Tecnica Magma Review

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Tecnica released a new trail shoe back in the Spring, that claimed to address and offer a better solution to the multitude of people that use trail running shoes to hike. The challenge with using a trail running shoe for hiking is that most don’t provide enough grip or support, which can lead to slips, fatigue, and even injury. The Tecnica Magma is said to bridge the gap between a trail running shoe, hiking shoe, and approach shoe. Let’s dig into the details and find out if the Magma is that shoe that covers that spectrum.

Fit of the Tecnica Magma

The Tecnica Magma’s upper and footbed are pre-shaped around an anatomical last that delivers a nice fit and feel right out of the box. The lightweight construction of the Magma combined with a classic tongue design enables an easy and fast step in and provides comfortable midfoot support with an excellent heel hold. If you are coming from an Altra shoe you will notice that the toe box of the Magma gives a bit more of an anatomically snug fit, but still offers enough room to be toe friendly. In terms of sizing I found that the Magma runs true to size. When one is hiking or running on technical and variable terrain there is a certain level of comfort and secure foot hold that is expected from a trail shoe, and if you can’t get that right out of the box, the C.A.S. (Custom Adaptive Shape) system can be used, which further molds the shape of the shoe to your foot. For me the fit right out of the box was exactly what I was looking for, so there was no need to use C.A.S., but it is nice to know that is an option that can be taken advantage of.

Grip on the Tecnica Magma

When encountering varying terrain in the Tecnica Magmas, the underfoot outsole supplied stellar traction. Tecnica equipped the Magmas with Vibram Litebase™ technology and MegaGrip™ compound rubber that wraps the upper at critical abrasion zones, providing grip, and durability not just underfoot but also at the toe and sides. This uniquely designed multi-traction outsole tread pattern, which was inspired by MTB enduro tire designs, offers the confident adhesion that I appreciate on wet and dry surfaces, whether I am going up or coming down.

Performance of the Tecnica Magma

The Tecnica Magma thrives on technical terrain, making easy to navigating miles in good time even when you aren’t too sure where the hiking ends and the climbing begins. Its stable, supportive construction pairs a sturdy, strong ventilated 3D mesh upper with a large heel shape that provides great stabilization when hiking or running downhill. The two rubber fins on either side of the back of the Magma provide excellent braking on descents. While the compression molded midsoles let my feet flex freely when navigate irregular ground. Rocky sections were no match for the Magmas and didn’t slow me down thanks to the ESS SHANK which controls torsion and the rock plate that protects the forefoot. No matter how long I was on the trail, the anatomically shaped footbed and energetic EVA cushioning gave me an untroubled and lively ride.

Specs on the Tecnica Magma

• UPPER: Ventilated 3D mesh
• LINING: Breathable mesh liner
• MIDSOLE: Compression molded EVA with high rebound compound
• FOOTBED: Anatomical, Pre-Molded, EVA
• LUG HEIGHT: 5mm
• DROP: 8mm
• OUTSOLE: Vibram® Megagrip™ Litebase™ XO SHIELD
• WEIGHT: Men’s 310gr (8UK / 9US) // Wmn’s 270gr (5UK / 7US)
• SIZES: Men’s 7 – 14.5 // Wmn’s 5.5 – 10.5

Final Thoughts on the Tecnica Magma

With the speed of a trail runner and the stability of a hiking boot, the Tecnica Magma sits right in the middle in terms of powerful stability and comfortable lightness and is a fabulous choice for covering long hiking distances quickly. This shoe is crafted with a breathable, lightweight design that lets you hike quickly and efficiently. Its supportive midsole and impressive lugs offer the traction that you need on tricky terrain, and a protective forefoot plate that will shield you from sharp obstacles on the trail. Even though the Tecnica Magmas won’t replace my trail running shoes or hiking boots for full load pack carrying, they do hit a sweet spot from me in the fast hike category – perfect for tackling the trail in a hike/run fashion when the legs aren’t feeling up to a full on trail run.

MSRP $140 For more information on the Magma or other Tecnica products visit www.rei.com/tecnica.