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Patagonia Tsali 3.0 & EVERlong Trail Running Shoe Review

Patagonia provided us with two pairs of trail shoes that, other than being shoes, don’t have a lot in common. We hit the dirt with them to give you our thoughts.

Good news for you! Patagonia will be giving a pair of EVERlong trail running shoes. Here is what you need to do. Watch the video at the bottom of this post. To be eligible to win/enter the giveaway, answer this question on the video in the comments section of this post. What slogan is featured on the bottom of the EVERlong shoe sole? Believe in the Run will randomly select a winner from the correct answers on November 1, 2013. Patagonia will ship shoes direct to the winner after Believe in the Run has provided the contact information and address. Patagonia will ship the winners shoes to CANADA and USA only and shipment will be after Nov.15, 2013. (Thanks for all the comments Bill Nolan was our randomly selected winner.)

Patagonia Tsali 3.0Patagonia Tsali 3.0

The Good

Thomas Tsali 3.0 Fit well. The midfoot felt secure, the toebox was roomy without too much extra room, and the heel locked in nicely. The shoe handled various terrain confidently. The tread is deceptive, it doesn’t look as aggressive as the grip is. We took these shoes on some insane conditions and it did the job well. We wanted to get one last run in before the review, the only time that worked was after work in the dark in a severe downpour. Headlamps on we hit the trails. In the one run we had four stream crossings, mud, wet rocks and roots, grass, and pavement. The shoe did a good job keeping crap out and also draining water after stream crossings. While wet the entire hour-long run, I experienced no blisters or hot spots. The shoes handled the conditions better than some of the people running with us. Some reviewers don’t like getting wet.

Stein Ample traction is provided by lugs in the sole. Patagonia saved some weight by keeping the lugs more shallow than some other trail shoes but they are moderately aggressive. Uphills and downhills felt secure even when it was muddy. After a super dirty run with multiple stream crossings these shoes dried out quickly. Innovative mesh upper breathes well, hugs the midfoot and still allows the toes to wiggle a little. Plush foam cushioning protects the feet from all sorts of roots and rocks

Meaghan The first day I received the Tsali 3.0 I wore them around my house all day. They’re my favorite color teal, how could I not? They fit great; they’re snug in the midfoot and heel with a wider toebox. They’re designed with plenty of support and cushioning, a toe bumper, absorption plate, and a serious rubber outsole. Before I even hit the trails, I knew these shoes could withstand just about any terrain. I was right. One night we took them out on a technical trail, through the pouring rain, and in complete darkness. I was very happy with my shoe choice. The traction felt great on the steep down-hills and they drained well through the rain and river crossings. The fact that I never ate sh*t in those conditions seems like a win (and I’m sure I have the shoes to thank)!

The Bad

Thomas The Tsali 3.0 are a little more shoe than I typically go for. The stack height of the outsole and midsole are comparable to a Brooks Cascadia. I have been known to turn an ankle on the trails every once in awhile. Lower stack height seems to help minimize that for me. With the stack height you get less of a feel for what you are running over. For some this may be a benefit. While the shoe was not bad on the pavement, I would not want to run longer distances on roads in them.

Stein The Tsali 3.0 not very flexible and kind of stiff from the heel through the midfoot. Not crazy about the dirty-yellow coloring; and yes they looked that way even before the mud and stream crossings. The shoes didn’t “fall off” but my heels didn’t feel locked in either.

Meaghan I wish this shoe was a little lighter, but I really can’t complain with all the added support and tread. Also, I’m not sure what’s going on with the laces… no one can honestly need that much material (this coming from someone who double knots, double knots).

The Overall

Thomas If you like a Brooks Cascadia like shoe, you should give these a shot. These fall into the category of a more traditional running platform because of the midsole. This shoe performed well and was fun to run in. I will use these as a recovery run shoe when running on trails. For races I want something that feels lower to the ground, more flexible, and a tad lighter.

