Tips for choosing cycling and Mountain Bike shoes: size, model, sole
It is now possible to ride a bicycle or mountain bike, so put on your cycling shoes and… Wait, if you don't have cycling shoes or mountain bike shoes or are considering changing them, read carefully some essential tips to choose the one that suits you as a glove. Take note.
- Tips for choosing cycling and Mountain Bike shoes: size, model, sole and products
Tips for choosing cycling and mountain bike shoes: 5 key points
Do not think that it is enough to go to your cycling store or your favorite website, choose the model you like and start pedaling. At least, if what you want is a good pair of cycling shoes that fit well to your foot and allow you to enjoy, and not suffer, a bike ride. For this, it is very important to take into account some variables that play a fundamental role when deciding on good mountain bike shoes. And it is not only important which size to choose, which will also be discussed below, but also some other issues that go more unnoticed. And here are 5 things to keep in mind.
1. First of all, not all mountain bike or cycling shoes are suitable for any discipline. Yes, it seems obvious, but it is important to advise. You should know what discipline you practice (we assume you know what bike you have), in order to know which mountain bike shoes are best for you. And we say mountain biking, because it is without a doubt where there is more variety. At least, at the very least, you should differentiate between disciplines that need more anchoring and others that require a looser foot. In summary, we could group them into two general groups, although with nuances.
There are mountain bike shoes that require constant anchoring, to practice XC, for example. In them, not only is the anchoring fixed, but consequently, as they are not designed to step on the ground (even if they have a studded sole, in case) they usually have quite rigid soles and much tighter lasts. They are the most similar to the rest of road or cross cycling shoes.
At the other extreme, would be the mountain bike platform shoes in which the feet are loose, free as air. In them, the anchoring disappears in disciplines such as Enduro, or at least it is about grips rather than anchors, with good grip on the pedal but which are also capable of allowing walking on uneven terrain. You can see the shoes that professional cyclists wear, in case it helps you. Between the two, an entire intermediate range allows you to be more or less extreme and rigorous when choosing the mountain bike shoes according to your discipline.
2. The fit system is the second aspect of your next cycling shoes to analyze. Without a doubt, micrometric wheels have revolutionized the entire foot adjustment process. Some brands, such as SIDI, manufacture their own wheel, but without a doubt there is one that has taken over the market: BOA. The adjustment system with BOA is so simple and intuitive, working in both directions and releasing the shoe with just a pull of the wheel upwards, that it has been imposed without a doubt, at least in all models of cycling shoes from mid and high range. It is not essential, but if you can afford it, do not hesitate: it is worth such a quick and precise adjustment. Of course, it is not the only system: there are velcro and there are laces. The least advisable is the lacing, although its fit is good, untying and tying, especially if you wear gloves, is a task of titans. Velcro has a good and easy fit, but they tend to lose properties over time. If you cannot economically reach a model of cycling shoe or mountain bike shoe with BOA, try a model that combines a wheel and velcro.
3. The sole and the last. Cyclists take great care of this part of any cycling shoe. In fact, it is important, although the question is sometimes incorrect: the question is not whether the sole is made of carbon fiber or other materials such as nylon, but rather that what is truly significant in a cycling shoe is the hardness or rigidity of this sole. And there are soles that are not made of fiber whose stiffness is very close to it, so that the same outlay does not end up compensating you. We also consider that greater stiffness means a better result, but remember what we have said about your demands and especially about your discipline. So consider analyzing the sole: is it finished well? Does the stud allow you good support without damaging the cleat? Does it flex a lot if you force it or is it quite rigid? And, what is essential, does the sole adhere to a narrow or wide last? Because there are brands that manufacture with so narrow lasts that many cyclists have their cycling shoes hurt the front of the foot. The sole does not completely determine the last, but it influences a lot, since you think that to build the mountain bike or cycling shoe, a clock that fits and seals perfectly on a sole will be placed. So take a look at the sole and ask those questions.
4. The reinforcements. There is nothing more painful than paying a good amount of money for a mountain bike or cycling shoe and, after a few trips, you notice that small frictions, bumps or scratches have caused considerable damage on it. This depends largely on the materials of its manufacture, but also on this nuance, on the reinforcements and finishes. Because look and you will see that in your cycling shoes the damage abounds in the same parts: toe especially, heel, and outer and inner instep. So analyze, especially for mountain bike disciplines, if these parts are well finished and if they include reinforcements, added, that they have considered their exposure to overprotect them. It is also good that you know when the time has come to change your shoes.
5. Materials are essential. Until quite a few years ago, leather was considered the pinnacle of a cycling shoe. Make no mistake, today there are materials whose properties considerably exceed natural leather: they breathe very well, fit and mold excellently and are hundreds of times less delicate and more resistant than natural leather. Synthetic leathers include brilliantly made cycling shoes, with anti-abrasion materials that are almost unbreakable. Also look at the inside of the mountain bike or cycling shoe: see if it is breathable, if it includes support parts of the sock to prevent them from coming off or slipping (such as the inner clarino heel) and if the shoe's ventilation is anticipates good.
What size of cycling shoes to choose?
