Selecting a Trail Running Shoe

A trail running shoe should be more robust than a typical running shoe to protect your feet from more rugged terrain. Your trail running shoe should keep your foot dry and cool, and feature a sole designed to gain traction on wet, uneven or unstable road surfaces.

Seasoned runners find that their regular running shoes don't work as well on trail runs. All of the major shoes brands have at least one type of trail running shoes, which provide stability, durability, and comfort when running on rugged trails or paths.

Select a trail running shoe that has knobbier sole that will help you to gain more traction on rocks and in the mud. The sole must also effectively absorb the shocks that come from running on unstable and uneven surfaces, such as gravel, dirt, roots and rocks.

Decide what type of traction you'll need. Do you plan to run on rugged mountain trails, or well worn dirt paths? The rougher the terrain, the more traction you'll need. Look for more lugs on the bottom of the shoe for the best traction. Lugs that are bigger and more spread across the sole will help keep you stead in rough conditions.

Effective trail running shoes should have durable uppers that are waterproof and easy to clean and should be made from a material treated polyester or nylon that can wick perspiration away from the foot, keeping it dry and cool. More costly trail running shoes may feature uppers that are made from Gore-Tex, a waterproof material that is common to high-end hiking boots. Gore-Tex is ideal if it fits your budget.

Ensure that your trail running shoes fit snugly, which will help you to avoid missteps and blisters. A quality trail running shoe will stretch enough to accommodate an extra-thick pair of socks during inclement weather but you don't wish to take away from the natural ability of the shoe to do this for you.

Pick a lightweight trail running shoe, which will help to reduce fatigue over longer trail runs. Many trail running shoes weigh less than 2 lb., which is less than half the weight of an average hiking boot.

Choose a pair of trail running shoes from a reputable brand to ensure durability and strength.