New Balance 1110 Trail Shoes

My walking shoe wardrobe was missing one item -- a waterproof trail shoe. Now I have one. The New Balance 1110GT is a trail running shoe designed to be both waterproof and stable. Yet, it is fairly lightweight and quite flexible. My bunion had no complaints with the seamless upper. The shoe comes in widths (narrow, regular, wide) and both men's and women's versions. It is made on the SL-1 last for a standard fit. It's closest predecessor was the NB808, which was also one of my favorites, but not waterproof like the 1110.

Trail running shoes are great to wear when walking on natural surfaces. The New Balance 1110GT is waterproof and stable. A Rock Stop plate in the midfoot protects your foot from sharp objects. It is flat, flexible, and doesn't have a flared heel.

Upper
The seamless upper is lined with Gore-Tex XCR to make it both waterproof and smooth inside. The tongue is gusseted to keep out rocks and trail debris. This is a regular-cut shoe rather than a high top or boot, so you will be dry for splashes but not for stream crossings. The toes are protected from impact with a toe shield, which also helps keep out dirt and moisture.

Fit
The 1110GT comes in narrow, regular and wide versions for both men and women. The sausage-shaped Sure Laces are extra long so you can use every eyelet when you lace it, giving you a good fit.

Trail and Town
The 1110GT has a tread pattern that does well on natural trails. It has a Rock Stop plate in the midfoot so you shouldn't feel rocks or roots poking through on rough trails. It works well "off the trail" as well. I wore the women's blue and gray version to work without getting any comments.

Performance
I often warn my walking buddies when I am wearing a heavy pair of "slow shoes." But the 1110GT don't weigh me down. The seamless upper is a joy to wear all day. As soon as I bought the shoes, our torrential rains ceased. I'll still be testing their waterproof qualities, but a walk in rain showers and through wet grass produced no leakage.