And here is the crux of the matter, the big question, the big question for most cyclists: what size of cycling shoes do I choose? A first tip, which will be very useful not only in mountain bike shoes and cycling shoes, but with footwear in general: know the size of your foot in centimeters, do not be guided by the number. Because each manufacturer has their lasts and their sizes, so there are variations, and surely you already know. But with your size in centimeters there is no room for error. To do this, rest your heel on a wall, mark the tip of your longest toe (remember, it is not always the big toe), and measure the result in centimeters.
Once you have the size in centimeters, everything is simpler: here we leave you a comparative table by brands, although we advise you that when you have real size, look for the size that is some millimeter greater than your foot size, as well as 4 or 5 millimeters plus. Never choose a smaller size, if you hesitate between 2 sizes, it will surely be the largest one that does not hurt you. Because your finger should not touch the tip of the cycling shoe. Of course, try it on with the socks you use to go cycling and with your insoles, if you use a special one.
Sunday, September 13, 2020
Tips for choosing cycling and Mountain Bike shoes: size, model, sole
Friday, September 4, 2020
Choosing durable trail running shoes
Choosing durable trail running shoes
The durability of mountain running shoes is very important, especially for economic reasons.
Mountain running shoes are subjected to much harsher conditions than road running shoes. They take bumps and scrapes for hours.
- Choosing durable trail running shoes and products
How many kilometers does a trail running shoe last?
It is difficult to say, it can be considered a good duration around 600 or 800 km for an ultra trail shoe.
Other more specific shoes for fast competitions, can last very little, even less than 200 km.
The wear of the shoes is concentrated in very well defined points:
To begin with, the rubber gives the sole . As the kilometers go by, the studs are used up, especially in the heel and toe area, that is, in the landing and take-off zones.
In this photo I show you the sole of the old Saucony Peregrinas 6 (green) and the sole of the newer Saucony Peregrine 7 (orange) before releasing them. As you can see, the Peregrina 6 tacos have already been almost completely consumed.
It is not uncommon to find shoes that offer soles with two different materials, one harder to protect these areas and the other softer in the rest of the sole to give more traction. For example the Akasha, as you can see, the sole has two colors that identify two materials, hard red, soft black
Each sole is designed for a type of terrain , the concept of this design should be respected to guarantee the durability of the sole of the shoe.
The midsole . Step by step, themidsole is compressed and expanded,the quality and quantity of material of the midsole will determine the maintenance of the characteristics over time, mainly the amortization capacity and reactivity.
In reference to this point, the weight of the runner is very important since obviously a midsole will suffer more with a 90 kg runner than with a 70 kilos runner.
The Upper suffers from the rubbing of stones and roots. The upper fabric, for example a mesh, has to be as resistant as possible to guarantee an adequate duration. As a negative effect, a thick and durable fabric could be very hot.
As I have already indicated, the upper has elements that serve to protect the foot and the upper itself, such as heat-sealed ones. The amount of these elements will determine the resistance of the upper.
Attentive! (Again), because these harder elements can represent, in turn, critical break points since they are areas of union of two different materials a softer tissue and a harder protection that can trigger breaks in the less resistant tissue.
Here again I show you the upper of the old Peregrine 6, as you can see, it has begun to break in the flexion zone of the fingers. Excellent durability, they have stayed like this after many kilometers and having put them through all kinds of quarries.
The duration of the Trail Running shoes will depend on how we will use them. To prolong their life, you have to use them in their natural habitat , that is, use them for what they have been designed.
If you put a shoe with studs and sole designed for mud running on an asphalt road , after not even 100 km you will be able to say hello to your shoes forever. (I already said it, something dies in the soul ... when a friend leaves ...)
The same, if you wear light shoes and without protections to run through a high mountain quarry, in addition to possibly hurting yourself, you could damage your shoes prematurely.
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
The two great forgotten ones of trail running. The insole and tongue.
The two great forgotten ones of trail running. The insole and tongue.
The insole of running shoes is one of the elements that most runners usually don't pay much attention to .
We can have the best shoe in the world ... if the template is not up to par it will spoil any expectation of a happy and trouble-free race.
- The two great forgotten ones of trail running and products
It is not uncommon to hear of sneakers that have insoles that move or wrinkle especially in high humidity conditions.
There are other insole features that may be a little less important but we should consider, such as antibacterial and anti-odor insoles. They are little things that are highly prized in the world of mountain runners.
You could say that the best template is the one you don't even know is there . That is, it does not give any problem. Comfortable, amortized and still in place.
The tongue of the trail running shoe also often ends up in the well of oblivion. However, it is a very important and fundamental element to avoid problems with the instep of the foot.
The tongue will be the main one in charge of compensating the tension generated by the laces.
A tongue must be quite padded to compensate for this tension, but be careful because if we have a tongue that is too thick, we could have breathability problems or water evacuation problems.
It is also important to see how this tongue has been constructed to ensure that no pebbles enter the shoe.
Nowadays almost all the tongues are sewn or are an integral part of the upper.
Sometimes there are pockets on the tongue that allow you to put in what is left over from the laces once the knot has been made. This element that could sow insignificant but is very important , especially if we have long cords, since if we do not have where to put them, they could get caught in branches , or even worse, they could cause us to trip.
