The North Face Ultra Guide Review
For the trail runner that wants a serious trail running shoe that can handle pretty much any terrain, The North Face Ultra Guide trail running shoe is an excellent option. As you may have noticed, TNF is really starting to up their game when it comes to trail running. It’s hard to go to an online running website or read a running magazine without seeing a TNF advertisement. Yes, advertising helps get the word out, but more importantly making a quality product will get you a lot further and The North Face has done just that.
The North Face Ultra Guide
The North Face Ultra Guide trail running shoe weighs in at 9.6 oz. for a men’s size 9 and 8.3 oz. for a women’s size 7 allowing you to stay light on your feet, but still getting plenty of protection. The shoe has a 8mm drop, 16mm in the heel and 8mm in the forefoot. The drop in running shoes has been all over the map over the past few years, but the 8mm drop seems to work well up to this point. The North Face Ultra Guide is a trail running shoe that performs much better on the trail than it does on the road, it’s not a shoe that I would use a lot for an everyday road shoe, but it’s definitely a shoe I would wear for an everyday trail running shoe.
Shoe Upper
The upper on The North Face Ultra Guide is comprised of mesh for breathability and a synthetic material for upper structure and durability. The fit of the upper doesn’t go up too high on your ankle, which provides a better look and shaves weight, but if you need a lot of ankle support, you might want to look for a trail running shoe with a little more substance. I weight 171 lbs and I am 6’0 tall and I find this shoe to have plenty of support for me. On the inside of the upper, there is a smooth nylon like mesh material with additional padding around the ankle to keep your foot secure in the shoe while keeping you plenty comfortable. The tongue in the upper is angled towards the outer edge of the shoe which was a little odd at first, but after wearing the shoe for a few hundred miles on the trails, I didn’t really noticed a difference except that it makes it easier to slide the shoe on if you don’t tie your shoes every time you take them on and off. The lacing on The North Face Ultra Guide trail running shoe offers a little flare with two toned laces, but it’s also worth noting the shoe lace loops are doubled stitched so they don’t bust out. To keep sand, mud, snow, etc. from getting in between the tongue and the side wall of the shoe there is a piece of neoprene like fabric that goes up to the last loop of the lacing. The overall fit of the upper in this trail running shoe is very nice. There is plenty of room in the toe box to let your toes splay and the heel is snug enough to keep your heel secured in the shoe.
Shoe Midsole
The midsole of The North Face Ultra Guide trail running shoe is comprised of duel injected EVA which provides a cushioned ride on almost any trail surface. In the heel, there is an air pocket that cushions the impact if you’re a heel striker or are doing a lot of steep downhill running. In the forefoot of the shoe there is a rock plate that protects your feet from sharper objects like rocks and roots. I’ve been able to test these shoes out on a number of trail surfaces including dry rocky terrain, soft muddy and rutted out trails, single trail dirt trails, and your typical fire road terrain. While I enjoyed the single track the most with the Ultra Guides, or any trail running shoe for that matter, I thought The North Face Ultra Guide performed well on all surfaces. Keep in mind, there is no posting in the midsole, so this trail running shoe is best for the neutral runner.
Shoe Outsole
The outsole on The North Face Ultra Guide has held up well over a few hundred miles. On average, you’ll most likely get between 350-450 miles out of the outsole with good to great grip and then it will start to diminish faster as you tack on more miles. The outsole uses a pattern designed to climb on the forefoot and a reverse pattern on the heel for descents or downhills. The outsole was very grippy allowing me to spring from rock to rock without any worry of slipping. This however doesn’t stop you from stubbing your toe and tripping like I did once in these shoes (User error).
Overall impression
My overall impression of The North Face Ultra Guide trail running shoe has been very positive. The shoe feels very light on your foot and it has tackled any terrain that I’ve been able to throw at it. Overall, I am a big fan and I give the TNF Ultra Guide my stamp of approval. For more information, please visit TheNorthFace.com
MSRP $110
