SHOES for short sharp trails
When I started mountain biking, I was told that there are two types of mountain biker: Those that have fallen and those that are going to fall.
I’m not sure the same applies to trail running, but if it does, I am certainly one of the former! This article is based on some hard-earned experience falling on the trail, through which I learned that trail running shoe design strongly impacts the probability of being injured on challenging terrain…
In this piece I share my learnings and provide key points to consider when buying new trail running shoes.
Bullet-point preferences
For context, I typically run 5-7km daily with an elevation gain of around 200m. The terrain is highly variable, challenging, and includes open grassland, mountain forest, and rocky mountain-top.
These are the elements of trail running shoe design that I have learned reduce falling and injury on the trail:
• Good all-terrain grip.• Rock-shield to prevent sharp objects hurting the soles of my feet, without adding unnecessary weight or height to the shoe.• Minimal cushioning of both outer and inner• Minimalist design, with zero-drop between the heel and ball of the foot, for a host of benefits.• Outer sole slightly broadened at the heel, which reduces the chance of ankle roll.• Toe box shaped closely to the foot, which minimises stumble factor on uneven terrain.• Maximum rocker, ensuring the outer sole curves upwards towards the toes and reduces the likelihood of a stumble from the front of the shoe catching on objects like stones and roots.• Lightweight, breathable, tearresistant, and supportive upper.
