I’m looking for a light weight neutral waterproof trail shoe with plenty of flexibility, anyone have any recommendations?
The reason light weight is important is because I’d like it to double as a street running shoe as well in wet weather.
Thanks
Ron W.
Be careful what you ask for, the waterproofing works both ways.
Most of the ultra runners I know who have to deal with stream crossings and bad weather go just the opposite direction and opt for a very breathable shoe. The waterproof shoes tend to keep their feet wet even on dry days.
So, along those lines the Saucony Kinvara or the New Balance MT110 are popular choices.
I agree; waterproof can be tricky. The NB mt110 is a solid lightweight trail shoe. Here is a good review http://www.irunfar.com/2012/01/the-making-of-the-new-balance-mt110.html
OP here, I’d still like to put more emphasis on the waterproofing.
Maybe something like this… http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpageMRS-SRAZ2M1.html?gclid=CMTFlvL2460CFYFb7Aodl2s-xQ
Anyone try these?
Ron W.
Anytime you get a waterproof upper, the shoe is NOT going to be light or flexible. The Razor mostly fits your qualifications, with a gaiter and all, but it’s 13.5oz (!) in a size 9. The Brooks Ghost is a fairly lightweight neutral shoe that you can get with a Gore-Tex upper, but the GTX version is 1.5oz heavier, and not nearly as flexible as the regular version.
These:
Plus normal running shoes are the way to do. If you have trouble with stone bruising then a pair of shoes with a stone guard will help.
As other have said, water proofing goes both ways, and unless you have a shoe that goes to your knees what is going to get in them. What you want are socks that stay warm and dry.
I have lots of experience in cold wet place for days/weeks at a time. The shoes we wore did not keep the water out. It was the socks that protected us.
Wrightsocks, which are double layered and dry out pretty well are a good way to go on wet runs. The friction occurs between the socks instead of between your foot and the sock, which is accentuated when the socks are wet.
I’d rather the shoe drain well.
Now, some kind of lightweight breathable gator might be nice on some terrain.
Try the Inov8 312GTX and you might change your mind on that . Light and flexible. Overall a great shoe.
Guys who dismiss waterproof shoes have never run in freezing melting snow for 2 hours, they have their place. If you use lightweight gaitors it can prevent water going over the top into the shoe…which then won’t drain out - the biggest problem. I ran in the snow at the weekend with light gaitors and salomon gortex shoes, no issues.
I double what SegFault said about waterproof shoes.
Remember, a waterproof shoe generally uses a sockliner from W.L. Gore & Associates to keep water out of the shoe. The issue is, with a low top shoe, water obivously enters through the top- then generally stays inside. Your socks are soaked and won’t dry or drain well.
Salomon has some great trail shoes but they are what they are- trail shoes. They don’t cross over readily to the road. The Brooks Cascadia 6 is a tenable trail shoe that runs well on the road. Saucony’s ProGrid Peregrine is another shoe born in a road heritage and design and adapted with a more substantial outsole for the trail. It runs OK on pavement and hardpack if the Saucony brand fits you.
Just did a 15 mile run yesterday in the Razor. I mostly ran on a gravel path with some snow/slush on it. I like the Razors off road, but I find they really lack cushioning for anything other than short sections on pavement.
They will keep my feet mostly dry unless it is raining very hard or I step in puddles. I say “mostly” dry since as other posters have pointed out, if a shoe is truly waterproof it will not breath well. I find my feet generally don’t get wet, but they do tend to get “moist” on the longer runs since it is difficult for sweat to evaporate.
Overall I like the Razors but only tend to use them running in the snow or short runs in the rain.