OMM Ultra Shoe Review
The OMM Ultra is a trail running shoe designed for use over longer distances. It is what could be described as a proper trail running shoe, not just a road shoe in disguise. It has a good level of underfoot protection but has managed to maintain a good level of ground feel, giving it the feeling of a nimble trail running shoe despite the added cushioning.
The fit and feel of the OMM Ultra Shoe is very similar to both the OMM Fell Shoe and OMM Trail Shoe. The heel cup is firm and supportive. It is designed to hold the runner’s heel in the shoe even when running on rough, broken ground that moves the foot around inside the shoes.
The padding inside the heel cup and around the cuff is light. It is designed to add some comfort without absorbing moisture. The tongue is lovely and soft and very pliable. It moulds easily to the shape of the foot, helping to create a snug fit. The tongue is attached to the base of the shoes with two pieces of fabric, one on the medial side and one on the lateral side. This gives a glove-like feel to the shoes when you put your foot into them. The tongue is also attached to the lace tabs and has a tab on top that the laces thread through. This stops the tongue from moving when the laces are tied.
There is light zonal padding down the centre of the tongue to protect the top of the foot from the laces. The upper is made from a dual-layer fabric that is soft on the inside yet highly abrasion resistant on the outside. The toe bumper is made from a tough overlay, giving the toes a good level of protection. There is an additional lace hole at the top of the laces which can be used to make the heel fit snugger or to butterfly lace the shoes.
The fit of the upper is snug around the heel and through the midfoot. The toe box is roomier than the toe box of the OMM Trail Shoe, as the OMM Ultra is designed to be used for longer runs, so you need some space for your feet to spread and function even when they have got warm and swollen. This extra space isn’t excessive, and the toe box isn’t rounded like you would see on an Altra or Topo shoe. The big toe line is straight, which allows for a positive push-off and for the smaller toes to spread and function.
There are two widths available, which OMM call Regular and Regular+. If you usually wear a wider fit in your running shoes, then we would suggest trying the Regular+. I have a narrow foot that likes to spread and function. I have tried both the Regular and Regular+ on and could happily run in both. I chose the Regular width as I had enough room for my toes to wiggle and the lockdown at the heel and through the midfoot felt slightly snugger.
OMM shoes are similar in length to Brooks, Saucony, 361, NNormal, Altra and Topo. If you use New Balance, Hoka, La Sportiva, Karhu or Inov8, then we would suggest trying half a UK size larger to get a similar length. For example, a UK 11 in the OMM Ultra Shoe is a similar length to a UK 11.5 in a Hoka running shoe.
The OMM Ultra Shoe has an EVA midsole designed to offer good energy return and retain its shape and feel even after miles of running. The advantage of using EVA rather than one of the super foams that other running shoes use is that the midsole takes the shape of your foot. This makes the shoes become an extension of your feet once worn in. EVA also helps to maintain some ground feel. You have more awareness of what your feet are doing and so you can be nimbler, making it easier to traverse tricky terrain.
A lot of trail running shoes designed for ultras are made to allow the wearer to plod along nice, surfaced trails, disused railway lines or hard-packed forest roads. The OMM Ultra feels very cushioned and comfortable on these hard-packed surfaces but also feels good on much more technical ground. The root-covered single track through the woods, the muddy little track around the edge of the farmer’s field and even the scree descent down to the Corridor Route of Scafell Pike.
That doesn’t mean that they will feel as nimble, fast and responsive as the OMM Fell Shoe or the OMM Trail Shoe on these more extreme trail surfaces, but they will allow you to comfortably cover the ground. This versatility makes the OMM Ultra Shoe a good option for mixed runs. On tarmac they feel like a trail running shoe. A bit numb, but still comfortable and nice to run in. As you progress to more trail-type terrain, the ride of the shoes improves. I took the OMM Ultra Shoe with me on holiday with the family. We were mainly mountain biking, but I still got out for a run first thing. The terrain was a mix of tarmac and then lots of different trail terrain as I explored the countryside near the cabin we were staying in. I never once thought about the shoes. They worked nicely and comfortably on all terrains.
The stack height is 30mm, which is far from excessive and could be deemed low when compared to other trail running shoes designed for ultras. The heel-to-forefoot drop is 8mm, making the OMM Ultra suitable for heel strikers or midfoot strikers. The midsole is quite stiff initially but flexes up over time. The stiffness helps to carry the foot through the gait cycle, which helps you keep running when you have been on your feet for a long time.
The outsole is the same pattern as the OMM Trail Shoe and is also made from Vibram Megagrip with Litebase. This outsole offers good traction on wet and dry surfaces and is also durable. The lugs are 4mm in length, which makes them versatile. The lugs bite into mud effectively, but as winter kicks in and the ground gets softer, they might start to struggle in deep mud where a longer lug is required.
The OMM Ultra Shoe has a rugged, substantial feel about it. There is a high focus on durability, yet a UK 8 weighs only 265 grams and they feel nice and light on your feet.
In summary, the OMM Ultra Shoe is a very versatile trail running shoe that is ideal for longer and mixed runs in UK terrain.
Alternatives to the OMM Trail Shoe
Brooks Cascadia 20: Feels more like a road running shoe in comparison to the OMM Ultra. More cushioned on the road but, less nimble with less feel on the trails. Available in two width Men’s and Women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-cascadia-20-review/
Mount to Coast T1: Similarly firm and responsive but, not as grippy on more broken or softer trails. More volume in the forefoot. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/mount-to-coast-t1-review/
La Sportiva Prodigio Max: A similarly firm ride to the cushioning. A stiffer shoe with a rocker. Much less feel for the ground. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-prodigio-max-review/
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro: A rocker and very responsive foam makes the Prodigio Pro a much faster feeling and lighter feeling shoe that flows well on a variety of terrain. More of a race day shoe than a work horse everyday trail running shoe. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-prodigio-pro-review/
Topo Vista: More of a plodding Ultra shoe than a nimble one makes the Vista less versatile as it’s less suited to more broken terrain. The rounded toe box allows more foot function. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-vista-review/
Topo MTN Racer 4: A more rounded toe box gives the feet the room to spread and function. Similar level of traction. Bit stiffer through the midfoot makes the MTN Racer not quite as able to take up the contours of the ground making it not quite as good on single tracks and more broken ground. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-mtn-racer-4-review/
Scott Kinabalu Ultra: A similar firm responsive feel to the midsole but, less feel for the ground. A rocker makes the Kinabalu Ultra smoother on harder packed trails. Traction is a similar level but, less feel for the floor makes them less nimble. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-kinabalu-ultra-review/
361 Futura 3: Much softer with less ground feel. A more rounded toe box with more volume. Available in two width Men’s and two width Women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/361-futura-3-review/
Hoka Mafate 5: Much softer with a higher stack height and a rocker. Almost does the running for you but, not as versatile in terms of the terrain it is best suited to. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-mafate-5-review/
VJ Ultra 3: A much softer midsole with a rocker. Less feel for the ground but, a more rounded toe box gives the feet room to spread and function inside the shoes. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/vj-ultra-3-review/
Inov-8 Trailtalon Max: A broad rounded toe box gives the feet the room to spread and function. Flexible enough with a squishy enough midsole to absorb some of the lumps and bumps on the trails. A 6mm long lug gives better traction on soft ground. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-trailtalon-max-review/
Altra Mont Blanc Speed: A broad rounded toe box and zero drop allows the feet to function inside the shoes. Traction is not quite as good. The responsive feel to the ride is similar. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-mont-blanc-speed-review/
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