The Forum of Benfleet Running Club

Lucycat · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:47 pm Post subject: Best trail shoe

As I hate roads and dont clean or dry my shoes properly I get through a fair number of these and have a fair number on going. I get through a pair of road shoes a year and a pair of trail shoes (when Im not injured!) every 4 months.

Tried a new pair today. Assessed as follows:-
Looks - tick (although are now covered in mud so irrelevant really)
Comfort - tick
Close to ground (I have a thing about this I hate shoes that are sort of too high) - tick
Grip - crap so Im now going to put them away until its drier
Price - tick only £35 from original sports and one pair left
EThics - good as New Balance so made in UK and not a sweatshop

other shoes I have: -
Walsh's last forever but not enough cushion and too offroady, also too high
Mizuno's - great grip good cushioning but rubbing around the toe
Inov8 things Mark W has them. Also find too high and not stable enough

Previously have tried expensive Salomon red shoes (the expensive ones that look good). Find these great in term of stability but grip is inferior.

What do you ultrarunners use???? Road shoes I dont struggle nearly as much Asics 20whatever it is nows currently. Fantastic shoes just dont like roads.

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Lucy and Paddy

mArKw · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 255 Location: Benfleet

What shoes are you trying now Lucy?

I agree on your comments about the Inov-8s. I don't wear either for trail running, only for serious off-road running. The 330s (orange) for wet/serious mud and the 290s (grey) for drier/more rocky conditions, especially if there is some path/road to tackle aswell.

Which Mizunos did you try? I tend to use the Wave Harriers quite a bit now for trail running as they provide good grip when needed and are also well cushioned. They do stay much wetter than the Inov-8s though after running through bog/streams. If you use the Harriers do you wear the mens or womens size? The mens size has a much wider toebox.

I have used some Mizuno Wave Trailwinds (I think) which were like a road shoe but with more grip. But I personally found that they did not grip as much as I wanted, especially in surface mud and were too unstable.

I'll stop there before I get too geeky and then get MM1 excited too..... bom

Mark
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The hills are alive........

Mike Mason · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 953 Location: Hockley

oh no - you mentioned shoes....I have already been outed on the West Highland Way Forum as the Imelda Marcos of trail shoes.......

innov8 - 290/315 ok for short distance trail/mud - 20 miles

Vasque Velocity - as above

Montrail Hurricane Ridge XCR - long hill/mountain trails - wet/cold

Montrail Hardrocks - for long hill/mountain rocky trails

La Sportiva 'Pikes peaks' - as above

Lucy, not tried the NB's but Trail Runner Mag rated the 873 model

http://www.trailrunnermag.com/index.php

I have not really used road shoes for trails apart from this weekend in wales....using Brooks Beasts.....whilst cushioned and supportive, the soles just do not hack it either for arse over t*t grip or traction up and down...I know a lot of people on all the long ultras that are more than happy to use road shoes however.....just not for delicate feet...

For info Ernie runs in a pair of flip flops.....with the flops cut off to reduce weight....
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'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

Lucycat · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:27 pm Post subject:

Thank you - I am looking forward to seeing Ernie along the roach valley hockley route in his flip flops

My Inov8s are like your ones 2nd in from the right hand side in your avatar mark. Dont really like them at all. I did all of one lap in them in the moonlight run last January and swapped for my salomons which are just lower to the ground and fit my orthotics in much better.

My mizunos are the old harriers. As you say they are great for grip but are a bit narrow and rubbing (blokes shoes are roomier in the toe but usually too big around my heels). They proved a good (surprisingly good) xc shoe last week though light enough and I could actually get my orthotics in them. I usually walk the dog in them (at 7-7.30 min mile pace) so they get a lot of wear.

Will look at the montrails MM1 (a whole magazine devoted to trail running!!!). Did have a pair a couple of years ago and they were pretty good.

Off to scour cyberspace in search of the perfect shoe............
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Lucy and Paddy

Lucycat · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:40 pm Post subject:

Hmmmm just spotted snow and rock are doing the montrail hurricane ridge for a mere (!) £44.98 down from 90 squiddley dids....

http://www.snowandrock.com/Activi...wear/Running+Shoes/Montrail/List/

Now does my running wardrobe need another pair of shoes?....Can I hide them from Mr M.......?
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Lucy and Paddy