Weight 355g Evaluation Despite being an outdoor brand rather than a running company, The North Face has produced a number of shoes that have proved popular with our off-road and adventure-racing weartesters. The Flight Trail is a decent entry

) and those that are spike-friendly – or if you’re a big guy who needs a sturdy but very grippy shoe for cross-country races – the Extrano could work for you.Even without the spike feature, the Extrano is a decent – if slightly heavy – trail shoe. Its rubber

We've reviewed a newer version since we published this.Weight 304gEvaluation The Salomon XA Series is a racing flat for the trail market. Instead of a heavy, element-protected upper, you get a lightweight, highly-breathable, sock-like affair

. The reality is that if you wanted to place well in a two-day race like the X-Adventure, you’d go for a lighter trail shoe than this. It’s not bad, though – it’s like an old-style, protective trail shoe in the rearfoot, with a flexible, performance

fit for a Saucony shoe.In short A good option for trail races or faster-paced off-road training, the Harrier scores well on grip and responsiveness. Unless you’re a heavy or unstable runner, it should be on your off-road shortlist.Try it if you liked

protective shoe for gravel roads and rocky ground, but not for slippery mud, the Raid Sport is a well-thought-out, midweight option. It’s good for continental-style trail races, but it’s not a fast running shoe.Try it if you liked Salomon Raid Race (£80

There are two camps in the trail running world. The first believe that a waterproof trail shoe is as much use as a wire-wool thong. What you need, they say, is a shoe with wide open mesh that lets water in quickly, and then lets it out just

more performance oriented by dint of its lighter, more breathable upper and marginally more aggressive outsole. While the Terroc feels like a trail trainer, the Flyroc seems more suited to longer off-road racing and better equipped to deal

hybrid road/trail shoe than a pure off-roader. The midsole is stable, cushioned and protective, providing a smooth ride on road, and is fine for longer runs on hard, dry trails. The Lava Run's Vibram – a durable rubber usually found on walking boots

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