Hi, Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations on the best Women's Trail running shoes preferably waterproof for winter running? I have looked into wearing Gore Tex but i know these shoes make your feet hot and may end up causing blisters. I need them for running in mud, snow and ice on grass Any advice would be appreciated. Nicki Ps: am STILL having problems uploading my profile pic (followed instructions too)
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Check out Inov-8 OROC 340s. Huge studs for mud and grass, metal tips for ice and rock. The lining in goretex shoes doesn't go very high and when the snow gets in, which it will do quickly, it keeps it in. Goretex over socks, and running fast, might keep you warmer longer. icebug shoes are even more adapted to snow and ice, and have female specific models, but are harder to find in the UK, though there seem to be some available through amazon.co.uk. The good thing about the icebugs (though I havent used them myself) seems to me to be that the metal dobs are more sensibly located near to where your foot makes contact.
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| Edited: 20/12/11 19:14 |
 A friend of the female persuasion uses Innov Roclite 305s.
I agree about waterproof socks vs shoes. A half way option may be Salomon speedcross in ClimaShield ?
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 As with all footwear, to discern the value of "best" for yourself try it on in a decent shop stocked with alternatives and choose according to fit. Doesn't matter if they're made by God's Own Right Hand and used by top athletes with their hearty endorsement, if your feet are a markedly different shape they'll be hell, and there's no substitute for trying them on to see. Pete.
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Re waterproof socks vs shoes: wouldn't the socks more likely to make your feet hot than the shoe AloveSupreme? Will look at the suggestions of shoes in a min, cheers for that, Bryan and Alovesupreme. Thanks for advice Peter: my feet always need help!! Nicki
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 ... made by God's Own Right Hand ...
GORH ... that'd make a great brand name, Pete Nicki, if you intend running over '... mud, snow and ice on grass...' I'm not sure if 'waterproof' is going to be a realistic goal - your feet are going to get wet anyway. I'd have thought grip was a more important factor, second of course to a secure and comfortable fit. ATM I'm on the lookout for a good trail shoe too - so far, tempted by the Innov-8 Mudlcaw 333
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 Its not hot so much as dry - a waterproof sock will cover much higher up your foot than a shoe will, and closer to the foot with it. And of course removable so making the shoe rather more usable outwith winter. Not that pure oversocks at all easy to find although sealskinz sort of ok.
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I'm on the lookout for a good trail shoe too - so far, tempted by the Innov-8 Mudlcaw 333 Mudclaws are not really trail runners: they have a very aggressive tread designed for pure cross country. On a trail, which is generally suggestive of a hard(ish) path you'll get less grip and less comfort from the deep studs than alternatives. On mud they'll be as good as you can get (I used to have a pair of the original MCs). So if you're planning on largely ignoring paths and trails then an excellent choice (assuming they fit) but if you're mainly on paths then I'd suggest a less aggressive sole would be a Cunning Plan. Pete.
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Nicki - I have goretex socks and goretex shoes. For running I would nearly always prefer the goretex socks with some wool socks underneath - in cold wet/snowy/muddy conditions my feet would be more comfortable for more time. When I got home, both the shoes and the socks will dry quickly. Goretex shoes are quite good for cold and dry conditions because they can help keep you warm, but are only use in the wet if you can be sure that water won't get in. So, nice for walking on cold wet trails, but not for running across cold wet countryside. Have been doing some small runs along the East Neuk coast the last week or so - my Goretex Inov8s were nice cos it was dry but cold, and they're nice for general wandering about this time of year, but now it's dipping below freezing and there's sheets of ice at the end of the track where I live I'm thinking of some of the metal studded models I mentioned earlier. Or I'll use my Petzl Spikys perhaps, but they tend to slip about and get tangled. The most important thing is to make sure your shoes grip the ground - the consequences of a slip in winter, especially if you train alone off road could be catastrophic. Hence my suggestion of metal studded shoes , which are extremely good for ice and wet rock. Then get fit and comfort sorted. Cold feet are no big deal if you can keep running! I've heard of guys who compete in long distance sub-zero winter races using capsicum liniment on their feet, same as cyclists use on their legs.
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| Edited: 21/12/11 10:50 |
Useful points ALS - ta. Pete, most of my running is local (south midlands) and is on unsurfaced footpaths and along the headlands of fields so there's lots of mud and soft going. When I'm in hillier country, I don't run much; I do a lot of walking however for which I wear boots. But, even when walking, I prefer to avoid stone-pitched paths in favour of unpathed grass. So from what you say, a pair of Mudclaws might do the business. I'll try them out at a shop with a treadmill. Thanks for the advice. PS Apologies to the OP for threadjacking.
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Sceptical b - for Scottish munro walking outside of winter Mudclaw O330s or Adidas swoops are my chosen footwear, so they should do you fine. Fwiw I don't agree with pete that they are unsuitable for paths either, at last the sort of rough mountain paths I use. They are certainly superb off path, and indeed encourage you to leave it. The deep studs can give a surprising amount of cushioning as well as grip on mud and grass that is way ahead of anything a boot can deliver.
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 As others have said, waterproof running shoes are about as logical/useful as a chocolate tea-pot. Your feet won't be cold when you're running.
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He's probably thinking of the sort of 'paths' we get down in England which either approximate roads or rows of paving slabs. I'm sure Scotland has some too but they're probably much easier to avoid  in general very hard to avoid totally in England even if charging off path quite a bit as I tend to like to do.
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Am just sticking to grass rather than paths and roads, so will look at the Mudlclaw 333's:
Thanks Pete and Scep B for suggesting.
Alovesupreme: thanks for waterproof shoe and sock advice; will look into socks rather than the waterproof shoe.
Didn't know you had chocolate teapots in Dundee;-)
Thanks guys.
Nicki
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... Mudlclaw 333's ... Thanks Pete and Scep B for suggesting. ... You're welcome, Nicki. I've tried several local shops (including Go Outdoors) and they all seem very low on stock of 333s. I am looking for UK size 10 (or half-a-size either side depending on fit) but none of the places I've tried has any larger than 9. I'll wait until they restock in the new year but I'm not sure if any shops will be offering the substantial discounts they were advertising in the run-up to Christmas.
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 If you want to go minimalist you could try Merrell Trail Glove. Just got a pair in Schuh of all places in size 10 for £50 (ie £35 off list price).
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Also have a look at Salomon - they fit me well and do various trail running models. Roos
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Sceptical b - I've just realised that the Mudclaw o330s I mentioned in my earlier post are now known as the 333s - theyve evidently got 3gm heavier when the colour changed from orange to yellow! Excellent shoes IMO. Hope I didn't confuse you - what are now called the 330s are what used to be the Terrocs - a much less grippy shoe more suitable for paths.
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No prob, ALS, I assumed we were talking about the same shoe. Happy Christmas 
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