PERFECT FIT
SUCCEED IN STYLE
Words
Matt Maynard |
Photography
On Running
DIRTY DANCING
5 tips for picking a trail shoe
to get your off-road groove on
Road-running shoes are made for regimented pavement
pounding. They might look fancy, but they are as
predictable as a line dance. Trail shoes, with their
extra grip and hard-wearing exterior, are all teeth and
personality. If you plan to strut your stuff on park trails,
mountains and fells, grab yourself an off-road shoe and
get ready to dance. Here are the steps you’ll need...- CHOOSE EXCELLENT BUILD QUALITY
Trail shoes wear out in strange places. Look for
reinforced areas around the toe box: this will stop holes
appearing around your little toe, while also protecting
your feet when boshing rocks out the way. Some shoes
have excessive plastic in the heel that can wear through
and cause blisters. Stick your fi nger in the shoe and have
a good poke around. - DOUBLEDOWN ON GRIP
Wet grass, slick rock and slippy mud needs grip.
Consider where you’re most likely to run off-road and
choose your grip appropriately. Really aggressive
off-piste running will require rubbery studs. If a bit of
morning dew in the park is the worst of your worries,
a beefy road-running type tread will see you right. - GO BIG ON THE TOE SPACE
Trail runners are a pedicurist’s worst nightmare. Mashed
up feet are never pleasant. Choosing a shoe with ample
space in the toe box gives your feet a chance to breathe
and gives you a fi ghting chance of coming home with
your toenails intact. It will also help you spread your
weight out, promoting a more balanced and responsive
running style. - GO EASY ON THE MIDSOLE
Trail runners might spend longer on their feet than
roadies, but the ground is softer and you won’t always
be striking it with the same uniform impact. Trail shoe
midsoles offer anything from wafer-thin ‘barefoot’
thickness to ‘maximal’ water-bed support. The choice
is largely personal. Whatever your poison, assess the
shoe’s fl exibility by grabbing it at either end with both
hands and twisting. Anything over a 90-degree twist will
provide a smooth, fl oaty ride. Anything less will provide
more lateral support – well suited to anyone just getting
into the sport. - FORGET THE HIGH HEELS
Unlike road shoes, trail shoes tend to have less ‘drop’:
the difference in the natural raised position of your heel
from your toes, measured in millimeters. Zero drop has
become trendy in recent years, promising a more natural
and responsive running style, but don’t believe
the hype too much. A dramatic change from your
12mm+ road shoes could cause an injury; 8mm is
often the sweet spot but test what works for you.