By: Greg Toman. As the owner of Australia’s leading adventure racing equipment store, ARea51.net.au, I have researched and personally tested more than a dozen models of trail running shoes with very mixed results.

Some of the features that we searched for in a shoe included; comfort, fit, support, room in toe-box area, protection under foot, protection around the sides, sole grip and ability to last. Shoes that scored well in these areas were not only suitable to the demanding conditions encountered in adventure racing, they were also an ideal shoe for trekking and general bushwalking.

We often found that shoes that were comfortable from the first wear did not provide suitable support and therefore lead to ankle and knee problems. Shoes that were light-weight did not provide the protection required underfoot and around the toe area and would only last a hand full of races before falling apart. Those with a narrow/small toe-box area lead to blisters on the outside toe, lost toe-nail on the big toe and general pressure on the foot due to swelling feet. Shoes marketed as being quick-draining and providing ventilation usually lead to the wearer suffering blisters do to dust, sand and other small particles entering the shoe and creating friction on the skin. I have experienced and witnessed people sliding and slipping on various terrains and under a variety of conditions due to their sole design. This has even lead to competitors removing their shoes to improve personal safety.

I have recently had the pleasure of testing the CÀRN Viper eV and have been impressed with m any of its features.

The shoe is designed for comfort but not at the expense of support. You notice from the first wear the level of cushioning in the heel and forefoot and the prominent heel support provided by the external TPU heel cradle. This support offers the wearer ankle protection necessary to safely negotiate off-road terrain.

The next noticeable feature of the Viper is the level of protection provided to the bottom of the foot along with the efficiency of the forefoot flex and the weight transfer from heel to toe.

While an issue with lightweight trail running shoes is ‘stone bruising’ on long sessions, the Viper eliminates this issue completely with their impressive sole design.

The uTRX compound used on the sole definitely provides good grip on all surfaces and is very durable even when clocking the miles on hard surfaces such concrete or bitumen. This type of use generally wears down the sole on trail running shoes extremely fast.

The upper section of the shoe is ‘bombproof’, it provides maximum protection to the wearer in all the right places, has a very clean and streamline design and look. Excellent workmanship is evident throughout the entire shoe and this appears to be a rarity these days.

The waterproof / breathable feature of this shoe may be looked upon as a negative by some in adventure racing due to swimming and coasteering disciplines in some races, however I am a huge advocate of this type of shoe construction. This feature alone contributes the most to the prevention of blisters . The eVent fabric helps prevent small particles of sand, dust, dirt entering the shoe and impregnating the socks or floating between the sock and the inner shoe. It is the absence of these particles that heavily assists in the prevention of blisters when operating off-road. The same feature also prevents the absorption of water from dew, rain or snow thereby keeping the feet warm and dry when it counts.

The CÀRN Viper eV comes in whole and half sizes and easily caters for those with broad feet. The toe-box is very generous and allows for swelling of the feet, which occurs with any shoe when they are worn for a period of time.  For those who wear orthotics, I had no trouble fitting full length orthotics and maintained the roomy feel of the shoe.

I am keen to test the CÀRN Viper eV on my next trip on the Overland Track in Tasmania next winter. I am confident that it will hold up extremely well in the wet and snowy conditions.

I believe that this shoe is ideal for hiking, trekking and adventure racing in off-road conditions. They would be great for such trips as:

• Trekking in Nepal
• Kokoda Track (PNG)
• Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro
• Overland Track (Tasmania)
• Trekking in New Zealand
• Larapinta Trail

Due to the shoe’s design and appearance, it can easily transition between off-road to walking around town. A very versatile, robust shoe.

Product Link : VIPER eV