What are trail shoes? Why do you need trail shoes for running off road? What are the benefits of trail shoes? Are they versatile enough for other activities? We answer all these questions and more, and make the case for having a pair ready to accompany you on your adventures.
What Are Trail Shoes?
If you’re a keen runner you may already have a collection of shoes rivalling that of a minor celebrity. However, trail shoes offer something different from normal road running trainers.
If you’re starting out exploring the trails and mixing up your monotonous road running routine by heading off road, then a pair of trail shoes might be just what you need.
Tread Pattern
The biggest difference between road shoes and trail shoes is the tread. A road shoe will be almost slick, with simple low cut tread pattens. Trail shoes however come with a variety of treads, some extremely aggressive looking more like football boots! These patterns vary depending on the shoe, the thicker the tread, the rougher the terrain the shoe can cope with.
Protection
Most trail shoes will come with a little more protection than a standard road shoe. You are much more likely to bump your foot against a rock or root hence trail shoes come with extra protection. You’ll likely see this around the toe box area at the front of the shoe as well as the heel. In good trail shoes you can clip your foot on a rock and not be wincing having stubbed your toe!
What Are The Benefits of Trail Shoes?
Trail shoes are your friend when going off road and offer many benefits vs a road shoe.
- Improved Grip
- One of the main benefits of trail shoes is the deeper tread and grippy material in the sole of the shoe. This makes for good traction on any surface.
- Improved Support
- Compared with a conventional road shoe, trail shoes offer much better support, particularly around the ankle. This helps prevent injuries as a result of twists or falls.
- Durability
- As trail shoes are designed for mixed terrain and variable conditions they are often more durable and will tend to last longer than road shoes.
- Comfort
- With cushioning and protection from rocks, but made like trainers, they offer significant comfort compared with alternatives. Road shoes will be uncomfortable on trails, with your feet likely to become bruised or sore from the terrain. If hiking, trail shoes offer a much lighter, more flexible solution compared with hiking boots.
Why You Should Buy a Pair of Trail Shoes
Adding another pair of running shoes to the collection may seem like an unnecessary expense. However trail shoes can be very cost effective.
There are many types of trail shoes covering the full spectrum from light gravel trails through to muddy, boggy paths. If you get a pair of trail shoes in the middle of this range, they are extremely versatile.
I’ve raced ultra marathons in pairs of trail shoes and also taken them on holiday in case we went for a long walk. I’ve used them to help with extra grip on the pedals of hire bikes and to provide a little more traction so I don’t slip off the rung of a ladder when fixing guttering in the rain!
Most road running shoes are expected to last about 300-500 miles before replacing. Trail shoes are similar, however I’ve found I can ‘repurpose’ my trail shoes at the end of their running life. When I tried to do this with normal road trainers the soles were often so worn away I could feel sharp stones under my feet and very quickly wore a hole in the bottom of the shoes!
By having a pair of trail shoes available to you, you’ll open up many more options for where to run. You’ll get to enjoy the benefits of trail running fully and won’t have a lack of appropriate footwear holding you back.
We all know how easy it is to not go for the run; it’s too muddy and I don’t want to slip over etc. Having a dedicated pair of shoes for this purpose removes the barrier and lets you get out and get the benefits of the outdoors.
How to Chose the Right Trail Shoes
Which trail running shoes should you get? How should you buy trail shoes?
Features and Type
First identify the type of terrain. If you wear light trail shoes in thick mud you’ll slide around. If you wear trail shoes designed for deep mud and 99% of your run is on road it will be very uncomfortable. For most people getting into trail running it’s best to opt for something in the middle. This will mean you can handle most terrain including roads and only have any problems in really deep mud or bogs.
Work out if you need advanced features such as waterproofing, specific shoes for lightweight running or extra breathable. Often you won’t get all the benefits together so pick the balance that works for you.
I’ve only bought one pair of waterproof trail shoes and found them uncomfortably warm, and they didn’t even keep my feet dry. Water proof shoes are great for morning runs across long wet grass but if you step in a puddle the chances are the water will come in the top of the shoe anyway!
I tend to opt for slightly more lightweight trail shoes. I’ve run enough miles in my time that I don’t find the extra cushioning that useful, I’d rather feel the terrain a little and sit lower to the ground. As a result shoes on the lighter end of the spectrum are my favourite.
Buying Tips
You should also consider how much you want to spend which may influence your brand choice. Many manufacturers are making trail shoes however you may want to stick to the more reputable brands, especially with distance running. Running is not a dangerous sport, however if you don’t wear good shoes it can cause problems over time.
Above all else, pick a shoe that fits you properly. Make sure it is not too tight and doesn’t rub. Best bet is to go to a local running shop. You’ll likely pay a bit of a premium for your shoes but it’s probably worth it to ensure you find something that fits you well and meets your needs. I’d hate to see people give up trail running because they bought the wrong shoes right at the beginning of their adventure! Once you know the type of shoe you are looking for, you can shop around and buy online in future.
If you are looking for value, remember that you don’t need the latest and greatest trail shoes. Whilst marketing will always direct you to the newest shoes on the market 99% of people won’t notice the difference between the new version and the previous version. I find if you look for last year’s model you can often find discounts of 20% or more.
Personal Experiences With Trail Shoes
I’ll be honest and admit to owning a fair number of pairs of trail shoes. I have an old pair I use when in the garden, a pair for light trails, a pair for medium trails and a pair for mud.
I was bored running on roads and the benefits of trail shoes convinced me to buy my first pair. Having seen my times on variable terrain tumble I was sold.
My favourite brand are Inov8 as I find them comfortable and good value compared with some rival brands. My favourite shoe is the Inov8 Roclite G 290. It’s a medium trail shoe that doesn’t slow me down on roads but provides exceptional grip even in wet conditions. I’ll only really come unstuck on deep or slick mud. These are the shoes I reach for 9 times out of 10, unless I know a trail to be bone dry and hard packed, or extremely muddy. I used to be able to find these on sale, however Inov8 no longer make them, so if anyone has any recommendations for alternatives of a similar style please let me know.
The benefits of trail shoes have made my purchases worthwhile. I have comfortable shoes that can cope with any terrain.
Best of all, trail shoes give me confidence. The extra grip and the protection from bashing my toes means I can commit with my running. I don’t feel like I need to slow down on wet grass or rocky terrain because I have confidence when I land my foot it will stay there.
My biggest challenge these days is picking the right pair of trail shoes before I head out!
