Soft Star RunAmoc shoe: anyone use these?

Hey Rusty,

I have no experience whatsoever with the Soft Star RunAmocs but have read only good things about them over at Running and Rambling over the last couple months. They’re ultimately designed for runners looking for a completely flat footwear option. Donald Buraglio the blogger behind Running and Rambling has been running in the RunAmocs since early development and wear testing seeing them through from prototype to the currently available model, he’s done hundreds of miles on them ranging from road miles to technical trail ultramarathons so he’d likely be the definitive source on the durability of the RunAmoc. Browsing there might be a start to answering your questions. These are by no means intended for backpacking or rocky technical trails unless you the user are conditioned for taking the shoes on such.

Here’s some articles:

Soft Star RunAmoc (Minimalist trail mocassins for running)

SoftStar feedback

Quicksilver 50 Mile Ultramarathon in the Softstar RunAmocs

Rusty, I have no experience with the shoes.
However, I did contact them via email about shoes for slip resistance and they were fast to respond while also being honest about the limitations of their shoes. They were absolutely willing to work with me to find the best solution for me. I would not hesitate it shooting them an email with your questions and concerns.

Rusty,

Chris Wallace and I are big fans of Soft Star. He uses the Roos for kick-around shoes, I got a little obsessed and ordered a pair of Roos and and the Run-Amoc Lites with trail soles after he showed me the Roos. Here's the part where you get some big money saving advice:

1) Soft star rocks, but…
2) The Run-AmocLites are not suitable with trail sole period. If you want these for road running, and you're an experienced minimalist shoe user, get the road soles with the Lites..However the perforations made these instant sandpaper on the trail without socks, and impossible to use for long periods even with them. The grit just invades them.

If I had it to do all over again (I'd offer this as advice to Soft Star even), I'd get the regular non-perf'd RunAmocs with the trail soles for trail usage. Leather breathes well enough as it is, I dunno what I was thinking.

The roos don't have enough padding regardless for rocks, unless you're capable of bare-footing the trail already.

That being said, the Roos are the most comfortable things I've ever put on my feet, including all socks/shoes/VFFs/whatever, the trail-soled run amocs are a great compromise, and are perfect for normal trail use, but don't go "Lite".

Traction is not a concern, with the trail soles if you're used to VFFs or anything similar, it's superior. Durability of all styles I've tried is quite good. The leather bottomed Roo's are surprisingly durable, just no padding. I use them rain or shine.

Edit: Forgot to mention also, that the Lites, due to perforations, will stretch out significantly over time, such that they slip-and-slide under normal use, unless using heavy socks. This isn't an issue for fore-foot strike running, but for variable strike hiking, becomes problematic.

Very helpful. Good details to know about the lite version too. I prefer the brown in the regular version anyway.

Thanks again. The more I learn about this company, the more I like them. My feet see some Soft Stars in their future.

RunAmocs are pretty awesome. I've got a pair of the Lites with the trail sole and have about 100 miles on them. I have a D width foot, and run about a 10.5 and the 11 fit pretty well. I've been running with VFF for 3 years now and bought the Lites for winter running. The sole of the shoe is quite thick for most BF shoe options, but no real cushion and they get more flexible with time. It's a perfect mix for me, good protection but still good ground feel and a little warmer for winter. my only problems with the shoes come to very technical trails, the fit of the shoe is VERY loose, and while it's not a problem running tamer trails with 80% dirt it's definitely an issue when ripping up the sides of mountains covered in ankle rollers. Overall, i do like the shoe, just wish it had a little closer fit on my instep and heel. However, for my winter runs, with big ol wool socks, snow on the ground, they do very well! (which is why i got them)
mike!
(they are also one of the few shoes that i like to smell after a run….)

"(they are also one of the few shoes that i like to smell after a run….)"

Cant help being curious which others. ;D

I use them to hike and to run when it's to cold outside. I haven't been on anything longer than a 20 mile day hike with them as I'm getting my GF ready for an overnighter. I have the street 2mm sole, and while I did hurt my feet on a day hike (mt tallac) because of rocks hitting my arch, since then I haven't had a problem with rocks…ie, your feet get used to it. on flat smooth surfaces their traction isn't the best but ive found for rocky wet areas I'm much more surefooted in them than boots, because your feet can grip the rocks while boots just slip off (near water or stream crossing).
my feet do slide around in them without socks, but I wear socks so they don't.much liter than my old boots and I have never twisted my ankle in them… which I can't say about my boots. If I had to do it over I would probably get the trail soles, but during the summer the perforated leather is nice and cool and drys quickly, love em.
Also, if you haven't worn shoes like this before you need to practice with them before you go out long distance. wear them around town first (i wear them to work most days so I got used to them quick) if you don't you'll have major foot fatigue (probabaly) and be miserable.
cheers

addition: my GFs cousin has the brown seude mocs with trail soles and he says they are too hot to hike in (during summer at least).

I'll probably order a pair…eventually. I do not know much about the barefoot movement but it stands to reason, in my mind, that a shoe that allows ones foot to work more naturally is sound logic. Perhaps I'll get a pair of these for general use and see where they take me.