Exactly the review I was waiting for! I have both the OG Pulsar and the SG version but find them a little tall and unstable on technical terrain… so I bought the VJ XTRM2. I love how more and more companies are putting built-in gaiters in their shoes. Again, Salomon was leading the way in innovation. The Agile may well be my first Brooks show! Thanks a lot Mike for the thorough comparisons. Super helpful. Greeting from Montreal… where we have LESS snow than you do!
I took the MaxX2 out for a 11 mile 2600ft vertical run in mostly mud/snowpack/slush and they did great. Traction was spot on. Cushion was good, I wouldn’t take them on anything longer than 20 miles. Much better than the ultra max2 , very similar underfoot feel as the peregrine 13 but WAY better traction.
@@MikeP-RTR VJ Ultra 2 And I like the 13s upper and heel counter a lot more than the MaxX2 I’m not sold on the fit lock system. I did notice it dug into my foot. It didn’t stop me from running but it was noticeable. The 13 i had no issues with except the traction was horrid in wet conditions
@@rescuedfriendsanimalsanctu8481 The foam in the Ultra 2 is nowhere near the level of the new MAXx2 foam. The MAXx2 upper as a whole, aside from subjective fit issues, is a massive improvement from the Ultra 2. I find the Fitlock more noticeable and useful in the Lightspeed, with it's narrower platform. I thought I heard at some point that the Fitlock was useful and more durable for climbing ropes in OCR. Perhaps they just keep it as a signature feature. I do tend to like under-arch support so a little extra hold at the instep is fine for me.
excellent review! I'm on the fence with these or the Nike Ultrafly, but for $100 less, after seeing this, I think i'm going with these. If you've ever run in the ultraflys I'd appreciate hearing your comparison of the two. I'm mostly 10-15 mile runner and have been using Hoka speedgoats for training runs, but have been looking for something with more impulse for race days. I'll still do my regular runs in speedgoats (i'm old and love the cushion) but would like something with a bit of punch for race days.
These are a totally different shoe than the Ultrafly - those were a big disappointment to me. Very very soft cushion, but stiff as a brick, no flex at all, also surprisingly heavy. Some people like them though, but they don't work for me at all. I like at least some flex in my trail shoes - Agil does have the SpeedVault plate, but still has some flex to it. Ultrafly is built for efficiency for very long ultra distances, if the ride works for you. Agil would be a better pick as a faster complement to Speedgoats. Speedgoats and the Ultrafly are similar shoes in terms of target distance/duration (not similar in ride though).
@@MikeP-RTR Thank you! You just saved me $100 extra dollars... I may try the Ultraflys to replace my speedgoats when they get retired. I'm getting these for now! Thanks again and great video.
Les Speedgoat.... je ne comprends pas ce qu'on leur trouve, elles ne sont pas plus adhérentes que mes Challenger et encore moins que mes Brookss Caldera. Et cette couture au niveau des tarses, elle me fait mal. J'ai dû faire une entaille dans le mesh.Non, vraiment pas pour moi les Speedgoat, du coup les Catamount me font de l'oeil
I don't get much mud by me so I can't really say. I'm sure Mudtalon would perform better in deep mud with deeper and wider spaced lugs. But I'm also sure the Agil would be much better and versatile for pure running.
Interesting one - I thought in my head right away that the stack is probably about the same, then I checked and it is - I've got the Naked at 26/21mm. 1mm less in the heel so 1mm less drop, negligible. The DNA foam in the Brooks is more dynamic and feels more responsive. Haven't run in the Naked in a while, but its a regular EVA and just feels firm. Very nice underfoot with it having a plate and does feel very fast. The upper doesn't breath well though, and of course having laces is much better. The collar of the Naked T/r also seals well, but it's rubbery, not knit and creases a bit in the "tongue" area. Generally speaking, the Agil upper is way better.
Would you recommend this shoes for OCR and Spartan Races? Very fast races with obstacles and a lot of technical ground. Another question: The plate Is made of Pebax right? Or carbon? Sorry for my english 😂
I think they could be good for OCR stuff - The fit is glove-like, and the midsole is thin which I think is a good factor for those races. I'm not sure if you'd want more flexibility underfoot though? I know VJ Spark was designed for OCR - that one has no plate and it's extremely flexible - not sure if that's better for obstacles and such. Catamout Agil is much, much better for actual running though
Why would someone choose the catamount AGIL's over the regular catamounts? Are the AGIL's a speed shoe and not meant for distance like the regular catamounts are? or maybe I have all of that wrong. I need some thoughts
I know this is for "shorter" distances and not actual short distances, but would this be good for like a 5k on like not exceedingly technical Midwest single track (i.e. some running up and down over train that's fun for bikes but no serious elevation)? Trying to figure out what to wear. Otherwise probably considering road 5k shoes if conditions are good or cross country shoes.
