Buyers' Guide - Trail Running Shoes

Trail running shoes seem to be everywhere these days, they're coming at you from two different directions. First traditional outdoor footwear brands like Scarpa and Brasher have spotted and opening in the market and moved into the lightweight shoe side of things.


Then on the other side, running brands like Salomon and Adidas have come into things from the opposite direction using their running expertise to produce shoes designed specifically for running on trails.

Finally, Inov8 - a small UK brand - specialises in trail-running shoes and has its own unique take on design and construction based on allowing the foot to work as naturally as possible.

We're not talking about full-on, minimalist fell shoes here, more the sort of footwear designed to be used for running on off-road footpaths and bridleways, anything from hardpack fireroad through to rocky tracks Pretty much the paths you'd normally walk in fact.

It's not just runners who should be looking at trail running shoes, they also make decent ultra-lightweight walking footwear that saves energy and adds agility over long days in the hills. Or short ones for that matter.

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The Basics

Trail-running shoes are a compromise between cushioned but over-tall road shoes, that tend to be unstable off road, and ultra-low, but minimally-padded fell shoes, which have very little cushioning, but keep your foot close to the ground for maximum stability.


The ideal trail-runner has enough mid-sole cushioning for comfort, but is still low enough for stability on uneven ground - think not platform soles - has good grip on both rock and softer ground, good longitudinal flexibility combined with lateral stiffness and a close-fitting upper with some protection from abrasion on strategic areas like the rand and toe.

Finally you may also want a waterproof / breathable membrane to keep winter puddles at bay, though for summer use, a mesh upper may be better.

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Sole Unit

What you're after in outsole terms, is enough tread to grip well on soft ground - look for pronounced cleats with decent depth and space between them to help shed mud - combined with rubber that's soft enough to grip on rock and harder surfaces. A quick dig of the thumb nail will give you some idea. Shallow tread will be fine on hardpack, but not so clever on soft, steep slopes.


The mid-sole unit is generally made from EVA foam and provides cushioning as well as contributing to stability. Be wary of thick mid-soles, they make it harder to balance on rough terrain, you want your feet close to the ground. Look for sole units that have different densities of EVA at different points in the shoe to keep your foot strike even - often manufacturers will use a different coloured foam to emphasise this. [Eg: Hi Tec, Carn]

Finally, some brands use cunning technology that you may not be able to see to improve cushioning and / or stability. Some work well, some seem more gimmicky. [Adidas?]

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Chassis

The bit of the sole unit you usually can't see, is some sort of internal stiffening plate. Sometimes it's actually been styled so the edges of the plate stick out for the sole unit, but its main point is to allow end to end flexibility but give lateral stiffness to the shoe.


This helps with stability on rough ground in particular and, in some cases, like Inov8's range, can actually help to improve energy transfer on foot strike and toe off.

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Uppers

Virtually all trail shoes use a fabric, often mesh, upper. With road shoes, abrasion isn't a factor, but off road, there are plenty of rocks and rubble zones to run through, so ideally you want some sort of added protection at the toe of the shoe and ideally right the way round in rand form to preserve the uppers. At the other end, look for a stiffened heel cup which is essential for stability as it helps hold your heel in place.


You may also find external plastic moulding designed to work with the lacing system to hold your foot firmly in place. A combination of these, a good, slick lacing system and a close, but not tight, fit will stop your feet swimming about on rough terrain which in turn improve stability and balance.

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Buying

As always, we'd suggest using a well-stocked specialist shop where you can try lots of different brands and get expert advice from experienced staff. Shop in the afternoon when your feet will have swollen by up to half a size and try different brands as they all have subtly different fits. You're looking for one that suits your foot shape best.


We'd go for a snug but not tight fit. Make sure your toes don't slide into the front of the shoe on steep downhill gradients or you'll be blistered and risking your toe nails. Your foot and heel in particuarl, shouldn't lift at all on climbs.

A couple of very basic tests are to try and pinch the heel section of the upper to make sure it has a stiff, stability enhancing cuff. Then bend the sole unit longitudinally and check that the sole bends easily and flexes at the same point as your foot.

Finally hold the front and heel section of the sole and twist your hands in different directions. The sole unit should resist twisting, if it twists easily, look elsewhere.

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Trail Running Shoes For Walking

The same guidelines hold good if you're buying a trail-running shoe for walking, but bear in mind that walking seems to trash running shoes fast, so you may be better off with heavier-built models rather than ultra-lightweight versions. Even then, don't expect them to last as long as traditional walking boots. They simply won't.


A good compromise, if you're wary of shoes on the hill, is a lightweight mid based on a trail running shoe. These are psychologically reassuring and give some ankle protection as well as being less prone to stone ingress. The higher cuff won't actually add much stability, that's mostly down to the construction of the sole unit and the heel cuff.

Finally some so-called 'trail running shoes', particularly from traditional outdoor brands, are really walking shoes in disguise. Brasher, for example. And Scarpa which has both a 'proper' running shoe in its range and what it calls a 'runnable' shoe, which is really better suited to lightweight walking.

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Waterproof Or Not

Many trail running shoes give you the option of a waterproof liner. These work well in damp UK winter conditons, but may be overly hot in summer weather and slow drying when they do get wet. Alternatively, the Berghaus Phobic range and Hi-Tec shoes which use their excellent Ion Mask water-repellent treatment will shrug off water but still remain breathable and dry fast into the bargain.

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Fell Shoes

Think of fell-running as off piste trail-running and you won't go far wrong. Fell shoes need to be able to cope with breakneck descents on open fells away from the paths, where stability and grip count for more than comfort and cushioning.


Because of this, traditional fell shoes have minimal sole cushioning, so your foot is as close to the ground as possible for optimum balance, a glove-like fit to avoid foot slippage inside the shoe and fierce, aggressive outsole cleats with softish rubber for maximum grip on grassy and rocky terrain.

All those features make them fantastic for their purpose, but a tad minimalist for all-round trail running and walking use.

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Five Of Our Favourites

Here are five trail-running shoes we rate, there are plenty of others around though, from Inov-8's huge range including the lightest boot in the world, through to more walking-orientated shoes from the likes of Brasher. More links below this article.

Inov-8 Flyroc 310 Inov-8's massive range of off-road running shoes includes the lightest boot in the world. Great combination of grip and lightness to turbo-charge your feet.

Carn Cobra Carn's trail shoes include the Cobra, a trail-running/walking shoe that offers slipper-like comfort for your feet.

Salomon XA Pro Salomon's long-standing XA Pro is an established favourite with runners and adventure racers. The only downside is a slightly shallow sole tread.

Brasher Helium XCR Brasher's new trail-runner is arguably best suited to trail walking in a lightweight style, but is well made with a good, roomy, UK-specific fit.

Berghaus Phobic Stable Endure Berghaus's Phobic shoes give great, tenacious grip in an interesting, water-shedding rather than waterproof package that works for both walking and running.