Breathability and waterproofing of the mountain running shoe
I write these two characteristics together because they usually contradict each other.
It doesn't take a genius to understand that a more waterproof shoe will surely be less breathable.
It is very important to know where and in what conditions we are going to use the shoes.
If you run mainly in summer, in hot and dry areas, it is advisable to avoid waterproof shoes or those with protection against humidity.
A breathable shoe will be able to wick away sweat and dry quickly. A "cooler" and more breathable shoe will find it less difficult to evacuate the water when we go through a puddle or river.
If you run in humid and cold areas, you can think about buying shoes that have some treatment that protects against water . They do not have to be 100% waterproof, but at least they prevent your feet from getting wet right away, for example, with the morning dew.
The insole of running shoes is one of the elements that most runners usually don't pay much attention to .
We can have the best shoe in the world ... if the template is not up to par it will spoil any expectation of a happy and trouble-free race.
- The two great forgotten ones of trail running and products
It is not uncommon to hear of sneakers that have insoles that move or wrinkle especially in high humidity conditions.
There are other insole features that may be a little less important but we should consider, such as antibacterial and anti-odor insoles. They are little things that are highly prized in the world of mountain runners.
You could say that the best template is the one you don't even know is there . That is, it does not give any problem. Comfortable, amortized and still in place.
The tongue of the trail running shoe also often ends up in the well of oblivion. However, it is a very important and fundamental element to avoid problems with the instep of the foot.
The tongue will be the main one in charge of compensating the tension generated by the laces.
A tongue must be quite padded to compensate for this tension, but be careful because if we have a tongue that is too thick, we could have breathability problems or water evacuation problems.
It is also important to see how this tongue has been constructed to ensure that no pebbles enter the shoe.
Nowadays almost all the tongues are sewn or are an integral part of the upper.
Sometimes there are pockets on the tongue that allow you to put in what is left over from the laces once the knot has been made. This element that could sow insignificant but is very important , especially if we have long cords, since if we do not have where to put them, they could get caught in branches , or even worse, they could cause us to trip.
Breathability and waterproofing of the mountain running shoe
I write these two characteristics together because they usually contradict each other.
It doesn't take a genius to understand that a more waterproof shoe will surely be less breathable.
It is very important to know where and in what conditions we are going to use the shoes.
If you run mainly in summer, in hot and dry areas, it is advisable to avoid waterproof shoes or those with protection against humidity.
A breathable shoe will be able to wick away sweat and dry quickly. A "cooler" and more breathable shoe will find it less difficult to evacuate the water when we go through a puddle or river.
If you run in humid and cold areas, you can think about buying shoes that have some treatment that protects against water . They do not have to be 100% waterproof, but at least they prevent your feet from getting wet right away, for example, with the morning dew.
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
The support of trail running shoes
The support of trail running shoes
By shoe support I mean the ability of the shoe to correct the footprint .
In conventional running (road), the support compensates for the pronation or supination of the runner.
- The support of trail running shoes and products
In trail running, however, the concept is a bit more complicated.
First of all, it must be said that correcting the prone or supinator footprint in mountain races is practically meaningless since each step we take on a mountain trail is completely different.
In road races , the steps we take are always the same and the landing is always the same, so that errors in support are repeated and accentuated with the passage of time, being necessary to correct them.
In mountain racing , however, each step we take will be different from the other. The position of the foot changes every time so even if we are pronators or supinators, the same terrain will hide these effects.
For this reason, I say that it is less necessary to correct the tread . Actually, if you are a chronic pronator, on very long Trail Running and especially on hard terrain, it would not be bad to have a more consistent support and a system that helps to support your feet correctly. With the passing of the kilometers and with the muscular fatigue we begin to be less efficient, tending to pronate. You should look for a shoe with a midsole that does not give too much and that resists your weight well.
Much of the correction of the stride is carried out by the rear buttress, which can be more or less rigid guiding and correcting the heel support.
By shoe support I mean the ability of the shoe to correct the footprint .
In conventional running (road), the support compensates for the pronation or supination of the runner.
- The support of trail running shoes and products
In trail running, however, the concept is a bit more complicated.
First of all, it must be said that correcting the prone or supinator footprint in mountain races is practically meaningless since each step we take on a mountain trail is completely different.
In road races , the steps we take are always the same and the landing is always the same, so that errors in support are repeated and accentuated with the passage of time, being necessary to correct them.
In mountain racing , however, each step we take will be different from the other. The position of the foot changes every time so even if we are pronators or supinators, the same terrain will hide these effects.
For this reason, I say that it is less necessary to correct the tread . Actually, if you are a chronic pronator, on very long Trail Running and especially on hard terrain, it would not be bad to have a more consistent support and a system that helps to support your feet correctly. With the passing of the kilometers and with the muscular fatigue we begin to be less efficient, tending to pronate. You should look for a shoe with a midsole that does not give too much and that resists your weight well.
Much of the correction of the stride is carried out by the rear buttress, which can be more or less rigid guiding and correcting the heel support.
Sunday, August 30, 2020
The protection of trail running shoes. The guardian angel.
The protection of trail running shoes. The guardian angel.
