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I have been using the OMM Trail shoe for a couple of months now and have found them a comfy and versatile running shoe. It is always interesting to see a predominantly clothing and equipment brand like OMM venturing into the shoe market. On the outset it’s a risky business as shoe brands can take years of refinement and design to perfect a running shoe which is why we get constant re-incarnations of models. So coming in with a new shoe was an interesting move from OMM, but I have to say they’ve been very comfortable and offer plenty of support. As well as this Trail shoe they’re also releasing a Fell and Ultra shoe. The Fell shoe has a more aggressive sole and designed for more technical terrain and the Ultra shoe is unsurprisingly designed for longer distance trail runs.

I have been using the Trail Shoe on mainly short runs at the moment but they’re on mixed terrain. Commonly this means starting on tarmac and moving onto trail after a km or two. This always makes me nervous when buying running shoes as some dedicated trail shoes really struggle on harder, more abrasive tarmac and can cause wear on the sole very quickly. The Trail shoe features a Vibram Megagrip sole with fairly aggressive 4mm lugs. They have used what they call Wave Technology on the sole to improve the surface area contact and distribute the energy better giving a more stable, responsive feel underfoot. On the terrain I have used them on, they’ve been very comfortable and offer decent grip on wet, muddy ground. Over the 2 months of use, I haven’t noticed much wear on the sole as mentioned, this includes running from tarmac to trail so it is nice to see them coping with the harder ground.

My lunchtime runs usually include running along gravelly uneven terrain and the Trail shoe copes with this very well. It features a forefront EVA rock plate embedded between the midsole and outsole and this really helps protect from the impact forces. The upper is made from ripstop nylon and reinforced with TPU overlays. It is a bit odd that the material is semi-transparent so if you’re wearing colourful socks you will see the colour though them. The material does feel a little plasticky and I have noticed they’re not the most breathable shoe however the ventilation holes in the tongue are a nice feature and certainly help.

The fit of the Trail shoe is quite narrow. I don’t think I have particularly wide feet, I’ve worm Scarpa and La Sportiva in the past however I did decide to go with the Regular Plus size. This is only a couple of mm wider than the Regular but they seem to be a good fit especially around the toebox which is always better to have a little extra space. This is more important on longer runs.

Overall I have so far found the Trail shoe a great, supportive fit and I am looking forward to trying them on longer runs as the summer comes in. Weighing in at 282g for the Regular Plus they sit alongside your established models such as the Speedgoat and Ultraventure. Although I was a little apprehensive of OMM going into the footwear market, I shouldn’t have been as the Trail Shoe has so far been very comfortable, stable and responsive shoe.

Nick Brown
Nick has had a love of the outdoors, especially the mountains, for over 20 years. His passion has led him all around the world on many multi-day treks and mountain climbs in the greater ranges. As well as experiences in harsh environments such as the jungles of Asia and South and Central America and the vastness of the Trans-Siberian railway. A qualified Mountain Leader, he spends most of his time exploring the Scottish highlands and wild areas bagging Munros. On top of this, he enjoys trail running and rock climbing and strongly believes any outdoor experiences are good experiences - no matter what the weather, especially for mental well-being and happiness. Read more from Nick Brown