The Ronhill Freedom Ultra has been turning heads in the trail and ultra-running world, and for good reason. Built for long days on foot and rugged terrain, this shoe promised a blend of comfort, traction, and durability that many athletes seek but few find. To give you a clearer picture of how it performs in the real world, three respected runners, Dave Town, Anna Buckingham and Siobhan Brennan, put the Freedom Ultra through its paces. Their reviews offer a deeper insight into how this shoe feels, functions and holds up across varied conditions, helping you decide if it’s the right fit for your next big run.
Dave Town
Key Specifications
- Weight: Approx. 270g–310g (varies by size)
- Drop: 5mm (30mm heel / 25mm forefoot)
- Upper: MATRYX®️ EVO with Kevlar reinforcement for durability and breathability
- Midsole: Super Critical foam designed to deliver a responsive, energetic ride
- Outsole: Michelin®️ OC1 rubber with 4mm multi-directional lugs
- Fit: True-fit design with a secure knitted collar, integrated gaiter, and structured heel cup for stability
First Impressions
The Ronhill Freedom Ultra is a good-looking shoe straight out of the box. It has a smart, understated design that wouldn’t look out of place whether you’re lining up at a trail race or heading out for a steady weekend long run. The initial fit felt good straight away, secure without being restrictive, with enough space in the forefoot to allow your toes to splay naturally on longer efforts.
On the Trails
I’ve been running in the Freedom Ultra for the last couple of months and have put some proper miles into them across a variety of terrain. They’ve seen everything from daily training runs to two half trail marathons, both on hard-packed ground where the shoe really came into its own.
Underfoot, the Super Critical midsole provides a nice balance of cushioning and responsiveness. There’s enough protection to keep legs feeling fresher over longer distances, but not so much that you lose connection with the trail. The 5mm drop helps the shoe feel natural and stable, particularly on rolling terrain.
Grip from the Michelin outsole has been reliable on firmer trails and mixed terrain, and the shoe transitions well between surfaces — ideal if your routes aren’t confined to one type of ground. The MATRYX®️ upper feels tough without being overly stiff, and it has handled wet runs and poor weather without any issues.
Room for Improvement
If your running regularly takes you into deep mud, you may notice the limitation of the outsole. The 4mm lugs could be slightly deeper to give a bit more purchase when the ground gets soft. It’s by no means a dealbreaker, but it does mean the Freedom Ultra is more at home on firmer trails than truly boggy ones.
The integrated gaiter is a good idea in theory, helping keep debris out, but it does feel a little baggy around the ankle. On occasion this allowed small bits in, so a closer, more sock-like fit would make it far more effective.
Verdict
After a couple of months of consistent use, the Ronhill Freedom Ultra has proven itself to be a dependable and versatile trail shoe. It’s comfortable over distance, capable across mixed terrain, and durable enough for regular training.
For me, it’s been a great running shoe, one that I’ve reached for time and time again without hesitation. With slightly deeper lugs and a snugger gaiter, it would edge even closer to being an outstanding all-round trail option.
Anna Buckingham
Ronhill Freedom Ultra Running Shoes – Tested in Snowdonia, Winter
I had never considered Ronhill for trail or mountain running, especially for long distance so I was curious to see how these would perform. When I think of Ronhill gear, I think of quality, durable and great performance in the worst conditions – which here in Snowdonia we have in abundance and this winter has kept on giving.
Conditions have been wet, slippery, muddy on the lower trails, with some wet rock and long slippery fell descents.
Out of the box, they aren’t much to look at, not boasting bright colours that take up the shelves in the shops these days but a more practical beige shade which would no doubt blend in with the colour of mud that they were promised to take on shortly. I liked that about them. They weren’t even trying to stand out in the crowd – just position themselves as a trusted product with a strong heritage brand behind them.
The fabric and build feels like it is designed to last, strong yet lightweight – I didn’t see my toes popping through the uppers in 10 wears time.
How do they feel though?
Putting them on, I wanted to love them. I really did.
I am consistently a UK 7.5 and for me these were true to size.
I loved the snugness of the built in sock and the cuppage around the heel. The extra padding in the tongue felt luxurious and my foot felt secure. The room in the toe box was sufficient for my wide feet (including bunions) to spread and the straight line down the big toe helped to align my feet in a more forward position.
The laces were a have-a-go at the lightweight shark tooth style which usually help them stay done up longer but they still worked their way undone.
For me, this is where the comfort ended. The sole felt very flat and rigid, with the 5mm drop too much of a variation to what I’m used to running in. Movement in them felt “clunky” for want of a better description. I didn’t notice the “Super Critical Midsole maximises energy return” as described by the Ronhill specification per se. A lot of the time, it felt like the energy was being directly transferred into the ground with a slap.
