Back in November UK Gear kindly sent us a pair of XC-09 Cross Country running shoes to review over the Winter. After miles of mud, rocks, rain, sweat and tears here is what we think.
XC-09
The XC-09 has been designed to provide sufficient cushioning, support and protection for modderately rugged trails and this is reflected in its construction. It possesses a Duo Mound compound to prevent over pronation, a reinforced midsole, an arch bridge and a generous foam midsole.
The Fit
The U-Heel and the EVA sockliner ensured a snug fit. However, you do feel like you are wearing a weighty piece of kit and instantly relise that the XC-09 is certainly not built for off road speed.
Performance
If we were to list our ideal requirements for a cross country shoe they would be; protective, grippy and lightweight. You want to feel like you are off-road and that your feet are safe to power you up, over and through the terrain. Unfortunately for us the XC-09 only managed to meet one of these requirements and when the rain arrived they left us sliding around the Cheshire countryside with what felt like weights on our feet.
The XC-09’s coped well in the dry conditions, however in the wet the raised foot position and lack of grip around the outside of the forefoot meant that cornering or running on a camber was almost impossible.
On a positive note, the XC-09’s are robust and pretty water proof and we can see why the German Military are so happy to wear them!
Conclusion
We recommend the XC-09 for bigger runners who do most of their off-road running on groomed or moderately rugged trails, they are also perfect for the occasional off-road “plod” or a slow long jog / hike. However, if you like to get off-road for a quick blast or want a performance trail shoe then look away.
Overall we would give the XC-09’s a 6.5/10.
