Is it April already? Winter still has a tight grip in the Wasatch mountains, but the typical signs of spring have sprung at lower elevations. Days break earlier and are accompanied by pleasant birdsong as the soundtrack. Our weekend runs are lengthening and race dates are looming, so it's time to present SkyRun's 2025 season preview! This is what we're noticing as new trends and gear for your mountain running adventures.

You’re Off Yer Rocker - Rocking started with chairs, and that technology eventually trickled into skis and trail running shoes. Flat outsoles with a skosh of rise in the toes were the standard, but lately, shoemakers are integrating this curving magic into their trail shoe lineups. What was utilized to put babies to sleep now provides runners with quicker turnover and impressive efficiency. Rocker in trail running shoes imitates the foot and ankle's natural shape and movement, reducing unwanted pressure points. Since it naturally complements your stride, you can stay out longer. Other benefits from this simple shape are lessened pain in the heels, hamstrings, and hips. Amazingly, it’s also known to help with plantar fasciitis and Morton’s neuroma. Those are compelling reasons to consider getting your rocker on and rocking out. La Sportiva’s hot Prodigio Pro is almost a textbook example of the ideal amount of rocker. Rossignol dove headfirst into the trail racing scene with their 50k-ready Vezor and Normal’s Kjerag Brut is ready-made for the wet and the muddy. New to the US, but no stranger to the mountains, is the Swiss-engineered X-Bionic Terraskin X00/C. The X00/C has the rocker your grandpa would be proud of and a carbon plate that'll turn this rockered wonder into a rocket.

Tagged Products: NNormal Kjerag Brut, X-Bionic Terraskin X00/C, Rossignol men's and women's Vezor, La Sportiva Prodigio Pro

Instinctual Carry Systems - The general consensus is that running belts are used for short outings and packs for more involved efforts. Raide and Instinct produce unique running belts that fit as well as they function, and their intuitive design will excite most. More folks are running ultra races, which continue to lengthen and multiply. With additional race miles often comes additional mandatory gear, which leads to larger packs. What is carried on a trail marathon will differ quite a bit from one of the many two and three-hundred-mile races popping up. New to the USA, Instinct Trail from the Alps offers a complete line of one-size-fits-most running packs with the same general layout, so switching from 3.1 to 40 liters is as instinctual as it gets. Trail racing rookies and the crustiest seasoned athletes will find the ideal pack for 10k trail races or a multi-day stage race in the sands of the Gobi desert. Black Diamond’s Distance 15 simplifies things with one large pocket in the rear and a traditional running vest setup in the front.

Tagged Products: Raide LF 2L Running Belt, Instinct Packs, Black Diamond Distance 15

Baby’s Got Lower Stack - High-stack shoes for Ultra-distance running have been de rigueur. With emerging technologies, however, shorter stacked footwear can offer the same cushion and protection as their taller counterparts. Less shoe means less weight, and less weight means winning races, right? Right. Different manufacturers utilize different approaches to keep comfort up while getting the user closer and more connected to the trail. With only 29mm underfoot, the Speed is Altra’s newest shoe in their Mont Blanc line. Altra EGO MAX is used around the perimeter for extra cushioning, and their EGO Pro is used in the core for lower weight and greater speed. Norda is thinking out of the box with their 28.5mm stacked 005, which uses a newer material called Arnitel, known for its superior energy return, but it’s also longer lasting and more sustainable than traditional materials. SCARPA’s much-anticipated Spin Ultra 2 with 28mm of stack goes in the direction of a Super Critical TPEE foam for high-mileage runs and races. Whatever technique is implemented, having better cushioning and ground feel while dialing fatigue down will make the long summer miles even more enjoyable.

Tagged Products: Altra Mont Blanc Speed, norda men's and women's 005, SCARPA men's and women's Spin Ultra 2,

The Right to Chews - Fueling for mountain trail running and endurance efforts is shifting toward science-based recipes. Of course, there are gels and drink mixes, but there are also oat bars, nougats, and, yes, even chews, which are all optimized for absorption and performance. Whether it’s the standard 2:1, or 1:0.8 glucose-to-fructose ratio with high or low-carb offerings, fueling is faster working, longer lasting, and easier on the digestive tract. “Science first, never second” firmly places Neversecond in the engineer's seat of the 2:1 science train. Precision Hydration also adopted the 2:1 ratio across their line, and CARBS gels as well. Carbs Fuel's drink mixes, AMACX’s Turbo products, and all of our Maurten fuel have a 1:0.8 ratio, which is believed to provide even greater performance benefits and less strain on the digestive tract.

Tagged Products: Precision Hydration, Neversecond, Carbs Fuel, AMACX Turbo Gels, Maurten

The Trail Not Taken - The trail rarely traveled will eventually fade into nothing, or if you’re lucky, into several thousand feet of class 4 scrambling and snow-filled gulleys while headed toward unobstructed summit views. Spending extensive time off-piste will often leave the user wanting more gear, or more out of their gear. Specialty products for specialty surfaces offer an increase in confidence and a noticeable uptick in fun. Most manufacturers are content with keeping you on the path well traveled, but thankfully, some realize your desire to explore and have products to get you there. SCARPA and Salomon lead the footwear segment with the Ribelle Run 2 and the Alpinway and Skyway, respectively. Ready for all off-trail adventures, from scrambling to ambling or dangling, these shoes are great on trails, but start to shine when headed into the unknown. Depending on the climes of your playground, pointy things in winter and spring can be invaluable tools. DMM’s flux, a run-ready ice axe, and, while not new, Petzl’s Leopard Crampons are packable and light enough to bring on any outing where snow and ice are involved.

Tagged Products: Salomon S/Lab Alpinway, Salomon S/Lab Skyway, SCARPA Ribelle Run 2, DMM Flux, Petzl Leopard Crampons

That's all we'll spam you with this season! We appreciate you taking the time to read our 2025 season preview. If you haven't already, plan a trip to our SLC showroom and check out all this great gear in person. Thanks again, and remember, if you look good, you feel good and you run gooder!