Once on technical and wet terrain, the shoe came into it’s own however. The confidence provided from the Michelin sole with 4mm lugs was second to none. It handled wet rock exceptionally, muddy twisty single track like I was on rails. A blast up Yr Wyddfa into the snow line gave no need for micro spikes and back down off the slippery flank of Moel Cynghorion – no problem.
During testing, I covered over 150k of running in these shoes – most of these runs were less than 10km but unfortunately caused me to have severe calf pain, and a mild injury which meant I needed to discontinue use – could be the change in drop, or the rigidity in the soles but for me, the idea of running an ultra distance in these was not something I felt confident in. Short steep technical running is where I would position these shoes – which would make them an ideal candidate for fell racing here in the UK.
They are showing little evidence of wear which is a testament to the terrible conditions they have been exposed to, and it’s sad that after such a short lifespan they have been demoted already to dog walking shoes.
Siobhan Brennan
Coming back from an ankle fracture changes the way you think about running shoes. Suddenly, cushioning isn’t everything, stability and ground control become essential. When I tried the Ronhill Freedom Ultra, I wasn’t looking for speed or big mileage; I was looking for a shoe that would help me rebuild trust in my footing and my healing ankle.
Right out of the box, the Freedom Ultra feels firm with rigidity that does relax the more you use the shoe. The colour scheme will be a bit like marmite, in that some will love the grey and yellow colourway and others will hate!
During recovery, I found that firmness reassuring. The connection to the ground was excellent, enough to sense the terrain beneath me without feeling unstable. This connectedness is often missing in more cushioned shoes and was exactly what I needed while easing back onto uneven trails. A word of caution though, timing is everything so don’t introduce on urban trails or long runs to start.
With a healing ankle, that locked‑in feel that the shoe offered my heel meant fewer unexpected wobbles. The ankle cuff that is designed to keep debris out was too loose for my skinny ankles so didn’t work for me personally, but I can imagine would be a useful feature for fell runners. Because you sit closer to the ground, the shoe feels predictable, which is an essential component when your ligaments aren’t 100% yet. The Michelin outsole has been widely praised for its grip on mixed, wet, and rocky trails.
For me, that translated into a feel that was almost sticky at times on terrain like rock. There is ample room for toe splay , which is so important, especially when wearing toe socks. The upper is reinforced with Kevlar, and so is tough but very flexible. I suspect its very durable also.
- Once moving, the shoe transitions from stiff to responsive. The firm midsole may not suit someone wanting soft, cushioned shock absorption, but for me, it kept my ankle aligned and controlled. This was helpful in the latter stages of my rehab but carefully time its introduction around your healing journey. I stupidly introduced it too soon and ended up with pain for a few days. On rocky or uneven ground, the responsiveness helped me place my foot more consciously, reducing missteps.
It wasn’t just a shoe; it was a partner in my rehab process and provided lots of feedback as to where I needed to work more consistently. If you’re recovering from an injury, especially something like an ankle fracture, that control can be invaluable. For me, the Ronhill Freedom Ultra wasn’t just a running shoe, it was the right tool at exactly the right moment in my recovery. If you’re easing back after an ankle injury and crave stability and feedback to help recovery, this shoe is worth considering. I would urge caution though and think carefully about when to introduce it. Wait until you are healed enough to trial and look at your joint flexibility before trialling.
Start with smaller runs first and use on muddy terrain and rock to truly appreciate the sticky grip.
Don’t do as I did and take on a long urban run straight out of the box.
For those who truly love a connect to the ground and grip like no other, go for it!!
About the authors:
Dave Town has various unsupported FKTs and has finished numerous UK ultra marathons including The Spine and Race Across Scotland.
Anna Buckingham is an ultra runner in North Wales. She has competed in races such as the Tor Des Geants and the Dragons Back Race. Winning The Winter Spine Race and Grand 2 Grand are some highlights and her favourite event is The OMM, where she can usually be found every October.
Siobhan Brennan is an ultrarunner who has been under the wise tutorship of Joe Faulkner at NAV4 who pushed her to do scary stuff. She jumped from the Manchester 10k to Lakes in a Day and embraces the freedom and empowerment that distance races give her. She has now completed many 50 milers plus the Northern Traverse and Spine Challenger North. A passionate advocate for running in the menopause and accomplished in doing distance with the slow and steady approach, always at the back of the pack chattering and often heard before she is seen.
Have you tried Ronhill Freedom Ultras? Don’t agree with this review? What’s your opinion? Add your own comment to this review and share your experience and passion for running with others.
Not a member yet? Sign up here to be part of the RunUltra community and get exclusive discounts, free training and nutrition plans.
We are a professional review site and our reviewers receive free products for testing from the companies whose products we review. Each product is tested thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are by the reviewer’s name shown.
