Triathlon running shoes – collection and prices and best tri shoes

guide to triathlon running shoesIronman One is today’s answer to the marathon of 10 years ago. Ironman is the new black.

That’s why there are now a myriad of triathlon running shoes that can help you save time during transitions and improve your overall triathlon time.

Here I will review what characterizes a good triathlon running shoe, and make some suggestions for shoes you should pay special attention to.

Ironman or sprint

Triathlon running shoes can be divided into several categories. What distance do you want to do? If you are going to do the full Ironman (42 km race), you will need different shoes than if you are going for the sprint distance (5 km race). At the same time, you should consider your level of ambition and the time you expect to finish, whether you should havea dedicated competition shoe, or whether you want to use the same running shoe for both training and competition.

We have interviewed the winner of KMD Ironman Copenhagen 2014, Henrik HyldelundIf you have ambitions for your triathlon training, we strongly recommend reading the interview.

Save time on shifts

As a triathlete, you change clothes twice during the competition itself. It takes time. There are easy minutes to gain with the right equipment and running shoes are no exception. Regardless of which shoes you choose, I recommend that you use zip ties.There are a few different lacing systems that allow you to change shoes very quickly. They are available for all running shoes.

Running shoes specifically for triathlon

If you want the best running shoes for triathlon, however, you should look at running shoes that are developed specifically for triathlon, as they have some features that allow you to change gears faster, provide a little more comfort, and allow you to run a little faster.

Triathlon running shoes differ from regular asphalt running shoes in the following ways:

  • Extra for
  • Drain
  • Low weight
  • Lack of traditional language

Henrik Hyldelund

Extra for

Many tri-shoes have extra lining. This makes them comfortable to run in, even in bare feet and you want to avoid blisters. It simply takes too long to put on socks for shorter distances. As a little bonus, most triathlon-specific running shoes are treated with anti-bacterial treatment so your feet and running shoes won’t smell bad.

Drain

If you come in and have to quickly change from your cycling shoes directly to your running shoes, your feet may still be wet from your morning swim. That’s why many triathlon running shoes have drainage holes in the outsole, so you can effectively get rid of excess fluid from your feet. (An example is the Specialized Asics Gel Noosa-Tri) It can also be an advantage if you have problems with very sweaty feet.

Low weight

Triathlon running shoes are primarily for competitions that focus on keeping weight as low as possible. A pair of lightweight running shoes can help you run significantly faster. Both on shorter and longer distances. On longer distances, such as Ironman, it may be worth considering choosing a pair of slightly heavier running shoes, with stronger cushioning. Especially if you are a heavier runner or new to the triathlon sport.

Rule of thumb for gear: 1kg of equipment equals 7kg of body weight. Sigi Rumpfhuber, Austrian mountain athlete

Lack of traditional language

You will often see that triathlon running shoes do not have a traditional tongue. This allows for a quick-lacing system or no laces at all. All designed to make the transitions as quick and painless as possible.

triathlon running shoes

The best triathlon shoe brands

I haven’t run a triathlon or an Ironman myself, but there is broad agreement among triathletes that the best running shoes for triathlon come from:

I hope that this guide and review of triathlon running shoes has helped you choose the right triathlon running shoes, which is an important step on the path to your dream.

If you have any comments about choosing triathlon running shoes, I would love to hear your opinion in the comments section.