Thinking of shifting your runs from the road to the trail? Then you’ll be needing shoes especially designed for the job. The good news is that we have an incredibly experienced staff team who have thousands of trail miles in their feet who can advise on the best shoe to protect your feet when running off road……

Why are there so many different types of trail running shoe?

The short answer is that there are so many different types of trail! We have an incredible range of hard and soft trails here in the UK and if you are running year round you will be encountering everything from arid, dry rocky ground to boggy, sticky marshland to frozen, snowy terrain. Add to that wet flagstones, slippery wooden stiles, steep technical ground and you’ll begin to understand why so many different styles are required. Trail running shoes are like tools – you need the best one for the job.

How does a trail shoe differ from a road shoe?

Road shoes are designed to be light weight, designed for gait (pronation and supination) and have a harder rubber compound outsole to cope with constant, rhythmic pounding on tarmac.

With trail shoes every foot strike is unique as you never know how your foot is going to land due to uneven terrain therefore they are designed with increased traction, stability and protection. Additional protection for rocks and sharp objects is often included along with a stickier, softer rubber outsole designed with deeper lugs for increased grip.

What is meant by the “drop” of a shoe?

The drop of a shoe is the measurement in mm between the difference in height of your heel to your toe. (A stiletto shoe, for example, has a very large drop. A flip flop has zero)

Trail shoes usually come in a 4-6mm drop and sometimes up to 10mm – ideal if you are a heel striker or suffer from Achilles or calf muscle problems. Generally speaking, mid or forefoot runners are happier with a lower drop, however, this is very much an area of personal preference. Low or zero drop running shoes increase the work required by the foot so can take a little getting used to if you are transitioning or need to spend time building foot muscle strength.

The drop is a different measurement from stack height which is the amount of cushioning between you and the ground. A higher stack height means more cushioning over long distance but reduces stability. A lower stack height offers more stability and a positive feel over shorter distance.

Use the drop and stack height as guidelines – comfort should always come first!

How should my trail running shoes fit?

Your trail shoes should feel secure around your foot but not tight. We stock shoes in UK full and half sizes and we have some trail running shoes in EU and EU half sizes to really get that perfect fit.

To guard against the dreaded black toenails there are a few extra things to take into consideration when fitting your shoes, especially when it comes to allowing space around the front of your toes to allow for steep downhills. Pay attention to how your arch height, foot shape and depth of toe feel in the shop and try on shoes with your usual running socks and, if you are running a multi-day ultra, bring in your pack to try them on with too.

If you are tackling an ultra-distance then be aware of foot spread and swelling. You may need to have a pair of larger shoes in your drop back further along the route.

If you are running in the winter you may wish to size your shoes to allow for thicker or waterproof socks and if you are planning in running in Spikies be aware that these can fit tightly over the top of your shoe – you definitely don’t want to cut off circulation in a cold environment.

Why have my old shoes worn out from the inside?

If you are out on the trail then you are likely to encounter grit and stones getting into your shoe. The abrasion these cause over distance can wear through the back of a shoe very quickly (although this may be preferential to wearing a hole in your foot!) A small ankle gaiter can help keep out the grit, some styles are made with them already in place. Alternatively, as soon as you feel an issue, stop and remove it.

Another key issue is loose lacing allowing your foot to shift in the shoe as you run. As well as causing a wear point this can also cause injury so it is worth being very careful and again, once you feel an issue, stop and correct it. It’s really easy to fall into the habit of cramming your feet into your shoes without unlacing them but this will just make the back wear out faster – far better to take a moment to loosen the laces to allow your foot to glide in.

If you are heading out on a long event then a full sock change at each checkpoint will pay dividends.

I’ve been buying the same style of shoe for years, why do the new ones feel different?

Ah, yes. A frequent problem this.

Sometimes a design tweak or a material upgrade can change how a shoe fits. We recommend always trying on the new version of a shoe before heading outside. If you can – come and try them on in the shop. We love chatting about running and one of us may well have experience of the event you are running.

Remember, your old shoes will have moulded beautifully to your feet after many happy trail miles getting wet then drying out then getting wet again, so your new ones are likely to feel very different, initially. If you are buying a second pair of identical shoes it’s also worth thinking about whether your feet may have changed shape over time too – trail running tends to have that effect.

How can I make my trail shoes last longer?

Cleaning after use will help remove any grit or stones that can cause excessive wear on the inside of the shoe. Drying them naturally (as opposed to on/ next to a direct heat source) will stop them from becoming stiff and protect glues.

Minimise road running as softer trail rubbers will wear quickly on tarmac.

Using ankle gaiters can reduce mud and grit build up inside your shoes and lacing will stop any slippage leading to abrasion and holes.

Ask in store for shoe patches to guard against holes in the uppers caused by creasing.

Should I buy waterproof trail shoes?

They are available but we choose not to stock them. Our key reasons are because when water inevitably gets in over the top, the waterproof membrane does an exceptionally good job of not letting it out. This means they take a very long time to dry. Due to their low cut and soft, lightweight upper fabric, it is very easy for grit to get into a trail shoe and wear the membrane much more quickly than in a walking boot.

We recommend wearing a quick drying sock for shorter runs, or a waterproof sock for longer runs.

Top Tips:

Try on your shoes in the shop to get the perfect fit (we can talk about running the whole time!)

Different styles have different rubber compounds for different terrain just ask us about the differences and we can talk you through which styles will work best for your running.

Always carry a spare set of laces while you are out on the trail.

Listen to our Outdoor Gear Chat Podcast: Trail Running Shoes - Nice Lugs!

We are very proud to be a Scarpa Pro store offering the best range in the UK.