How to choose my trail running shoes?

 How to choose my trail running shoes?

Finding the right sneakers is for some and for some a very complicated mission, a mission that becomes even more complex when one is new to the discipline. The process of choosing a trail running shoe, of course, is not exempt from this difficulty, not a few years ago, when the discipline was semi-unknown, nor now, when the world of mountain racing is gaining in popularity, diversity and technicality.

- How to choose my trail running shoes and products

The perfect shoes may not exist, but the right shoes do exist. As in everything in this life, we do not have an ABC to reach them but, fortunately, we have experts and runners hardened in a thousand battles that can help us not to trace the wrong path in our search for the long-suffering footwear that will take us along trails , peaks, slopes and ravines. Cristóbal Colón, podiatrist and CdM collaborator, and Juanan Ruiz, Ultra Trails runner and manager of the Tottrail store, advise us on this delicate task.

1. ADVICE YES, BUT EACH ONE IS EACH ONE

Each is from a mother and a father. Listen to the advice and feelings of other runners but do not assume them as your own. The preferences and tastes of other trailrunners do not necessarily have to suit you. Today we have more information than ever on this discipline, information of great value that can be of great help, but this is not mathematics: there are no perfect results or general laws; what may be good for one may be an ordeal for another. Advice yes, but, as our head podiatrist, Cristóbal Colón, says, “each one is each one”.

2. NEITHER DROWNED NOR UNTIED

This is a classic and as such cannot be left off the list. The shoes, neither fair nor dancing. Paying attention to the last is essential for a good fit. "The consistency of your foot –whether it is narrow or wide– with the last is very important to adapt to your fatigue partners," says Juanan Ruiz.

3. A SNEAKER FOR EVERY SITUATION

There is no perfect shoe but there is the right shoe. It is not the same to run 20 km than to do 60 km, it is not the same to run on grass, on a not very aggressive terrain, than to do it on a technical and stony terrain, it is not the same to train as to compete ... Is it necessary to continue? In the world of mountain racing we can find a great diversity of situations that require a diversity of solutions.

Therefore, it is important to have several models of shoes, one for each situation. While it is true that it involves a greater outlay, it is no less true that our performance in the race and our feet will thank us for it. Juanan Ruiz makes it clear to us: “the secret is to have a good closet”.

4. FASHIONS APART

Sometimes it is healthy –physically and psychologically– to forget about fashions, brands and images and really think about what is important: how much do we weigh? What type of footprint do we have? What is our running technique? The needs of each broker are different; We all need shoes, true, but we all have different physical conditions. It is necessary to adapt our purchase to those needs, because each one will be better off with a shoe with a specific drop and with a specific last. Columbus's advice on this matter is direct, blunt: "Don't eat 100% advertising."

5. THE NEW vs THE OLD

A sneaker review does not always mean higher quality. The new version of our favorite sneaker can break our schemes, that is, it may be totally different from what we knew. Because we like the first design, we don't necessarily have to like the new version, and vice versa. Anyway, it is clear, there are second parts that are good.

6. IN THE STORE

If you are new to this, the most sensible thing is that you let yourself be advised by the sales professional of the store. Squeeze him with the questions that arise and put him to the test. In addition, it is important that you put on the two feet of the model you have chosen in situ. Tie them well and walk or jog gently through the store because this is where the first sensations begin. Invest a little more time and do not stop trying half a number more and a half number less of your size, you already know that there are differences between the same size of two different brands.

How to choose your trail running shoes?

 How to choose your trail running shoes?

It is clear that one of the most common questions among "Trail Runners" is - we say it from experience - How to choose your trail running shoes? The choice of our / yours trail running shoes is one of the most important to be able to enjoy from the mountain with guarantees.

- How to choose your trail running shoes and products

That is why, and thanks to our experience, we present you a series of questions that you should ask yourself when choosing your ideal shoes. It is clear that this is a general approach, since many other personal factors, philosophies, etc ... of each individual come into play.

1. TYPE OF USE
- COMPETITION: Obviously, competition-oriented shoes have some common characteristics among all of them. Weight is one of the most important factors among this group, we are talking about shoes that are around 250g (approximately). The last is usually another of the differential points, most of the time betting on rather narrow lasts and lighter, more minimal insoles. Another point that we have seen that is usually a common denominator among shoes intended for competition is the drop, since it is usually somewhat lower (this rule is not always met).

