Rossignol Vercors Trail Running Shoe Review: 300+ Miles Tested

When I first got the Rossignol Vercors Trail Running Shoes, I was curious. Rossignol is a brand I have used plenty for skiing, but I had spent no time running in Rossignol trail shoes. After putting more than 300 miles on the Vercors across the Wasatch of Utah, in the Tetons of Wyoming, the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and a wide variety of terrain, I can confidently say that Rossignol has made a legitimately good trail running shoe.

While the Vercors isn’t the lightest or most technical trail shoe I’ve used, it excels at something that I think is incredibly valuable: long-distance trail running on everything from smooth dirt to loose rock, mud, wet rock, and semi-technical trails.

And the outsole is the star of the show.

Where to Buy the Rossignol Vercors

The Vercors is available in both men’s and women’s versions. Here are several places to find it:

• Buy the Men’s Rossignol Vercors from Rossignol
• Buy the Women’s Rossignol Vercors from Rossignol
• Buy the Women’s Vercors from Backcountry
• Buy the Men’s Vercors from Backcountry

Quick Pros & Cons

300+ Miles of Real-World Testing

I’ve now put more than 300 miles on the Vercors, primarily running trails throughout the Wasatch of Utah.

That means they’ve seen just about everything: dry dirt, rocky trails, loose terrain, mud, wet rock, steep climbs, steep descents, and plenty of elevation gain.

I’ve also taken them on several runs longer than 15 miles with significant vertical gain. After all of that use, they’re still very much usable. There is visible wear on the outsole, toe protection, and upper, but I would estimate that I still have roughly another 200 miles of useful life in this pair.

For the amount of mileage they’ve seen, I would consider the wear completely normal and pacing as a bit more durable than most other shoes.

The Best Thing About the Vercors: Traction

The thing that has impressed me most about the Vercors is undoubtedly the DuraGrip Ultra outsole.

Rossignol uses a 4mm lug pattern designed for mixed terrain, and after hundreds of miles, I think they found an excellent middle ground. The manufacturer specifically designed the outsole for grip across rock, mud, wet surfaces, and mixed terrain. In my testing, that versatility is one of the shoe’s biggest strengths.

Normally, I find that trail shoes tend to have a specialty. A shoe that performs incredibly well in mud may not be particularly impressive on wet rock. A shoe with excellent rock traction may not have enough bite in loose dirt.

The Vercors somehow manages to do both.

I’ve been very impressed with the traction on wet rock, which is something I value tremendously when running in the Wasatch. The shoes also perform extremely well on loose dirt and mud.

Even on steep, loose descents, I feel confident in the outsole.

If I had to pick one reason to buy this shoe, it would probably be the outsole.

Long-Distance Comfort

The Vercors is designed specifically around long-distance running, and that becomes obvious after spending several hours in the shoes.

The cushioning feels relatively soft without being overly mushy. There isn’t a huge amount of ground feel, but there is enough feedback to keep the shoe from feeling completely disconnected from the trail.

For me, this is a long-distance cruiser rather than a racing shoe.

That’s not a criticism. In fact, it’s exactly what I want from a shoe when I’m going out for a long mountain run and don’t need to prioritize every possible gram.

I’ve run several 15+ mile trail runs with significant elevation gain in the Vercors, and they’ve remained comfortable throughout.

How the Vercors Fits

I found the Vercors to be true to size, although my pair felt maybe a quarter-size larger than what I’m accustomed to in my usual men’s 10.5.

The toe box is one of my favorite aspects of the fit. There’s plenty of room for my toes without the shoe feeling sloppy. The slightly roomy toe box is likely contributing to me feeling like the shoe is a quarter sized larger than my other 10.5 shoes.

I have a standard-width foot, and I experienced:

• No hot spots
• No heel slipping
• Plenty of toe room
• A comfortable fit over long distances

Rossignol describes the Vercors as having a roomy, comfortable fit and recommends taking your regular size for a secure fit (I do as well).

Protection Without Feeling Overbuilt

The Vercors feels like a mid-weight trail shoe. It isn’t something I would describe as ultralight, but it doesn’t feel heavy on the foot either.

That tradeoff works well for what this shoe is designed to do.

You get a protective shoe that feels comfortable for hours without feeling like you’re carrying around a tank on your feet.

The Vercors also uses Rossignol’s Diapazon Shield X-LT protective system and an anti-torsion bar. The goal is to provide additional protection and stability while maintaining a comfortable long-distance ride.

Interestingly, I don’t really notice the plate or anti-torsion system while running. And I think that’s a good thing.

