Tarkine Devil 2 Buzz Trail Shoes—Devilishly Fast

Straight out of the box, the Buzz gives off serious “let’s go” energy.

The limited-edition Tarkine Devil 2 Buzz has a vibe that makes you smile before you’ve even laced up. I know looks aren’t everything, but if a bag of mixed lollies and a liquorice allsort had a child, it would be the Devil 2 Buzz. Colourful, bold and undeniably cool. But don’t let that playful energy fool you—this shoe has the goods when the run starts.

Lightweight Speed on the Trail

The Devil 2 Buzz definitely lives up to its name out on the dirt. Light, energetic and ready to move, this shoe carries a momentum that encourages you to pick up the pace. At just 238 grams in a women’s US8, the Buzz barely registers underfoot. It made my run feel lively and fast across all sorts of terrain, though I didn’t test them in muddy conditions.

Fast but Comfortable

I was impressed that despite its fast and light construction, the Buzz is still comfortable. The PEBA-infused ZenFoam midsole delivers a responsive ride without being overly soft. Instead of sinking into plush cushioning, the platform stays stable and controlled, which meant I maintained a good connection with the ground beneath me.

The Buzz felt nimble and eager to move across a variety of terrain: technical, light and medium gravel fire roads, crumbly climbs and punchy descents. The low weight of the shoe and responsive midsole give it a quick feel underfoot without tipping into that fragile race-shoe territory.

Grip and Control on Technical Terrain

Grip was solid across the dry trail conditions I ran in. The Claw rubber outsole and lug pattern dug in nicely on loose surfaces, which meant I could head into steep descents without that little voice in my head telling me to slow down. I didn’t test them in deep mud, but rocky and gravelly trails were no problem at all.

Fit and Toe Box: More Room Up Front

Fit-wise, the Buzz differs slightly from the Tarkine Giant. Tarkine markets the Buzz as true to size with a naturally wider toe box, and that extra space will likely be welcomed by runners with broader feet. People with narrower feet could notice a little more room in the forefoot, but for many runners the added space will allow toes to splay comfortably on longer runs. If your foot leans toward narrow, it might be worth trying them on before you buy.

A Firmer Feel Underfoot

Underfoot, the Buzz is fairly firm, which I think is what gives it that quick, responsive feel. On softer trails it feels zippy and efficient, which suited my style of running perfectly. But runners who prefer really plush cushioning might find it a touch sturdy.

Recycled and Eco-Friendly

Then there’s the ethos behind this eco-forward Aussie brand. Tarkine has built a strong reputation for pairing performance with genuine environmental action. The Devil 2 Buzz uses recycled materials, a portion of every sale helps protect the Tarkine rainforest, and the company even operates a post-use recycling program to keep worn-out shoes out of landfill.

It’s a refreshing approach in a gear category that doesn’t always prioritise environmental impact, and knowing the shoes on your feet contribute to protecting wild places adds a feel-good layer to every run.

Final Verdict: A Devilishly Fast Trail Shoe

If you’re looking for a trail shoe that feels fast, energetic and a little bit rebellious, the Devil 2 Buzz is well worth a look. It brings the fun, speed and a certain feel-good factor to the trails. I enjoyed running in these and they’ll definitely be my go to for fast training sessions or races (or when I feel the little pink devil calling me!).

The Low Down

GREAT FOR: Fast trail runs, technical terrain, dry and mixed trail conditions
NOT SO GREAT FOR: Runners who prefer very plush cushioning or very narrow fits
IDEAL FOOT TYPE: Neutral to wide
TEST TERRAIN: Technical trail, fire roads, gravel paths, crumbly climbs and descents

Vitals

RRP: $260 AUD
WEBSITE: tarkine.com
DROP: 6mm
WEIGHT: 238g (Women’s US8)
CONDITIONS: Shoes provided for testing by Tarkine

Key Features

• Lightweight trail running shoe designed for speed
• PEBA-infused ZenFoam midsole for responsive energy
• Claw rubber outsole for confident grip
• Breathable upper construction
• Wider toe box for natural toe splay
• Limited edition

Sustainability Highlights

• Recycled materials used in construction
• 1% of sales supports protection of the Tarkine rainforest
• Two trees planted for every order
• Plastic bottles removed from the ocean
• Carbon-neutral shipping
• Post-use shoe recycling program

If this review helped in your shoe search, swing back to trailrunmag.com regularly—we drop fresh gear reviews every week.