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The North Face Ultra Gore-Tex XCR Trail Running Shoe - Men's
The North Face Men's Ultra XCR GTX Running Shoe caters to runners unafraid of tackling trails in less-than-pleasant weather. Snow, rain, slush, sleet…none of it stands a chance against the Gore-Tex XCR waterproof breathable membrane and synthetic mudguard. Scree gaiter (sold separately) attachments allow you to keep going in even the most miserable conditions. Regulating your foot temperature is an Outlast footbed. Outlast prevents overheating and sweating by absorbing excess heat, then releases that same heat when the temperature drops to maintain a comfortable, consistent temperature inside the shoe. Trail-ready features include a de-coupled heel, reinforced toe cap, and a TNF trail Grip rubber outsole for maximum traction. Now fits true to size!
$109.95 
The North Face Ultra Gore-Tex XCR Trail Running Shoe - Mens
Great shoe. This is my 2nd pair, I previously had the older generation version. The big selling point for me was The North Face built in mechanism to connect optional mini-gators. After wearing, very comfortable and perform quite well in wet trail conditions and even in the sunshine. They have a reputation for being small so I ordered .5 size larger and they were still too small. My normal shoe is Saucany and always 10.5 fits me. I bought The North Face and 11 is too small. I recommend 1 size larger than your normal shoe, especially accurate if your sizing is based on Saucany.
Good Shoes
These shoes are great. They are comfortable, and the quality of materials is wonderful. The waterproof Goretex liner is nice, but not quite as breathable as the lower model The North Face trail running shoes. If you really need breathability, the XCR liner doesn't quite cut it. It's breathable, but not as much so as mesh. All around great shoes though.
Great shoe...but developed a squeak
I love these shoes...although they developed an annoying squeak about a week into wearing them all day, everday. They keep my feet dry in a variety of conditions. Have gotten a little damp inside under very heavy rain/downpour conditions, but I would think that is to be expected. Good support and good traction on all terrain. As far as the squeak goes- I think there was a small defect with one part of the sole. Only one shoe was affected by this. Other than this slight fault these are a great pair of shoes.
Woods walking
I work for a lumber/forestry company. I walk on uneven and rugged land all day long and this shoe is great. I have tried other brands of trail shoes and none have held up in so many ways. Quality of the stitching, the tread, the GoreTex. The ability to add the gaiter to the shoe did help me keep many things out of my shoes. The only thing it took me a while to get used to is I would pull the laces too tight. They go so far to the sides of the shoe, when very very tight they sometimes can feel like they're digging into the top of your foot. I however need a very tight-fitting shoe for the land I walk.
Awesome Trail Running Shoes
These North Face shoes prove that all trail shoes are not created equal. I have owned a lot of trail shoes over the years, but nothing approaches these TNF XCRs! As an exclusive trail runner, I demand a lot from my foot gear. The rocks, roots, felled trees, brooks, mud, snow, rain, and scree make it difficult for my shoes to celebrate their six month birthday. The tread grabs the earth like tiger paws and breeds confidence as I motor up a mountain trail covered with freshly fallen snow. I'm so glad I purchased the custom made gaiter too. They do an amazing job of keeping debris and snow out. Recently my poor shoes were so muddy, that I went into the company shower shoes and all to clean them off. (I know that sounds weird, but no one was around.) The gaiter and shoes managed to stay water-tight like water off of a duck's back. Heed the advice to purchase a half-size larger. Normally I'm a 10 and I'm so glad I purchased 10.5. They fit perfectly. I called North Face and talked with a product specialist. She concurred that several runs of this shoe do run a half-size smaller.
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Training Tips
Low weight, high rep circuit training combines the best of both worlds: aerobic and anaerobic training. Keeping the rest time in between high repeats low excercises like bench press, leg presses, inclined sit-ups, and upright rows is the key to maximum benefits.
As a long distance runner, a gradual increase in distance each week will allow you to build a solid areobic base. Distance increase should be no more than 10% of the previous week's distance.
When buying a new pair of running shoes, bring your old ones with you. You will get a better fit if you know if you supinate or pronate.
Heart monitors are useful for knowing when you are in the right zone for your training efforts. If you understand what your maximum heart rate is, you can set up your monitor to beep at you when you exceed the high or low range of your heart rate for the type of workout you are doing.
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