Looking for a trail shoe? Find out more about choosing a trail shoe in the article, where you can find the following:
What is the difference between trail shoes and regular running shoes?
There can be a huge difference between trail shoes and road running shoes. Road running shoes are simply not meant to do the same things as trail running shoes. A trail shoe should generally be more stable as the surface is more uneven and then, of course, there is also a completely different requirement for the grip of the outsole. However, there are several nuances to it, which we go through below.
How to choose a trail running shoe
It is a very good idea to put some thought into your choice of trail running shoes. Below, you can read some of the most important points that can act as starting points for when you make your decision.
What surface are you running on?
First, you should consider what surface you plan on using your trail shoes on. There is a big difference between whether you go out on wide trails and gravel roads or if you plan on running in snow and on ice.
If you want to use the shoes on different surfaces, we recommend choosing a shoe that works in the terrain you plan to run the most. If you are primarily running on firm gravel roads and paths with only a few muddy parts, then I would choose a shoe that works best on firm surfaces, and so on.
To give you an overview of the different trail running shoes, we have divided the trail shoes into different categories, which you can learn more about below:
Trail shoes for soft and muddy surfaces
Trail shoes for soft and muddy surfaces have one important feature: Long lugs on the outsole. In general, lugs with a length of 5 mm or longer fall under this category.
In addition to the length of the lugs, trail shoes for soft and muddy surfaces are often designed with fewer lugs, so less stuff gets stuck under your shoe. There is, however, great variation between the different trail shoes in this category, so you will be required to look more closely at each specific model.
Another function of these shoes is drainage, which is an important component as soft and muddy surfaces would undoubtedly lead to soggy feet. These shoes are equipped with different drainage functions to ensure that the water doesn't stay in the shoe.
See all our trail shoes for soft and muddy surfaces
Trail shoes for firm surfaces (road, gravel & paths)
Trail shoes for firm surfaces generally don't require as much lateral stability or long lugs as the previously discussed category. Trail shoes under this category typically offer extra comfort and 4mm lugs or even shorter. There are often more small lugs instead of the coarse outsole you often see on trail shoes for muddy conditions.
The upper can also be made more comfortable and stretchable as a result of the lower requirements for lateral stability.
See all of our trail shoes for firm surfaces
Trail shoes for ice and snow
Here we see a category that has a lot of variety, as there are different requirements depending on if you are running in pure snow, pure ice or a combination.
If you are running in icy terrain, it's a really good idea to make sure your shoe is designed for this. For example, you can find shoes with spikes underneath - that is, metal spikes that provide an excellent grip on icy surfaces. These, however, don't work on asphalt as you would wear them down quickly.
If the trail route offers mainly snow and not that much ice, then there are other options - including many shoes from the mud category that would be perfectly suitable. In addition to the length of the lugs, some runners prefer to have a waterproof upper to avoid cold feet.
See all our trail shoes for ice and snow
Trail shoes for technical trails
Here we are talking about a category that can divide the waters - there is no fixed definition of what a technical surface is. Often different runners will experience the same terrain differently, depending on what they are used to.
What we define as technical trails is when the route breaks up the running rhythm - it can be sharp turns, highly uneven surfaces, running across slopes and the like.
Common to all shoes for this kind of trail running is that it needs to provide stability. An unstable shoe will increase the risk of twisting your ankle and generally make it harder to change direction quickly.
Trail shoes for technical trail running are typically firmer in the midsole and not as stretchy in the upper. All to ensure the shoe stays on the same place on the foot, no matter what challenges the route gives you.
See all our trail shoes for technical trail running
Trail shoes for rocks and cliffs
Trail shoes for rocks and cliffs are another category where there are quite a lot of personal preferences. Some prefer grip in the shoe where the rubber is tough - which allows the lugs to grip the small contours of the rocks. On the other hand, this rubber will not fare well on entirely smooth surfaces.
The counterpart to this is soft rubber. The lugs can not grip the small contours of the rocks, but on the other hand, the outsole sticks well on smooth and wet surfaces.
In addition to this, trail shoes for rocks and cliffs often have a so-called rock plate. A rock plate is a hard plate that lies between the insole and the outsole - many make this so that it can be removed if it is not needed. This rock plate protects your feet if, for example, you were to land on a very sharp rock.
Protection in this category also includes increased protection at the front of the shoe. If you happen to hit the front end of the shoe against a rock or a cliff, this improved protection will reduce the risk of your toes being injured.
See all of our trail shoes for rocks and cliffs
How far are you running in the shoes?
In addition to your trail shoes having to fit the terrain you are running in, it is also crucial to consider how long you want to run in them.
If you have the desire to run very long runs, there are certain trail shoes that provide more comfort and are designed with more room for your toes (which may well be swollen when you are running far.)
The length of the runs must, of course, always be considered in conjunction with the type of surface - therefore, a firm shoe may well be the right choice, even if you have to run very long if the route is so technically demanding that you need a shoe that is firm and stable.
Find your next trail shoe
You can either view all of our running shoes or go to a specific category, targeting specific surfaces, as explained above:
- Trail shoes for soft and muddy surfaces
- Trail shoes for firm surfaces
- Trail shoe for snow and ice
- Trail shoes for technical trails
- Trail shoes for rocks and cliffs
- See all our trail shoes
Didn't you find your favorite?
See our entire collection of running shoes here:
