Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1131148
outdoorinsightmag.com 36 • Outdoor Insight • June 2019 Scarpa Rush. Built for more-cushioned running or as a hike/run crossover shoe, the $130 Rush strikes a balance between agility and support. Salewa Mountain Trainer GTX. Designed to handle the toughest trails. Salewa's 3F system offers support and stability in rugged terrain. Forsake Meridian. A slip-on that crosses over from the street to the trail, the $100 Meridian combines breathability and style with a Peak-to-Pavement outsole. Merrell MTL Long Sky. This $130 trail runner has lightweight, tear-resistant fabric, a medial post and an aggressive Vibram Megagrip rubber sole. Hoka One One Challenger Gore-Tex. Designed for the city and the trails, this $150 waterproof style has an all-terrain outsole with 4mm sticky rubber lugs. . Wolverine ShiftPlus Outdoor. This $100 outdoor shoe combines the toughness of a work boot and the comfort of a sneaker with cushioning and traction. Forsake Cascade. This $110 everyday hiker delivers comfort and support. It has a grippy Vibram Megagrip outsole and a breathable, quick-dry mesh upper. Oboz Firebrand II Low B-Dry. The Firebrand II boot is expanding into a full collection, including this $130 waterproof leather low style for men. NEXT STEPS OUTDOOR FOOTWEAR BRANDS ARE EXPLORING NEW TERRAIN in the seasons ahead. Technology is impacting every category from top-tier hiking shoes to everyday lifestyle sandals. Perhaps nowhere is the innovation more apparent than in the light hike and trail run categories. Fast-hiking boots with running shoe-inspired technology from the likes of Hoka, On, Merrell and Topo are among the standouts for the seasons ahead. The designs of these new offerings are being influenced not only by a consumer demand for lighter and more cushioned trail footwear, but also by an influx of innovative new material options and construction techniques. "New materials are certainly trending right now," Tony Post, CEO and founder of Topo Athletic says.