Vasque Pendulum II
MSRP: $119.99 (BUY NOW)
WEIGHT: 10.2 oz (per shoe)
COLORS: Black Olive/Green Glow, Black/Blazing Yellow
AVAILABLE: full range of Men’s & Women’s sizes
CONSTRUCTION: synthetic one piece bonded air mesh upper, flux foam footbed, midsole of dual density EVA & a molded TPU plate
DESIGNED FOR: trail running, distance running, hot weather running
WHAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS TO SAY: “The Middle Way, or so the Buddha taught. For those of us not rocking full cushioning, but also requiring more in a shoe than a minimalist model, we craft the Pendulum II. We achieve climate control with a one-piece mesh upper for maximum breathability. The upper is also completely bonded, so no stitching to chafe or rub. The perfect hot-weather shoe? We think so. A segmented TPU rock guard flexes naturally and dual-density EVA strikes the right balance for you mindful devotees.”
The summit of Humphreys Peak, Arizona’s highest point at 12,637′.
The latest trail running offering from the Vasque, the Pendulum II, is an incredible versatile shoe that has earned its place in the EEXP overland adventuremobile. Besides being a quality trail runner, the shoe also works great as a light hiker, mtn bike shoe and as everyday kicks.
I’ve thoroughly put these shoes through the ringer over the past few months. I’ve worn them countless times as my everyday shoe, put in over 30 miles of trail running in them, over 40 miles of road running, hiked over 73 miles in them and used them as mtn biking shoes a handful of times. This usage has been on a HUGE variety of terrain ranging from the AZ desert, rolling mountains of Idaho, steep rocky trails of Colorado, muddy Vermont forest roads and rolling countryside of rural Maryland.
The summit of Mt Elbert, Colorado’s highest peak, at 14,440′.
Flatirons 1 & 2 hike in Boulder, CO.
I found the shoes to actually be quite uncomfortable out of the box, but they broke in quickly and are now quite comfy in nearly all conditions. The Pendulum II has a flexible one piece upper that conforms to your individual foot shape and offers seamless construction, which eliminates hot spots and improves comfort. The sole has just enough cushion for long runs, long hikes and light backpacking, and also offers great protection from roots and rocks.
The sole provides great traction and feel on flat mtn bike pedals.
I have to admit that while there are a few things coming apart on these shoes, I’m still really impressed with their durability. I have used them in lots of scree slopes and tough rocky and rooted trails. I also have a tendency to not pick up my feet fully when I get tired on the trail, which causes much more wear and tear than usual. The only real wear points have been the toe wrap coming a bit unglued and a hole forming where the pinky toe knuckle meets the shoe. Both of these issues are mostly from me being lazy with my foot placement late into runs and hikes when I’m exhausted. A few of the lugs on the bottom of the shoes are also chunking and showing wear, but I believe this to be mostly from the road running and mtn biking use, which these shoes are not designed for, but working surprisingly well at.
PROS:
Comfort on the trail
Versatility
Sole provides great feel and protection on the trail
Blue Lake hike in Telluride, CO.
CONS:
Not the lightest trail runner
Traction in snow and slimy mud is lacking
Break-in period required for optimum comfort
The Vasque Pendulum II is a shoe that does everything it was designed for well, and a whole lot more. Every piece of gear that makes its way into my vehicle needs to have multiple uses, as space and weight are real considerations when traveling full time. This shoe has earned its place in my gear quiver, and I’m sure will endure through many more miles of abuse on the road, on the trail and around town.
(Disclaimer: The Vasque Pendulum II was provided to Exploring Elements for review consideration.)
