trail running shoes

I think that’s what I need but I’m a real newby to running. Basically I want to get into running on and off road, i’e on road to get to the woods about a mile each way on tarmac and then a couple of miles in the woods. So I would like a do it all running shoe(if there is such a thing?) Any recommendations for shoes and shops to try some. I’m in Milton Keynes and was thinking of Go Outdoors in Bedford or the Sweatshop in Xscape. Cheers all.

Look for something like the mizuno wave harrier. They often pop up very cheap online. I paid 27 i believe for mine. Decent shoe and a bargain at under 30gbpp if you can find them. Otherwise any running shop should have a selection of trail shoes to try on.

I’m not going to recommend any particular shoe, but would recommend getting a dedicated off-road shoe. The do it all ones can be a bit like cycle tyres designed for on and off-road use, i.e. crap at both jobs.
So something like the wave harrier mentioned above, or something from inov-8 if you’re filling flush with cash. But not something like Salomon XT wings.
And when you go to a shop and look at them, stick your mountain-bike head on. Turn em upside down, look at the tread. If you wouldn’t put a tyre with a similar tread pattern on your bike, then don’t on your feet if you want a similar level of grip.

Cheers guys. So it should be alright to cover a bit of tarmac with off road shoes just as it is spinning on the roads before a blat in the woods?

Dont bother with Goretex as they keep the water in! if its really wet I might use sealskins. I use Salamon Speedcross 2 for off road – they are brilliant in mud, I have used on the road but they wear quick on the road, I also use Salamon Pro 3D which I use for harder tracks/some road. Both comfortable never had any issues I like the lacing pulls in around the foot. My son uses inov8 295s – good alround shoe.
My running is coastal tracks[Dorset/devon]/forestry and moorland – I did run in the lakes last week and found the rocks a challenge for both shoes!!!

you’ll be fine.

take it easy, don’t run too far, too fast, too early.

…I want to get into running on and off road, i’e on road to get to the woods about a mile each way on tarmac and then a couple of miles in the woods.

sounds ace, i reckon you’ve got the right idea. but if you’re new to running, 4 or 5 miles will hurt, maybe walk to/from the woods at first?

(you won’t know if you’ve overdone it until the next day)

So it should be alright to cover a bit of tarmac with off road shoes just as it is spinning on the roads before a blat in the woods?

Yup, perfect analogy.

Another vote for Salomon SpeedCross 3’s. I’ve two pairs (whilst ones drying out!!) and can’t recommend them high enough. I run in woods only and keep away from the road (cos I can’t stand it) I’m not a natural runner and it took me some time to get used to the motion and pace and wear and tear on my joints. I thought I was fit enough to start with but actually running being at a different pace and using other muscles has been an eye opener and a fitness leveller (I was rubbish when I first started out) So a few weeks into it and I’m not too shabby now, still no where near where I’d like to be but hey..

I got Adidas Skandias from sports direct for around £30, seem fine to my admittedly not very good running legs.

Going to keep an eye out for those Wave harriers / SpeedCross though, main issue with trail shoes is they always seem to be soaked when you want them, I reckon 2 cheap pairs is better when you’re starting out.

3bikeman – I did run in the lakes last week and found the rocks a challenge for both shoes!!!

I’ve found the Speedcross 2’s lethal on wet rock.

Is running off road easier on your ankles? I sprained mine about 3 weeks ago, and road running kills!

I run in speedcross 3’s; they’re definitely the bontrager mud-x of running shoes.

Wet rock is not their strongest point, but then again what is apart from a climbing shoe?

i would say it depends on the proportion of road to trail that you intend to run. I have a pair of trail shoes that i used for road racing and the mixed terrain runs/races i did with the running club. they are basically the same as road shoes, just with a more agressive tread pattern. they were great for most runs and still have a lot of life.

the place they were not so good were proper muddy xc races (usually around fields) where it felt like you slid back half a step for every pace. they were also not great for fell races when it got steep and rocky. I have since bought some inov8s which are brilliant in the mud and rocks and steep slopes. you can really feel the terrain beneath your feet, but for the same reason they are terrible on the road and a little uncomfortable on hard pack trails.

Speak to the guys in the running shop like you would your LBS. tell them where and how far you are planning to run. trail shoes are great for mixed runs (think of them as the cross bike of the running shoe world) but if you are mainly up hills, off road and in the mud and rocks buy something more specialist like a fell shoe.

