I hadn't heard of these running shoes, but their dual-laces and lightweight foam are the real deal

I’ve been a daily runner since 2020, covering more than 7,500 miles. Despite going through a lot of running shoes, I had never heard of Mount to Coast. That’s because it's a newcomer to the running shoe space, first targeting long-distance runners and now starting to gain attention from all kinds of people.

I was curious about Mount to Coast's R1 shoe for its dual-lace system, LightCELL foam, and competitive price point. After running in the R1 for over 50 miles, I’m impressed by the total package. Here are a few things to know about the shoe, as well as other options from the company.

Dual lacing on the Mount to Coast R1 is a game-changer

While the company’s S1 shoe is advertised as the daily trainer, I was more interested in the R1, primarily for its Tunedfit dual-lacing system. Each shoe has a standard lace at the top for the mid-foot and a bungee cord pull on the bottom half, closer to the toes.

I didn’t realize I wanted two-zone lacing until I saw it and then tried it. The obvious aspect is that you can more quickly and easily adjust the tension around your toes. Most days, I leave the bungee pull alone. You don't need to tune it for each run. But there definitely are times when I need one to be looser or tighter because I'm wearing thicker or thinner socks. Whatever the use case is, the dual laces make it a piece of cake.

I've found that the R1’s versatile fit allows more flexibility. This could be great for travel. One shoe with plenty of adjustability is important if you only have space to bring one pair.

Putting miles on the R1 shoes

In terms of specs, the Mount to Coast R1 features an 8mm heel-to-toe drop, an 8.5oz weight (US M9), and a proprietary midsole base material called LightCELL, which is charged with pure nitrogen.

During my first run, I was struck by the shoe’s firmness and weight. The trend has been to add more stack height and more cushioning to running shoes on the whole. The R1 feels different. The shoe feels much firmer than Saucony’s Endorphin Speed 4 or the Adidas EVO SL, for example.

Over time, however, I've come to appreciate the subtle energy return. Mostly, I like how lightweight the shoe is. Even though the feel is firm, I don't feel like I'm dragging or doing all the work. The company claims its foam is 50% lighter than EVA with 45% more energy return. I didn't think this was what I was looking for, but I'm more bullish on the less bounce than I was when I started using them.

Of course, if you're looking for a firm, non-plated shoe, then I think you'll love this one.

One of the brilliant things about this shoe is that even on longer, five or six-mile runs, it felt the same as it did during shorter miles. I don't know how it will perform for those long events, but it is billed as a race-day shoe and has been put to the test by ultra-runners and seems to handle the pressure just fine. Speaking more casually, I do like the uniformity on runs I did up to a 10K.

I’ve liked the contoured insole and the heel lock. Both of those elements have felt good on my feet from day one. The toe box does feel a little wider than a lot of other shoes. It’s hard to tell if it actually is or if that’s a result of the dual-lace system. Either way, that’s been nice.

Are Mount to Coast running shoes worth spending money on?

The Mount to Coast R1 shoes retail for $160. That’s smack dab in the middle of what running shoes from Saucony, Asics, New Balance, and Adidas cost. For a startup, without the same volume as these other companies, that’s a good start. The R1 definitely undercuts some of the shoes marketed for longer runs.

I haven’t put enough miles on these shoes yet to decide how they’ll perform for me over time. I wear the outside edge of the outsole first, and pretty heavily. However, after more than 50 miles, I haven’t seen the same amount of wear as other shoes—almost none. It gives me hope that the durability of these will be as good as advertised.

If the idea of a firm feel with solid ground contact in a running shoe excites you, then the R1 is a great choice. So far, I’ve loved most aspects.

If you're like me, however, and usually prefer a little bouncier ride, the company’s H1 shoe is another tempting choice. The company claims its CircleCELL foam offers nearly the same energy return as PEBA but with a 50% longer lifespan.

I haven’t tested the H1, so I can’t comment on that. But based on the performance of the R1, I wouldn’t doubt it. And then in 2026, you can expect even more. Mount to Coast has announced its new C1 shoe, which might also be tempting for people looking for a super trainer.