I think it would work just fine, but if not exceedingly technical you could get away with something more dynamic, bouncy, and fast. On the extreme end think of something like the Endorphin Edge which is one of the fastest trail shoes out, but the plate can make it difficult to handle in technical terrain without a lot of skill. But if more moderate, then you wouldn't have to worry about that.
PTP2 is much stiffer - in fact one of the stiffest trail shoes out I think. It's fast, but lacking in ground feel due to the stiffness - I and some of our other reviewers found them hazardous in technical terrain. I'm generally not a fan of such stiffness that the foot gets locked in a set position. I haven't tried the Zinal 2, but I think Jeff V has - he will be joining the upcoming written review.
@@joerucco2821 I definitely wouldn't put the Agil in the 100M class. Not enough underfoot. Perhaps the regular Catamount 3 if you're efficient. S/LAB Genesis is pretty awesome too if you like Salomon. Nowhere near as stiff as the PTP2 though. Check out my previous Genesis vs Genesis video for thoughts on those. Top technical ~100M trail running shoe for sure.
They feel about equally close to the ground, both with the same 6mm drop. I measured the Agil at 27mm under the heel and have the Kjerag listed at 23.5. Agil has higher lugs and not sure how Kjerag is measured. I'd say they're roughly the same stack height overall. Kjerag foam feels softer and its a more flexible shoe. It has a plate, so they say, but you would hardly notice it. Agil's plate is thicker, more protective and gives more impulse. Kjerag fit is much more spacious - it's quite wide in the forefoot, where the Agil wraps tighter. I've mentioned this before, but I really think the Kjerag is a quite minimalistic trail shoe. You need strong feet and legs to handle that one.
@@morganflockhart942 Kjerag is nice and snug around the midfoot, but definitely widens out in the toebox. Surely designed for more comfort and longer distances (if you're ok with the minimalistic underfoot feel). I'm hoping to try the new Adidas shoes too. Only a couple years ago the Speed Ultra was my favorite shoe, but so much new stuff has come out - they've kind of been left behind.
Hope you can review the Agravic Speed Trail (not the Ultra), haven’t seen any reviews of this model. Hoping it improves on the wonderful previous version
@@RoadTrailRun I bought the AST! This shoe is the real deal: I also have the Kjerag, and the Speed Trail beats it. First things first: Size down 1/2size from the previous version or your normal size. US12.5@10oz 1/2oz more than kjerag, so very light. More toebox room than the kjerag, not overly narrow across the metatarsals as the kjerag is. More and softer cushion, with a rocker that helps forward propulsion and makes it more 'fun' to run in than the kjerag. 8mm drop vs 6, I'd prefer 6mm for steep downhills. Same ungusseted tongue (very unhappy about this!) as kjerag, but smaller gaps in ankle collar & upper to let rocks in. Laces that don't come undone, unlike kjerag. The TST is happier on smooth to moderate trails, but I did 3hours on steep fairly rocky singletrack yesterday with no serious complaints, no toe-banging or underfoot pains. Do use heel-lock to keep the heel stable. $40 cheaper than the kjerag!
Exactly the review I was waiting for! I have both the OG Pulsar and the SG version but find them a little tall and unstable on technical terrain… so I bought the VJ XTRM2. I love how more and more companies are putting built-in gaiters in their shoes. Again, Salomon was leading the way in innovation. The Agile may well be my first Brooks show! Thanks a lot Mike for the thorough comparisons. Super helpful. Greeting from Montreal… where we have LESS snow than you do!
Crazy! We've been pretty cold through the beginning of March and a decent amount of snow higher up
Excellent test. Like from Spain. Have a great day .
I took the MaxX2 out for a 11 mile 2600ft vertical run in mostly mud/snowpack/slush and they did great. Traction was spot on. Cushion was good, I wouldn’t take them on anything longer than 20 miles. Much better than the ultra max2 , very similar underfoot feel as the peregrine 13 but WAY better traction.
