Comparison review: What are the recommended training shoes for Hasetsune? [Aim for Sub 10]

The Hasetsune season has arrived again this year! ~What is Hasetsune? ~

At this time of year, it is a little early for the mountains to begin to turn color, trail runners are often seen on mountain paths in Okutama, Tokyo. The athletes who compete in the Japan Mountain Endurance Race (commonly known as Hasetsune CUP) held every year in mid-October are taking test runs.

Hasetsune CUP is positioned as part of training that is intended for attacking from the final camp in the Himalayas. This is a mountain endurance race that is one of the toughest trail races, with a total distance of 24 hours, a total distance of 71 km, a cumulative altitude difference of 4,800 m, and one aid station along the way is one of the toughest trail races, with only hydration of 1.5 liters at one location, and the athletes continue to drive through the mountains of Okutama all night to reach the finish line.

I participated in this race for the first time last year, and it was a truly trail running festival with 2,500 people of all ages and genders running all day and night. The race starts at 1pm, and by the time we pass the first hurdle, the area will be dark. I continue to run on a trail surrounded by true darkness, relying solely on the lights of my headlights that it makes it hard to tell whether my eyes are open or closed. Sometimes the beast's eyes glow, but the runners can't move due to fatigue suddenly appearing on the side of the road. This is really Tokyo! ? The sense of accomplishment when you run through an extraordinary world and cut the finish line inside the lit up is incredible.

And then there was a shocking fact I learned after the finish line. While many runners spend the night in the mountains, there are runners who return home on the last train. Before long, I began to dream of being the "sub-10 (finishing within 10 hours)" that many runners who appear in Hasetsune wanted.

Choosing shoes to achieve the "sub-10" dream of a Hasetsune runner

Your own training is essential to reach the sub-10, but equipment is just as important. Shoes are definitely the most important item. So, for the real show in October, we've picked out three of the best trail running shoes candidates. We thoroughly ran and compared each of them in daily training and chose the perfect pair for harsh races.

table of contents

• Regarding the items we compared and tested this time (trends and selection criteria)
• Test results and spec comparison table
• Evaluation results - Recommended by type

About the shoes we compared this time (trends and selection criteria)

This year marks the 24th time this year has been the Hasetsune, which has continued since the time when the term trail running was not yet common. The winning times, which were nine hours at the time, have been reduced year by year, and today the top athletes can run in just under 7 hours. In the background, you can't miss the dramatic evolution of various gears due to the majorization of trail running.

Every year, various companies release a variety of trail running shoes, focusing on stability and improving grip performance. As trail racing in general, not just Hasetsune, has been in the process of speeding up in recent years, models that are lightweight yet capable of running are becoming the mainstay. For example, even shoes with thick heels, like Hoka, look heavy, are surprisingly light by making the sole hollow.

Unlike races that run on paved roads such as marathons, trail races vary in distance and road conditions depending on the course. There are also races where more than half of the roads are paved, and there are many chain and scuffs, so there are many races where you can't run. In the case of Hasetsune, the cumulative altitude difference of 4,800m is not a waste, but rather a rapid climb and descent. Also, on ridge paths, there is a need for shoes that can run in. To do this, the comfort and lightness of the shoes are essential. These are also very useful when tracing target lines (landing points). This time, with the goal of running this Hasetsune in 10 hours, we selected our shoes with the following points in mind.

• Comfort creates a sense of unity between your feet and shoes with a comfortable fit
• "Weight" is essential for light foot movement and fatigue reduction
• "Grip power" that allows you to land safely
• "Protection" that relieves thrusts from the ground
• "Support = stability" to prevent shaking when landing or kicking

Test environment

The test was held during the day at the Hasetsune Course (Imakuma Shrine to Asama Pass) in early September. Due to the rain that fell the day before, I went alone in wet conditions on the road, changing three pairs in my backpack. Since all the roads are trails, we have not tried paved roads. For reference, my current running ability is 11 hours and 35 minutes at Hasetsune's best time and 3 hours at Full Marathon.

