Trail runners are spoiled for choice when it comes to footwear; believe it or not this might actually be a problem. With a bevy of high end shoes now available for pocket friendly prices, sorting through the mass of kicks can be quite a task. Luckily I only had to focus on the Garmont 9.81 Bolt DL shoes for this review. Are the Bolts the shoes that break through the masses and earn a coveted Christmas list spot? Read on for the answer.
Let me begin this review by telling you I am not a hardcore trail runner. Sure, I’ve been known to jog after my dog when I hear the frightened shouts of other hikers, but running isn’t usually high on my list. When UtahOutside.com administrator Jared Hargrave asked me to review these bad boys, he told me that I sure as hell better add running to my list in order to give a fair review. So run I did… the Bolts cradled my feet on well worn trails, loose dirt, sand, gravel, rock and every other surface the Wasatch had to offer.
Garmont’s description for the Bolts says they are ideal for “competitive trail running, adventure racing and orienteering on every kind of trail in every condition.” Quite a claim, and one that I tested to the limit. Right out of the box the Bolts looked and felt great. I prefer my gear to be of the low key variety when it comes to color scheme, and the smooth grey and black styling on the shoes was a winner in my book. I slipped them on and was pleasantly surprised at the initial comfort of the shoes. No fancy extra padding here, just a comfortable but minimal design with no wasted space. They fit perfectly and thanks to the quick lace pull system there are zero hotspots (Garmont does include traditional shoe laces for those of you who hate the quick lace system). So they looked sleek and felt good walking around the house… that proves nothing, so it was time to hit the trail.
The biggest thing the Bolts have going for them is the Dura Lug pattern on the outsoles. They reminded me of my old baseball cleats, but the shoes are a heck of a lot more comfy. The lug pattern is not overdone; Garmont definitely did their R&D right and came up with an ideal lug pattern that is super grippy on almost any surface without being obtrusive. On hard pack trails the Bolts felt fine, but they really shined when the surface was variable. On gravel and sand they didn’t slip, and in loose dirt they excelled and seemed to propel me forward. Uphill sections were a breeze with the Dura Lug underneath me, and the braking on downhill sections was great. In almost any condition the shoes stuck like glue, never slipped and cornered with ease.
Shock absorption is another area where the Bolts come away a winner. Garmont employs a “4 structure” system to get the job done. I can honestly say that my feet felt great after every test session. No heel shock, no forefoot injuries and no surprise pain made my feet very happy. I began to embrace the running sessions (minus my pathetic lung capacity, of course) thanks to the comfort of the Bolts. For a guy who usually plods along at 2MPH, this was a big and welcome surprise.
Now for the not so good. Garmont uses a synthetic mesh for the uppers and a quick dry synthetic lining in the shoes. They make zero claims to be waterproof and don’t have any Goretex (thank the heavens), but they do claim you can use these shoes in the rain or snow. I had to get a better idea of what I was working with, so on several runs I submerged the shoes in our local waterways. Not a great plan. The shoes take on water immediately and don’t have any drain ports. This means pools of water for some time after your initial splashdown. Running in a light rain was no problem; the shoes, while wet on the outside, kept my feet moisture free inside. However, if you are planning on running in a downpour, plan on wet feet. After only a few minutes in heavy rain the shoes were soaked and the dreaded water pools returned. I can’t speak to their performance in the snow, but would imagine a similar outcome if you end up post-holing at any point.
The final knock against the shoes is their traction on rock surfaces. On dry rock the Bolts were satisfactory, but you could tell a slight shift in weight would mean a slip soon to follow. On wet rock surfaces they were terrible; the Dura Lug pattern actually became a hazard, almost ensuring a slip or fall. Take it with a grain of salt; after all, trail running shoes aren’t really intended for rock surfaces, are they?
As for their overall quality, it’s another thumbs up for the Bolts. After punishing them in muddy, wet and less than ideal conditions the only wear and tear they show is cosmetic. Despite giving them quite a beating, the Bolts’ structural integrity was never compromised. Three months of testing in every condition and they still feel as good as the first day I put them on… well done, Garmont.
Overall the Garmont Bolt is a very good choice for a trail running shoe. Solid build, great fit/feel and admirable performance in almost any conditions had me feeling pretty good about running. I appreciate gear that does what it claims to without the flash and flair; the Bolts by definition are just that: a high performance trail runner with a smooth, low key design. With a price tag of right around $110 you should definitely consider adding these shoes to this years’ wish list.
You can purchase the Garmont 9.81 Bolt DL shoes, on sale at Altrec.com
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