Trail shoes - recommendations please

[SandunesAndRainclouds]

Road shoes are Saucony - they’re my second pair of this brand and I quite like them!

I currently have a pair of cheap Nikes as I rarely run trails, but over the summer will be doing a lot more off road so need a decent pair.

I have tried Ons and didn’t like them. Asics never fit my wide feet.

I’ve looked online at Saucony Koa - would love to hear any reviews! Or would I be better sticking to something more trail based like Salomon?

Sadly my local running shop only had Asics and Ons trails so I’m going to have to order online, try at home and return if they don’t fit. Not ideal....!

Thanks

I run a lot in North Wales at Run Coed y Brenin events and the Peregrines are always really popular there as well.

I’d love to run in Wales. More hill training would be needed!!

OP I did 21 miles in the Innov8 plus training in deep mud etc and am planning another long distance with them, the grip is superb and they are showing no signs of wear if that helps.

What did you not like about the Altra's out of interest?

apples do you know which ones they are? The shop had two very similar but with different numbers - I’m sure it was 280 and 290. The 290s felt like they had more to them.

I have a bunion on my right foot - it’s not massive but enough to slightly misshape my foot - if I wear something like Birkenstocks it really exaggerates the bunion because my big toe doesn’t sit well in the shape of the sole. The Altra was like that - kind of big and floppy! I didn’t like the zero drop either, I felt flat footed and didn’t get much of a roll from them. Hope that makes sense!!!

I ran in my trail shoes yesterday and wish I’d worn my road shoes- the ground was so hard I could have done with extra cushioning. It’s worthwhile bearing what the ground is going to be like in mind.

My favourites are Brooks cascadia for not too much mud as they are a bit more cushiony, and innov8 for mud.

I have the goretex Karin or trail shoes they are great

Brilliant grip, comfy and my feet stay dry

My feet are wide btw

danger I’ll mainly be on the South Downs which are a mix of chalky, loose rock and mud in the areas which are shaded. I’ve worn road shoes up there and feel every single lump, bump and stone. So I need the cushioning but also the grip. I’m thinking a hybrid will do the job.

Yes that makes sense. I have the 305, got them online for about £50.

Loving the thread, I don't have RL friends who I can bore talk trail trainers with adds peregrines to list

I think this is my longest ever thread!!

I love the running community - who else would chat endlessly about lugs, mud, snot rockets, PBs, medals and so much more!!

I'd really like to find a local women's trail group but they all seem to be road running which I can't do or elite men's groups. I was thinking of starting a trail running thread on here to see if anyone else wanted to chat all things trail related

If you want cushioning, I will just reiterate that Hoka make a trail shoe. I'm the weirdo who really likes them (though current road shoe is Mizuno).

Most people don't like them, because they see that amount of cushioning as an ankle injustice waiting to happen on anything other than road. But depending on how uneven your terrain, it's one to think about. I have an average width foot and go one size up for most brands, but only a half-size up,for Hoka, which do seem to be made on wider last than Asics (which are much the same 'feel' as Mizuno, though I think WaveRider last longer than Dynaflyte)

Yup hybrid would probably work well...but more trail than road then. I had brooks aura or whatever as road shoes that were meant to be be hybrid...yeah...not in this country as I was slipping all over the shop in mud 😂.

Surely there must be something local apples...I’ve always been able to find non elite trail groups. They tend to be an older bunch than road runners and more social. Some running clubs like mine are mainly road in winter due to light issues, trail in summer.

Auntie I tried the Hoka trails today and I can’t remember why I didn’t like them 😂 I might have to revisit them!

My running group are road in the winter and in the summer we mainly go off road - either the Downs or riverside. If there’s a weekend of races coming up then we’ll have two routes planned so there’s a road / flat option too.

I’d love to start a running group for people with anxiety. Running has saved me on more than one occasion and I think it’d be amazing to offer a safe space for people with anxiety to come and beat their demons with physical fitness as a very welcome secondary benefit.

There is a group but it looked dominated by fast men which is what got me thinking about a women's grou. I agree about the anxiety and running - it's what keeps all that at bay, for me the time outside in the countryside is a weekly must.

apples the only all female group I can think of is Run Mummy Run. I posted there when I first started running, but it’s at almost 60k people now so post visibility isn’t great.

Let us know which trainers you decide on!

I am also originally from near Brighton so I know what you mean about the terrain (chalky Downs paths with massive bits of flint stuck in it ). My personal favourite is Hoka Challenger. It's an all terrain shoe that copes very well on trail. It is slightly narrow but I have wide feet and just buy mens.

The Brooks ATR is quite good as well (good rock plate) but it is a little clunky.

I would say that for your terrain having a shoe that copes well with the rockiness is probably a priority over something that is very good in a lot of mud.

Johnny yes, definitely needs to cope with the Downs primarily. I ran Wisborough 5km and that would’ve been better with multi-terrain. Loved the mud... I went full Peppa Pig 😂

I’m torn between Innov8 and Saucony...

I run mostly on trail and after years of experimenting I now only run in brooks cascadia. Mind you my road shoes are always brooks adrenaline.

My advice would be to always start with the trail version of your favourite road shoes.

And I know you're the wrong end of the country but I'm in the peak district and a member of a women's trail running group.

It's very informal - no membership. We just meet up and run. You could easily start one by posting on a local Facebook group. I've learnt so many new routes. We even run off road in winter.

kick using that theory I should go with the Saucony. Now to choose between 290 and 305! There’s too much choice...!

Oh good grief now I’m mixing my brands!!!

Koa or Peregrine... 🤔

And then I come across Exodus ISO. Help!!!

Peregrines