Road Shoe
September 25th, 2009
Do You Need Trail Shoes?
This is a question I get frequently from people that are either new to running or have been running for a while but want to give trail running a try. This is simple question with a simple answer…as long as you don’t want details: No! You do not NEED trail shoes to run on trails. However, you may want them…let me explain.
When I started running trails, I wore the same shoes that I was using to pound the pavement and they worked well enough. However, I was only running on well groomed fire-roads that were about as technical as your local high school track. As soon as I started getting adventurous and doing trails with more rocks, hills, roots, streams, etc. my shoe needs changed drastically.
- The blown rubber on the bottom of my road shoes was getting chewed up from the rocks.
- The open mesh that I loved for keeping my feet cool was also a great access point for all the water and dirt I could possibly get in there.
- I found that the loose fit I liked in my road shoes didn’t translate to the side-to-side and up-and-down motion that I was taking on with the trails. My feet were moving too much in my shoes so I had to go a half-size smaller for a more snug fit to prevent my toes from sliding forward int he shoes on the technical descents. (Note: This is a personal and subjective thing so try it for yourself to see what works best for you in shoe sizing.)
- Finally, I wasn’t getting nearly enough traction on loose dirt or rocks. And forget about it in the mud.
So, I started playing with trail shoes and found a few I really like. Currently I’m running a lot in the Mizuno Ascend. It’s nice because it’s pretty light weight and flexible but still has good traction for the dirt and rocks on the local trails.
So in the end what it comes down to is how much and what kind of trails you will be running. If you are going to be running anything technical or you are going to be running a lot of trails you will definitely want to check out some trail shoes. If you don’t think you are ready for a hard core trail shoe, a few companies are doing a good job with some “hybrid” shoes. They are taking their road shoes, adding some rugged bottoms and weather resistant uppers to them and making a good shoe to get you used to testing out the trails.
If you want something like this I would check out the Brooks Adrenaline ASR, Saucony Guide TR 2, or the Asics GT-2140 Trail. These guys did a good job of keeping the road shoe feel and adding the trail ruggedness.
Hope this helps and see you on the trails!
Dr. Runco is a U.S. Navy and Gulf War Veteran. Graduating as a Doctor of Chiropractic he began private practice in San Diego in 2000. He has been a professor of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biomechanics at various colleges and continues to teach continuing education in the fields of rehabilitation, custom orthotics and athletic taping. He is also a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He is also an orthopedic doctor that specializes in treating foot injuries and problems.
About the Author
Shoes get stuck in sticky road surface
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Sublime Imprint Anti-Fatigue Nantucket Series Comfort Mat $99.99 5200 Size: 20″ x 36″ Machine made mat Features: -Material: PVC.-Origin: South Korea.-Environmentally friendly.-20” x 36”.-20” x 72”. Construction: -Construction: Machine made. Color/Finish: -Color: Cinnamon. Collection: -Collection: Nantucket…. |
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Live at Texas Stadium $10.87 Recorded live at Dallas’s Texas Stadium in 2004, this long-delayed release is worth the wait. Over 15 tracks, the three superstars sing together, separately, and in pairs for what turns out to be both a musical treat and a long draw of fun. Strait, who normally stands stock still in concert, loosens up and–surprise!–talks between songs (“That’s country right there now”), and if my ears heard rig… |
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Children Running Through $8.26 On her fifth studio CD, folk-rocker Patty Griffin employs three timeless themes–childhood, flight, and death–to craft her most musically diverse and accessible album yet. But while moving through jazz, beatnik, classic and modern folk, gospel R&B, Americana, and moody piano ballad, Griffin keeps her backing quiet and spare, all the more to showcase the power of her deft storytelling and the … |
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Merrell Men’s Moab Ventilator Hiking Shoe Walnut Size 10.5 $84.95 Roam with adventurous intent in the Merrell Moab Ventilator Mens multi-sport shoe. This men’s shoe features a breathable mesh lining that keeps the foot in contact withcooling air. Heel and toe bumpers provide encompassing protection fromtreacherous terrain. An Air Cushion in the midsole meets the sole withstability and shock absorption. The Vibram rubber outsole delivers adurable tread pattern fo… |
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La Carrera Panamericana [VHS] $19.98 … |
