Shoe debut for X-Bionic: how it feels running in the new Terraskin trail shoes

«We have the opportunity to start something completely new.» So said Flavio Guarnier, General Manager Footwear, at the launch of the Terraskin 00X/C. It’s the first running shoe from the X-Bionic brand, known for its technical sportswear.

For two years, a team concentrated on the development of the trail sneakers. The result is a shoe with high-tech elements such as a carbon plate and an outsole that wraps around the shoe to form a single unit with the midsole and upper. At the same time, the upper material encloses the midsole.

According to the company, experience with technical running socks X-Socks provided a basis for shoe development. And that’s not all: the shoes are supplied with matching X-Socks to minimise friction between the shoe and socks. According to X-Bionic, all layers between sock and shoe as well as shoe and ground are coordinated. This grants runners «a controlled and safe running experience», according to the press release.

The sole was created in collaboration with Italian manufacturer Vibram, known for its non-slip and abrasion-resistant soles for mountain, hiking and running shoes. Its special feature is the grid structure of the sole and its continuation over the outer edge of the shoe. This enabled the developers to increase stability, save weight and improve grip at the same time.

A shoe for steep downhills and technical terrain

The impetus for development came from X-Bionic CEO Maximilian Lenk, former Chief Product Officer at Mammut. He loves the thrill of going downhill in many sports from skiing to trail running. But like many runners, he struggled finding shoes with the right mix of cushioning and stability.

«The inspiration came from mountain biking,» said Maximilian at the presentation of the shoe. The carbon frames and suspension of bikes created a good, not too hard ride feeling with simultaneous control. The shoe should replicate this feeling. You won’t have to run unnecessarily slowly since the shoe is either too spongy or too hard. «Our goal is to make downhill running fun again,» he added.

The shoe is made for technical terrain. «We’re from Switzerland, with its high mountains and steep valleys,» explained Maximilian. And it’s in these conditions that the shoe should show its strengths.

For the Terraskin 00X/C, X-Bionic didn’t adopt the carbon plate popular in super shoes for road running one-to-one, but modified it. Carbon reinforcement provides the flexibility that’s important for trails. According to X-Bionic, the new shoe was tested by experienced athletes, including Spanish trail runner Nuria Picas, who achieved a top-ten finish in the women’s 50K run at the Eiger Ultra Trail 2024.

Although the carbon plate has been adapted to the requirements of trails and is more flexible than road shoe plates, there are runners who prefer to do without it. That’s why the new X-Bionic shoe is available with or without carbon reinforcement.

X-Bionic wants to start a sports tech revolution with these shoes

For its creators, the Terraskin 00X/C is more than just an extension of the product portfolio. «It’s a symbol for the future evolution of our brand,» comments Patric Matuszis, Head of Marketing Activation at X-Bionic. He also reveals even more ambitious goals: «We want to start the next sports tech revolution from Switzerland.»

The Terraskin 00X/C is manufactured in Montebelluna, Italy, northwest of Venice. The town has a long tradition in shoe manufacturing, especially in mountain and ski sports with brands such as Nordica and Dolomite. The Terraskin special models in black/pink, where the right shoe is predominantly black and the left one white, are already available in small numbers, but not yet from us.

The Terraskin 00X-C is only available as a unisex version. Other shoe manufacturers, such as Salomon, have also been increasingly focusing on gender-neutral models for trail running shoes for some time now. The reason for this is that the overall differences between men’s and women’s feet are less significant than any individual differences, explains X-Bionic Shoe Manager Flavio. The upper material of the Terraskin is so flexible that it adapts to different foot shapes. Further colours and models without a carbon plate are set to follow in spring/summer 2025.

My first impression: there’s passion in this shoe

Even before the launch, I received the new shoe from X-Bionic to test. Due to the limited availability before its official market launch, the shoe is unfortunately three quarters of a size smaller than my normal running shoes. That’s why I can only give you a first impression here instead of a comprehensive test. Regardless, it performed well.

The shoe seems to have been carefully thought out from the ground up, from the Vibram outsole with its grid structure to the heel padding to protect the Achilles tendon and a soft finish around the ankle to prevent stones from entering.

When running, the shoes felt springy but firm. Despite good cushioning, the shoe isn’t spongy at all. On the contrary, the ground feel is very direct, allowing good control. The energy return from the midsole and carbon plate makes the shoes feel fast and dynamic.

I initially ran on harder dirt tracks, where I particularly appreciated the Terraskin’s suspension. Then we headed into the forest on a rain-soaked trail. The shoes also showed their strengths there. The grippy sole coped well, even in muddy sections. I also like the fact that the shoe has a certain agility that makes cornering fun.

I haven’t yet tested the shoe on downhill runs or on rockier terrain. I’ll make up for these tests as soon as I have the right size shoes for my feet. Since they feel so good to run in, I could well imagine running a trail race in them in the near future.