With the arrival of the much anticipated OMM Fell Shoe, staff member Mark has been straight out the door to put them through their paces. Read on to find out all about them…

Designed by one of the most well-respected brands in off-road trail and ultra running, OMM, the brand new Fell Shoe, as the name suggests is aimed at the roughest, toughest terrain going. Lets see what Mark has to say after his first run in them today...

“This could be the perfect winter training companion for Fell runners” was the one-line summary from Mark regarding his first thoughts after a wet and muddy 6 ½ miles around the hills and lanes above Settle in the new OMM Fell Shoe.

“The fit is really good, providing excellent lock down, with a snug, but not restrictive feel.”

As Mark has fairly narrow heals, but slightly wider forefoot, he often struggles with movement in fell shoes, but with these he felt really secure and had no movement even on steep, cambered terrain. Even though slightly narrower than he had hoped, he suffered no pressure points or rubbing (he did size up half a size to help with this) and said he would happily run several hours in them no problem.

“They are an out and out, brilliant fell shoe for this type of weather and underfoot conditions”.

Underfoot traction was, as expected, exceptional and in conditions that are probably about as bad as we’ll see in terms of water and mud, grip was unquestionable and confidence provoking. The shoes powered their way through everything Mark threw at them, without a hint of a slip or slide.

“I didn’t feel and rocks or terrain debris, so the rock plate obviously does its job, they seem to have good cushioning and underfoot protection, but are still firm and nicely responsive rather than being soft and squishy”

Running off-trail has its hazards and it’s great to see that OMM have included a protective rock plate to help offset these risks, but thanks to its materials and positioning, it hasn’t made the sole overly stiff or adds any extra weight.

“They are slightly heavier than the Fell shoes I’ve been using lately, and don’t offer quite as much ground feel as some, but that does mean I’d be happier to run longer in them”

A lot of out and out fell shoes tend to be quite stripped back and offer little in the way of underfoot cushioning (the theory being the ground absorbs the impact), but this also means they are often not a preferred choice for longer distances and offer very little in the way of support. OMM have addressed this with a shoe that offers a pretty good level of cushioning, but in a package that isn’t too soft, so you still get that responsive feedback from the ground, making this a great choice for slightly longer over road expeditions.

“The shoes felt incredibly supportive and stable and one thing that was really noticeable was the really positive drive off the big toe during take-off.”

OMM seems to have designed a last that really encourages a positive foot strike and roll through to push-off. What this means in real terms is a faster, more efficient run, but also a foot placement that is stable even on rough, uneven terrain. So, first impressions seem to be really positive.

Tempted to buy, check them out here.

Check out the break down of the technology and specifications below and we look forward to hearing your feedback too.

Just to note….Mark's first impressions out the box where that the OMM Fell Shoe sized up relatively small (length wise) with quite a precision fit (not super narrow, but not wide either) and as such opted for a UK 8. For reference Mark usually runs in a UK 7 in the VJ Maxx, a UK 7.5 VJ Irock+, a UK 8.5 in a La Sportiva and a UK 8 in the Hoka Mafate, Speedgoat and La Sportiva Prodigio Pro!

The shoe is designed to provide maximal traction on muddy, technical off-trail ground and through the partnership with Vibram they have really nailed the brief. By combining three Vibram advanced traction technologies with OMM’s extensive knowledge and experience on the real-world, they have created an outsole unlike anything seen before. The super-aggressive sole features a bespoke lug pattern, with a range of lug depths between 8 and 11mm positioned to optimise grip on a range of surfaces from soft, wet ground to technical rock terrain.

The thought put into the design doesn’t stop at the outsole; by combining Vibram technology in the midsole as well as the outsole means they have been able to create a “wave shape” sole which reduces internal compression, thus minimising movement within the shoe, reducing the risk of rubbing and associated blisters, as well as increase stability and comfort. It also encourages a smoother transition through the gait cycle by reducing direct impacts and spreading the load as transition from foot plant to push-off. It is by mapping this wave technology that has resulted in the distribution of lug depths across the outsole.

Moving on to the upper and the technology doesn’t end. A durable rip-stop Nylon mesh ensures a lightweight, breathable and water draining design, while re-enforcement can be found at key high wear points to increase toughness without reducing flexibility. TPU re-enforcements have been positioned around the toebox, lace eyelets and heel cup to protect against damage from trail debris such as rocks, heather and branches.

When running on uneven, unpredictable terrain you want a secure, confident feeling and thanks the addition of an internal skeleton within the inside of the shoe and in combination with the X-Lock lacing, OMM have delivered this brilliantly. The skeleton provides structure and protection without excess weight or material. The skeleton extends from the base of the shoe extends into the heel, toebox and up to the eyelets to fully secure the foot.

Another unique design feature is the X-Lock adjustable lacing pattern that aims to reduce pressure across the top of the foot while maintaining a constant hold around the midfoot to promote confidence while traversing technical, and especially cambered terrain. Should you prefer a traditional lacing style there are also classic eyelets so you can re-lace them as you wish.

To complete this excellent new addition to the fell running shoe choice is a 4mm drop, precise foot hold and a weight of just 272g giving the shoe a lightweight, dynamic feel wherever your run take you. The addition of a minimal EVA rockplate positioned between the forefoot and midfoot provides protection where you need it most on impact without adding stiffness or weight.