Hayes is highlighting several features on the new Trail version of the El Camino. Most notable are the “Mono block” caliper and reservoir designs that are each cast as a single piece. I can honestly say I think these are the only brakes I've ever seen where the caliper was clearly better looking than the reservoir/lever. The calipers have a molded, flowing look that is very sexy and Hayes says this design leads to increased stiffness. The El Cams also sport the no-tool reach adjustment barrels right behind the lever blades. They are very slick and couldn't be easier to use. Another handy addition is the movable banjo routing for the hydraulic lines. Simply loosen the allen bolt that connects the hose to the caliper (less than 1/4 turn, as not to introduce any air bubbles to the system), adjust the hose angle to best suit your frame and re-tighten the clamp bolt. Toss in a claimed 35% increase in stopping power (as compared to 160mm rotors) along with a new lever blade design you've got a great looking brake system that should easily tame even the most gnarled descent. Other relevant facts about the new Trail brakes:

• System weight is 395g per wheel
• Comes with 4 adapters (2 front, 2 rear) to fit just about any frame/fork combo

The El Camino Trail Lever.

Some initial observations from bolting the brakes on to my Ironhorse MkIII Comp:
• The split clamp lever mounting system means easy installation and no grip removal.
• The lever pull is noticeably softer than other Hayes products. I don't have rig to test pull pressure but I would guess it’s 15% to 20% less than standard set of Hayes for comparable lever movement.
• The hydraulic line seems like a smaller diameter than past Hayes products. It's fairly skinny and makes tucking them in to cable guides a snap.
• The Trail rotors are just larger copies of the standard Hayes 160mm rotor.
• I can't get over how cool the single piece calipers look, especially with no large seam down the middle of them.
• Despite their sweet-looking design the brakes don't really jump out at you, mostly due to their subdued light-tan color scheme and lack of any carbon bits. Almost stealthy but not quite. I’d go with “subtle”.
• The new lever blade definitely has a different feel to it but I'll reserve judgment until I get a chance to ride them farther than my driveway.

Over the next few months I'll toss these brakes in to the heaviest west coast winter conditions I can find. After a decent pounding I'll post the long term results and compare trail fact to marketing hype.