Stein The Tsali 3.0 probably won’t get much traction in the minimal shoe category. However it is a solidly built shoe that is perfect as a lightweight hiking shoe or for someone slowly moving in the minimal direction. I appreciate the lugged sole and the secure lacing system.

Meaghan The Tsali 3.0 is an awesome shoe that looks and performs great on the trails. Patagonia suggests this shoe for long-distance training and multi-surface running, but I’m saving them for the technical terrain. They look solid, feel solid, and provide plenty of protection from the elements. If you’re in the market for a new, sturdy trail shoe, the Tsali 3.0 is a good option.

patagonia-everlongPatagonia EVERlong Trail Shoe Review

The Good

Thomas The EVERlong is a surprisingly comfy shoe. The spongy, flexible midsole, and not too knobby outsole make this a good shoe to transition from road to trail. The shoe is light for a trail shoe at 8.4 oz. The upper fits well over the arch and the toebox was comfortable. The shoe has a fun personality, light and springy. In one run we ran 2 miles on the road to the trailhead and once on the trails had more sections that transitioned from technical to paved. My feet felt comfortable the whole run.

Stein Soft footbed and comfortable upper. The Patagonia EVERlong is suitable for long runs on easy fire roads, dry trails and asphalt. These shoes felt surprisingly light even with the ample comfort and squish under foot. Strategic tough spots on the sole should keep the foam from wearing out quickly. The 4mm drop and somewhat flexible sole kept my gait feeling natural on all terrains.

Jenny I’m forever on the hunt for a shoe that gives me what I need with the least amount of weight possible. I’m always amazed at how ingenious new technologies are, improving upon what is seemingly the pinnacle of a breakthrough. When it comes to running shoes, the trend is: lighter is better.

The Patagonia EVERlong incorporated several high tech philosophies and rolled them into one. The upper is a ridiculously breathable mesh with seamless overlays, giving support in just the right areas–mostly in the midfoot and heel. The relatively thin midsole is lighter than it looks and weighs next to nothing. It fits comfortably, without slippage and has my fave–flat laces. The outsole has a road tread that is a little more aggressive than typical, making it a great hybrid, door-to-trail shoe. I found it to be flexible, reactive and smooth.

Meaghan The Patagonia EVERlong is not your typical trail shoe. It’s super light (6.1 oz), flexible, minimal by design (with a 4mm drop), and doesn’t contain any deep traction lugs or thick cushioning. It’s a nice change from your typical, bulky trail shoe. For the most part, I liked the way these shoes fit; they hug the foot nicely. A combination of the thin, flexible upper and supportive lacing gives you plenty of control over the fit. The welded seems make this shoe smooth and comfortable; I never had any irritation or hot spots. It’s a good option for combination road and trail running.

The Bad

Thomas While the shoe performs well on roads and packed trails, I did not have the same confidence when it came to knarly technical trails. You can’t have everything I suppose. Maryland has a lot of trails that are broken up single track that include roots and rocks, the Tsali 3.0 are a little more suited for those kind of trails. The traction on the outsole is what makes them such a good shoe on packed terrain, lacking the “teeth” of a more technical trail shoe is wear this one loses on the trails.

Stein Some heel slippage was noticeable. Not grippy enough on technical terrain because there really aren’t any lugs on the sole. If it’s snowy, wet or the footing is uncertain these shoes aren’t going to cut it.

Jenny The tongue would NOT stay out. Every wear it migrated toward the lateral side–maybe if it was fused midway or had more of a lacing anchor, it would solve that problem.

Aesthetically, I didn’t love the “pointy toe”. There was a noticeable pinnacle at the end. It wasn’t uncomfortable but something about it looked off. I feel like shoes nowadays have that wider toebox to allow for proper splaying.

Meaghan The tongue moved around and felt oddly large for such a light shoe; I would have been okay with about half of the cushioning/material. I also had some heel slippage when I walked around in these shoes. (It wasn’t as prominent when I was out running.) The shoes could use some additional tread; I opted for the Tsali when heading out into any serious technical terrain.

