Trail Shoe Review Redux

With the news that the Portland-based boot company Danner / LaCrosse has recently purchased Portland-based END, the Environmentally Neutral shoe company, adding to Keen,Montrail / Columbia Sportswear, and other shoe companies in the area, I wondered how the trail running shoe market has been expanding.
Apparently, the trail running shoe market has been expanding exponentially. The increasing popularity in mountain / ultra / trail running and racing has impacted the shoe industry to the point that there are now no less than sixty (60) companies that design and market trail running shoes. A trip to a sporting goods store revealed trail shoe brands such as Coleman (the people who make stoves and coolers), BearPaw, Hi-Tec, Itasca, Nevados, Ocean Pacific, Wrangler, Outdoor Gear, and Denali "hiking boots" (which look like running shoes and not boots at all.) I decided to try out a few shoes recommended by local running stores, and report on those that gave the best performance.
Nike shoes based on Kenny Moore's prototypes usually fit me, since we have similar feet. However, Nike is apparently no longer creating trail-specific shoes. Their Kyotee is no longer being made, and the designer who made that now works for Montrail. Nike had a Trail S+, which is a trail version of a Zoom Elite or Pegasus, but they cancelled that. The adidasSupernova Trail was comparable to the Kyotee as an all-around trail shoe, but their latest version has too much cushion. Their new Supernova Riot, however, is about the best fit around. It's very light, and has a great design - not too much support, and not too little. These would be great for training or racing.
A close second would be the Montrail Streak. In the past, many of Montrail's shoes have felt just a bit clunky, as the extra sturdiness is important when hiking or climbing with a pack or lots of gear. Now, along with lots of hybrid shoes, Montrail has shoes focused specifically for running, where the heel fits lower to the ground for good control, yet there's plenty of sturdiness and flexibility for running over rocks. The only negatives about the Montrail Streak would be the laces that tend to slip a bit, and a long, narrow section on the tread connecting the heel to the toe box (where the Trail Shield is not covered with Gryptonite) that tends to slide on rocks, logs, or man-made surfaces if you happen to step sideways.
Additional great finds were the Brooks Cascadia 4, Perl Izumi Peak XC, and the Flyroc by INOV8. Brooks shoes fit me a bit differently, and I was weary of the solid, level sole in the Cascadia. However, this is a great fit, and the Pivot Posting sytem, the change in density in the arch, actually works. It may be a bit heavy for racing, but it's an overall very sturdy trail shoe. The Perl Izumi Peak XC is on the other end of the spectrum, a light, Sock- influenced trail training / racing shoe. The stretchy top mesh takes a little getting used to, but the weight and stability is just about perfect, with a flexible sole with solid tread. The European INOV-8 is the first company to design shoes made for parkour or free running. The Flyroc fits a bit like a Montrail, and since INOV-8 designs their shoes to mimic running barefoot, there is maximum support with minimal bulk.
Some other great trail shoes that didn't exactly fit my personal tastes in fit were the MizunoAscend, Saucony Xodus, and END 10oz. The Ascent was just too supple, with less support on the upper. Similarly, the Stumptown 10oz was very comfortable, but didn't quite have the quick response time I needed. The Saucony Xodus, featuring a Vibram sole, was also a wonderfully built all-around trail shoe, but the overall fit was a bit too soft. The proper fit of a shoe is a combination of the shape (and size) of your foot and personal taste, so you may find a perfect pair in any of the above.