Ultra Max2? I think MAXx2 is a way better shoe than the Peregrine 13 across the board
@@MikeP-RTR VJ Ultra 2 And I like the 13s upper and heel counter a lot more than the MaxX2 I’m not sold on the fit lock system. I did notice it dug into my foot. It didn’t stop me from running but it was noticeable. The 13 i had no issues with except the traction was horrid in wet conditions
@@rescuedfriendsanimalsanctu8481 The foam in the Ultra 2 is nowhere near the level of the new MAXx2 foam. The MAXx2 upper as a whole, aside from subjective fit issues, is a massive improvement from the Ultra 2. I find the Fitlock more noticeable and useful in the Lightspeed, with it's narrower platform. I thought I heard at some point that the Fitlock was useful and more durable for climbing ropes in OCR. Perhaps they just keep it as a signature feature. I do tend to like under-arch support so a little extra hold at the instep is fine for me.
@@MikeP-RTR agree 100% the foam is superior to the Ultra2, night and day difference!
Brilliant review! Trying these out this week hopefully.
Would love to hear what you think!
excellent review! I'm on the fence with these or the Nike Ultrafly, but for $100 less, after seeing this, I think i'm going with these. If you've ever run in the ultraflys I'd appreciate hearing your comparison of the two. I'm mostly 10-15 mile runner and have been using Hoka speedgoats for training runs, but have been looking for something with more impulse for race days. I'll still do my regular runs in speedgoats (i'm old and love the cushion) but would like something with a bit of punch for race days.
These are a totally different shoe than the Ultrafly - those were a big disappointment to me. Very very soft cushion, but stiff as a brick, no flex at all, also surprisingly heavy. Some people like them though, but they don't work for me at all. I like at least some flex in my trail shoes - Agil does have the SpeedVault plate, but still has some flex to it. Ultrafly is built for efficiency for very long ultra distances, if the ride works for you. Agil would be a better pick as a faster complement to Speedgoats. Speedgoats and the Ultrafly are similar shoes in terms of target distance/duration (not similar in ride though).
@@MikeP-RTR Thank you! You just saved me $100 extra dollars... I may try the Ultraflys to replace my speedgoats when they get retired. I'm getting these for now! Thanks again and great video.
Les Speedgoat.... je ne comprends pas ce qu'on leur trouve, elles ne sont pas plus adhérentes que mes Challenger et encore moins que mes Brookss Caldera. Et cette couture au niveau des tarses, elle me fait mal. J'ai dû faire une entaille dans le mesh.Non, vraiment pas pour moi les Speedgoat, du coup les Catamount me font de l'oeil
Nice review. How do these compare to a Mudtalon?
I don't get much mud by me so I can't really say. I'm sure Mudtalon would perform better in deep mud with deeper and wider spaced lugs. But I'm also sure the Agil would be much better and versatile for pure running.
@@MikeP-RTR thanks, appreciate your response. 👌
Thank you! How does it compare to the Naked T/r, an all-time favorite perhaps of RoadTrailRun?
Interesting one - I thought in my head right away that the stack is probably about the same, then I checked and it is - I've got the Naked at 26/21mm. 1mm less in the heel so 1mm less drop, negligible. The DNA foam in the Brooks is more dynamic and feels more responsive. Haven't run in the Naked in a while, but its a regular EVA and just feels firm. Very nice underfoot with it having a plate and does feel very fast. The upper doesn't breath well though, and of course having laces is much better. The collar of the Naked T/r also seals well, but it's rubbery, not knit and creases a bit in the "tongue" area. Generally speaking, the Agil upper is way better.
@@MikeP-RTR very much obliged! Greetings from Falcon Ridge, CO.
@@MikeP-RTR just ordered on your endorsement. Thanks again.
Would you recommend this shoes for OCR and Spartan Races?
Very fast races with obstacles and a lot of technical ground.
Another question:
The plate Is made of Pebax right? Or carbon?
Sorry for my english 😂
I think they could be good for OCR stuff - The fit is glove-like, and the midsole is thin which I think is a good factor for those races. I'm not sure if you'd want more flexibility underfoot though? I know VJ Spark was designed for OCR - that one has no plate and it's extremely flexible - not sure if that's better for obstacles and such. Catamout Agil is much, much better for actual running though
Not sure the exact material, some type of plastic, not carbon.
Why would someone choose the catamount AGIL's over the regular catamounts? Are the AGIL's a speed shoe and not meant for distance like the regular catamounts are? or maybe I have all of that wrong. I need some thoughts
Clearly a more speed shoe shorter distance than regular Cat for most.