Test results and spec comparison table

Overall ranking	1st place	2nd place	3rd place
item	inov-8 TERRACLAW 250 MS	montrail men's fruid flex FKT	LA SPORTIVA AKASHA
Overall score (out of 100)	84	76	72
Reference price	17,280 yen	13,500 yen	18,144 yen
This is ◎	With its high grip and excellent comfort, you can ride on the trail freely	Flexible creates a lightness that feels like a road shoe	High off-run ability and protection give runners a sense of security
This is △	Low protection ability	Weak grip strength	Weight
Comfort (25 points)	24	19	15
weight (25 points)	23	23	12
grip (20 points)	19	13	17
protection (15 points)	8	11	14
Stability (15 points)	10	10	14
Specs
size	26cm	26cm	26cm
weight	284g	283g	321g
Upper fabric	Synthetic fiber/artificial leather/synthetic resin	Midfoot cage design using thermoplastic welding	Air mesh + PU leather + dynamic protection
Outsole	Rubber sole	Griptonite with 3-point lugs in the traction zone on the heel and forefoot. Trail shield on the forefoot.	FriXion XT + Trail Rocker System

Evaluation results: What I learned from trying out each shoe

inov8 TERRACLAW 250

The strongest pair of shoes to get sub-10 that can trace as you want, even on any rough road

The outer sole has sharp, pointed protrusions that look just like road shoes, despite its simple appearance, with no unnecessary elements removed, and the name CLAW (claw) is a perfect match for the name CLAW. The powerful grip created by these claws allows you to run stably from rough scuffs to slippery rocks. The thin, soft upper material fits around the entire instep, making the foot and shoes extremely comfortable to wear. However, the thrust when landing is reasonable, so its protection ability is not very high. It is also weak torsion resistance, so landing from an unusable system is prohibited.

The forefoot part of the inov8 shoes is made slightly wider, so you can naturally do everything from kicking off to holding on, and the sense of unity between the shoes makes it more like barefoot intuition.

There is also a higher-end model called the 225 (weighted by model name), which is even lighter than this 250, but the thinner sole leaves me feeling a little worried about the distance between the Hasetsune. Even at the 250, it is stronger than the Fluid Flex, which will be described later. In addition to being able to grip firmly when climbing and descent during the trial run, I was able to ride at speed without slipping on narrow trails that were sloping towards the cliff.

While it can be used throughout the course, you need to be careful of rocks and tree branches, taking into account the weak protection. Also, the thrust is higher than the two feet mentioned below, so unless you have a decent amount of legs, you may not be able to run in the second half.

The highlight of Hasetsune Konpira Ridge begins 10km before the finish line. If you can keep your feet this far, Terraclaw is a pair of shoes with the potential to carry you to the finish line at an extraordinary speed.

TERRACLAW 250

inov8

17,280 yen

284g

montrail men's fruid flex FKT

The flexible, light-hearted feel is perfect for those from roadsiders!

The softness of the shoes can be seen from the moment you take a step forward by tightening your laces. This softness, which is a characteristic of Fluid Flex, is the greatest weapon when running. On a ridge path, you can speed up lightly, just like you're running on a road, and in situations where you dodge twigs or stones right to left on the descent, you can land firmly at the target point and move on to the next move immediately. The faster you get, the more you have to instantly judge the next move, so it's a very important factor to be able to go as you wish. The inner sole is made of urethane that does not slip on both sides and sticks tightly, wrapping around the soles of the feet. There are very few reinforcement parts in the upper, so it is unlikely to have high protection. This is the point that I feel that compared to the company's Bajada, it places emphasis on the fact that Fluid Flex runs.

Looking at the outer sole, there are only block patterns on the forefoot and heel. Be careful when landing on the arch of a tree when crossing a tree root or protrusion, as soon as it reduces grip. This shoe is best to land flat all over the soles of your feet.

