Why You Should Use Trail Running Shoes While your road running shoes might be able to handle some easy, hard-packed trails, trail running shoes should be used when the going gets wilder—they are especially helpful on steep inclines, technical terrain, or when trails are wet, muddy or covered in snow.
Key Differences Between Trail Running Shoes and Road Running Shoes Trail running shoes are built to withstand the toughness of off-road running where sharp rocks, jagged roots and gritty dirt are prevalent. Improved Traction Trail shoes are designed for better traction when you're off road than your road running shoes.
Increased Protection Rocks and roots can wreak havoc on your feet and ruin your shoes, so trail shoes include protective overlays in the upper to prevent pokes and reduce the likelihood of rips and tears. Comfortable Fit Your trail running shoes should fit similarly to your road running shoes, meaning they should be comfortable without being sloppy. Durability for the Unexpected Your road running shoes were built to last a long time , but excess wear and tear from hitting the trails in your road shoes will drastically decrease their lifespan.
Keep Reading. Trail running can be a fun and challenging experience if you come prepared. We've created a guide to help you put your best foot forward. Our list of must-have and would-be-nice items for a safer, more enjoyable off-road experience. Gear Reviews. Join our Newsletter Get deals, events, and more. Connect with Fleet Feet Get involved on social media. Find a Location Fleet Feet has over locations nationwide! Find a Store. Running over uneven surfaces is no easy task.
It requires more support and protection for the runner than what plain running shoes can provide. This is why trail running shoes are designed to provide beefed-up torsional support on the sides, since ankles and feet are actively adjusting, step-by-individual-step, as the surface undulates underfoot. Maintaining balance is substantially more difficult in trail running, and the shoes take that into account. Trail shoes also offer additional support and protection for the underfoot, since the terrain can be either rugged or rocky.
The outsoles of the two styles is another significant difference. The outsole of trail shoes is typically heavier than road running shoes, and usually sports a deeper tread pattern. A typical trail run can take a runner over grass, through mud, up and down bare rock surfaces, in and out of stream beds, and more, so a trail shoe needs to be able to handle a variety of wet and dry conditions, not mention grippy, sloppy, rocky, and slippery surfaces one right after another.
Add to this the occasional extreme gradient, uphill or downhill, and you can understand why trail runners are willing to kick around a bit more weight in exchange for heavy-duty outsoles. Road shoes, on the other hand, generally focus on being fast, and that means minimizing friction with the ground.
While road shoes are still designed with safety and grip in mind, the surface does not demand the extreme designs that off-road runners need. Therefore, road shoes can focus on being significantly lighter and faster.
Road shoes are designed for smooth surface and are lighter than their trail counterparts. The lightness of this footwear makes it easy for runners to run across flat surfaces, which also explains why their outsoles do not have the deep traction that trail shoes have.
Road shoes do not have as many reinforcements, either. The upper mesh of road running shoes is mainly made from mesh, which makes it more breathable. That comes at a cost, though: this material can also be fragile. Many a road runner can tell you tales about taking a new pair of road shoes for just a quick off-road jaunt, misstepping on a rock, and scraping a gash into the side of their mesh-knit road upper.
Those new to the world of running have many questions about the right footwear to buy particularly in the battle between trail running shoes vs running shoes.
There is no straight answer whether one can use road running shoes when running on trails. It depends on a variety of factors. For example, asking how much distance a runner runs off-road on a regular basis is a good way of answering the question.
If you find yourself on trails weekly, then it is better to invest in trail running shoes. It is also advisable to determine the kind of surface the runner intends to work on frequently. If one plans to run mostly on smooth and even ground, whether that is a paved path or a smooth trail in the woods, then plain running footwear will work. Purchasing road running shoes is advisable for those who intend to do some regular fast running. Trail shoes are called for when the terrain turns technical. Unfortunately, trail shoes can be quite pricey—more expensive than road shoes—because of the intricate design and durable materials used.
The longer the lugs, the less suitable they are for running on the roads, as they can be uncomfortable on flat, hard surfaces. Trail shoes are also designed to offer more stability on uneven ground.
This also means that the more you run off-road, the stronger your ankles will get, resulting in lower chances of injury. Howard is a freelance health and fitness journalist and copywriter. He enjoys nothing more than lacing up his trail shoes and heading out to explore new trails.
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