Dynafit Feline EVO Ghost Trail Runner Review

Why we like it Grip and agility excel for technical terrain and aggressive mountain running.

Performance Like to go fast on rough trails? The Feline EVO Ghost dominates the pack in terms of agility. Our staff photographer lugged more than 30 pounds of camera gear (though we recommend carrying no more than 20 pounds with this shoe) on a four-day trek to Petra, Jordan. “Despite the heavy load, I could speed-hike ahead to catch shots of the crew, moving fast and never stumbling,” he says. On trail runs in Colorado, sans pack, he loved the speed and nimbleness, floating on the airy EVA midsole and the trim outsole.

Grip Blocky square lugs grabbed onto slickrock, talus, sand, and gravel. “The Felines scrambled with the best of them in Jordan, even rivaling some of the sticky rubber approach shoes worn by others,” he says.

Protection A toe bumper and the thin-but-effective rand, which wraps around the perimeter of the shoe, fend off sticks and stones. The abrasion-resistant, ripstop nylon upper is tough yet surprisingly breathable.

Fit The toebox is roomier than the previous generation of this shoe, which helps accommodate trail swell. “They fit my slightly wide feet amazingly well,” our tester says.

Fave feature The outsole is sectioned into pads in the heel and forefoot that react independently to trail surfaces and impacts, giving a responsive ground feel.

$130; 1 lb. 2 oz.; m’s 7-13, 

w’s 5-11; dynafit.com