It doesn’t feel like the shoe is forcing me into a particular stride or giving me an overly rigid sensation. It simply provides a stable platform underneath my feet.

How Technical Can You Get?

This is probably where I would draw the line with the Vercors.

I’ve run plenty of technical trails in them without problems, but they wouldn’t be my first choice for the most technical terrain.

The combination of cushioning, protection, and relatively limited ground feel means I prefer the Vercors on non-technical to semi-technical trails.

That said, the traction makes them surprisingly capable when conditions get difficult. If the trail is loose, muddy, wet, or slippery, I have a lot of confidence in the outsole.

For a long trail run that includes some technical sections but is primarily dirt, rock, and mixed terrain, these work extremely well.

Durability After 300+ Miles

After more than 300 miles, the Vercors is showing wear, but nothing that concerns me.

The outsole has visible wear, as do the upper and toe protection, but everything is wearing relatively evenly. Given the mileage I’ve put on them, I would consider the durability very good.

I estimate that I still have approximately another 200 miles of usable life left in this pair (so about 500 miles total).

That’s obviously going to vary depending on terrain, running style, and how hard you are on shoes, but I’m impressed with how they’ve held up.

The One Design Detail I Don’t Love

My biggest complaint with the Vercors is the size of the heel section on the outsole.

The heel extends farther back than I would prefer, and I think that creates a little bit of an awkward extension when you’re moving through highly technical terrain.

It’s not a dealbreaker, and I’ve still run plenty of technical trails in the shoes. But if I were designing the shoe specifically for technical mountain running, this is one area I would change.

Fortunately, most of the places where the Vercors performs best don’t require that level of technical maneuverability.

Would I Use the Vercors for an Ultra?

Absolutely.

In fact, I think this is one of the areas where the Vercors makes the most sense.

If I’m running an ultra on a course that is primarily dirt, gravel, moderate rock, and mixed trail, I would have no hesitation using these for any distance.

The combination of comfort, cushioning, protection, durability, and exceptional traction makes a lot of sense when you’re going to be on your feet for many hours.

I wouldn’t choose them because they’re the fastest or lightest shoe available. I’d choose them because I know I can spend hours in them and trust the outsole when conditions get sloppy.

Who Should Buy the Rossignol Vercors?

I think the ideal Vercors runner is someone who wants a stable, protective shoe for long mountain runs rather than the lightest possible racing shoe.

I’d recommend them for:

• Long-distance trail runners
• Ultra runners
• Runners who frequently encounter wet or slippery trails
• Runners who want a comfortable, roomy fit
• People who want one shoe for a wide variety of trail conditions
• Runners who prioritize traction and durability over minimal weight

Is the Rossignol Vercors Worth the Price?

The Vercors has a relatively high MSRP. Rossignol currently lists the men’s Vercors at $160, although pricing and sales can vary.

Personally, I don’t pay MSRP for trail running shoes. There are enough sales and deals available that I generally think it’s worth shopping around.

With any sale, I think the Vercors is a very compelling value.

You’re getting a high-quality shoe with excellent durability, legitimate long-distance comfort, and an outsole that I think is among the most versatile I’ve tested.

Rossignol Vercors Specifications

Rossignol’s published specifications list the men’s Vercors at 290 g and the women’s version at 255 g, with a 6 mm drop, 32 mm stack, and 4 mm lugs.

Final Verdict: 8.5/10

After more than 300 miles, I’m genuinely impressed with the Rossignol Vercors.

I went into this review curious about what Rossignol could bring to trail running, and I came away with a shoe that I would absolutely put into my regular trail running rotation.

It’s not perfect. I don’t love the extended heel outsole, and I wouldn’t choose it over a more technical shoe when I’m heading into extremely technical terrain.

But for long-distance trail running, the Vercors is excellent.

The cushioning is comfortable for hours, the fit is roomy without being sloppy, the shoe has held up extremely well through 300+ miles, and the DuraGrip Ultra outsole is outstanding.

That last point is what really separates the Vercors for me. Being able to run confidently on wet rock, loose dirt, mud, and everything in between is incredibly valuable.

I’d buy these again.

If you’re looking for a shoe that can eat up long miles, protect your feet, and give you confidence when the trail gets wet and slippery, the Rossignol Vercors deserves a serious look.

My rating: 8.5/10

*Disclaimer: I use affiliate links, therefore, if you make a purchase through our links, I receive a small kickback. I do my best to be completely impartial, and give my honest, unbiased opinions.