When you run in the mountains, it is easy to hurt your feet. A typical kick to a stone , a damn root sticking out of the way, an imprecise support that makes you brush the side of your foot against another nearby stone, all those damn pebbles in a long descent.
Each course is full of enemies and ambushes for your feet. Inadequate foot protection can spoil your race or training day.
- The protection of trail running shoes and products
What does a trail running shoe have to protect? Practically everything, the sole of the foot, the toes, the instep.
Protecting the sole of the foot in a trail running shoe
The protection of the sole is the task of the sole and midsole. These two elements separate us from that pointed rock that we had not seen.
With regard to the midsole , the more material there is, the more it will protect us. In fact, maximalist shoes with raised midsoles offer good insulation from the ground. But pay attention! Because as I have already told you, the higher we have the support of the foot, the less stability we will have.
Another element that serves to protect the sole of the foot are the studs . A sole with many studs close to each other and high enough can protect the sole of the foot properly.
The queen of protection of the sole of the foot is the anti-rock plate , which is neither more nor less than a piece of a hard material such as plastic or carbon, which is positioned between the sole and the midsole.
Here I put again a photo of the Peregrine ... with anti-plate rock. Essential for my taste. You can see it among the orange tacos.
If you have delicate soles and suffer from every pebble on the ground, your shoes should have this additional protection for the sole of the foot.
Some runners don't like the anti-rock plate as it might make the shoe less flexible, but this is a very subjective choice between flexibility and protection.
Long live the trail runner, toe protection
The fingertips and nails are another of the elements that suffer the most when running in the mountains.
Obviously, the front part of the shoes is the one that will be responsible for protecting the toes, specifically at the end of the shoe an element called "bumper" is positioned , or what is the same bumper.
If you regularly run in the mountains, it is practically impossible that you have not ever kicked a stone . Sooner or later the Trail Runner starts playing soccer with the stones, especially when the legs start to get tired and the runner's reactivity starts to decline.
These "bumpers" are made of different materials more or less rigid and cover more or less surface of the toe of the shoe.
Obviously the bigger and stiffer this bumper is, the more protection we will get, so that our feet will not be afraid of our football obsession with stones.
Again, comparison between a strong bumper like the Akasha and a lighter bumper like the Peregrine 7. As you can see, the Akasha have more rubber.
You have to be careful, because a too rigid bumper can create problems of crushing the toes during descents, especially if the shoe does not have a good foot support.
In my case, knowing this, I can assure you that neither the Peregrine nor the Akasha have this problem.
Imagine that you are running down a very steep descent, the foot tends to slide forward and flatten against the tip, if the fingers meet a very rigid wall, they will suffer and the famous black nails heritage of the mountain runner will be formed.
To avoid problems during the descents, it is advisable to have a good descent technique, it took me a bit to start going down well, I have written an article in which I explain all the tricks and tips that I have followed so that the descents are my strong point. Here you have the link: Improve trail running descent technique. 15 definitive tips
It is clear that the choice of bumper protection depends on what type of tours you are going to do.
If you are going to travel in a pure and hard mountain with a lot of stone and a lot of technical route, you will have to think about having good protection .
If you are going to run on routes that are runable, not very technical, with little unevenness, then the bumper should be lighter.
Protection of the body of the foot, sides and instep
The protection of the body of the foot, mainly the sides, is the task of the upper .
To protect the upper, usually structures are incorporated more or less rigid and more or less hard, as if it were a kind of skeleton, heat seals, or sidebands which serve to give tension to the laces and provide securing foot to the time to protect it.
To make the tension of the laces reach the midsole, these structures are placed on the outside of the upper or as part of it. The normal thing is to find heat-sealed in different materials or the side bands of different types of rubber or plastic.
Some slippers have a kind of skirt , just where the midsole connects to the upper, which serves to give additional protection to the lower part of the foot .
Some small elements that make a difference in the protection of the trail running shoe
There are some protective elements that are often overlooked but are essential that can spoil a trail running race.
These are small details that make the difference, such as preventing pebbles or dirt from entering the inside of the shoe. A more protected shoe can be considered one that will prevent these residues from entering the interior, because a pebble can literally destroy a foot.
In reference to this, it is important that the upper closes well around the ankle and that the tongue joins the upper correctly.
In this image you can see the sock style necklace of the New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v3
The reed is very important, it has to be a single piece integrated into the upper. In fact, you always see more uppers with one-piece sock-shaped tabs, which can even cover part of the ankle.
The negative points of a shoe that is too protected
Well, since we have to protect the feet, let's put all the possible protection and make the shoes are tanks ... wait a minute, calmly, there are a number of contraindications in overly protected shoes.
The first problem with shoes with a lot of protection is weight . The more protective structure we have, the heavier the shoe will be.
Another problem could be the flexibility of the shoe , a shoe that is too protected could be less flexible making the transition from support during the race more difficult.
Another factor that is compromised by very high protection is the breathability of the shoe. A very protected shoe can present perspiration problems and make the foot more warm than necessary.
What level of protection do we have to choose for our mountain running shoe?
Well, I'm going to give us an answer, I don't know.
Only you can know, depending on what you want to do.
Obviously the level of protection will depend a lot on the type of route and the distance you are going to run.
