Ron Hill Reverence 2 Review: A Grip-First Trail Shoe With a Brilliant Upper

Introduction

The original Reverence impressed on the trails of Cornwall, and it felt like a few subtle tweaks away from being a top-performing trail shoe. The Reverence 2 arrives with quite a few updates, and after a 7.3-mile test run through a real mix of terrain, the shoe builds on that first success in a convincing way.

At £140 in the UK, it sits right at the going rate for a quality trail running shoe these days. In a UK size 10, our pair weighed 322g, which sounds heavy on paper, but the flip side is a super-aggressive lugged rubber outsole that justifies every gram.

Who the Ron Hill Reverence 2 Is For

This is a shoe for runners who want to feel dialed into the trail rather than floating over it. If you spend a lot of time on technical trails and value ground feel, connection, and stability, the Reverence 2 makes a lot of sense.

It is also clearly aimed at the wetter months. With its deep lugs and sticky rubber compound, this is a shoe you should be able to run through the harshest of UK winters in.

Fit and Upper Construction

The upper is the standout of this shoe, full stop. Ron Hill stuck with the super-durable and highly breathable Matrix fabric, and added a clever wrap-over lacing system. The tongue is split into two areas, and when you pull the laces tight, they overlap and wrap around your midfoot, delivering a genuinely secure lockdown. It feels brilliant straight out of the box.

The brand also worked in a softer internal fabric this time, so the inside feels plush, with perforations in the lacing system for extra breathability. The heel area is more stripped back: a heel cradle gives structure, and zonal padding wraps around the heel internally, providing a good hold without much bulk. Overlays protect the lace system and the whole shoe against tough trail environments.

Sizing runs a little small. We tried a UK 9.5 and a UK 10 and opted for the 10 for extra toe box length. Width up front is roomy, with plenty of wiggle room for foot splay, though not as wide as an Altra or Topo. A substantial toe bumper adds solid protection up front.

Main Strengths

The outsole is a genuine highlight. Michelin’s OCX3 super-sticky rubber pairs with an extremely aggressive 7mm lug depth, and having run the original Reverence with a similar outsole in very muddy conditions, the traction is something we can vouch for. In the mud, it is like a tractor.

Another neat touch: Ron Hill printed the stack height, drop, and lug depth specs on the lateral side of the heel. Handy for anyone comparing shoes side by side.

Midsole and Ride Feel

The midsole is quite traditional in design, using a super-critical EVA foam developed to give a comfortable ride while retaining high levels of ground feel and connection. Pushing into the foam before the run, it felt firm, and we were unsure how much cushioning it would actually deliver.

In practice, it performed better than expected. Even on firm compacted trail and stretches of tarmac, there were no comfort issues. Because it is not overly cushioned, the connection and ground feel are excellent, and the shoe felt stable on rooted and rocky sections.

Things to Consider Before Buying

If you like a deeply cushioned trail shoe with that bouncy road-shoe feel, this is probably not your shoe. The Reverence 2 is best suited to softer ground, where the aggressive outsole can really bite.

One niggle worth watching: the ankle collar is quite loose, so it does not give a precise seal around the ankle, and we finished the run with some trail debris in both shoes. It can happen with any shoe, but it may be a recurring issue on debris-heavy trails.

Buying Advice

For UK runners after a winter trail shoe, the combination of a precise-fitting, comfortable upper and that super-chunky 7mm lug depth makes the Reverence 2 a very strong option. Just size up if you are between sizes, and go in expecting a firmer, more connected ride rather than plush cushioning.

Conclusion

Ron Hill has built on the success of the original Reverence and taken the shoe to the next level. The upper is one of the best-fitting trail shoe uppers we have tested, the outsole inspires confidence in wet and muddy conditions, and the firmer midsole rewards runners who want to feel the trail. If that sounds like your kind of running, the Reverence 2 deserves a spot on your shortlist.