Ron Hill Freedom Review: A Cushioned Trail Shoe for Firmer Ground

Introduction

The Freedom is Ron Hill’s less aggressive trail shoe, positioned below the Reverence in the brand’s first proper step into the running shoe market. It uses a shallower lug on the outsole and adds a little more midsole cushioning, while carrying over much of what made the Reverence work on its first outings. Priced at £125 in the UK, £10 less than the Reverence, it sits at a reasonable point for a durable trail option.

Who This Shoe Is For

The Freedom is aimed at runners who spend most of their time on firmer, drier trails and occasionally cross over onto tarmac. Its 4mm lug depth is noticeably shallower than the 7mm lugs on the Reverence, so it is not the shoe to reach for when conditions turn muddy and soft. If your routes are compacted trails, stony paths, grass and mixed tarmac, that shallower outsole makes more sense.

Weight is 313g in a UK 9.5, just 4g lighter than the Reverence, and both shoes share a 5mm heel offset. The Freedom’s stack is 32mm at the heel and 27mm at the forefoot, an increase of 4mm of cushioning depth over its sibling.

Main Strengths

The upper is the standout. Both Ron Hill trail shoes use Matryx fabric, a highly durable material produced in France and reinforced with Kevlar, which has become popular across the trail running industry. On the run, it held the heel well, locked down the midfoot and felt comfortable throughout.

The wraparound tongue and lacing system is another genuine highlight. It sits comfortably across the top of the foot, delivers secure midfoot lockdown and, importantly, stays locked down for the whole run. Soft plush fabric around the ankle collar and heel adds comfort, while a substantial heel cup and a protective toe bumper round out a well-considered upper.

Underfoot, Ron Hill again uses Michelin rubber, in this case the OC1 compound. It proved robust and grippy on a near 8-mile first run covering tarmac, compacted trails, stony paths, grass and soft sand, handling everything with ease. The Duo Pro midsole compound pairs a softer top layer of EVA for a plush feel with a firmer bottom layer intended to add stability on technical ground.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The fit is true to size, with good toe length in a UK 9.5 and a roomy, fairly square toe box that leaves plenty of wiggle room. The all-black colourway, however, looks a little plain next to the forest and lime green option.

The bigger caveat is the ride. Despite the deeper 4mm increase in stack height, the midsole did not feel noticeably softer or plusher than the Reverence on the first outing. Next to the softer, bouncier cushioning common in modern running shoes, this midsole feels a little dated. The wide profile at the base of the shoe also makes the midfoot quite stiff, and a first run sometimes does not show how foam beds in over time, so some softening may follow.

It is also worth knowing how similar this shoe is to the Reverence. Tried side by side, the two Matryx uppers fit and feel identical, the underfoot feel is very close, and with matching weights and offsets the lug depth is really the main thing separating them. A lighter build with softer foam would have given Ron Hill a more distinct and versatile trail lineup.

Buying Advice

Choose the Freedom if your trails are firm and dry and you want a durable, secure shoe at £125. Choose the Reverence if you regularly face muddy, soft ground and want the more aggressive 7mm lugs. Since the two shoes feel remarkably alike otherwise, the decision really comes down to the terrain you run most.

Either way, both are solid first efforts from Ron Hill, and there is reason to be curious about what the brand does next as it finds its feet in the running shoe world.

Conclusion

The Freedom ran well on its first outing: a comfortable, secure Matryx upper, dependable Michelin grip on dry mixed terrain and a sensible price. The disappointment is that the extra cushioning depth does not translate into a plusher ride, leaving the shoe feeling very close to the Reverence with a shallower lug and a different name. For firmer trails, it remains a dependable choice; just do not expect a dramatically different ride from its sibling.