Mount to Coast T1: It’s About Time
Kate Dzienis tests the Mount to Coast T1, a long-distance trail shoe combining responsive cushioning, a wide toe box and an adjustable dual lacing system.
Images: Kate Dzienis
Mount to Coast is a newer player in a very big trail shoe market, which means it had exactly one job with the T1: show up and prove something.
Well… it showed up.
The T1 is Mount to Coast’s flagship trail shoe, built for long-distance efforts, but versatile enough to handle everything from your Tuesday tempo to a proper day out on technical singletrack. I’ve been running in the Dune colourway, which is a warm sandy tone that perfectly matches the earthy palette of the terrain it’s built for. It’s the kind of colour that looks deliberately chosen rather than accidentally muddy, and the whole aesthetic of the T1 is quietly confident.
No flashy neons, no loud branding. Just a shoe that looks like it belongs on a trail.
Out of the box, the fit is true to size. No half-size dramas, no anxious measuring required. They needed a short break-in period before they felt fully dialled, but it was brief. A couple of runs to let the upper soften slightly and the lacing settle, and then they felt like they’d always been there on my feet.
Speaking of lacing, let’s talk about the TUNEDFIT Dual Lacing System, because it deserves more than a mention.
Two independent cord laces, one controlling the forefoot and one the midfoot, allow you to adjust each zone separately. It takes a little getting used to (tightening the cords has a learning curve), but once you’ve got it, it’s fabulous. The ability to fine-tune fit independently across the foot is a real advantage on longer runs as feet swell, and the wide toe box allows natural toe splay that your feet will thank you for somewhere around the four-hour mark. If the cord system isn’t for you, Mount to Coast thoughtfully includes a spare set of standard laces in the box. A small touch, but a considerate one.
Now the tech, because there’s a lot to like here. The midsole is Mount to Coast’s proprietary LightCELL foam, a supercritical nitrogen-infused material that weighs just half as much as standard EVA while delivering 45% more energy return.
In real-world terms, that means the T1 has a lively, responsive feel underfoot without the squishy, unstable sensation that plagues some ultra-stacked shoes. The stack height is 36mm at the heel and 32mm at the forefoot (generous cushioning without disconnecting you from the trail) and the 4mm drop nudges you toward a midfoot strike while still being kind to heel strikers.
On rocky and hard-packed terrain, the T1 is in its element. The midsole’s slight rocker shape maintains forward momentum and helps you transition smoothly across uneven ground, while the underfoot feel remains connected enough that you’re reacting to the trail rather than being insulated from it. On sandy sections, they handled well – stable and sure-footed without feeling sluggish.
The outsole is Vibram Megagrip with Litebase construction. It’s 30% lighter than standard Vibram, with 4mm lugs and Traction Lug micro-features that add more grip. One caveat flagged by other reviewers: in muddy conditions, the lugs can clog and traction suffers, however on the dry, hard-packed trails most of us are running, you’re unlikely to ever find out.
The upper is a high-performance woven fabric reinforced with DuPont Kevlar aramid fibres – five times stronger than steel. It sheds water, dries fast, and holds up to trail abuse that destroys lesser uppers inside a season. After multiple runs across rocky and varied terrain, the upper looks remarkably unfazed.
The T1 has earned APMA Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association for promoting good foot health, which when combined with the wide toe box and natural fit, makes it a strong option for runners who prioritise foot health alongside performance.
The T1 is a serious shoe, and delivers serious results in four colours – Clay, Tephra, Snow Line, and Dune.
A brand worth watching, a shoe worth wearing, and a pair of Dunes worth every trail kilometre.
THE LOW DOWN
GREAT FOR: Runners who prefer ground feel over plush cushioning
NOT SO GREAT FOR: Wet, muddy conditions
IDEAL FOOT TYPE: Wide, neutral, midfoot strikers
TEST TERRAIN: Fire trails, gravel, moderate technical terrain, compact earth
STACK HEIGHT: 36mm heel / 32mm forefoot
DROP: 4mm
WEIGHT: 255g (Women’s 9.5)
VITALS
RRP: $320.00 AUD / $340.00 NZD
WEBSITE: global.mounttocoast.com
CONDITIONS: Shoes provided for testing by Mount to Coast in Dune