I know this is for "shorter" distances and not actual short distances, but would this be good for like a 5k on like not exceedingly technical Midwest single track (i.e. some running up and down over train that's fun for bikes but no serious elevation)? Trying to figure out what to wear. Otherwise probably considering road 5k shoes if conditions are good or cross country shoes.
I think it would work just fine, but if not exceedingly technical you could get away with something more dynamic, bouncy, and fast. On the extreme end think of something like the Endorphin Edge which is one of the fastest trail shoes out, but the plate can make it difficult to handle in technical terrain without a lot of skill. But if more moderate, then you wouldn't have to worry about that.
How would the agil compare to the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro 2 and the Hoka Zinal 2?
PTP2 is much stiffer - in fact one of the stiffest trail shoes out I think. It's fast, but lacking in ground feel due to the stiffness - I and some of our other reviewers found them hazardous in technical terrain. I'm generally not a fan of such stiffness that the foot gets locked in a set position. I haven't tried the Zinal 2, but I think Jeff V has - he will be joining the upcoming written review.
@@MikeP-RTR Thanks! I used the PTP2 for a 100 mile OCR and looking for the next pair for that type of effort
@@joerucco2821 I definitely wouldn't put the Agil in the 100M class. Not enough underfoot. Perhaps the regular Catamount 3 if you're efficient. S/LAB Genesis is pretty awesome too if you like Salomon. Nowhere near as stiff as the PTP2 though. Check out my previous Genesis vs Genesis video for thoughts on those. Top technical ~100M trail running shoe for sure.
Compared to nnormal kjerag?
They feel about equally close to the ground, both with the same 6mm drop. I measured the Agil at 27mm under the heel and have the Kjerag listed at 23.5. Agil has higher lugs and not sure how Kjerag is measured. I'd say they're roughly the same stack height overall. Kjerag foam feels softer and its a more flexible shoe. It has a plate, so they say, but you would hardly notice it. Agil's plate is thicker, more protective and gives more impulse. Kjerag fit is much more spacious - it's quite wide in the forefoot, where the Agil wraps tighter. I've mentioned this before, but I really think the Kjerag is a quite minimalistic trail shoe. You need strong feet and legs to handle that one.
@@MikeP-RTRDamn I thought the Kjerag was snug 😢no chance for me looks like i ll save my money for Adidas Speed Agravic Terrex Ultra
@@morganflockhart942 Kjerag is nice and snug around the midfoot, but definitely widens out in the toebox. Surely designed for more comfort and longer distances (if you're ok with the minimalistic underfoot feel). I'm hoping to try the new Adidas shoes too. Only a couple years ago the Speed Ultra was my favorite shoe, but so much new stuff has come out - they've kind of been left behind.
@@MikeP-RTR Yeah 100% agree April release for the Adidas here in 🇦🇺!!
Does the Agil have a removable insole?
It's removable, but mine is glued down pretty well, not just a couple dabs of glue. You could get it out if you want to.
j'ai lu une critique où la semelle est très difficile à enlever
Hope you can review the Agravic Speed Trail (not the Ultra), haven’t seen any reviews of this model. Hoping it improves on the wonderful previous version
We are hoping too! Hard to get samples of this one.
@@RoadTrailRun I bought the AST! This shoe is the real deal: I also have the Kjerag, and the Speed Trail beats it. First things first: Size down 1/2size from the previous version or your normal size. US12.5@10oz 1/2oz more than kjerag, so very light. More toebox room than the kjerag, not overly narrow across the metatarsals as the kjerag is. More and softer cushion, with a rocker that helps forward propulsion and makes it more 'fun' to run in than the kjerag. 8mm drop vs 6, I'd prefer 6mm for steep downhills. Same ungusseted tongue (very unhappy about this!) as kjerag, but smaller gaps in ankle collar & upper to let rocks in. Laces that don't come undone, unlike kjerag. The TST is happier on smooth to moderate trails, but I did 3hours on steep fairly rocky singletrack yesterday with no serious complaints, no toe-banging or underfoot pains. Do use heel-lock to keep the heel stable. $40 cheaper than the kjerag!
Nice comparison section , think I'm going to give the longsky 2 a go.
On that terrain you might as well use road shoes. In my country people would laugh if you called that "technical trail".
there are douchebags in every country lol