it means that new owners Columbia haven’t diluted the brand and gone for mass appeal madness.
Montrail sole units are often hit and miss, shallow treads on waterproof models, the softest compounds on backpacking models and such, but the Streaks have a cracker.
The tread is aggressive with deep scalloped areas and a mix of shapes and angles, and it’s moulded in a sticky compound for the best possible grip over ultimate longevity.
I’ve found grip on everything except greasy rock, so they are pretty much fit and forget when you’re out on the hills.
At 348g per shoe they’re plenty light enough to run in, but are foot friendly enough to wear all day whether your walking, backpacking and I think they’d be a great race shoe.
So where do they sit on my graph of shoe perfection? The Salomon XA’s are my eternal benchmark trail shoe and on the comfort axis they sit at a wonderful 9, the Streak’s are slightly behind at 8. On the grip axis the XA’s are workable 6, but the Streak’s are at an impressive 8. That’s all relative to my feet though, which is a bugger, I know.
Will I buy a replacement pair when the soles of the test pair wear out? Hell yes.
Long time reader, first time replyer.
From a choice of the Streak or the Fastpacker GTX, which would you plump for as a lond distance walking shoe?
JT
That’s an interesting question, and I think it would come done to your priorities.
On my feet the Streaks are more comfortable than the Fastpackers and I’ve worn them more for that reason. The Streak’s grip is better, but at the cost of longevity of the sole. For that reason, if it’s a very long distance the Fastpacker might be better, as well as it being waterproof.
If it’s a trail in a wet climate and you’re looking at mud and bogs the Fastpackers, or if the trail looks dry enough or drains well and you’ve got spare socks and a chance to wash and dry them, then the lighter and bettre ventilated Streaks are a winner.
If I was doing the West Highland Way again at the same time of year I’m pretty sure I’d chose the Streaks over the Fastpackers.
A pair of feet being used to carrying a load with the flexibilty over many miles is a factor as well if chosing the Streaks. Right now, I’d have to get some miles in to tune my feet back up after wearing beefier mids and big thick socks over the last few months.
That’s not really an answer is it!
But, if I had to chose a pair to keep out of the two shoes it would be the Streaks.
Petesy
Thanks again,
JT
Let me know how you get on.
PTC* – I also bought a pair of the Montrail Mountain Masochist trailrunner as a replacement for my Montrail Vitesses (my all-time favorite hiking shoe). The Masochists are amazing! You MUST try them. I thought nothing could replace my Vitesses- the Masochist may be better. Montrail is definately back!
I was talking to Montrail earlier in the week and I won’t get Mountain Masochists to test until late July. You got me all upset now!
I’m lucky that they mostly fit my feet!
The Steaks are now edging the Salomon XA’s out as my all time favourite shoe :o)
[...] the trail shoes I am looking to get a pair of Montrail Streaks, as reviewed by PTC on his excellent blog. I love Montrail shoes as they do half sizes and they fit me really well. I [...]
that’s that sorted!
I managed to find a pair of Streaks on-line for £32.50 in my silly size of 7.5
:)
Good lad Moggy, that’s the stuff I like to hear :o)
I suppose the rockridges may be meant to be a replacement? At least the jawbone looks amusingly odd :)
But, it’s not as bad as I’d feared. They’re still not pushing the brand over here, but I’ll see if I can get some test kit in.
I tried these on in a store today and they fit OK. I’m looking for some lightweight footwear for this summer as I’m going to try and cross the Pyrenees from coast to coast. That’s a distance of about 850 kilometres and I’d hate to stand there on day 20 and have to go home because my feet have been killed by my 850 grams per foot, stiff Lowas.
I got those after reading a magazine that shall remain unnamed when I got into this. I’ve done two big trips in them: 200 and 250 km respectively and, while I had no blisters, my feet were very painful by the end. There’s a trip report on that second trip at http://www.elrincondeltrotamundos.com/
It’s in Spanish so just flush it through google translate and read some very bad English…
Anyway my question is do you think these will go the distance? Trail condition will be mostly dry and rocky as I’ll be on the Spanish side. I’m mostly worried about the sole wearing out prematurely.
Cheers,
Len
The Streaks are supposed to be an endurance-distance shoe and they’ve been my most-worn shoe of the past couple of years on every surface and weather that Scotland’s got. Mine are looking a little tired now, but are still completely usable.
850km in one go? I don’t know, knowing the shoe it’s the one I’d chose to wear myself, and they should go the distance. That’s a tough one to say yes or no to.
Can you leave spares somewhere?!
Just two questions. How many miles would you say you have on your pair? And am I right thinking the sole unit will be the first thing to go?
I’m afraid I can’t leave spares anywhere. For one thing that would sort of break the budget. For another I’m sure the store has only one pair in my size.
I could perhaps arrange for my Big Boots to be ready to be shipped. I know from experience that it takes 4 days for priority mail to get to Salamanca (near Portugal), extrapolating from that it should be 5-6 to some pyrenees village. The problem there is that would be near the end of the trip in Cataluña which I expect to be the hottest part.
You say they should go the distance: I’m gonna take that as “bar some really mean behavior or really sharp rocks they’ll make it.” I know they wouldn’t make it through 800 km of limestone but the Pyrenees are mostly granite.
Thanks again for your insights.
There’s no burst stitching, no frayed fabric, there’s quite heavy creasing on the midsole with some spots of damage where I’ve scraped them on rocks and one corner of the outsole has started to peel away a little.
I fully expect to get the whole summer out of them again, but no more than that.
Funny, the similar and more popular Mountain Masochist just doesn’t feel as good on my feet. The Streaks really are on the money for me.
I can only find the Streaks online so will not be able to try them on first. My Salamon XA Pro’s are a size 10 so was hoping that a size 10 in the Streaks would fit – but as you appear to have both I thought it worth asking before I order.
Great blog by the way :)
I got the same size in Steaks as I did in XA’s, a UK9. The Streaks are maybe a little bigger, but both shoes fit me really well.
I know it’s a gamble ordering footwear without trying, but the Streaks really are a brilliant set of shoes.
let me know how you get on.
By the way, on a similar note do you have the Salomon Quest 4D fabric boots and if so did you get the same size as your XA Pro shoes or did you go up a half size? I thought you had a review of the Salamon Quest’s somewhere but can’t seem to find it now!
Thanks again
I got the same size as usual in those, but they are quite neat, thin socks only.
I’ve had a look at the new trail shoe based Salomon boots and I like where their going, but I do wonder if the ankle is a bit high for me?
I’d love to test some, but there’s been a bit of politics at play and Salomon aren’t speaking any more :o)
[...] been back in trail shoes, and not a moment too soon. My first choice were my well-beaten Montrail Streaks, and oh did it feel right. Montrail sent me a couple of new models last week, but they were Size [...]
[...] trip last week had some gear stuff that raised an eyebrow. On my feet were my #2 pair on Montrail Streaks, out of the box and onto the trail. There were fine too, bless them. Also on the feet were some [...]
Looking forward to hearing all about it.