Mount to Coast C1 Review

Wilde Wednesday

Untamed Running Reviews by James Wilde

Mount to Coast C1 Review

Long time no see! It’s great to be back doing the reviews and I am pretty excited to start back up with this week’s shoe - The Mount to Coast C1. I was able to get my hands on a pair of these a few months prior to its release date, and once again, Mount to Coast has done something truly special. Let’s dive into this week’s review, and see what Mount to Coast has been working up in the lab.

-”Hey siri, play “Smooth Operator by Sade”- 

If you’re looking for a smooth, lightweight, and highly cushioned trainer, stop what you’re doing and keep reading… And if you’re not, you probably will be soon after reading this.

When I think of the Mount to Coast C1, the first word that comes to mind is smooth. Upon step-in feel, I found the shoe to be cushioned, but not overly spongy or soft. The next thing that I noticed is the more than ample space. The upper sits well over the foot without ever feeling tight, or the opposite, too baggy.  The dual lacing allows for you to really dial in the fit, and for me, has plenty of room for my aggressively high instep and plenty of space for my toes to splay. If you have a higher volume foot, or are on the wider side, this could be a great shoe for you and your daily miles.

The feel of running in the C1 is noticeably different from other shoes I have tried as of late.  I would describe the ride as “balanced” and “effortless.” When I start moving in this shoe, it feels incredibly balanced, not impeding my gait in any way.  The rocker is in the right position for my foot. It doesn’t feel like it is kicking my foot medially or laterally, making my footstrike feel effortless, like I’m floating over the asphalt. The top layer of CircleCELL foam (the same foam found in the incredibly popular H1 - which will be back in stock soon) feels magical. As I mentioned above, it is not super plush or bouncy, but plenty cushioned and feels smooth like butter (or margarine if that’s your thing). The C1 is a shoe built to be put on cruise control as you breeze through the miles day-to-day. 

This shoe is definitely best used for easy miles and longer runs, as it doesn’t feel very responsive. It picks up the pace just fine, but there are better options for faster mileage. One thing out of the many that I appreciate about this shoe is the lightness. It is so lightweight that you almost forget about it. If you’ve ever gotten shoes from me, you may hear me say, “You want a shoe to feel like an extension of your foot,” and that is exactly what the C1 is to me. All in all, I do think that Mount to Coast has another winner on their hands.

 For those who like shoes like the Hoka Clifton or Nike Vomero, the C1 is definitely worth a try. I would say it sits in the sweet spot between those two shoes. It is lighter than both on foot, less clunky, more stable, and for me is the perfect middle-ground. I have fallen out of love with the Clifton over the years, and in love with the Vomero, but the C1 might be on its way to stealing my heart. 

That’s a lot of words…If you want to see what I am rambling on about, you can actually try the C1 for yourself this Thursday. Mount to Coast will be at the shop for a group run starting at 6 PM this Thursday, April 16th with demo pairs of the C1 for you to try.

 

Try them on, set your cruise control, turn on some Smooth Operator, and give them a try for yourself. Nothing is stopping you, aside from us closing the shop.  I look forward to seeing you at the shop this week and hearing what you think about this exciting new shoe.

Until next week. Run Wilde. Run Flagstaff.