Tarkine Trail Devil 2 BUZZ: Special Edition Review

Tarkine Trail Devil 2 BUZZ Review

Scan the start pen of almost any UK ultra and you’ll see the usual suspects on everyone’s feet: Hoka, Salomon and Inov-8. However, there is a challenger from down under that is starting to make some waves on British soil.

I’m talking about Tarkine.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve logged about 40km in their latest drop, the Tarkine Trail Devil 2 BUZZ: SPECIAL EDITION. And just to be clear, note the all-caps, this isn’t your standard Trail Devil 2. This is the beefed-up, special edition sibling sporting an overhauled upper and upgraded rubber compound.

Full disclosure before we get into the nitty-gritty: Tarkine were kind enough to send these shoes over for me to test and review. That said, no money changed hands, and these are my honest initial thoughts.

Who is Tarkine?

If the name doesn’t ring a bell, don’t worry, you aren't alone. They aren't a household name for many UK ultra runners yet, but in Australia they're becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Based in Fremantle, Western Australia, the brand is deeply rooted in environmental activism (Tarkine is actually the name of a threatened rainforest in Tasmania). They really walked the walk, or ran the run, when Australian ultra runner Phil Gore made history wearing Tarkine. He set the Backyard Ultra world record, clocking a mind-boggling 119 hours and 798km in a pair of Tarkine Autopilots. If their kit can handle that sort of mileage, it definitely grabbed my attention.

One thing I genuinely appreciate is their commitment to sustainability. It’s not just greenwashing; they run a comprehensive recycling program. You can run your shoes into the ground and send them back to be recycled, closing the loop. It’s a big thing for them, and frankly, it should be for us too!

Trail Devil 2 BUZZ Colourway

First off, let’s address the elephant in the room: the colourway.

In a sea of drab, muddy trail shoes, these things immediately standout. To be completely honest, I absolutely love the style. As soon as I opened the box they put a smile on my face, I'm all for injecting a serious dose of Aussie sunshine into our typically grey British trails.

I’ll admit, I was almost reluctant to take them out on their maiden voyage because they looked so pristine. But, these are trail shoes. They are built for purpose and meant to get dirty. Once I splashed through the first puddle, I got over it, but they will definitely turn heads at the trailhead.

Upper & Durability

As I mentioned, this is the BUZZ: SPECIAL EDITION. The main difference here compared to the standard Trail Devil 2 is the upper. Tarkine has reworked it to be softer yet tougher, using fully recycled materials.

You can see the difference in the overlays, as there are simply more of them on this edition, designed to boost durability. On the foot, the upper feels breathable and comfortable. It feels noticeably softer than some other more rigid trail shoes yet durable enough to take a beating, which is what you need when navigating overgrown bridleways.

That being said, there is a slight trade-off to keep in mind. While that softness is brilliant for comfort, it does mean the shoe can lack a bit of overall stability. If you're planning on tackling super technical trails or steep rocky scrambles, you might find the sidewalls don't offer quite as much rigid, locked-in support as you'd get from a stiffer shoe.

Midsole

Underfoot, the shoe runs on an EVA midsole. It strikes a really nice balance, it feels soft and cushioned enough to protect your legs, but it still delivers a bit of energy return.

It’s not a mushy shoe; there is a responsiveness there, aided significantly by the rocker geometry. It encourages a smooth, efficient turnover, which I found really helpful when my legs started to feel a bit heavy towards the end of a long run.

Fit & Comfort

The Trail Devil 2 BUZZ features a naturally wide, foot-shaped toe box which I am a huge fan of. On longer efforts, when your feet inevitably swell, having that room for natural toe splay is a godsend.

However, I did run into a slight issue with the heel. Personally, I struggled to get a completely secure heel lock. It wasn’t a disaster, my foot wasn't sliding out, but I felt a little less locked-in than I’m used to with other brands.

According to Tarkine, the fit is true to size. However, looking back, I wonder if sizing down by half a size might have solved that heel security issue for me. It may be something worth considering when trying them on.

Grip & Outsole 

On paper, the traction sounds promising. It uses a proprietary rubber compound with a 3.5mm claw-lug outsole.

During my 40km of testing, I threw a mix of classic UK light-trail terrain at them: grassy parks, hard-packed dirt paths, and plenty of gravel. To give credit where it’s due, they handled all of that confidently. I never felt unstable.

I haven’t had the opportunity to take these onto properly technical, boggy, or rocky fell terrain yet, so the jury is still out on how that 3.5mm lug depth handles the deep British winter mud. That’s something I’m keen to test in the future, but for mixed trail and door-to-trail, they stick well.

The Specs

For those who love the numbers, here is the breakdown:

• Price: £138
• Weight: ~260g
• Heel Stack: 36mm
• Drop: 4mm
• Sizing: True to size (though consider half-size down for heel lock)
• Terrain: Trail / Mixed

Verdict: Are Tarkine Trail Devil 2 BUZZ Good Trail Running Shoes?

At £138, the Tarkine Trail Devil 2 BUZZ: SPECIAL EDITION offers great value for money in a market where shoe prices are skyrocketing.

You’re getting a sustainable, durable, and frankly cool-looking trail shoe that supports a brand trying to do things the right way. While the heel fit wasn't perfect for my foot shape, the wide toe box and energetic ride could make these a potential contender for your next ultra training block.

If you want to stand out from the crowd and bring some Aussie energy to your local trails, it's worth checking out the Trail Devil 2 BUZZ.

Tarkine Trail Devil 2 Buzz

Tarkine Trail Devil 2 Buzz Shoes - £138