If you are going to face a very alpine race , with many kilometers, many stones or with a lot of unevenness, or on the contrary, you are going to run in a mainly flat race with little unevenness and with a lot of forest track.
I imagine that in the first case, in the case of the alpine race , there will be many stones, many complicated steps, many indecisive supports, a lot of quarrying. Protection should be prioritized and lightness and speed removed.
In the second case, I imagine that there will be few difficult areas, and little probability that the shoe will touch stones or other abrasive elements laterally. In this case, you will surely need shoes with less protection but that are more adapted to running at fast and reactive rates.
The level of protection is completely different in both cases.
When you run in the mountains, it is easy to hurt your feet. A typical kick to a stone , a damn root sticking out of the way, an imprecise support that makes you brush the side of your foot against another nearby stone, all those damn pebbles in a long descent.
Each course is full of enemies and ambushes for your feet. Inadequate foot protection can spoil your race or training day.
- The protection of trail running shoes and products
What does a trail running shoe have to protect? Practically everything, the sole of the foot, the toes, the instep.
Protecting the sole of the foot in a trail running shoe
The protection of the sole is the task of the sole and midsole. These two elements separate us from that pointed rock that we had not seen.
With regard to the midsole , the more material there is, the more it will protect us. In fact, maximalist shoes with raised midsoles offer good insulation from the ground. But pay attention! Because as I have already told you, the higher we have the support of the foot, the less stability we will have.
Another element that serves to protect the sole of the foot are the studs . A sole with many studs close to each other and high enough can protect the sole of the foot properly.
The queen of protection of the sole of the foot is the anti-rock plate , which is neither more nor less than a piece of a hard material such as plastic or carbon, which is positioned between the sole and the midsole.
Here I put again a photo of the Peregrine ... with anti-plate rock. Essential for my taste. You can see it among the orange tacos.
If you have delicate soles and suffer from every pebble on the ground, your shoes should have this additional protection for the sole of the foot.
Some runners don't like the anti-rock plate as it might make the shoe less flexible, but this is a very subjective choice between flexibility and protection.
Long live the trail runner, toe protection
The fingertips and nails are another of the elements that suffer the most when running in the mountains.
Obviously, the front part of the shoes is the one that will be responsible for protecting the toes, specifically at the end of the shoe an element called "bumper" is positioned , or what is the same bumper.
If you regularly run in the mountains, it is practically impossible that you have not ever kicked a stone . Sooner or later the Trail Runner starts playing soccer with the stones, especially when the legs start to get tired and the runner's reactivity starts to decline.
These "bumpers" are made of different materials more or less rigid and cover more or less surface of the toe of the shoe.
Obviously the bigger and stiffer this bumper is, the more protection we will get, so that our feet will not be afraid of our football obsession with stones.
Again, comparison between a strong bumper like the Akasha and a lighter bumper like the Peregrine 7. As you can see, the Akasha have more rubber.
You have to be careful, because a too rigid bumper can create problems of crushing the toes during descents, especially if the shoe does not have a good foot support.
In my case, knowing this, I can assure you that neither the Peregrine nor the Akasha have this problem.
Imagine that you are running down a very steep descent, the foot tends to slide forward and flatten against the tip, if the fingers meet a very rigid wall, they will suffer and the famous black nails heritage of the mountain runner will be formed.
To avoid problems during the descents, it is advisable to have a good descent technique, it took me a bit to start going down well, I have written an article in which I explain all the tricks and tips that I have followed so that the descents are my strong point. Here you have the link: Improve trail running descent technique. 15 definitive tips
It is clear that the choice of bumper protection depends on what type of tours you are going to do.
If you are going to travel in a pure and hard mountain with a lot of stone and a lot of technical route, you will have to think about having good protection .
If you are going to run on routes that are runable, not very technical, with little unevenness, then the bumper should be lighter.
Protection of the body of the foot, sides and instep
The protection of the body of the foot, mainly the sides, is the task of the upper .
To protect the upper, usually structures are incorporated more or less rigid and more or less hard, as if it were a kind of skeleton, heat seals, or sidebands which serve to give tension to the laces and provide securing foot to the time to protect it.
To make the tension of the laces reach the midsole, these structures are placed on the outside of the upper or as part of it. The normal thing is to find heat-sealed in different materials or the side bands of different types of rubber or plastic.
Some slippers have a kind of skirt , just where the midsole connects to the upper, which serves to give additional protection to the lower part of the foot .
Some small elements that make a difference in the protection of the trail running shoe
There are some protective elements that are often overlooked but are essential that can spoil a trail running race.
These are small details that make the difference, such as preventing pebbles or dirt from entering the inside of the shoe. A more protected shoe can be considered one that will prevent these residues from entering the interior, because a pebble can literally destroy a foot.
In reference to this, it is important that the upper closes well around the ankle and that the tongue joins the upper correctly.
In this image you can see the sock style necklace of the New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v3
The reed is very important, it has to be a single piece integrated into the upper. In fact, you always see more uppers with one-piece sock-shaped tabs, which can even cover part of the ankle.
The negative points of a shoe that is too protected
Well, since we have to protect the feet, let's put all the possible protection and make the shoes are tanks ... wait a minute, calmly, there are a number of contraindications in overly protected shoes.
