the Hurricane Ridge off and pour out the water.Montrail Susitna XCR – £90What is it? A cushioned trail and adventure-racing shoeIt's weatherproof because… the Susitna uses Goretex XCR. Unlike the other XCR shoes, though, the membrane, rather than between two

're great for heavier racers.Contact 01925 423 000; www.newbalance.co.ukBest Off-RoaderInov-8 Mudroc 290 – £60Why it's the best True trail shoes aren't road models with more grip, but lightweight, low-to-the-ground beauties purpose built for the rough stuff

Until very recently, I used two different bikes for my daily commute to work. If I wanted to make the 30-mile round trip in double-quick time, I'd leap onto my Tour de France style road bike. But if I had time to spare and fancied a leisurely ride

It has been another great year for runners who like to shop. The past 12 months have seen, among other things, the convincing comeback of a faded shoe giant and the launch of a top-notch off-roader. It’s also seen cheap, but definitely not nasty

. Everything became easier when I started running with other people in my office. I was running more regularly, I made progress more quickly because I was training with people who were better than me and it was more fun. Rob SpeddingYears Running 7Fast running