+1 to both Salomon Speedcross and Mizuno wave harriers

I don’t think he needs to worry about wet rocks in Milton Keynes. Better to find something that grips and sheds mud.

Emsz, running off road will strengthen your ankles. So eventually better for them

I find them SpeedCross 3’s slippy on large wet boulders too, but I don’t really run on that stuff (if at all) They are excellent on dry/muddy/tacky trails through woods and the like. They’ve got great tread but I’ve been told it wears down quite quickly if running on tarmac (but I’m not about to do that)
I found the shoes initially a bit tight due to the amount of foam in them (I have a high instep BTW) and the tongue is very well padded (but then it has to be) The heel area is very well padded and very soft and forgiving.
I’ve been taking it easy as I’m new to this trail running lark. I bought a mag about it the other week and in it there was a review about shoes and stuff, really they seemed to like the cheaper end of the market (of which the SpeedCross isn’t @ £90.00) and really just went on about some deep treaded running trainers.
Ohh, I bought some sportwool merino socks too, they are most excellent and fit perfectly, these I’d recommend too.

I have a pair of Innov8 Terrafly 303 – been spot on so far although they will be a compromise for full on offroad muddy conditions.

Emsz, running off road will strengthen your ankles. So eventually better for them

But not easier in the short term when you have an ankle sprain – if it hurts running on the road it’s likely to hurt running off-road. I’d definitely recommend more off-road running in the longer term though – generally less injuries overall.

So it should be alright to cover a bit of tarmac with off road shoes just as it is spinning on the roads before a blat in the woods?

With all those recommended yes, but then I’d argue that they’re all-rounders rather than pure off-road shoes, which is something like Walshes (or Inov-8 Mudclaws). I’ve done road sections between sections of fell in Mudclaws and it’s not all that great – you’d need to be an efficient runner not to have issues with those.

Wet rock is not their strongest point, but then again what is apart from a climbing shoe?

Inov-8 Roclites work surprisingly well on it if that’s your thing – definitely what I’d choose for running over rocky mountains (far preferable to any pure fell shoe).

For most ‘trail’ running, I use road shoes.

If the trail is going to be wet and boggy, I use fell shoes.

Probably no real need for anything other than road shoes here I’d guess.

What about when it’s a bit muddy, so road shoes are too slippery, but still mostly hard (and you have some road sections) so fell shoes aren’t ideal?

‘fell’ shoes are proper spiky.

i’ve got a pair of these:

they’re ace, very grippy in mud, but the spikes wear quickly on hard surfaces. mine were noticeably worn after only a couple of kilometers on tarmac.

they’ve got next-to-sod-all cushioning, forcing you to run forefoot (fellrunners have been WAAAAY ahead of the curve on the ‘barefoot’ trend), so they’re not necessarily uncomfortable on hard surfaces, but as i say, you’ll wear the tread down quickly…

Thanks for all the advice chaps. Picked up a pair of Salomon XA 3D Ultra 2’s in Go Outdoors. Really good fit. Off up the woods tonight to try ’em out.

Excellent, take it easy, it’s not a race (yet, hahaha)

I like them salomon XA Pro’s…good, comfy, stable and close to the ground. Quite heavy mind you but you won’t notice that if it’s your only shoe. That was my first ever trail shoe and I loved em. I must be by myself in my utter hate of the Speedcross though – to narrow for such a high heel; really unstable on the hills.

When your Salmons wear out in about 700 miles you might want to consider the NB110’s – without doubt the best trail shoe for the money; good on the road, good on the trails, and there’s even a rock plate in there so they’ll do for all but the gloopiest fell’s. ~250g means there lighter than most shoes out there too.

(~40 miles per week, get through a pair of shoes every third month)

I like them salomon XA Pro’s…good, comfy, stable and close to the ground. Quite heavy mind you but you won’t notice that if it’s your only shoe. That was my first ever trail shoe and I loved em. I must be by myself in my utter hate of the Speedcross though – too narrow for such a high heel; really unstable on the hills.

When your Salmons wear out in about 700 miles you might want to consider the NB110’s – without doubt the best trail shoe for the money; good on the road, good on the trails, and there’s even a rock plate in there so they’ll do for all but the gloopiest fell’s. ~250g means there lighter than most shoes out there too.

The problem with trail shoes based on a road upper (Mizuno) is that when they get wet and shitty they stay wet, shitty and heavy.

(~40 miles per week, get through a pair of shoes every third month)