- TRAINING: In this case, we are looking for shoes with a greater weight, probably due to a direct relationship in general structure of the shoe and cushioning (which is superior). The last is usually wider prepared to support more volume of kilometers. Another point that this shoe profile usually has in common is durability, the materials are more durable than in competition shoes, for example.

- MIXED: At this point we find the "intermediate" shoes that can be used both for competition and training. Their numbers are in the middle of the two mentioned above, although depending on the profile of the runner they may be more for training or competing.

2. TYPE OF LAND
- COMPACT: When we talk about terrain we must talk about the sole and there is a big difference between soles intended for compact terrain and oily terrain. In this case, the soles are usually with less prominent studs and with more studs bareness (multi studs), with less space between them. In the photo you can see a clear example of this type of soles. In this sense, although it does not always have to be this way, uppers can be less protected, somewhat more open and breathable.

- DECOMPOSED: A terrain that is difficult to control on many occasions, that is why shoes are so important in this type of terrain. What we must pay attention to if we are looking for shoes for these types of terrain on the sole, which must be with prominent and separate studs, to avoid saturation of the mud. Another of the points in common that these shoes usually have is the more protected upper, both in protections and in the mesh, which is usually more resistant and waterproof (not always). They can also incorporate leggings or tighter collars.

- VERSATILE: Obviously we are talking about those shoes that are located somewhere in the middle, they do not have a heel as prominent as those specific for greasy terrain, but not as little as those for compact terrain. A profile of shoes that without being specific in anything, will work correctly in everything.

3. DIFFICULTY OF THE TERRAIN
- TECHNICAL: We speak of technical terrain when we speak of broken, stony areas, with difficulty in walking. If our goal is to run on these terrains, we should look for structured shoes, with good support and fit. In addition, the outer protections must be prominent, to avoid impacts on the foot. They usually incorporate anti-rock plates in the sole / midsole, to protect the soles of the feet, especially over long distances.

- EASY: The easy terrains are those that are well marked, that do not have many obstacles that prevent our progress. The shoes for these areas are less structured, somewhat more "free". The sole tends to have less prominence on the studs and with fewer protections (anti-rock plate).

- VERSATILE: The shoes for changing terrain, versatile, are usually a point in between the two previous ones. They are not usually very structured "tank" shoes, but neither are they without structure, they will work correctly on easy and technical terrain.

4. DISTANCE
- SHORT: We are talking about a profile of shoes that are usually lighter, with less structure in general. Damping is usually less generous, lower profiles. The last can be somewhat narrower, sharper and the templates are usually more minimal.

- MEDIUM: That intermediate point that can be used for both short and medium distances, depending on the runner profile we are, is surely the most versatile shoe profile if we talk about distances. Its structure is usually medium and its cushioning pleasant, without being very cushioned.

- LONG: They tend to be sturdier, more structured and, as a consequence, heavier shoes. The midsole is usually more of the protagonist, with higher profiles and with wider cushioning sensations. The last is usually wider and its templates are of higher quality and profile.

5. RUNNER WEIGHT
- LIGHTWEIGHT (H <70kg / M <55kg): Shoes that tend to be less structured, lighter and with less cushioning (lower profiles), in general.

- MEDIUM (H70-80kg / M55-65kg): For this runner profile, we should look for shoes with a little more body, more structured. The midsole is usually of higher profiles and with greater sensations of cushioning.

- HEAVY (H> 80kg / M> 65kg): They are usually shoes with more body, more structure (higher weight). The midsole tends to offer greater cushioning thanks to higher profiles and more thought-out compounds.

6. FINAL REFLECTION
- It not only depends on the weight of the runner, it depends on many other factors.

- It also depends on the sensations, the experience that we want to have when running (Natural running, minimalism, terrain sensations, protection ...)

- Obviously, it depends on our training area. We must analyze our training "yard" to be able to choose a correct trail running shoe for us.

- Our personal goals, our bets, when running will be the ones who mark the profile of shoes we want to choose.

- The more we know about ourselves, or the friend who asks us for a recommendation, the better recommenders we will be (previous models, tastes, sensations, terrain, technique, distances ...).