SaySky x 42 Trail Running Shoe: A Stylish Collab Built for Muddy Winter Trails

Introduction

SaySky is a Danish running apparel brand, and the SaySky x 42 is its collaboration trail shoe with 42, one of the smaller boutique running brands making waves lately. The first thing you notice is the design. The golden colorway looks great and it is genuinely unusual to see a trail shoe in a color like this. But looks only get you so far. The real questions are fit, grip, and how the firm-sounding midsole holds up once you are out in the wet stuff.

We tested the shoe on a genuinely miserable winter run: around 7.5 miles through wet woods, deep mud, greasy leaves, and slippery tree roots. That is about as honest a test as a trail shoe can get.

Who This Shoe Is For

This is a shoe for runners who value grip, stability, and durability over bouncy cushioning, and who want something that stands out visually. Before running in them, the details looked like this:

• Price: £70 in the UK, which sits at the more expensive end
• Weight: 365g in a UK 9, so not the lightest trail shoe around
• Stack height: 27mm at the heel, 21mm under the forefoot, for a 6mm heel-to-toe offset
• Midsole: a dual-compound setup with a softer top layer and a firmer bottom layer, plus high-rebound OrthoLite insoles
• Outsole: Vibram Megagrip Litebase rubber with a chunky 5mm lug pattern

Main Strengths

The outsole is the headline. Vibram Megagrip has become the rubber of choice across trail running, and the Litebase version here passed its first test with flying colors. In deep mud it dug in and delivered strong traction. On wet tarmac covered in leaves and on wet, slippery tree roots, the grip held firm with no sketchy moments. For tough UK winter conditions, this is exactly the setup you want.

The upper is another strong point. It uses a lightweight, breathable, durable fabric that feels like ripstop material, with heavy-duty overlays wrapping the heel, ankle collar, midfoot, and lace eyelets. Add a seriously reinforced rubber toe bumper and you have a shoe that should survive rock strikes and rough trails for a long time.

Inside, a gusseted tongue with moderate padding wraps the top of the foot comfortably, and the laces bite together well when pulled tight, holding a secure lockdown that does not work loose while running. A substantial heel cradle and good ankle padding round out a comfortable, secure fit.

One concern going in was the stiff-feeling midfoot, but on the run it was not an issue. Good flex through the forefoot takes the edge off, and the shoes actually felt nimble on technical trails. The firmer midsole delivers a stable, connected feel on uneven ground with solid underfoot protection, which is a fair trade even if it lacks the super-bouncy energy return of modern foam trends.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The toe box is the main fit caveat. It is quite narrow and tapers to a point at the end, so this shoe suits runners with relatively narrow feet. If you have wider feet, it may not work for you.

Sizing also runs a bit long. The test pair was a UK 9 instead of the usual UK 9.5, and there was still plenty of toe length with no sore toes afterward. That said, for very long runs or ultras, going up half a size for extra volume when feet expand is still the safer call.

Weight is the biggest question mark. At 365g in a UK 9, this is a heavy shoe, and in larger sizes it would feel heavier still. Dropping 40 to 50 grams, perhaps by trimming the structured overlays and the wraparound toe bumper, would make a real difference. There was also an odd quirk: one shoe weighed 365g while the other came in nearly 20 grams lighter, a bigger discrepancy between left and right than you would normally expect.

Finally, if you are expecting a plush, bouncy ride, you may be disappointed. The midsole leans firm. The softer top layer and OrthoLite insoles add a degree of comfort, but the character here is stable and protective rather than springy.

Buying Advice

Buy this shoe if you run in wet, muddy, technical conditions and want maximum grip and a stable, protected ride. It is arguably at its best as a winter trail option where traction matters more than speed. The durable upper and serious toe protection also make it a good candidate for rocky, abrasive terrain.

Think twice if you have wide feet, if you are sensitive to shoe weight, or if you want soft, high-energy cushioning for long comfortable miles. At £70 it is not cheap, so it is worth being honest about whether its firm, grippy character matches your trails.

Conclusion

The SaySky x 42 collaboration turned out better than expected. The upper fits comfortably and holds the foot securely, the Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole handled mud, wet roots, and slick leaves with ease, and the overall design and golden colorway are genuinely standout. The main knocks are the weight and the firm ride, and a slightly wider toe box would open it up to more runners. With a few small tweaks, this would be a very solid trail shoe. As it stands, it is already a strong pick for narrow-footed runners who face tough winter trail conditions.