[Closed] Trail/off-road running shoes question

I had the Salomons that half the world seem to have and while excellent for running through wet grass, small puddles etc, the first time I wore them for an adventure race, it wasn't long before we had to run through shin deep water - whereupon they promptly filled with water and never drained properly. I couldn't wait to get out of them and into my bike shoes!!

The non-goretex ones mean you get wet straight away but at least they drain and have some chance of drying. At this time of the year though, I think yo're gonna have cold wet feet no matter what you do. 🙂

Not for me - I've got some Salamon Speedcross 2's which I totally love, they get wet pretty quick, but I've never had cold feet, which I do get on the bike...

agree with above, but you can get some with a tighter weave outer than the normal mesh that most running shoes now have, to give some additional warmth, but still without the gortex liner which traps the water in.

I use Saucony trainers because they fit my foot and are cheap!

I wouldnt dream of wearing gore tex trainers, you would just get cold feet.

I just wear wool ankle socks and get wet feet, but they never get cold.

GoreTex for running = Nope

Different people like different brands, personally I love Inov8, and been wearing Roclite 295s for the last year or so.

I use some Adidas Skandias (cheap in sports direct, or were) - never suffered from cold feet running though I do on the bike.
I'd go for SealSkins under normal shoes, should give a degree of protection unless you plunge in shin deep.

as a bit of a PSA, wiggle have salmon speedcross 2's at £60 and considering the new ones are now £90...

Don't forget to use code 10-OFF on Wiggle, to get another 10% off.

I use sportwool socks and inov8 shoes - yesterday the trails were like the Somme and feet stayed warm, if a little moist.

Wool socks and close fitting fell shoes. The water is squeezed out as you run. Gore Tex + Shoes is just wrong, you just end up getting wet from the inside first!

On the subject of wool socks, I have been wearing these over winter (if you can call it that), and been just dandy.

http://www.bikemaps.co.uk/merinowoolcyclingsocks.htm

Another here for wet feet that drain. Occasionally I use Porelles in the snow.

what surfer said, plus my 2cents :
wear knee length socks, keep my calf's walm in this crappy weather, dont fill with water, dont need leggings, and try and get compression ones because they make you run faster (ok no they dont, but i feel better with them!)

Snow and Rock are selling Salamon very cheap at the mo..

Agreed about the Goretex, - don't do it.

Speedcross II and a pair of Wollie Boolies- perfect..

Hmm..

Warm and wet....

( Just the way it should be.) 😉

surfer has a point - Goretex shoes really aren't as breathable as you'd think, IME. Although on the other hand, it is at least like a wetsuit, in that it's *warm* moisture in there.

Have you considered wool liner sock+ Sealskinz sock + non-GT trail shoe? Unless you go into water over your ankles, your feet should stay warm and dry, even if your shoes don't.

Cheers all.
Most of the off-road running i plan to do will be round the local woods etc, so no more than puddles. But i have entered [url= http://www.ratraceadventure.com/notorious/dsindex.html ]the deerstalker[/url] which will contain river crossings etc.

so non GT and wooly socks seems to be the best option.
thanks.

Just bought some Adidias Kandias from the local sports shop (£45)
Wil try them tonight with wooly socks on frozen trails 🙂

I use speedcross 2 + mid calf sealskins [with a thin liner sock]- ok unless deep water.

Goretex shoes will just fill with water and you have wet feet - none gore tex, water runs out and dry quicker1

Goretex are worse. The best performing running footwear is mesh with merino socks. I went up Lochnagar a few weeks back in Inov8 MudRocks and mernio socks. It was proper winter conditions - ie crampons and ice axe recommended. Didn't get cold or wet feet once, the lads wearing gortex shoes did.

IR_B - see you there! A comment from last year's Deerstalker sums it up nicely. First hill, just after the first water obstacle, runner in front of me turns to his mate with the words "So much for the frigging waterproof shoes". You're much better off with fast draining than waterproof, and after the "Outward River Saunter" (waist depth in places )wet [i]feet[/i] will be the last thing on your mind...

Last run I went on I cut through some long wet grass near the end of 10km and my feet got soaked. The cooling effect was bliss 🙂

Goretex is for those that wear them to the pub and have never run offroad. I have inov8 mesh jobbies and icebreaker merino socks and don't have cold feet even when wet. Just run fast up a hill to keep warm.

out of curiosity do specific offroad running shoes have similar pronation support to normal running shoes?

I don't think so.. not much pounding of pavement going on off-road I suppose.