The Overall

Thomas The EVERlong is light and fun. Watch the video below, I think they are a perfect shoe for the kind of packed dry trails it features. You could probably could even use this shoe as a road shoe.

Stein If you’re already into minimal shoes (think Merrell or NB) the EVERlong will feel clunky but they’re a great transition shoe for someone who wants a lighter shoe with good foot protection. The Patagonia EVERlong is slightly less shoe than the Tsali 3.0 but far more shoe than the EVERmore (reviewed earlier this year). While these aren’t my ideal racing shoe, I could run for hours on rail trails or other highly groomed surfaces wearing the Patagonia EVERlong.

Jenny Other than the tongue issue, I was digging on the shoe. I will say that I’m not sure how it will perform under muddy/snowy conditions. It’s more of a fair weather trainer than a shoe for more gnarly conditions. I haven’t had the chance to tromp through the mud this season but I’ll be sure to give them a go before discounting their ability.

Meaghan I like Patagonia; I think they make awesome, well-made products, but I’m not in love with this shoe. To me, it seems like Patagonia was so focused on designing a shoe that worked for both trails and the road that they failed to master either one. That being said, you cannot deny the shoe is well-made; they show little to no wear after several runs. If you’re into super minimal, ultimate ground feel trail running, this might be the shoe for you.

Runblogger also has a review and EVERlong giveaway check out their thoughts on the shoe.

details Tsali 3 and EVERlong

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Comments

Have something to say? Leave a Comment

  1. patrick voo says:

    would love to give these shoes a go! “GiddyUp”!

  2. Cesar Morales says:

    Slogan in the Everlong´s sole:

    “Giddyup”

  3. Jon Danuser says:

    Giddyup!
    Cool looking shoe, looks like something that would hold up nicely here for ND winters!

  4. Craig Besselievre says:

    Giddyup!

  5. Benjamin Dunn says:

    Giddyup

  6. David Burns says:

    Giggyup

  7. Steve Peterson says:

    Giddyup!

  8. Jon Crays says:

    Giddy up

  9. Jay M. says:

    Giddyup!

  10. Alan Ashley says:

    GiddyUp

  11. Ryan says:

    GiddyUP!

  12. Paul Sherman says:

    “GiddyUp”!

  13. John says:

    Giddyup

  14. Andrew T. Arroyo says:

    giddyup

  15. Stephen Fitzgerald says:

    GIDDYUP

  16. Rodolfo Uribe says:

    GiddyUP!

  17. Joel S. says:

    GiddyUp!

  18. Bill Nolan says:

    GIDDYUP

  19. Charles Mandel says:

    GiddyUp!

  20. Jamie A says:

    GIDDYUP

  21. BobG says:

    Giddyup

  22. Steven says:

    Giddyup!

  23. Rod K. says:

    GIDDY UP

  24. Patrick Siu says:

    Giddyup!

  25. Russell says:

    GIDDYUP! Hell ya for Patagonia gear, some of the best. The shorts Jeff’s wearing in that vid (Strider Pro) are some of the best I’ve ever got to wear. Excited to try out their shoes!

  26. Jesus says:

    Giddy Up

  27. Nicholas Krueger says:

    GIDDYUP

  28. Robert says:

    I really could use some “GiddyUp”!

    Thanks for the review and give away.

  29. Kristen M says:

    The slogan is giddyup.

