Trail Running Shoes

Trail running shoes are great for people that enjoy running in the great outdoors. Standard sports shoes are simply not up to the job of running on a mix of terrain. For the loose surfaces, you find on many trails you need a shoe with a little more grip. Designed to support trail runners, this is where trail running shoes come into their own. Many offer waterproofing so you can run through streams and muddy tracks with no worries about getting waterlogged and causing problems for your feet later on.

At Sportitude we sell a variety of running shoes suitable for trails. As there are a multitude of trails that people can run on, you need to shop in a place that offers you a good selection to choose from. We have starter shoes as well as shoes that will suit the demands of experienced trail runners.

We’ll ship your shoes to any location in Australia, and for orders over $100 shipping is free ($7.95 for an order under $100). If you play other sports such as tennis, netball, football, or basketball then you can choose a pair of those as well and save postage. If you’re purely a trail runner then you can look through our sports clothing section and find some compression socks to help with fatigue reduction.

How to buy trail running shoes?

Before looking for your trail running shoes consider the type of terrain, you’ll most likely be running on. Is it mostly loose gravel or fine dirt? Will it be muddy or relatively dry? What type of gradient does it have? Knowing these answers will help you choose a shoe that is right for you as these shoes have various types of tread and waterproofing available. If you’re running in a hilly area on compacted soil that’s prone to rain, you may want to go for a pair that has excellent grip and waterproofing.

If you’re not sure about the tracks you’ll be running on it’s a good idea to start with a more generalist trail running shoe, something that covers the basics and provides you with good support and grip. You can choose trail running shoes from brands like Brooks, Mizuno and Asics as these are perfect for running on mixed terrain. For heavy-duty shoes, you can choose from Salomon and On Cloudventure which have larger lugs on the soles and will give excellent traction on even the steepest of trails.

Are trail running shoes good for hiking?

Wearing trail running shoes or boots for hiking is absolutely a personal choice. While there may be proponents for both camps, realistically both will give you a good experience. Many people find that heavy and bulky hiking boots are tiring to wear and opt for the lighter feel or trail runners, and others find they do not get the best protection and durability and choose hiking boots.

If you’re getting into walking and running on outdoor trails, we’d suggest investing in a good pair of waterproof trail shoes. These are lighter so that you don’t get tired during your walk. As you gain experience and seek out more adventurous hikes where trails are not that well defined and you need a high level of support from solidly built footwear, you can switch to hiking boots.

Can you wear trail running shoes on the road?

Yes, but with a few exceptions. For heavy trail running shoes (those with a heavy tread and lugs) these are not suitable for road running, as the lugs will be a hindrance and wear down fast. However, for most shoes that have a milder tread then these can certainly be used to run on roads. It’s important to note that because the shoes are designed to run on softer surfaces, you can expect them to wear faster than a pair of standard running shoes.

In an ideal world, you should have a pair of shoes dedicated to the sport you play or the surfaces you run on. If you need a shoe that can be used in different sports you can get a pair of cross training shoes. If you’re more of a specialist trail runner, you’ll get more benefits out of specifically designed trail runners.

If you do a mix of trail running and road running, buying two separate pairs of shoes may save you money in the long run. At Sportitude we sell men’s running shoes and women’s running shoes as well as regular trail running shoes.

How long should trail running shoes last?

In reality, there is no straightforward answer to how long shoes should last, as there are many different variables to consider. If you use the shoes only for the purpose, they were intended you’ll likely get more use out of them. The best way to tell if your shoes are starting to fail is by checking for wear spots on the soles. Just like car tyres once the tread begins to wear, you’ll not get suitable traction on loose surfaces and you may start to slip. Using worn and damaged shoes is one of the quickest ways to get an injury while out running.

The time between replacing trail running shoes will mostly depend on the quality of the shoe you have. As a general idea, you can expect to get anywhere from 500 - 800km out of a good pair of shoes. If you’re running around 30km per week, then your shoes should last from six to eight months. Although this can differ based on the specific terrain you run on, it's a good baseline to work from.