Mount to Coast M1: New Endurance Shoe Battles Tough Terrain with Comfort

When Mount to Coast hit the scene two years ago, its R1 road and later T1 trail shoes turned heads. They looked good. They were, and still are, comfortable, durable, sticky, able to handle long distances. The new M1 trail shoe should be yet another fine addition to the company’s strong lineup.

The M1 has a couple of noticeable upgrades from its T1 cousin, notably a higher stack and more cushion. The C1, similar to the R1 road shoe, are low-profile with rock-root-ouchie protection but not much cushioning. Both are rugged. The C1’s luggy traction is solid on dry or wet trails. Likewise, the R1 wiggle-waffle sole offers super grip on wet roads.

Now, the M1 offers more. Some might say, “Ehhh, it’s like the …” and name a brand and model. That’s fine. Comparisons are made willy-nilly about shoes, and other products. I’ve been trying the M1 for a couple of months on trails, doing yardwork and in some everyday situations. They also got a workout during the sweltering gravel-fest of In the Heat of the Night last weekend.

Verdict? The new M1 definitely is worth a look.

More Stack, Cushion

The M1 weighs 9.7 ounces and has a comfortable fit along with a smidge wider footprint, all of which are helpful from start to finish.

One big plus about Mount to Coast shoes is its “TunedFit” lacing system, a dual design so you can customize the fit. The three-eyelet are over the toebox has a cinch cord lace with a pinch-lock plastic clip. The three eyelets over the forefoot have a regular lace, which when tightened actually stays tight dry or wet. If you want a loose toebox and tight forefoot, the opposite, or tight or loose for both, it’s easy to fix or adjust. In the midst of an ultra or longer event, when swollen feet are an issue, this dual-lacing system can help.

The M1 has a stack height of 38mm in the heel and 34mm in the forefoot. That 4mm drop may not sound like much, but it’s just enough of a sweet rocker effect to be noticeable. The 4mm lugs provide great grip and security on varied terrain, wet or dry, and the duable Vibram sole resists jagged, pointy and sharp stuff that hurts. They’ve been put to the test earlier this year by MtC runners at Cocodona and Western States.

New to the M1 is its Jetcell midsole material, what we runners would call “the cushion.” It’s in the Goldilocks category: just right. It’s firm without being too hard, and soft without being a smooshy marshmallow. But it has enough smoosh to be comfortable on the first, 31st or 91st mile. Like the rest of the M1 components, it’s tough and durable for miles of training and racing.

Mount to Coast uppers have a comfortable, breathable and tough fabric that withstands sweat and the elements. Whether you prefer a snug or loose lace, the upper moves well without hot spots or chafing. I’ve had no issues with things like seams or “oohh, that’s not good on my …” whatever. The cuff has just the right amount of padding, too, and I’ve had zero issues with any hot spots or blisters on my heel.

The shoes drain well and dry fairly quickly; any shoe in the Southeast summer heat and humidity will take a little more time, of course. A Peet dryer is a great addition to help keep shoes dry and free from stinky mildew and bacterial gunk. Dry shoes plus clean feet means fewer “WTF is that?” questions about your toes or skin.

MtC C1 Road

The M1 follows the debut earlier this year of the C1 road shoe, which is similarly built for multiple, comfortable miles of training and racing.

It has a dual-layer midsole of CircleCELL foam with a rubberized support layer. The foam is a bit similar in energy return to the PEBA-based superfoam Nike introduced in 2017. But the CircleCELL has about double the lifespan, which is nice. For training and racing, and even everyday wear, the C1 shines. They have a similar design to the new M1, along with the dual-lacing system and comfortable upper.

I’ve enjoyed running in the C1 so much that I bought a second pair. Mount to Coast is gaining recognition among everyday runners, too. I’ve had a few people ask me in local events how I like the C1, and Saturday night at In the Heat of the Night two more asked about the M1.

If you’re looking for something new, I highly recommend both for road or trail.