Mountain shoes
Product 2026
Woman, Man
The new Kiprun Race Ultra 2 offers a lot for a fairly tight price. Let’s get the (major) drawback out of the way right from the start: it’s difficult to put on, despite the presence of a thin heel loop that helps guide the foot in. Around the instep, though, you really have to twist and struggle.
What we have here is a lightweight shoe, weighing 280 grams on our scale in size 43. The design is refined, with clean lines despite a chunky sole and a prominent heel. The build quality is high-end, with no visible stitching and materials that can be described as “premium,” such as the Matryx Evo mesh, which combines lightness and durability.
The knitted ankle collar also stands out, providing a good seal without compromising comfort—exactly the kind of feature that a high-end brand like Arc’teryx rarely manages to achieve in its trail running products.
The quick-lacing system is minimalist. It requires a bit of attention to fine-tune and tuck the excess lace into the small pocket—you’ll need nimble fingers. Once tightened, the Kiprun Race Ultra 2 holds the foot securely with a precise wrap.
The semi-rigid rock guard is also well designed.
That leaves the question of the shoe’s dynamic performance. It offers substantial cushioning, both at the heel and under the metatarsals. This will need to be confirmed over longer distances, but the foam doesn’t seem to degrade easily. Lateral stability is good, with minimal rolling. The sole is wide, contrasting with the slimmer upper. Ground contact feels balanced and solid.
There is noticeable energy return in the stride, making it well suited for smoother sections. Overall, the Kiprun Race Ultra 2 is very enjoyable to run in. Runners who appreciate cushioning will be satisfied. The 5 mm lugs do their job. The rubber is very soft—again, long-term durability will need to be assessed. The shoe is not very sensitive to moisture, which is a strong point as it doesn’t gain much weight when wet.
A trail running shoe designed for long distances, with clearly emphasized cushioning. Not easy to put on, but it delivers real dynamic qualities at a reasonable price.
28 mm8 mm 
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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