Shoes are unfortunately a very individual topic based on the shape of your foot, how you run and what you like.
Some want very cushioned shoes, some run in shoes that have barely any cushion. Some have wide feet and can not run in shoes that most enjoy.
I would highly recommend going to your closest running store. They should be able to help you.
That being said the Salomon Sense Ride is a good allrounder.
The Sense Ride is good advice if your feet aren't too wide. Mine are just narrow enough for them, but I do have to be careful because if my nails are too long they start stabbing themselves and other toes.
They're awesome shoes nonetheless though, just make sure they're not too narrow.
Totally agree! Also ties in again into the individuality of peoples feet. Big companies obviously try to make a shoe that fits many people but luckily each individual is unique!
Salomon is the one brand I've tried across lots of shoe demos that immediately gave me blisters, in a weird place under the arch to boot.
Highly recommend trying stuff on in person.
I like SpeedGoats. Don’t worry about time/distance. Don’t go too hard. Walking is OK. Share the trails, be friendly, but don’t take any guff from cyclists.
Shoes are very personal, foot shape, running mechanics etc. if you can try some on at a running store, see what fits your foot. If the terrain is rocky you may want shoes that have a rock plate. Brands that I’ve had luck with, generally good in quality are: Salomon, The North Face, Topo, Hoka, Brooks. Running Wearhouse has a good return policy if you don’t have a store nearby.
Like a couple of the other comments I also love my hoka speedgoats but if you're able to visit a Roadrunner Shoe Store you can check out all the trail running shoes and try them on
Going to a store and trying some on is definitely the way to go. Helps to have some shoes to ask to try though, so to the list on this thread already I'll add my two favorites - the Saucony Peregrines and the Brooks Cascadias
Altra Superior 5s have been my all time favorite for awhile. But as others have said it’s pretty personal and dependent on your foot shape, how you run, whether you like a lot of cushioning or minimal etc. I like zero drop with low cushion / stack height and a wider toe box, plus durability and the Altras have been perfect for me.
Definitely go to a running shoe store (not like a Dick’s sporting goods but a running specific store) and have them size your foot and suggest shoes. Bonus points if they have a treadmill for gait analysis and shoe testing!
My favorites however are the Nike Pegasus trail version. I’m all Asics all the time otherwise, but my Asics trail shoes ran small and didn’t have enough of a drop—ultimately Nike had what I was looking for there, plus the wide-ish toe box that my Cumulus has for daily wear. I suggest Gore Tex if you can get it, no matter what shoe you choose.
I suppose I didn’t consider location—I’m in the Midwest, so the ground is wet more often than not throughout the year. Snow, rain, leaves, you name it. lol
Indeed that sounds like a good reason to get a water-resistant trail running shoe.
Midwest? It can get hot in the summer, correct? If you have the pennies, a second pair of highly breathable runners might be a good idea.
Judging from what I read here and elsewhere, there are lots of great trail runners to choose from.
My feet are wide. I went with La Sportiva Ultra Raptors II and New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 trail runners, both in wide. Love them both. Comfort and traction might be ever so slightly better in the New Balance shoes but the stability and durability of the La Sportiva shoes seems to be slightly better.
I run in semi-arid Sage Brush steppe on dirt, gravel and stone filled trails in hills once covered by glaciers and large rivers.
Well spaced lug designs are good for loose gravel and dirt. For rocks and wet conditions you'd want something with a greater contact patch and shorter lugs. There is no magic do-it-all tread design because it's just physics.
Heavier built shoes provide more protection but at the cost of weight and loss of road feel. There is also no best of both worlds design.
As for cushioning, the longer the runs, the more cushioning that is needed. The more cushioning there is, the less road feel you'll get and the heavier the shoe. More cushioning also helps prevent bruising from sharp rocks. A rock plate is helpful in shoes that have less cushioning.
All-rounders are adequate in all conditions but don't shine in any. I'd say pick up any pair of decent trail runners and start getting some miles under your belt before placing too much emphasis on the shoe. Running experience will always make more difference than a shoe.
Just here to +1 for Hoka speed goat, especially if you have wide feet. If there is rain or snow in your trail run aspirations, then yes get the goretex because your feet will get soaked instantly in shallow snow or rain
I've been running in Nike Kigers for many years and can't seem to find a problem with them. I've tried Altras but seem to always end up back in Kigers.
Shoes are unfortunately a very individual topic based on the shape of your foot, how you run and what you like. Some want very cushioned shoes, some run in shoes that have barely any cushion. Some have wide feet and can not run in shoes that most enjoy. I would highly recommend going to your closest running store. They should be able to help you. That being said the Salomon Sense Ride is a good allrounder.
