Trail running shoes – collection of the best trail shoes for running

Trail running is a rapidly growing niche within running training.

Trail running is to running what Crossfit is to fitness. It’s raw, it’s natural, and it’s fucking hard.

With trail running, you train in natural surroundings and all the challenges it may present, whether it’s uneven terrain, steep hills, technical descents or harsh weather.

In this article, I will give you some suggestions for good trail shoes that will give you the best conditions for good results on the trails. I will also review the characteristics of trail running shoes that you should pay attention to when purchasing new shoes for the trail.

Video about choosing trail running shoes

I was visiting Inov8, where I had the opportunity to make this video about different trail shoes. You can rewind the video and catch the topics you want to learn more about..

The video contains these sections:

• 1:02: Sole, grip and base
• 1:35: The upper of trail running shoes

Disclaimer: Inov8 did not pay me to make this video. There are many other trail and off-trail running shoes that are at least as good as the ones I present in the video.
Additionally, it should be said that in the video I call it off-trail shoes – that’s Inov8 terminology – I’m actually talking about traditional trail running shoes.

Quite generally

There are now many different subgenres within trail shoes. In the above, I have tried to divide the shoes into as few categories as possible. If you follow the links under each trail shoe, you can learn more in detail about what distinguishes the individual trail running shoes from each other.

Test winner trail running shoes

We have tested a lot of trail running shoes and have chosen the best trail running shoes of 2014.

What can you expect?

Some of the elements that you can always (or almost always) find in trail shoes are a more or less rough sole, which gives a better grip on the ground. How rough the ground is depends on what the shoe is going to be used for, but more on that later. In addition, you want a reasonablyminimalist structure with typically a lower outsole and not much stability control. It is more important to be close to the ground and thus be able to control your step. Last but not least, you can expecta more durable upper, that can withstand running into branches, hitting rocks or something completely different. Surprises always lie in wait on the entertaining single trails.

What you should consider when buying trail running shoes

There are, as always, a lot of things to consider when buying trail running shoes. But I will try to help you as best as I can through the process. The most important thing is to find a pair of shoes that fit your foot and that you feel comfortable in, so that you get as much out of your running as possible. The more you run, the better you will become.

• Drop
• GORE-TEX
• Weight
• Distance
• In fine clothes

Drop

Generally speaking, trail running shoes typically have a lower drop than regular running shoes. The lower drop helps promote a more natural running style. This is because you will typically be running on very uneven and changing surfaces, with a more natural running style (read: that you land further forward on your foot) you typically have a better and more secure grip on the ground and can thus avoid wiggling, slipping or falling over. But as I said, the drop is generally low. If you have just started trail running, and have previously run in running shoes with a lot of stability and a high drop, you should be aware that you should slowly accustom your body to the new running style.

GORE-TEX

If you are going to use the shoes in very wet conditions, running through streams or the like, then it might be a good idea to have a GORE-TEX upper. It certainly won’t be necessary for all trail runners, but if you are thinking of really going off-trail, then a GORE-TEX upper wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.

Weight

As with asphalt and triathlon running shoes for competitions weight is really important. The lower the weight, the less resistance there will be at your feet and the faster you can run. When you choose a trail running shoe with a lower weight, you are also choosing some things, especially in the comfort department. If you are going to run longer distances, such as Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, It may be worth considering prioritizing comfort over weight and choosing a slightly heavier, but more comfortable running shoe. I will discuss this in more detail below.

Distance

As briefly mentioned above, it is important to work out with yourself what distances you expect to run. You need to do this in order to best focus on which features will be important for you and your race. For example, do you mainly want to run shorter competition distances, you need a light, stiff and flat running shoe that will make you fly forward. On the other hand, if you prefer to run long distances in beautiful nature, you should probably consider a slightly heavier and more comfortable running shoe so that your feet don’t get completely smashed as soon as you reach the double-digit kilometers.

In fine clothes

When I say surface, I am thinking especially of whether you expect to run on rain-soaked and muddy forest trails, whether you will be running on gravel paths or on rocky single trails in dry environments. As a general rule of thumb, you should use a coarse grip for wet weather and wet trails, while you should use a less coarse grip if you are “just” going to run on uneven and rocky trails. For classic Danish weather, it is probably recommended to have a coarser sole, which you can find in, for example,trail shoe Inov8 Oroc 280.

Benefits of trail running

Here I would like to admit that I am biased, not to say completely incompetent. I am a huge fan of trail running and try to spend as much time as possible on the small trails around the country and abroad. There are several reasons for this, which I will try to give you an overview of.

• It’s fun
• Less risk of injury
• Natural interval training

The entertainment value

First of all, I run on trails because it’s so much fun, and the easiest way to get out into nature and feel the fresh air. It’s always exciting to find a new little trail, a changed track or maybe a completely new route. At the same time, the surroundings change so quickly that I always feel like the kilometers fly by. You can’t complain about that at all.

Less risk of injury

I have had some problems with overuse injuries in the past because I haven’t run consistently, haven’t been good enough to prioritize recovery in my running training and ran too many intervals. It stopped after I started running more on trails. The ever-changing surface and new routes mean that my run is not the same every time, which means that the problems I previously had with my knees and groin have disappeared.

Natural interval training

In continuation of the last point, it has no longer been necessary for me to run as many demanding interval training sessions oralways run with a heart rate monitor and according to heart rate zones, as I naturally get a lot of intervals in trail running when the terrain goes up and down. In addition to helping to get my heart rate up, I can feel that the many hill runs have given me stronger muscles in the entire posterior chain (calves, hamstrings and buttocks), which helps me when I run competitions. Whether it’s on flat or hilly roads.

Leading brands

In my universe, there are mainly two brands of running shoes that stand out from the competition. I think you get the most for your money and the best trail running shoes at:

• Inov8
• Solomon Islands

Inov8 trail running shoes

Inov8 is characterized by super lightweight shoes with a powerful and aggressive kick. They have different fits, are available with and without Gore-Tex and are extremely performance-oriented.

Salomon trail running shoes

Salomon has a wide range of trail running shoes and you can find a shoe for any purpose. In recent years, they have focused more and more on trail running and are now the leading manufacturer of gear for trail runners. Whether you are a casual runner or an ambitious ultra runner.

Come out and run in the shoe

If you find it hard to find the motivation to run the same flat and boring route week after week, then I would definitely recommend you try trail running. It is not difficult to get started and you can just start simple by finding some small gravel paths in the local park or similar. I promise you that you will notice an increasing motivation to run and a significantly better shape after just a few weeks of trail running.

I hope you have been able to use this guide to trail running shoes. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write in the comments box below. and I will return as soon as I get home from the latest single trail