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When longtime French running clothing brand Satisfy announced its new trail running shoe, TheRocker, I hoped that it would be just as technically competent and stylish as the rest of its offerings. The brand has been around since 2015 and has found a foothold in the running world thanks to its vibey aesthetic and well-designed apparel. But it’s no small feat to go from primarily making shorts and t-shirts to creating a running shoe from scratch, and I had my reservations. Fashion-forward (albeit performance-worthy) run clothing is one thing, but a load-bearing, structural item like a running shoe is something else entirely.
While style may be what Satisfy is most known for, it’d be a misstep to ignore its technical nous by viewing it as merely a fashion brand. Almost every item from Satisfy is made with some sort of proprietary material or technology, and, even though I’ve been skeptical, I’ve found that wearing any piece of Satisfy running apparel for a few weeks has convinced me that its innovations are no marketing tactic nor high-fashion hand waving: They truly perform.
Exceptional running apparel notwithstanding, making a trail running shoe in a very crowded category is a risky proposition. Sure, my skepticism eased somewhat when I found out that Satisfy had brought on former Salomon and North Face designer Jean-Marc Djian as its VP of Footwear to spearhead TheRocker’s development. But until I was able to try the shoe, I held any optimism close to the vest. When my test pair arrived a couple of weeks ago, though, I knew right away these were something special.
Satisfy TheRocker Review
Weight: 9.9 oz (Men’s US 8.5)
Stack Heights: 32–27 mm
Heel-to-toe Drop: 5 mm
Price: $290
At a Glance
Pros:
- Super-shoe-worthy, soft-and-bouncy PEBA/EVA-blend midsole foam
- New Vibram outsole provides excellent grip across all types of trails
- Upper is very secure
Cons:
- Some rubbing around the achilles for the first few runs
- Some may prefer more robust toe protection on techy trails
- Thick, bouncy sole may feel unstable to some
What’s New:
This is the first Satisfy shoe, so everything is new, but here are some technical highlights.
- Satisfy collaborated with Vibram on a brand-new outsole, one they’re calling TuneLug with round, four-millimeter lugs, made to mimic the tires of an RC car.
- The Euforia midsole uses a proprietary blend of PEBA and EVA foams, providing a squishy, responsive ride designed to give road-shoe comfort on the trails.
- The upper, another proprietary material made for Satisfy, is called Rippy 66 Monomesh. It is resistant to abrasions, breathable, and provides enough structure for confidence while climbing and descending in my testing.
Satisfy TheRocker: First Impressions
I’ve been testing TheRocker for about two weeks now. I first went on a few long neighborhood walks to get a feel for the shoes and do any breaking-in that might be required, then hit the trails. I took them out for a couple of short 3-4 mile runs near my house in L.A. and one big two-and-a-half hour excursion into the Angeles National Forest where I encountered steep climbs and descents, rocky, rutty trails, and a decent amount of hard-packed fire road.
My local road-to-trail routes gave me an opportunity to test out TheRocker’s comfort levels on the sidewalk. I found that the roll off the shoe’s rocker shape felt propulsive and fast when picking up the pace, and that the midsole foam delivered on its stated purpose: to give the runner the exceptional energy return and plush cushioning they are used to with road shoes. If you blindfolded me, I’d think the midsole came directly off of a super shoe or super trainer that I’d normally wear for a speed workout on the road.
While the shoe was comfortable for road running, trails are, predictably, where TheRocker really performs. The outsole provided insane grip going up steep, loose scrambles, while also giving me a ton of confidence when running downhill. The four-millimeter lugs are almost like little cleats: I felt like I was able to really lock into the dirt and push forward without worrying about any slippage.
While the foam in the midsole has plenty of squish for comfort across long distances, it isn’t so thick that I couldn’t feel the ground underneath my feet, giving me confidence while ascending and descending trails. That said, the ride is more that of a plushly dampened luxury sedan than a tightly tuned sports coupe: you know where the ground is, but you’re not feeling every contour or reacting immediately to the terrain underfoot.
The off-road competence comes from more than just the shoe’s midsole and outsole. The upper is secure, exceptionally light, and super breathable, even on exhaustingly hot days spent in the chaparral surrounding Los Angeles. The hold is a little tight around the midfoot, but I have wide feet, so this is to be expected. In fact, I actually prefer the snugness, as it provides a secure fit that adds even more confidence when descending. It took some time to get the asymmetrical lacing right, but once I did, I was able to set off on tricky terrain without thinking for a second about grip, allowing me to focus on picking the right line or recovering from a lung-busting climb. I also really love the heel cup, which is deep enough to feel secure without ever needing to fuss with a heel lock or tying my laces extra tight.
Finally, a note for runners with high arches like me. I normally ditch a running shoe’s factory insole the second I get them in favor of a high-arch Superfeet insole. However, with TheRocker, I don’t feel like I need to do that. (I always wear shoes that I’m testing for at least a few miles with their factory insoles.) When I put the shoes on for the first time, my arches felt supported, and still do after putting in some miles. This is a little thing, but swapping insoles can be annoying and adds an extra cost on top of an already expensive pair of shoes.
Speaking of expensive: these shoes are going to run you $290. This isn’t egregious by today’s standards, but is still something to seriously consider. I like the shoes quite a lot so far, but that price point is difficult to stomach.
Satisfy TheRocker: Who Is It For?
TheRocker is tailor-made for trail runners who want a shoe with a bouncy, highly cushioned ride that feels fast and comfortable across long distances, can handle a variety of trail types, and won’t give in at the first sign of adversity. I could easily see myself wearing these for a fast trail half marathon one weekend and a long, back-breaking ultra marathon the next.
Runners who combine a few miles on the road or sidewalk en route to their local trails will appreciate the shoe’s versatility, and runners with high arches will value the extra support. Those who prefer a firm connection with the ground, find that a significant trampoline-like rebound interferes with their stride, or need a wider, looser fit should look elsewhere.
Similar Shoes: Arc’teryx Sylan, Craft PureTrail Pro, Norda 005, Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide