Haglöfs LIM Intense Trail Low

Surprise after surprise, that's how this review turned out. When I opened the box my first impulse was to curse Haglofs; at this point in the movie my feet and ankles are looking for another type of company, but love at second sight exists. The lime color typical of the top of the range L.I.M. (Less Is More) products, their shiny mesh and, above all, their minimalist design, make them irresistible.

The tongue is minimal and devoid of any creases or wrinkles, the padding is practically non-existent and the insole is sufficiently soft and comfortable despite not being removable. The matching flat laces fit perfectly and the imminently low-profile sole has some very suggestive studs of ASICS origin!

To put them on you have to loosen the laces. They are very comfortable. The interior padding is non-existent except for the heel pad where it protects the insertion of the Achilles tendon. Once knotted they are not at all invasive, the fit is more regular than it looks and against all odds, they feel cushioned. They are authentic trail running ballerinas, in the style of the mythical SENSE, but with a greater sense of protection and comfort because the flat lace is much friendlier than the quicklace thread. They have a plate system oriented to stability and protection that is not at all invasive or rigid. Drop of 5mm, ideal for a good "ground" feeling. These are running shoes and ooze quality from every side.

Ideal trail runner type

These Haglofs are designed for fast runners, with good foot strike technique and proprioception, of medium/light weight. Insist that the cushioning is high in proportion to the thickness of foam and although it can support a change of insole for another anatomical type, its spirit is not this. It is a nice trail shoe for those who want to run short or medium distances on technical terrain, the perception of the terrain is sima good, in exchange for having calves able to read and support this work. It is intermediate, it holds, but does not suffocate. It is convenient to take some time to mold them, because in its minimalism, they lack padding and although they have anti-friction material, the collar touches under the malleoli of the ankle, which may cause some minor chafing.

Type of terrain

Their ideal habitat is technical terrain, for athletes with previous experience. They are very reminiscent of the Salomon Sense and its successive variants. Their "barefoot" DNA and low drop combined with good protection, help to overcome sections of stone, rock and rough trails if we have previously done the right training work. In addition, they come with 3 to 4mm lugs as standard, and in the presence of mud they work wonders, without blinding at any time. The hardest test has been the Zegama-Aizkorri 2024, in the sections of Aratz and Oltze, with areas of dry and wet rock, dry trails and others with intermediate amounts of mud, and their behavior has always been noble, with excellent grip on all terrains.

In soft terrain they are remarkable and the only thing they should avoid are fast and hard tracks, simply because they are not designed for it. By the way, the limited cushioning and the extraordinary mesh upper allow them to evacuate all sweat and water and they never get heavy or relocate the feet, making them perfectly amphibious. Finally, with their low drop and fair protection, their range of action reaches from short feelcrosses to technical races of no more than 2h-2h30'.

Haglöfs LIM Intense Trail Low Rivals

Its rivals are those shoes aimed at technical terrain. Undoubtedly they are directly confronted with the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 3 which wins in protection. Comparable to the La Sportiva Kaptiva, already discontinued in favor of the Bushido (protection but excessive weight) or Helios (excellent on rock, not suitable for mud). In appearance, another rival would be the Asics Fuji Speed 2, but it has nothing to do because the Japanese are for very fast running on easy terrain.

The Haglofs LIM Intense Trail (LIMIT) is a lightweight, technical and fast shoe for alpine terrain. It stands out for its excellent grip on all types of terrain, both rock and mud, and its enormous amphibious capacity because it does not retain water. They are stable thanks to their low drop and the forefoot plate that also helps, being of tight cushioning. The finishes are delicious, everything is high quality minimalism, highlighting the high strength mesh and suede-like lining. They are shoes that serve 100% for what they are designed for, eliminating everything superfluous and keeping just enough for those who want to enjoy the sensations of the mountain directly.