The first problem with shoes with a lot of protection is weight . The more protective structure we have, the heavier the shoe will be.
Another problem could be the flexibility of the shoe , a shoe that is too protected could be less flexible making the transition from support during the race more difficult.
Another factor that is compromised by very high protection is the breathability of the shoe. A very protected shoe can present perspiration problems and make the foot more warm than necessary.
What level of protection do we have to choose for our mountain running shoe?
Well, I'm going to give us an answer, I don't know.
Only you can know, depending on what you want to do.
Obviously the level of protection will depend a lot on the type of route and the distance you are going to run.
If you are going to face a very alpine race , with many kilometers, many stones or with a lot of unevenness, or on the contrary, you are going to run in a mainly flat race with little unevenness and with a lot of forest track.
I imagine that in the first case, in the case of the alpine race , there will be many stones, many complicated steps, many indecisive supports, a lot of quarrying. Protection should be prioritized and lightness and speed removed.
In the second case, I imagine that there will be few difficult areas, and little probability that the shoe will touch stones or other abrasive elements laterally. In this case, you will surely need shoes with less protection but that are more adapted to running at fast and reactive rates.
The level of protection is completely different in both cases.
Let's avoid slipping, traction on trail running
Let's avoid slipping, traction on trail running
Traction, or grip, is a fundamental characteristic of trail running shoes.
It is very difficult to define if a shoe has good or bad traction.
- Let's avoid slipping, traction on trail running and products
Traction must be defined for a certain type of terrain : there are dry or wet terrain, there is hard and compact terrain or greasy terrain with stones, grass or loose sand.
It is practically impossible for a shoe to have good traction for all situations.
The traction of the shoe is determined by the sole, specifically by the material of the sole and the shape and arrangement of the studs on the sole (we will see later)
Shoe makers follow three strategies
The first strategy is to make a shoe with a traction that defends well on all terrains without standing out on any. This is the strategy that is followed in most of the ultra-trail shoes , because in a race of 80 or 100 km it is easy to go through so many different types of terrain and it is also possible that we will encounter variable weather conditions, so the shoe has to defend itself well in dry or wet conditions .
Another strategy is to focus on one type of terrain and conditions and completely ignore the rest. They are shoes that must be used in a very specific way, such as Vertical Kilometer shoes or shoes dedicated to mud or mud.
This is the sole of the Salomon Speedcross 5 ... designed specifically to run in mud, grass, snow ... if you take them out of there, they don't go so well
If you are looking for good running shoes on soft terrain such as snow, mud, grass, don't miss this comparison with some of the best mountain running shoes for running on greasy and broken terrain.
The third strategy is a mixture of the other two , that is, trying to have better traction on one type of route , without becoming the best of all, and still being acceptable on other types of routes.
There are soles with traction characteristics for all tastes.
I will write it again, what's more, I will write it in each point of this article, it depends on you .
It depends on what you want to do with these shoes . You have to understand what type of terrain you normally run on , it is a forest, a mountain with quarries, forest tracks, etc.
You also have to take into account the climate where you usually run , the same half of the times you go out for a run you find yourself in mud up to your knees.
If you have already decided what type of traction you need, let's go on to see what are the factors of the shoe that determine the famous grip.
The grip, the obsession of the perfect sole
Factors that determine the grip of the sole
As anticipated before, the traction of a shoe is determined by the sole, in particular by the outer part of the sole made of rubber .
There are several factors that determine traction, mainly the material of the sole and the shape and distribution of the studs.
The sole material
To give you some general indications about the material of the sole, I indicate that a softer material, generally provides greater traction , will be more sticky, so it will go very well for wet or soft terrain.
A hard compound , however, will be more suitable for more compact and hard terrain.
As with everything, there is a price to pay for high traction; a soft compound will last much less time than a hard compound, especially if we use the shoes outside their field of application.
If we have shoes with a sole suitable for soft and muddy terrain and we put them through a quarry, they will surely suffer a lot from wear and tear.
The shape and position of the studs
The shape and arrangement of tacos is a science dedicated to illustrious thinking minds.
Here you can see how the shape and arrangement of the studs of two different shoes such as the Saucony Peregrine 7 and La Sportiva Akasha change.
The Peregrine features a single material sole and 5mm hexagonal base geometry studs, distributed in shape and position to ensure exceptional traction and grip ... and it works.
The Akasha, have less studs, lower and it is a versatile sole that works well on any terrain. In fact, the Akasha are ultra trail shoes, so it is normal that they are good for a variety of conditions. A little less traction than the Peregrine ... but a lot more durability.
Another thing ... the Akasha are a real bomb ... if you are looking for good shoes for ultra, you have to seriously consider them ... wonderful. You can buy them at RunnerInn. Aui I leave you the link.
Higher, spaced studs bite into the ground better and give more traction on soft or broken ground but make the shoe clunky in simpler situations like a forest trail.
For muddy or soft terrain, at least 5 mm studs are needed with the appropriate shape and arrangement to evacuate the mud well and not to form the famous "clog"
Flatter and wider studs will give better performance on the slopes.
There are countless shapes of tacos.
