- although a more flexible forefoot does ensure a smoother, more responsive ride than before. The upper and midsole point to a tough off-road shoe, but the Crested Butte has never really convinced on the trails, and this version's outsole seems mainly road

softly cushioned trail shoes on the market, but a forefoot protection plate makes it particularly suited to rough ground nonetheless.In short Heavy-duty grip and a sure-footed design make the Wasatch a serious off-road shoe. It’s not the lightest model

Weight 390gEvaluation You probably know about adventure racing by now. It’s the off-road run-bike-kayak competition that can take anywhere from six hours to six days non-stop. Some racers wear fast, grippy trail shoes from running brands. Others

, the outsole utilises softer, stickier rubber lugs to increase traction, but the Current is by no means an off-road shoe. However, it is highly visible, as the top part of the upper is made of extremely reflective material, which shows up brilliantly

and the upper offers minimal support, the XA Series is only suited to biomechanically efficient runners. In short Not an off-road shoe for every day training or runners needing support. But if you’re a light, efficient and fast runner, it might be suitable

's waffle - it's not as aggressive as the new Phassad or Teocalli, but it does offer more grip on the rough stuff than a road shoe. The first version of the Storm Pegasus was great off-road but a little slippery on wet roads - the latest outsole uses a

of off-road running.In short Regular Pegasus wearers might find the second density a little obtrusive at first, as the ride doesn’t feel quite as plush. But as the shoe performs well on the road too, you could consider the Trail Pegasus if you’re a more

runners off the Jazz. It keeps some key things the same: mainly an outsole with deep, triangular lugs that makes it good for both on- and off-road; and reasonable stability for a neutral shoe. (This has a cutaway midfoot and a plastic shank, which makes

Weight 372gEvaluation Asics is one of those firms that makes trail shoes that are very similar to its road models. The original Eagle Trail was more an off-road version of the Gel Nimbus than an out-and-out trail shoe. The new Eagle Trail is still a

Weight 340gEvaluation Primarily a manufacturer of walking shoes, Merrell has dabbled in the trail running market with limited success. Undeterred, it is now entering the already crowded road shoe category by introducing the Flash. In an effort