Four Reasons Why Your Trail Shoes Feel Different Than Your Road Shoes
Trail running is often considered a completely different sport than road running, and with good reason. Running on the trails takes a little bit more balance. A little bit more agility.
To balance this, trail running shoes are designed differently than your typical road shoe. Below we break down some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from our customers in-store and on Facebook and Twitter about trail running shoes and how they differ from the typical road shoes
Take these differences into account when you're trying on this season's collection of trail running shoes in our stores.
Let's get started.
1.
The most notable difference between a trail shoe and a road shoe is the design of the outsole.
Because of the varying terrain on trails, additional traction is often necessary which requires deeper treads on the outsole. Road shoes don’t need nearly as much traction so the treads are often much shallower, and made with less material so the shoes tend to be lighter.
2.
Trail shoes also tend to have a more rugged upper because of the unpredictable conditions on the trail.
In an effort to keep out sand, dirt, and debris, trail shoes often have a more tightly woven mesh upper and more overlays which also add some durability to ensure the shoes hold up to the demands of a trail run.
3.
Another thing you may notice about your trail shoes is the inclusion of a rock plate in the midsole.
You won’t find this in all trail shoes, but for more rugged trails where you will encounter rocky terrain, it is beneficial to have a shoe with a rock plate in order to protect your foot. A rock plate is a thin piece of plastic or similar material to guard the bottom of the foot from sharp rocks, twigs, or debris. The rock plate adds some stiffness in the forefoot, and sacrifices a little flexibility but the tradeoff of more protection is often worth it.
4.
Most trail running shoes are what we consider neutral stability.
That means the density of the midsole is the same on the medial and lateral side of the shoe. When you’re running on trails, a more supportive midsole does not have as much effect on your body as it does on the road. The softer surface and varying terrain is more forgiving on your joints than running on pavement, and a neutral shoe will tend to allow your foot to move more naturally on the trail.
Of course, your new trail shoes should not be uncomfortable by any means but keep the above tips in mind when comparing them to your road shoes. Feel free to ask our Fit Specialists any questions you may have during your fit at our stores.
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