Hi all, I'm considering taking up trail running to help out with my fitness, can anyone recommend some suitable and comfortable shoes please .
Thanks
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Trail running shoes recommendations
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Posted 3 hours ago #
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Go and try them on and see what fits and then buy them on the Internet.
Loads of people use Inov8 though. Probably start with something like the Roclite it’s not got too aggressive a sole.
And what do you mean by trails?
Posted 3 hours ago # -
I'm surrounded by mountains where I live so hopefully once I get my fitness up I'll be running up those.
Posted 2 hours ago # -
Salomon Speedcross.
Confortable and waterproof.
Posted 2 hours ago # -
Posted 2 hours ago #
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Hi,
I do a fair bit of trail and fell running here in the lakes n dales. I find it really helps fitness wise. Much less faff than biking.
Try n start slowly to avoid overuse injuries. Stretch a lot n find a good physio !
Shoewise I use Walsh PBs and some Inov8s. Personally I didnt get on with Salomon shoes as I felt they did not offer much grip on anything wet. Very comfortable though. Plenty of shoe reviews on line. Find a local club for advice.
Enjoy. It will be a pain / pleasure thing...
Paul
Posted 2 hours ago # -
I like Innov8, although recently I've started using Addidas TerreX-King shoes. they're nicely fitting, very grippy, and (for me) comfier over longer distances.
Posted 2 hours ago # -
Speedcross are slippy on wet rock ime. La Sportiva Mutants have similar grip and cushioning, but are way more surefooted if they fit your feet. The higher gaiter-style closure also helps keep grit and stonelets out of your shoes. Inov-8 do a good job too.
You're always playing a sort of balance game between cushioning, trail feel and all-round grip if that makes sense. The lower and thinner the sole, the more trail feel you get, but the less underfoot cush. Grip tends to come down to a combination of how toothy the sole is and the rubber compound - a bit like mountain bike tyres really.
Oddly, Hoka One One, despite being constructed with a sole the height of a bouncy castle, are a lot more stable than you'd think and a lot of off-road ultra-runners use them for the comfort and shock absorption, though they feel odd to start off with. Wouldn't be my first choice on more technical ground, but good for longer distances.
Local running club is a good call.
Posted 1 hour ago # -
I'm considering taking up trail running to help out with my fitness
It's a minefield because we all have different feet but with the right shoes you'll fly.Check your gait. Take into account your BMI/running experience/injury experience maybe heel drop and decide if you need light/flexible/cushion/pronation/stability/support. Be prepared to try loads.
if you have any sort of biking background your cardio will be significantly better than your musculoskeletal so take it (very easy) for many weeks. Forget about pace and distance just do what feels comfortable.
Have had quite a few pairs of Inov-8 they're minimalist but they don't last very long.
Asics also very good but they have a shoe for week of the year.
Last 3 pairs have been Brooks which are pretty much perfect (for me)
Posted 1 hour ago # -
IME Speedcross overrated, as above dont offer much grip and not that comfortable.
Walsh, very narrow but extremely grippy, really only suitable for Fell running as oppose to "trail" grass mud etc, very knarly.
Inov8 very good, bit more of a compromise than Walsh and do a shoe for every eventuality.
Saying all that I would go for one of the big brands who do a "trail" shoe such as Adidas, Saucony, Asics etc. They are usually very good with a better midsole for hardpack etc. I run in Hoka's (long story) and they so some off road shoes that I have ran on all surfaces (including some hard core stuff) and they are OK but very high so I wouldnt recommend them unless you have to wear them.Posted 1 hour ago # -
Luckily when I mail ordered my first pair of trail running shoes they were fine for me, they were a pair New Balance, when they wore out I looked at the revised model as the model I had was withdrawn and they were a different shoe and it was awful!
I did pop in the local Runners Surgery in Snow and Rock but they didnt have great stock in, but do price match when asked.
I ended up ordering a few different pairs from Wiggle and walking around the home and testing them, ended with some Innov8's. So moto is, try some pairs and see what works!
Posted 1 hour ago # -
Didn't get on with speedcross - much too narrow.
I bought a cheapy pair of Asics Fuji-somethingorother from decathlon which have been great and, I realised, lasted 5 years now which is ridiculous because I don't run all the time but have done some significant trail running in them. I should replace them but they keep going....
Posted 1 hour ago # -
I think Addidas are the same folk who make Speedcross (aren't they part of the same mega-corp?) so if speedcross are too narrow, the same will probs be true of addidas as well. FWIW, I've pretty narrow feet, and they fit like a glove, and I use the narrower version of Innov-8 that are available as well.
Also, even if your trails aren't that gnarly, these sorts of shoes are pretty good for grassy trails and field edges this time of year as well.
Posted 1 hour ago # -
I got a pair of Speedcross 4s last year. I find they are excellent, slightly narrow fit but grip is amazing in all conditions.
Posted 1 hour ago # -
I use Inov-8 Race Ultra 290s. These have been replaced in the range with Trail Talon 275s, but they look like pretty much the same shoe.
I find these a good compromise between cushioning and "trail-feel" and are fine for doing a bit of road running to get to the trail as well. I wouldn't want to run through super sloppy mud in them but for hard packed to soft ground they're a good allrounder and a good introduction if you're used to road runners.
Having said that, I prefer pretty minimalist road running shoes as well and use Nike Zoom Streaks, which have the same 8mm drop as the Inov-8s.
Posted 58 minutes ago # -
Some of the Adidas Terrex series are really good, better grip than the Salomons I have. I also have a pair of Saucony's which are worth a look.
I think Addidas are the same folk who make Speedcross (aren't they part of the same mega-corp?)
No, they haven't been part of the same company for over 10 years.
Posted 49 minutes ago # -
What rocketman said - take into account lots of things, go to a proper running shop that do trail stuff (a lot of the bigger/chain stores are great for road shoes but crap for trail), get a gait analysis and try lots of things on.
I've gone through Saucony Xodus, Mizuno Wave Harrier, Montrail Bajada and a couple of others over the past 6 years. Currently have Saucony Peregrine for trail and a pair of Inov8 X-Talons for fell stuff. All of those felt 'right', where the Speedcross (and a few other Salomon shoes) ripped my arches up.
Posted 48 minutes ago # -
It's a personal thing. I'd go to a decent shop and try on a few different brands and seewhat feels right.
Lots of people use inov-8, I used to as well. Since going Walsh a few years back though, inov-8 feel like running in tackety boots.
Walsh PB are *almost* as grippy as a mud claw in the wet stuff, but don't feel like you're running in a platform shoe. I don't bother with different shoes for different conditions any more, the PB's are nice to run in whatever the conditions. I even keep my 2nd-newest pair for road running!
They don't last well, that's about the only down side for me.
Posted 5 minutes ago #
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