Now, to be fair, this is first time I've ever really invested in trail running shoes other than Nike, Saucony & New Balance so there may be a better trail running shoe but let me tell you how I used them and how they held up.

I ran my first ever obstacle race last weekend (Spartan Sprint) in Malibu, CA.  There were trail runs (uphill and downhill), wall climbing, crawling under barbed wire, running through waist deep water (and yes even swimming through an ice cold pond), fire jump, and other crazy obstacles.  I bought these shoes a few days before the race and wore them twice before the big day.

The water resistant technology was awesome as one of the water crosses was right at the beginning of the race.  By the time I got to the top of the trail my shoes were almost dry until I had to go through the water again.  I liked the way the shoe pushed the water out and it didn't make my socks, shoes or feet squishy like regular running shoes would.  These shoes are also mud resistant and good thing because there was a lot of mud that day.  I didn't get any debris inside the shoes (I was also wearing wool sock), and I went through a lot of loose dirt, too and none of that got inside the shoe.  No blisters, just total comfort.

I was so happy I bought these shoes.  I didn't slide going downhill, and they gripped going uphill as well as when I had to scale walls (even greased up walls).  I am thoroughly impressed.

When I got home from the race, my shoes were covered in mud and since you can't put them in the washer I just scrubbed them with a soft brush and clean water and they came out as good as new.  I let them air dry and I took out the soles to let them air dry, too.  I think for any trail running I do, especially obstacle course racing, I will stick with these.  Pretty awesome shoe.  I am female, and I own the size 7 in the black/teal color.