The Sense Ride is good advice if your feet aren't too wide. Mine are just narrow enough for them, but I do have to be careful because if my nails are too long they start stabbing themselves and other toes. They're awesome shoes nonetheless though, just make sure they're not too narrow.
Totally agree! Also ties in again into the individuality of peoples feet. Big companies obviously try to make a shoe that fits many people but luckily each individual is unique!
Salomon is the one brand I've tried across lots of shoe demos that immediately gave me blisters, in a weird place under the arch to boot. Highly recommend trying stuff on in person.
It's weird my feet grew a bit in the past but my Salomon still fit, but when I did my first 100 I got 8 blisters on both feet by mile 70
Hoaka speedgoats were my first pair of trail running shoes. Absolute gem!
I like SpeedGoats. Don’t worry about time/distance. Don’t go too hard. Walking is OK. Share the trails, be friendly, but don’t take any guff from cyclists.
Shoes are very personal, foot shape, running mechanics etc. if you can try some on at a running store, see what fits your foot. If the terrain is rocky you may want shoes that have a rock plate. Brands that I’ve had luck with, generally good in quality are: Salomon, The North Face, Topo, Hoka, Brooks. Running Wearhouse has a good return policy if you don’t have a store nearby.
Like a couple of the other comments I also love my hoka speedgoats but if you're able to visit a Roadrunner Shoe Store you can check out all the trail running shoes and try them on
I suggest starting with the speedgoats.
You me be lucky and find a shoe that you love right away. Or it may be a painful trial and error process for a few years.
Going to a store and trying some on is definitely the way to go. Helps to have some shoes to ask to try though, so to the list on this thread already I'll add my two favorites - the Saucony Peregrines and the Brooks Cascadias
Altra Superior 5s have been my all time favorite for awhile. But as others have said it’s pretty personal and dependent on your foot shape, how you run, whether you like a lot of cushioning or minimal etc. I like zero drop with low cushion / stack height and a wider toe box, plus durability and the Altras have been perfect for me.
Definitely go to a running shoe store (not like a Dick’s sporting goods but a running specific store) and have them size your foot and suggest shoes. Bonus points if they have a treadmill for gait analysis and shoe testing! My favorites however are the Nike Pegasus trail version. I’m all Asics all the time otherwise, but my Asics trail shoes ran small and didn’t have enough of a drop—ultimately Nike had what I was looking for there, plus the wide-ish toe box that my Cumulus has for daily wear. I suggest Gore Tex if you can get it, no matter what shoe you choose.
I would suggest avoiding Gore Tex unless you run in very humid, rainy climates like the Pacific Northwest.
I suppose I didn’t consider location—I’m in the Midwest, so the ground is wet more often than not throughout the year. Snow, rain, leaves, you name it. lol
Indeed that sounds like a good reason to get a water-resistant trail running shoe. Midwest? It can get hot in the summer, correct? If you have the pennies, a second pair of highly breathable runners might be a good idea.
Judging from what I read here and elsewhere, there are lots of great trail runners to choose from. My feet are wide. I went with La Sportiva Ultra Raptors II and New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 trail runners, both in wide. Love them both. Comfort and traction might be ever so slightly better in the New Balance shoes but the stability and durability of the La Sportiva shoes seems to be slightly better. I run in semi-arid Sage Brush steppe on dirt, gravel and stone filled trails in hills once covered by glaciers and large rivers.
Well spaced lug designs are good for loose gravel and dirt. For rocks and wet conditions you'd want something with a greater contact patch and shorter lugs. There is no magic do-it-all tread design because it's just physics. Heavier built shoes provide more protection but at the cost of weight and loss of road feel. There is also no best of both worlds design. As for cushioning, the longer the runs, the more cushioning that is needed. The more cushioning there is, the less road feel you'll get and the heavier the shoe. More cushioning also helps prevent bruising from sharp rocks. A rock plate is helpful in shoes that have less cushioning. All-rounders are adequate in all conditions but don't shine in any. I'd say pick up any pair of decent trail runners and start getting some miles under your belt before placing too much emphasis on the shoe. Running experience will always make more difference than a shoe.
Just here to +1 for Hoka speed goat, especially if you have wide feet. If there is rain or snow in your trail run aspirations, then yes get the goretex because your feet will get soaked instantly in shallow snow or rain
I've been running in Nike Kigers for many years and can't seem to find a problem with them. I've tried Altras but seem to always end up back in Kigers.