lululemon launches blissful trail: First road-to-trail running shoe

lululemon brought us the very comfortable blissful 2 running shoe earlier this year, the second iteration of their popular runner with a new and improved fit and feel. Now comes the Canadian brand’s first-ever road-to-trail women’s running shoe, the blissful trail.

The shoe was designed for athletes who find themselves on varying terrain — providing ample support from the pavement to the forest to the beachside path.

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I got my hands (feet) on an advanced pair of the blissful trail to review them before they hit the market. Overall, I really like their traction, support and comfort — read my thoughts below to help determine if these are the right shoes for you.

The soles were grippy on dirt, rock and road. Photo by Postmedia

Price: $198
Available: May 23, 2023 – online and select stores across Canada
Sizing: True to size
Features:

Designed based on the female foot
Engineered with an upper that feels like a supportive extension of your foot, featuring a protective overlay for durability
Offers directional traction and a heavy outsole to enhance grip from road to trail
Tuned foam cushioning softens landings and springs you forward on every step
Five colourways available: Baked Clay, Black and White, Faded Zap, Florid Orange, Violet Verbena
Weight: 276g/9.7oz US Women’s Size 8
Heel drop: 9.5mm

What I love: I tested the blissfeel trail’s in forested terrain and on granite rock, specifically while hiking The Chief in Squamish, B.C. I like the lugged outsole and the cushiony support. The extension of the outsole (it’s wide) made me feel very supported on both the road, rock and forested areas. The sole maintains a comfortable and reliable grip on both dry and moist trails. I felt confident as I jogged, but note — I do not consider myself a runner. For me — a beginner — these felt perfect. They were excellent on my varied hike and very grippy on the small rock scrabble at the top of the summit. The extra foam cushioning allowed me to go from the hike to the pub for a celebration and my feet were happy the entire time.

What to note: The blissful trails are an excellent shoe for beginner to intermediate trail runners. These are built for comfort. If speed and performance are your ultimate goals, try the Hoka Speedgoat or the Norda 001.

Where to buy: lululemon