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Shoe In The Road Stories $7.19 It peaks my imagination how a single shoe often winds up lying by the side of the road. I wonder about the shoe"s owner and why both shoes aren"t there. I ponder about the owner’s life and circumstance. After years of observing this I began to make up stories about how the shoe got there and about its owner. In this book I"m sharing some of those stories for the first time with you. |
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Kickers Road – Womens $47.99 Brand & Style – Kickers RoadWidth – Medium (B, M)True Color – BeigeUpper Material – Regular SuedeOutsole Material – Man-Made Heel Height – 1.25 Inches Style Description – The Kickers Road boots feature a suede upper with a round toe. The man-made outsole lends lasting traction and wear. Product ID – 81524 |
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Rockport Victory Road – Mens $64.99 Brand & Style – Rockport Victory RoadWidth – Medium (D, M)True Color – Dk BrownUpper Material – Regular SuedeOutsole Material – Man-Made Heel Height – 1 Inches Style Description – Sport a pair of the stylish Victory Road sneaks from Rockport and instantly feel like a winner. These awesome athletic shoes feature a supple suede or leather upper with a full lace closure, stitching overlays, and perforation accents. Ample padding at the tongue and collar keep your feet and ankle well supported. The soft lining and cushioned footbed enables lasting comfort while the flexible, grippy rubber sole offers stability and dependable traction. Product ID – 44069 |
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Reebok Flexride Road IV – Womens $44.99 Brand & Style – Reebok Flexride Road IVWidth – Medium (B, M)True Color – White/Silver/Grey/MagentaUpper Material – MeshOutsole Material – Rubber Heel Height – 1.5 Inches Style Description – The Reebok Flexride Road IV shoes feature a synthetic upper with a round toe. The rubber outsole lends lasting traction and wear. Made in China. Product ID – 66062 |
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Simple Loaf-Off Road – Mens $22.99 Brand & Style – Simple Loaf-Off RoadWidth – Medium (D, M)True Color – Chocolate 4Upper Material – HempOutsole Material – Man-Made Heel Height – 0.5 Inches Style Description – The Simple Loaf-Off Road shoes feature a textile upper with a moc toe. The man-made outsole lends lasting traction and wear. Made in China. Product ID – 64022 |
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Rockport Victory Road Wide – Mens $49.99 Brand & Style – Rockport Victory RoadWidth – Wide (E,W)True Color – Sport WhitUpper Material – LeatherOutsole Material – Man-Made Heel Height – 1 Inches Style Description – Sport a pair of the stylish Victory Road sneaks from Rockport and instantly feel like a winner. These awesome athletic shoes feature a supple suede or leather upper with a full lace closure, stitching overlays, and perforation accents. Ample padding at the tongue and collar keep your feet and ankle well supported. The soft lining and cushioned footbed enables lasting comfort while the flexible, grippy rubber sole offers stability and dependable traction. Product ID – 44069 |
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Merrell Men’s Road Glove Shoe $110 DECENT FEATURES of the Merrell Men’s Road Glove Shoe Upper/Lining: Barefoot strobel construction offers flexibility and comfort Synthetic leather and breathable air mesh upper TPU overlays and synthetic leather rear foot sling provides ultimate stability Reflective details for increased visibility in low light Fused rubber toe bumper provides durability and protection Internal support construction secures the midfoot for optimal fit and support Integrated micro fiber foot bed treated with Aegis antimicrobial solution resists odor Midsole/Outsole: 4 mm compression molded EVA midsole cushions 0 mm ball to heel drop keeps you connected to your terrain Vibram Road Glove Sole / TC-1 Rubber – non-marking Wash as needed in cold water – gentle cycle and air dry |
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Pearl Izumi Men’s All-Road Cycling Shoe $89.95 Extending the “on-and-off-the-bike” versatility of the award winning X-Alp technology, the Pearl Izumi Men’s All-Road Cycling Shoe goes from off-road to pavement with ease. Another Pearl Izumi first, now you can pedal in comfort but still walk, shop, or grab a coffee. |
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A Shoe on the Side of the Road $32.17 No Synopsis Available |
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Rockport Victory Road Extra Wide – Mens $49.99 Brand & Style – Rockport Victory RoadWidth – Extra Wide (EE+)True Color – Sport WhitUpper Material – LeatherOutsole Material – Man-Made Heel Height – 1 Inches Style Description – Sport a pair of the stylish Victory Road sneaks from Rockport and instantly feel like a winner. These awesome athletic shoes feature a supple suede or leather upper with a full lace closure, stitching overlays, and perforation accents. Ample padding at the tongue and collar keep your feet and ankle well supported. The soft lining and cushioned footbed enables lasting comfort while the flexible, grippy rubber sole offers stability and dependable traction. Product ID – 44069 |
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On The Road $10 On The Road |
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For Road $6 For Road |