Coming from a company with over 40 years in the footwear business, it’s no surprise that the Vasque Pendulum is able to offer everything you could want in a trail runner. It’s light, yet durable. There’s a minimalist feel with plenty of protection. The sole is tough but flexible, with some cushioning. Deep lugs provide traction, while you still feel close to the ground. It even looks more expensive than it is.
Vasque offers a lot of performance in the Pendulum, which is their lightest shoe. They point out that shoes for trail running have swung from heavy designs that provided a workout of their own, to the minimalist “barefooters” that certainly weren’t for everyone, and offered very little in the way of protection from the debris encountered on trails. As more practical thinking prevailed, shoe designs returned to the middle ground, so to speak. And at the center of those extremes is the Vasque Pendulum.
Built around their Immerse 360 last, the Vasque Pendulum forgoes symmetry to put your foot in a position that allows it to move more naturally. Runners with high arches will find extra comfort, while the slender heel pocket fits most foot shapes and sizes snugly. The result is a shoe that fits well and provides plenty of support, while at the same time allowing the muscles, tendons, and 26 bones of your foot to work well together. A direct consequence is stronger feet, which in turn leads to better performance. Yes, happy feet are faster feet.
I am by no means a hardcore runner. Possessing all the grace of a linebacker, I imagine each footfall registers on the Richter scale. But since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed a good run on a dirt trail. Throw in some obstacles or areas with sketchy traction, and I’ll call it a fun time. So I tried out the Vasque Pendulum on the three main surfaces found in Utah’s Wasatch range – dry and dusty, sharp and rocky, plus wet and slippery. Out of the box, I noticed the Pendulums fit great, which isn’t always the case. No hot spots, and no slipping. Having worn shoes with mostly flat, flexible soles for over two years now, I rarely give the mechanics of walking or running much thought. But once on the trail, I felt like the Pendulums seemed to be actively encouraging a proper midfoot/forefoot strike. Traction was excellent, with only the percentage of grade, not the surface, slowing me down. Over a bed of broken rock, I found the soles did a good job of blunting the occasional sharp and pointed surface. I could feel them, but they didn’t cause any discomfort. That was the EVA midsole and TPU plate doing their respective jobs.
On a shelf in my home office, I have about a half dozen pairs of similar shoes, but the Vasque Pendulum is my new favorite. I’m fussy about sizing, and equally concerned about overall comfort. The Pendulum is a trail running shoe that doesn’t let me down on either front. And when I get out on the trails, that combination of fit and traction creates confidence-inspiring stability, even in a big guy like me. As I like to say, that’s a win. vasque.com
– Brian
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a pair of the Vasque Pendulum trail runners for free from Vasque, in consideration for review publication