We can find them the V-shape to bite the ground well in one direction, so we will find them with the tip forward to give traction forward or with the tip back to avoid slipping down.
We can find them in a square or hexagonal shape , so that the traction is multidirectional
We can find many different combinations.
Traction, or grip, is a fundamental characteristic of trail running shoes.
It is very difficult to define if a shoe has good or bad traction.
- Let's avoid slipping, traction on trail running and products
Traction must be defined for a certain type of terrain : there are dry or wet terrain, there is hard and compact terrain or greasy terrain with stones, grass or loose sand.
It is practically impossible for a shoe to have good traction for all situations.
The traction of the shoe is determined by the sole, specifically by the material of the sole and the shape and arrangement of the studs on the sole (we will see later)
Shoe makers follow three strategies
The first strategy is to make a shoe with a traction that defends well on all terrains without standing out on any. This is the strategy that is followed in most of the ultra-trail shoes , because in a race of 80 or 100 km it is easy to go through so many different types of terrain and it is also possible that we will encounter variable weather conditions, so the shoe has to defend itself well in dry or wet conditions .
Another strategy is to focus on one type of terrain and conditions and completely ignore the rest. They are shoes that must be used in a very specific way, such as Vertical Kilometer shoes or shoes dedicated to mud or mud.
This is the sole of the Salomon Speedcross 5 ... designed specifically to run in mud, grass, snow ... if you take them out of there, they don't go so well
If you are looking for good running shoes on soft terrain such as snow, mud, grass, don't miss this comparison with some of the best mountain running shoes for running on greasy and broken terrain.
The third strategy is a mixture of the other two , that is, trying to have better traction on one type of route , without becoming the best of all, and still being acceptable on other types of routes.
There are soles with traction characteristics for all tastes.
I will write it again, what's more, I will write it in each point of this article, it depends on you .
It depends on what you want to do with these shoes . You have to understand what type of terrain you normally run on , it is a forest, a mountain with quarries, forest tracks, etc.
You also have to take into account the climate where you usually run , the same half of the times you go out for a run you find yourself in mud up to your knees.
If you have already decided what type of traction you need, let's go on to see what are the factors of the shoe that determine the famous grip.
The grip, the obsession of the perfect sole
Factors that determine the grip of the sole
As anticipated before, the traction of a shoe is determined by the sole, in particular by the outer part of the sole made of rubber .
There are several factors that determine traction, mainly the material of the sole and the shape and distribution of the studs.
The sole material
To give you some general indications about the material of the sole, I indicate that a softer material, generally provides greater traction , will be more sticky, so it will go very well for wet or soft terrain.
A hard compound , however, will be more suitable for more compact and hard terrain.
As with everything, there is a price to pay for high traction; a soft compound will last much less time than a hard compound, especially if we use the shoes outside their field of application.
If we have shoes with a sole suitable for soft and muddy terrain and we put them through a quarry, they will surely suffer a lot from wear and tear.
The shape and position of the studs
The shape and arrangement of tacos is a science dedicated to illustrious thinking minds.
Here you can see how the shape and arrangement of the studs of two different shoes such as the Saucony Peregrine 7 and La Sportiva Akasha change.
The Peregrine features a single material sole and 5mm hexagonal base geometry studs, distributed in shape and position to ensure exceptional traction and grip ... and it works.
The Akasha, have less studs, lower and it is a versatile sole that works well on any terrain. In fact, the Akasha are ultra trail shoes, so it is normal that they are good for a variety of conditions. A little less traction than the Peregrine ... but a lot more durability.
Another thing ... the Akasha are a real bomb ... if you are looking for good shoes for ultra, you have to seriously consider them ... wonderful. You can buy them at RunnerInn. Aui I leave you the link.
Higher, spaced studs bite into the ground better and give more traction on soft or broken ground but make the shoe clunky in simpler situations like a forest trail.
For muddy or soft terrain, at least 5 mm studs are needed with the appropriate shape and arrangement to evacuate the mud well and not to form the famous "clog"
Flatter and wider studs will give better performance on the slopes.
There are countless shapes of tacos.
We can find them the V-shape to bite the ground well in one direction, so we will find them with the tip forward to give traction forward or with the tip back to avoid slipping down.
We can find them in a square or hexagonal shape , so that the traction is multidirectional
We can find many different combinations.
Saturday, August 29, 2020
The determining elements of fit in a trail running shoe
The determining elements of fit in a trail running shoe
The Upper
The upper, pulled by the laces, wraps the instep and the sides of the foot.
The upper is responsible for ensuring that the sole of the foot remains still and in contact with the insole while the upper foot remains still in contact with the tongue.
- The determining elements of fit in a trail running shoe and products
To make the tension of the laces reach from the upper holes to the midsole, there are more or less rigid structures such as heat-sealed inserts, rubber or plastic pieces that join both areas (midsole and holes).
A photo of my Saucony Peregrine 7. ... shoes with an exceptional fit for running at full speed (in my opinion). As you can see, the Peregrine have a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) exoskeleton that joins the string system with the midsole ... a marvel.
Tpu exoskeleton of the saucony peregrine 7
These elements that belong to the upper, in addition to tightening the foot, serve to protect it in the upper and lateral part.
