Trail running shoes with stability
Discussion
I'm going round in circles for my search for trail running (walking in my case) shoes that have stability for my overpronation.
My criteria are simply the support needed and as light as possible. Millions of great trail shoes out there but I can't find the ones that clearly have that support. Moat of the time I wear Adidas Ultraboost ST and they are fabulous but for the winter walking in Epping Forest every day I want the traction and waterproofing etc etc.....you get the message.
I can't be alone in this and would dearly love advice and recommendations from the collective. I'm currently wearing some Brooks, which are great and are supposed to have support, but I regularly have pains after a walk. Budget is not a factor. Learned that paying a lot for something that works can be best value, so cost is ignored.
Boy is it muddy in the forest right now!
My criteria are simply the support needed and as light as possible. Millions of great trail shoes out there but I can't find the ones that clearly have that support. Moat of the time I wear Adidas Ultraboost ST and they are fabulous but for the winter walking in Epping Forest every day I want the traction and waterproofing etc etc.....you get the message.
I can't be alone in this and would dearly love advice and recommendations from the collective. I'm currently wearing some Brooks, which are great and are supposed to have support, but I regularly have pains after a walk. Budget is not a factor. Learned that paying a lot for something that works can be best value, so cost is ignored.
Boy is it muddy in the forest right now!
I was looking for something similar when I signed up for a 16 mile trail race last year. I normally wear Brooks Adrenaline or Asics Gel Kayano for the support they provide.
After trying a few I ended up with a pair of Inov8 Roclite 315. Whilst they do not provide the same support as the Asics I wear on the road, they have not caused any problems. I've done a couple of hundred miles in them since.
After trying a few I ended up with a pair of Inov8 Roclite 315. Whilst they do not provide the same support as the Asics I wear on the road, they have not caused any problems. I've done a couple of hundred miles in them since.
Just in case you haven't done this already, I'd suggest also a session with a physio to check for weakness / lack of flexibility in other areas - hips and ankles in particular - which are likely to be the root cause of your foot pain. It's likely that correction in these areas through stretching / strength exercises will mean that you don't need pronation correction in your shoes.
If there is an underlying cause such as leg length discrepancy meaning that you do need some correction then a physio can advise.
Correcting an issue through support shoes / orthotics etc without understanding the underlying causes of your pain have a habit of just transferring the problem elsewhere
If there is an underlying cause such as leg length discrepancy meaning that you do need some correction then a physio can advise.
Correcting an issue through support shoes / orthotics etc without understanding the underlying causes of your pain have a habit of just transferring the problem elsewhere
Fair points. I do have a dodgy left knee through old injuries and a hip prone to aches after crashing the Radical a few years ago. They make me limp a bit, but I don't notice I'm doing it. I'm now a regular pilates reformer user and that's made a big difference. I've had it all looked at several times. One of these days it's a new knee and a while after that a new hip.
The support issue is not a massive thing but was identified during gait analysis a while ago. I get a pain on the outside of my foot (not the dodgy leg side) if the shoes don't support like they should. I find wearing the right socks massively important too. That's not just walking the dog in the forest.
I'll have a look at those Salomon shoes. I've got so many pairs of trainers she won't notice a couple more!
The support issue is not a massive thing but was identified during gait analysis a while ago. I get a pain on the outside of my foot (not the dodgy leg side) if the shoes don't support like they should. I find wearing the right socks massively important too. That's not just walking the dog in the forest.
I'll have a look at those Salomon shoes. I've got so many pairs of trainers she won't notice a couple more!
Camoradi said:
I just picked up a pair of Salomon XA Elevate gore tex. £67 on a website which sells "sports shoes"
Very stable, good underfoot protection and heel support, and surprisingly light. Less flexible than a normal running shoe but excellent off road.
Got some of them on the way now as well. It will be interesting to compare them to then Asics. Very stable, good underfoot protection and heel support, and surprisingly light. Less flexible than a normal running shoe but excellent off road.
silverthorn2151 said:
Got some of them on the way now as well. It will be interesting to compare them to then Asics.
Asics arrive today but used the others yesterday. feel very comfy but the lacing system is ghastly and I can't get them tight. Will experiment with other ways of securing and report back.Camoradi said:
I just picked up a pair of Salomon XA Elevate gore tex. £67 on a website which sells "sports shoes"
Very stable, good underfoot protection and heel support, and surprisingly light. Less flexible than a normal running shoe but excellent off road.
Just a quick update for those interested.Very stable, good underfoot protection and heel support, and surprisingly light. Less flexible than a normal running shoe but excellent off road.
The Salomon is excellent so far.
Reading reviews about sizing I bought a 1/2 size up on normal, and I'm glad I did. However, the lacing system is rubbish. Simply impossible to get the shoes snug and stay like that so I cut them out. I had to cut out the little plastic grommets in the lace loops too and the fitted some elasticated quick release laces. Perfect. They have been great in the mud and muck of the forest, goretex so my feet are dry and clean and dry easily afterwards. Very good stability wise so it's good all round from me. No pain post walking.
The Asics feel very comfy but I've not worn them in anger yet as it's been too wet for them. They have a very open weave. I'll try them when I'm next walking on paved paths.
Good recommendations though, thanks.
Offroad shoes are often open because water goes in, but water comes out too. Once water is in a goretex shoe it stays in. Asics have quite a good system on their website for deciding on which shoes, stability wise. They don't have anything very aggressive and supportive though. I have a pair of Fuji Trabucco 6 but they're only OK and quite hard on the forefoot.
You won't find any agressive trail or fell running shoes with pronation control, because it is just not needed. Running on flat, level and consistent surfaces, pronation control is possible, but if your foot is more than likely going to be at a different angle every stride, then how can you control the footfall?
gazza285 said:
You won't find any agressive trail or fell running shoes with pronation control, because it is just not needed. Running on flat, level and consistent surfaces, pronation control is possible, but if your foot is more than likely going to be at a different angle every stride, then how can you control the footfall?
Whilst it is true - it's bloody irritating. You're quite correct when on technical trail, but most runs of mine that demand the level of grip those shoes supply also have flat fireroad, plain trail, footpaths, even some road sections. So I end up under-gripped because I need some support for those sections. I'm fine racing cross country for example in spikes, because it's all technical, but none of the training runs pre-race are like that. Not everyone is flying over the Lakeland tops like Billy Bland!Another example - a muddy obstacle course race. I want the grip around the obstacles, but most of the time, I'm running between, on much less technical terrain.
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