  30. I thought I’d chime in, as I’ve spent a lot of time in this shoe over the past year (on my 14th pair) and would love to give you my take on the traction. I’ve taken these shoes through the ringer on 6 ultramarathons this season in pretty varied conditions. Plus, over 2000 miles of training in them in Central Oregon’s Cascades and Utah’s Watsatch Range. Races include: a muddy Bandera 100k, very rocky, muddy Gorge Waterfalls 50k, wet, but buff Ice Age 50, dry, technical San Diego 100, high alpine Siskiyou Outback 50, and muddy/hardpack/wet Run Rabbit Run 100). I’ve been in dry, loose conditions, hard pack, mud, and technical trails in both the west, Rockies, and the midwest. The only conditions you have to be “on your toes” so to speak, is extremely slick mud. But, in my experience, no shoe is good in slick mud except a deep lugged fell-style shoe…but then that shoe sucks in pretty much all other conditions. So, there is a trade-off there. We wanted to keep the shoe light and responsive with the midsole acting not only as a cushioned road feel, but also act as your protection and in order to do that, you can’t have a ton of rubber, it’s just too darn heavy. This throws the balance off (think first few versions of the cascadia). Horribly balanced shoe, until they beefed up the upper to match the beefy outsole. So, if you’re going to make a lightweight shoe that is cushioned, there has to be a fine balance between tread and weight. Most of the time, you don’t need an overbuilt trail shoe for trail running (in my personal experience at least). I’ve been racing and training in primarily road shoes for years (like many folks I know). My biggest issue was the lack of solid midfoot wrap to keep you on the platform when it gets technical or a little strategic traction when it gets loose or a little wet. I’m a mid foot striker and have had no traction issues with this shoe in the aforementioned races besides a slick, slimy section or two (again, not too many shoes good in that scenario, but I just made sure I slowed a little and stayed on my mid foot like you have to do with most shoes). Anyway, my two cents for what it’s worth. Thanks so much for checking out the shoe. Giddyup.

    -Jeff Browning

    1. Thanks for your insight Jeff. Congrats on some impressive races too.

  31. Billy says:

    “Giddy Up” Bronco Billy

  32. Steven Bryant says:

    Giddyup!

  33. James Tan says:

    Giddyup

  34. Jason Nemecek says:

    GiddyUP!

  35. Alex Cru says:

    Giddyup

  36. Jay says:

    GIDDYUP!

  37. Tyer Mathews says:

    Giddyup

  38. Zach Earl says:

    Giddy up!

  39. Shana Jackson says:

    Giddy up

  40. Jonathan Lee says:

    Giddyup!

  41. Paul says:

    GiddyUP!

  42. Pauline Mayo says:

    Just going out and getting it done…GiddyUp!

  43. Jim in Maine says:

    GiddyUp – thanks, as always, for the review … and the opportunity for the shoe give away.

  44. Michael Knoll says:

    giddy up

  45. Rob F says:

    Giddyup

  46. Shep says:

    Good review. GIDDYUP folks!

  47. Adam Palmer says:

    ‘Giddyup’ it is!

  48. Paula d says:

    Giddy up!

  49. George Harris says:

    Great review. Interesting point on the heel slippage that occurred. Giddyup

  50. Lynn B says:

    Giddyup!

  51. Andy Frey says:

    GIDDYUP

  52. C.J. says:

    They say Giddyup.

  53. Jordan Psaltakis says:

    Giddy Up!

    Looks like a fun shoe for shorter trail runs. Hope to get a chance to run in them!

  54. annie says:

    giddy up! great review. seriously, can always count on you guys for in depth reviews!!!! thanks!

  55. Emir says:

    I want them! Giddy up!

  56. dano says:

    giddy up!

  57. dj says:

    giddy up… i want to ride in these shoes.

  58. Dave K says:

    Giddyup. indeed I shall

  59. Brandi Dawn says:

    Giddyup!!! Thank you for the giveaway!

  60. BJ says:

    looking for a trail shoe. after checking it out instore i’m judging all stores by the sole of the Cascadia (problem: 12 mm drop, weight, etc.). shoes hard to find in 15, but have seen the Tsail in my size. How do they fit? Nice review. Has me interested. Thanks. B.J. (Indiana)

    1. They fit similar to the Cascadia. I would try them on and see what you think.

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