Rossignol Vercors Shoe

In my sampling of Rossignol’s technical/distance shoe, the Vercors, I didn’t pull any punches. Right out of the box, I took ‘les bleus’ up the West Slabs of Mt. Olympus to see what kind of confidence they inspired in consequential and exposed terrain. Two days later, I ran them for 20 miles on an off-trail, scrambling adventure through dense scrub oaks, mud, snow and loamy soil in the Session mountains just north of town. I’ve run them in my neighborhood, on gravel roads and of course on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

The Pros

All told, I think Rossignol made a thoughtfully designed shoe that can eat up a lot of miles with some technical application to boot. At a similar price point to the Lone Peak and the Speedgoat (and designed for similar use) the Vercors strikes me as the higher performing option, especially as the trail gets tougher. The fit feels more specific (works best for a lower volume, narrow to medium width foot with plenty of shape) that gracefully balances good structure with flexibility, perhaps due to the plate made from DIAPAZON, a kevlar-like material. I have found the upper to be sufficiently protective, burly, and breathable without being stiff or irritating. There is ample cushioning for the standard trail, but I have never felt like my sense of the ground was dulled. Many of the smaller design choices, like the distinctive heel horn, thoughtfully improve the functionality and ease of use. This shoe is a highly capable generalist.

The Cons

Relative to its competitors, I think there are a few issues worth highlighting. I thought the Duragrip was somewhat lacking – especially on my ascent of West Slabs,- and navigating wet rock would certainly leave something to be desired (acknowledging that this is not what they are designed for). Additionally, on some of the most rugged and rocky trails, I thought that there could be better protection right at the interface between the midsole and the upper, and particularly the instep of the foot felt a little vulnerable to hazards. Finally, this shoe is not going to work for every foot.

The Skinny

At only $160, the Vercors feels and runs like other more expensive options. Relative to those pricier choices, it might not last as long, but for the average user and the average trail, it would run well for a long time and is a great value choice. Notably, I think the average user could also push it harder than its competitors, into more technical terrain, with more confidence.