The grip performance is not that high, but once you get used to it, you won't notice the fact that it grips decently and slips moderately. This can also be considered a plus that it can be used not only on trails but also on roads. Hasetsune has a paved section of about 4km after it started, but if it gets late, you will be caught in traffic jams on the mountain path that follows, resulting in a significant loss of time. It's only 4km, but you can't underestimate it and run shoes are definitely an advantage.

Despite being lightweight and soft, Fluid Flex is one of its features, which means that it thrusts from the ground less than you would expect. By placing hard EVA on the midsole and EVA of different densities on the midsole, this pair of shoes is well-balanced, combining the lightness and support that are the latest trends.

Men's Fluid Flex FKT

Montrail

13,500 yen

283g (one foot)

LA SPORTIVA Akasha

Highly off-running and supportive, it is perfect for runners who are aiming to complete the race

The distinctive feature of this shoe is that it is extremely easy to run. The sides of the upper are surrounded by hard rubber from the toes to the heel, so it's not too hard to hit it gently against rocks or branches. Additionally, the thick, hard outer sole significantly reduces thrusts from the ground, making its protection capabilities outstanding. The ankle is also firmly fixed, so it has excellent support for twisting. As a manufacturer originally made mountaineering boots, this pair of shoes has generously put into its know-how.

The outer sole has deep, pointed protrusions that firmly dig into the ground, so you can safely entrust your body to your body on any road surface. During the test run, there were several times when he landed in an ineffective position, but he gripped firmly and had no side-slip.

After wearing it this time, I found it surprisingly useful: the grooves (trail locker system) located at the front and rear of the sole. The toes and tips of the heel are more like claws that are easier to grip, and even in situations where you float and climb with your toes, you can bite the ground firmly, allowing you to carry your body smoothly.

The Akasha's high grip performance is also useful when going down steep slopes. In Hasetsune, there are often steep slopes where you can slow down by holding your feet on the ground, but the strong grip allows for excellent braking performance, making effective use of the product.

This equipment costs a decent amount of weight, so it can be a bit stressful when you want to go lightly. When you run quickly and go down, you feel like you're a little late, and when you climb, you'll be aware of the weight of the shoes. However, due to its high off-road performance, you can run through the rough roads without being overwhelmed by it, so it may be easier in the event of long races.

Akasha

LA SPORTIVA

18,144 yen

321g (one foot)

summary

To run the Hasetsune in 10 hours, you need absolute speed. So, choosing lighter shoes is not that simple. It is not uncommon to see runners falling during a race on the trail, and it is rare for runners to run through a distance of 70km without staggering. Also, most of the races in Hasetsune are in the night section. If you rely on headlights to think about how far you can drive on mountain roads in the dark, you will no longer be able to ignore the protection abilities of your shoes.

Trail run has three elements: climbing, flat and descent. Someone who can continue to climb with their tough heart and lungs, others who are originally from roads and are extremely fast on flat roads, and others who are boldly attacked on the descent without feeling fear. By taking into account this distance, trail ratio, and your own running ability, you will be able to narrow down the most suitable shoes. Find out what part you are good at and where on the course you should attack. You can further develop your areas of expertise, or you can make up for areas of weakness with shoes. The pair you choose will make your trail running even more fun.

Tsushima Kohei

A runner who loves travel and nature. As I climbed the mountains everywhere, I walked all the way to Tibet to see Everest. I became a working adult and became addicted to running, which I started to relieve my lack of exercise, and was unable to satisfy myself in the full marathon and ended up running the Ultra Marathon (100km) and Ultra Trail (100mile). He is currently taking on the Grand Slam of a citizen runner (3rd marathon, 10th ultra marathon, complete the summit of Fuji Mountain Climbing Race), and is currently challenging domestic and international races to reach even greater heights! We post reviews of races and gears that we have run.
Blog: Because it is there

Looking for reviewers

Outdoor Gearzine is always looking for members who love the outdoors and would like to write reviews about outdoor equipment. For more information, please this REVIEWERS page !