First Impressions & Use Case

I bought these from a local sports shop, which I always try to do when I can. At the time, I hadn’t really come across ON as a brand. Now you see them everywhere — mostly on the high street rather than the trails.

Back then, though, I was looking for something quite specific.

A hybrid.

Something that could handle a bit of road and a bit of trail — the kind of mixed terrain most of us actually run on.

When I tried them on in the shop, they felt great. Comfortable, snug, and promising. They seemed like they might do exactly what I needed.

So I bought them.

And then I took them somewhere that would test that idea properly.

The Nantlle Ridge in Snowdonia.

Performance on the Run

If you’ve been to Nantlle Ridge, you’ll know it’s not just running. It’s scrambling, climbing, wet rock, mud — proper terrain.

To be fair to the shoes, they handled parts of it reasonably well.

Grip was generally good. On rock and drier trail sections, they felt stable enough. For something that isn’t a full trail shoe, they held their own.

But the issues became obvious quite quickly.

The biggest one was stones.

Small stones constantly getting lodged in the sole. Not occasionally — regularly. It became one of those frustrating stop-start runs where you’re constantly having to clear them out.

Then there was the water.

Conditions weren’t great, but these seemed to make things worse. The uppers didn’t deal well with wet ground, and once water got in, it stayed there. My feet were cold and wet for most of the run, and the shoes didn’t seem to drain particularly well.

On proper trail terrain, that’s a problem.

What Works Well

Comfortable fit straight out of the box

Good heel cushioning

Solid grip on dry terrain and rock

Snug upper keeps grit out

Versatile enough for light mixed terrain

What Could Be Better

Stones constantly getting stuck in the sole

Poor performance in wet conditions (cold, wet feet)

Laces are frustrating — thin, slippery, and come undone easily

Difficult to get on due to attached tongue

Limited cushioning under the forefoot

Energy & Feel Underfoot

Underfoot, these are a bit of a mixed experience.

The heel cushioning is good — comfortable and forgiving, especially on harder surfaces.

But the forefoot feels much firmer. There’s less protection there, which becomes noticeable over longer runs or rougher terrain.

The overall feel isn’t particularly smooth or balanced. It’s not uncomfortable, but it never quite feels like it’s excelling in any one area.

Practicality

Getting them on is harder than it should be. The attached tongue creates a snug fit, which is good once you’re in, but getting there often requires a bit of effort — sometimes even a shoe horn.

The laces were a constant frustration. Thin and slippery, they regularly came undone mid-run, which quickly became one of the most annoying aspects of using the shoe.

One positive is that the snug fit does help keep grit out from the top, which is useful on mixed terrain.

Who Are These For?

These could work well for:

Shorter runs on dry mixed terrain

Light trail use

Everyday wear and casual use

Less suited for:

Wet or muddy trails

Technical terrain

Longer runs where comfort and consistency matter

Runners looking for a true road-to-trail hybrid

Verdict: Would I Use Them Again?

No — not for trail running.

While they felt great in the shop and handled parts of the terrain reasonably well, the issues added up. Stones in the sole, poor wet performance, frustrating laces — all things that take away from the experience.

Interestingly, you rarely see these on the trails now.

But you see them everywhere else.

And that probably says everything.

For me, this is a shoe that belongs more on the high street than on the trails.

Final Note

As always, this is based on my experience using them on my terrain.

Your experience may be different — but for me, as a road-to-trail hybrid, they didn’t quite deliver.