Decathlon Evadict MT Cushion 2 Review: A Dependable All-Round Trail Shoe

Introduction

Decathlon’s Evadict MT Cushion 2 is the brand’s flagship trail running shoe, priced at 90 pounds in the UK or 100 euros in Europe. It is built as an all-rounder that can handle both firm and soft ground, and after 50k of testing across forest trails, canal towpaths, steep grassy hills and one faster session, it has proven itself as a dependable, good-value option for the kind of trail running most people actually do.

What the Evadict MT Cushion 2 Is Designed For

The MT Cushion 2 weighs 307 grams (10.8 ounces) in UK size 9, with a 4mm drop and a reasonably low stack height of 22mm at the heel and 18mm at the forefoot. The upper uses mesh sections around the toe box, a padded tongue and heel, plenty of structure around the heel for stability, a protective toe bumper and a lace garage at the top of the tongue for runners who like to tuck their laces away.

The midsole uses Decathlon’s Kalenji EVA material, which has improved energy return compared with past versions of the shoe. It is not the most dynamic or exciting foam, but it provides a firm, stable ride that simply gets out of the way and lets you carry on. The outsole pairs triangular lugs that are 5mm deep, deep enough to bite into soft ground while staying large and flat on top for grip on harder, wetter surfaces.

Fit and Everyday Comfort

Sizing true to normal running shoe size worked well. There is a nice amount of room in the toe box with no toe-bashing on descents, a good hold around the midfoot, and a padded heel collar that has stayed comfortable without overheating. It could run slightly warm for some runners in very hot conditions, but on test it held comfortably around the heel without becoming sweaty or unstable.

Grip: Reliable in Almost Everything Except Deep Mud

Grip has been very reliable in everything except very deep mud. Through muddy patches the lugs shed dirt quickly and keep purchase, and on wet and hard surfaces, including pavements and the odd rocky section, there were no concerns at all. The one exception was a deep muddy ascent: after roughly halfway up a hill, enough mud accumulated on the outsole that one shoe started to slip. That is not unexpected for a 5mm all-terrain lug design, where a dedicated mud shoe would typically run 6.5 to 8mm lugs built to shed mud specifically.

Notably, the grip behaviour in deep mud turned out very similar to the Saucony Peregrine 13, which has a comparable outsole setup, so expectations here match the wider all-rounder category.

Comfort and Long-Distance Support

Cushioning is not extravagant, but it has been comfortable up to around an hour to an hour and ten minutes of running. For very long distances it is not the most cushioned option out there, and runners who regularly spend long stretches on hard ground or rocky trails would probably want a little more foam. On the flip side, the stable platform aided by the 4mm drop works well on runnable flat trails and trickier single track alike, providing a base you never have to worry about.

One caveat on flatter, faster stretches: the low drop becomes more noticeable, and there is a bit more calf strain on long flat sections like a canal towpath. There is no plate and the midsole does not give a huge amount back, so the shoe is more noticeable in what it lacks when you hit hard, runnable trails.

Versatility for Faster Sessions

Despite not being especially light, the shoe feels reasonably nimble. During a fartlek session of four sets of three-two-one minutes on with one minute off, running to feel at around 3:28 to 3:30 per kilometre on uphill reps, the shoe kept up nicely. The reliable grip lets you pound downhills with confidence, knowing you will get some bite into muddy and loose sections, while uphill it never feels annoyingly weighty. For runners who want to do the occasional workout on undulating trail terrain, it is a genuinely capable option.

Should You Buy It?

For a runner who is mainly a road runner hitting the trails two or three times a week, mostly for easy runs with the odd workout, the MT Cushion 2 ticks every box: reliable grip all year round in muddy forest conditions, a comfortable and balanced ride, and a stable platform that protects your legs without getting in the way. Even more serious trail runners on mountainous terrain will find the grip is there, the shoe feels nimble and runs lighter than its weight suggests, and the stable platform handles whatever the trail throws at it.

Durability is another big plus. Decathlon showed well-worn tester versions of this shoe at launch that had covered around a thousand kilometres and still held up very well despite heavy, dirty use, which bodes well for many months of regular running.

Against the competition, the picture is clear. The Saucony Peregrine line does a similar job but offers more cushioning, a more comfortable and slightly more exciting ride, and is a fair bit lighter, while the Hoka Speedgoat 5, the category benchmark, delivers a smoother and much more cushioned ride, though at a considerably higher price. Unless you are targeting ultra distances, the Evadict MT Cushion 2 covers most of what trail runners need at a price the others cannot match. If you are nearly always on hard trails, the firm ride may prove a little too much, and dedicated mud runners with longer lugs will want more grip in deep conditions, but as a general all-rounder it is easy to recommend.

Conclusion

The Decathlon Evadict MT Cushion 2 is a great-value trail shoe that gets the fundamentals right: comfortable fit, stable platform, reliable grip and impressive durability. It may not be the most exciting or cushioned shoe on the market, but for easy trail runs, the occasional workout and everything in between, it is exactly the kind of dependable, do-everything option that fits neatly into most runners’ rotations.