We must pay attention to these structures because they are usually rigid and the more structures there are, the less breathable the upper will be .
Another negative point to consider is that it is in the contact points between these structures and the upper fabric, points of tension are created that generate breaks.
Trail shoe laces.
The laces tighten and adjust the upper to the foot.
The laces have to be able to slide well into the holes since they have to apply uniform pressure throughout the instep.
A fundamental factor when it comes to fit is that the laces must not lose tension during the race. I advise you to go read the analysis and forum of the pages dedicated to trail running and you will see how many complaints you can find about ties that are loosened and what forces the runners to stop to tighten them well.
Flat laces generally distribute pressure better and are more difficult to release. Round laces are easier to tighten but slide more and could lose tension.
The heel counter
The heel fit is ensured mainly thanks to the buttress that wraps the heel and prevents it from moving (especially during climbs).
Speaking of climbs ... surely more than one fears them ... well, you shouldn't, if the climbs are your "way of the cross", in this article you can read the best tips to improve the ascent technique in mountain races. Here you have the link . .. that you enjoy reading
The buttress has to hold the heel well to prevent it from moving rubbing with each step with the consequent appearance of blisters.
The buttress does not have to be 100% rigid, it is enough that it adapts to the foot and does not move.
The stiffness of the buttress serves to support the support, correcting the position of the foot while protecting the heel.
The last of the shoe
The internal space of trail running shoes is a determining factor for the fit of the shoe. Especially in the anterior area where the fingers will have more or less mobility.
The narrower and less space there is, the better the fit , but it will obviously imply a decrease in the overall comfort of the shoes.
I imagine that you have already understood, long runs where the feet and toes tend to swell, better if the fit and space inside the shoe is adequately wide.
If, however, we are looking for precision in technical terrain and shorter routes, then we tighten these toes and instep so that nothing moves inside the shoe.
What are the negative effects of a tight fit on a trail running shoe?
The first factor to suffer from an overly tight and precise fit is the overall comfort of the shoe . A shoe that is too precise, too tied to the foot, could be uncomfortable. Especially in long-distance races like the Ultra Trail.
Generally the fit is opposite to the comfort of the shoe . I do not mean to say that there are not shoes with an excellent fit and very comfortable.
The Upper
The upper, pulled by the laces, wraps the instep and the sides of the foot.
The upper is responsible for ensuring that the sole of the foot remains still and in contact with the insole while the upper foot remains still in contact with the tongue.
- The determining elements of fit in a trail running shoe and products
To make the tension of the laces reach from the upper holes to the midsole, there are more or less rigid structures such as heat-sealed inserts, rubber or plastic pieces that join both areas (midsole and holes).
A photo of my Saucony Peregrine 7. ... shoes with an exceptional fit for running at full speed (in my opinion). As you can see, the Peregrine have a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) exoskeleton that joins the string system with the midsole ... a marvel.
Tpu exoskeleton of the saucony peregrine 7
These elements that belong to the upper, in addition to tightening the foot, serve to protect it in the upper and lateral part.
We must pay attention to these structures because they are usually rigid and the more structures there are, the less breathable the upper will be .
Another negative point to consider is that it is in the contact points between these structures and the upper fabric, points of tension are created that generate breaks.
Trail shoe laces.
The laces tighten and adjust the upper to the foot.
The laces have to be able to slide well into the holes since they have to apply uniform pressure throughout the instep.
A fundamental factor when it comes to fit is that the laces must not lose tension during the race. I advise you to go read the analysis and forum of the pages dedicated to trail running and you will see how many complaints you can find about ties that are loosened and what forces the runners to stop to tighten them well.
Flat laces generally distribute pressure better and are more difficult to release. Round laces are easier to tighten but slide more and could lose tension.
The heel counter
The heel fit is ensured mainly thanks to the buttress that wraps the heel and prevents it from moving (especially during climbs).
Speaking of climbs ... surely more than one fears them ... well, you shouldn't, if the climbs are your "way of the cross", in this article you can read the best tips to improve the ascent technique in mountain races. Here you have the link . .. that you enjoy reading
The buttress has to hold the heel well to prevent it from moving rubbing with each step with the consequent appearance of blisters.
The buttress does not have to be 100% rigid, it is enough that it adapts to the foot and does not move.
The stiffness of the buttress serves to support the support, correcting the position of the foot while protecting the heel.
The last of the shoe
The internal space of trail running shoes is a determining factor for the fit of the shoe. Especially in the anterior area where the fingers will have more or less mobility.
The narrower and less space there is, the better the fit , but it will obviously imply a decrease in the overall comfort of the shoes.
I imagine that you have already understood, long runs where the feet and toes tend to swell, better if the fit and space inside the shoe is adequately wide.
If, however, we are looking for precision in technical terrain and shorter routes, then we tighten these toes and instep so that nothing moves inside the shoe.
What are the negative effects of a tight fit on a trail running shoe?
The first factor to suffer from an overly tight and precise fit is the overall comfort of the shoe . A shoe that is too precise, too tied to the foot, could be uncomfortable. Especially in long-distance races like the Ultra Trail.
Generally the fit is opposite to the comfort of the shoe . I do not mean to say that there are not shoes with an excellent fit and very comfortable.
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