Lightweight Trail Shoes? - Gear

xine267

19/01/2012 at 11:36

Hi everyone,

Looking for a starting point in my quest for a pair of lightweight trail shoes. Over the last year, I've got used to running in fairly minimal shoes and hoping to find something that is suitable for trails but won't feel like I've got two blocks of concrete on my feet.

Not sure if it makes a difference, but I'm a fore/midfoot striker.

Thank you

FerrousFerret

19/01/2012 at 11:44

I've not seen any in the flesh, but New Balance seem to have something to offer:

http://www.newbalance.co.uk/New-Balance-10/WT10,en_GB,pd.html

That said, from looking at the sizes on offer it looks like they've imported a batch from the US and have mostly sold out.

Sussex Runner (NLR)

19/01/2012 at 12:03

Saucony Peregrine. Light and able to handle the trails as well as the roads. Highly reccommended.

xine267

19/01/2012 at 13:22

Thanks both, I will try to visit a running shop at the weekend so I can try them on before I start shopping online or utilising my Sweatshop gift card

I really like the Saucony Kinvara, so will be very interested to try the Peregrine. Quite a few of my longer runs are a mix of trail and road so it sounds as though they may be just what I'm looking for.

Steve Riley

19/01/2012 at 14:04

I've just got a pair of NB101, which look just the ticket. They're being phased out, so can be had for less than an already good 50 quid.

Lee Walker 11

19/01/2012 at 14:38

I second the NB101, got some 2 weeks ago and done all my runs in them since, i normally have a mile on the road either way to get to the trails and they are still comfy on the road, they also coped well with the Pennine Way last weekend.

GeeeM

19/01/2012 at 15:32

I've just picked up a pair of New Balance MT101's for £39.99 from JJB Sports - bargain

xine267

19/01/2012 at 16:30

Thanks for the tips guys! I will keep an eye out for the NB101 ... can't argue with those prices!

Debra Bourne

20/01/2012 at 08:24

If you want minimalist, the trail version of the Terra Plana Neo is available half price on sportsshoes.com at the moment.

James Joy

20/01/2012 at 09:48

Inov-8 Baregrip 200 is the way to go. Very light weight, no support and a shed load of grip. Done a 40 mile ultra around a rather wet Brecon Beacons in them.

Looked at a lot of other minimal trail shoes and in my opinion these where the only ones that would be and good when it gets really muddy. The others have good tread patterns on them and are probably fine if you well used paths. I just have my doubts how well they would perform if you are ankle deep in mud

Sussex Runner (NLR)

20/01/2012 at 10:34

Ankle deep in mud everything performs the same. I stay clear of anything with big lugs because if you run on varying surfaces they can be lethal as well as painful on hard paths.

James Joy

20/01/2012 at 17:04

I disagree ankle deep mud needs decent grip or all you do is slide around looking for grip. Hence people where spikes at cross country races.

Big lugs also release the mud better. Ran an off road marathon in a pair of Salomon's and I swear my shoes weighed twice as much at the end with all the mud they had picked up

Take your point about hard surfaces. However, if you are a light on your feet and don't heel strike it is fine. Invo-8 use stick rubber had no problems on tarmac and other hard surfaces even in the wet.

Roland McCartney

20/01/2012 at 19:35

Sussex Runner (NLR) wrote (see)

Ankle deep in mud everything performs the same.
.

Have to disagree quite strongly with the above.........

Edited: 20/01/2012 at 19:38

Sussex Runner (NLR)

20/01/2012 at 21:13

Just meant Row-land that on an ice rink £2.50 plimsolls grip the same as £100 trail shoes. Good point about releasing the mud JJ. I do recall someone having a really bad slip in a pair of Adidas Swoops on a slippery surface in a multi terrain trail race once. Most trails always have a bit of "other" surfaces.

Dustboy

pirate

21/01/2012 at 00:01

Just on the offchance, any suggestions for a neutral XC pair, cheap & cheerful?

Roland McCartney

21/01/2012 at 08:38

Sussex Runner (NLR) wrote (see)

Just meant Row-land that on an ice rink £2.50 plimsolls grip the same as £100 trail shoes.

Ice Rink ... Yes..

Ankle depth mud... No..

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