Kiprun
Kipclimb Max
Kiprun's ultra and mountain shoe, pairing a firm SHIFTECH+ midsole and FASTECH insert with a rock guard, a Matryx-reinforced upper and 5 mm lugs. Testers praise its protection, stability and grip on rocky ground but find it heavy and firm for a 'Max'.
About the Kipclimb Max
Kiprun builds the Kipclimb Max for long, technical mountain ultras on routes of 40 to 170 km, prioritising stability and protection on rough ground. It belongs to the brand's Climb category and is the more technical, mountain-focused alternative to the Kipsummit Max, while the carbon-plated Kipsummit Race targets faster, runnable trails.
The midsole uses a dual structure of Kiprun's firmer SHIFTECH+ foam with an integrated FASTECH+ supercritical foam insert, which Kiprun says absorbs landing impact while supporting the push into the next step. A high-strength MATRYX mesh upper wraps the toe box and sides, with a protective toe guard against rocks and roots. Lugs of up to 5 mm are designed for grip on rock, mud and steep slopes. Kiprun says the shoe was co-developed with elite athletes and tested in the Calanques near Marseille. It weighs 315 g in a men's US 9, with a 4 mm drop.
Specs and features from haveagood-holiday.com, roadtrailrun.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Video reviews
Watch Kiprun Kipclimb Max reviewsOpens YouTubeWhat the critics say
82/100 review score
- Road Trail Run 8.5/10
The reviews in briefRoad Trail Run's Markus Zinkl and Sam Winebaum rated the Kiprun Kipclimb Max a protective, stable and good-value shoe for rugged trails, Winebaum's top pick for fast hiking. Meta Endurance's reviewer agreed, though all three found it heavy and firm, and Meta Endurance found its grip unsure on wet rock and logs.
- Positive: Strong protection on rocky, alpine ground
- Positive: Stable platform and secure heel hold
- Positive: Aggressive lugs that bite on soft ground
- Mixed: Firm for a max-cushioned shoe
- Mixed: Grip less sure on wet rock and logs for one tester
- Negative: Heavy and sluggish at faster paces
- Negative: Stiff upper can cause hot spots
Paraphrased from published reviews. Read them in full:
The numbers
- Trail
- Type
- 315 g
- Weight
- 34 mm
- Heel stack
- 4 mm
- Drop
- No plate
- Plate
- Inherently stable
- Support
Weight for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5. New model: figures are early and get re-checked every month.
What it feels like
Fit
True to size
Testers found it true to size; one found the forefoot moderately roomy, another found it narrow, and both say the stiff upper works best with thicker socks.
What Reddit runners say
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On TikTok
Kipclimb Max on TikTokShort reviews and wear tests from runnersWhere to buy the Kipclimb Max
RRP around £140. Tap through for today's price.
Kiprun Kipclimb Max
In short
A good-value pick for ultras and long mountain days on rocky, technical ground where protection and stability matter most. It's heavy and firm for a max shoe, so look elsewhere for faster or smoother trails.
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