Gear

So the Salomons are definately out, what are the key differences between the Flyroc 310 and the Roclite 315 (apart from my local cotswold not selling the 315)?

The only thing putting me off trying the 285 is that they are red.

The difference between the Flyroc and the Roclite, 1) the sole is a different tread  (in my opinion the Roclite is more suited to a wider ranger of surfaces) 2) there is more cushioning in the Roclite 3) The Flyrocs have more comfortable uppers and they are quicker to dry.

Both are excellent shoes but for trail running the Roclite just about edges in front for me.  Although saying that I find the Flyrocs so comfortable I tend to wear them as an every day shoe as it feels like wearing slippers.

Ian Pennington wrote (see)

The only thing putting me off trying the 285 is that they are red.

Not for long

I'm still not sure what you actually want to do in these shoes Matt!

If it's hard trails (eg. Lakeland footpaths/compacted trails etc.) I'd steer clear of anything aimed at fell running - as some people have rightly said the soft ground you cover is cushioning enough and the job of the sole unit is to keep you in close contact with the ground.  

As Cath says the Puma Trailfoxes are a good trail running/walking shoe and she tells me the grip on wet rock is much better in the current version. They also provide a good degree of cushioning so you can use them in confidence on roads etc. Don't discount off-roaders by the usual suspects either including NB, ASICS et al. I've even got a couple of pairs of Scarpa "Trail Runners" which would be awful to run seriously in (they fit feet as well as a canoe fits a banana) but are really comfy for schlepping over Kinder etc.

Innov8 are getting a bit crazy with all their different models and strict instructions on what they are for! I still like the various trail shoes that they do although they are STILL less robust and less comfortable than many others.

If you're going to be genuinely running hard away from trails and paths then start with any pair of low-profile studded/cleated shoes that fit you closely and see how you get on. There's no substitute for experimentation, although it does get horribly expensive! 

Sorry I have been a bit vague on use, mainly because they're going to be used for a variety of purposes.  Main use is going to distance walking, I'm fed up with heavy boots and to some extent approaches and keep shredding the heels on my Meindls, I think the invo8s fit much better and hopefully should stop this movement.

 I will be doing some trail running, but I'm quite new to running (last year or so - decided I really needed to lose weight) so this won't be the main use.

I'm awash with trail shoes right now. What's become clear is that there's no clear winner, nothing does it all. Design is going off at all sorts of tangents and its making it hard to pin down who's going the right way.

I'd get the best fitting pair regardless of brand or colour and deal with its quirks. It'll excell somewhere.

Next weekend 80km - 2days in dartmoor, couple of weekends later DoE group out so short treks (probably running in new forest), weekend after that up to the lakes for 2 days probably only about 15km a day, July - trailwalker 100km (this is one off at this distance though)

You really need a good shop! Run and Become, for example, have a good selection of trail shoes and fell shoes, and in my experience know what they are talking about.