Has anyone used one of the newer carbon plate running shoes for trail running? Just thinking that if the carbon spread the load of ‘pointy things’ that you step on during a trail run, then it might allow the use of a lighter running shoe…kind of a trauma plate for the ball of the foot. Anyone try any of the new shoes for trail running and have any feedback? Thanks.
Stephen J
I did a crazy experiment with Next % on a trail. Yes, the carbon plate protects your foot. HOWEVER, wrong shoe for trails :-)! I was slip sliding all over the place (but no sharp pointy things got me). Perhaps trail shoes will evolve to a hybrid version at some point. When these shoes get to the end of their useful like I may try putting some screws in the bottom for traction, and shaving the heel off a bit. We’ll see.
My salomons have a “profeel film” rock plate in them which kinda looks to be a carbon material. Id be leary of the stack height on those road shoes for trail use.
There are a ton of trail shoes with rock plates.
The carbon plated shoes are mostly racing flats/performance training shoes and these will not give you the security you’re probably looking for on a trail
I’ve had the same thought. The rock plates in trail shoes that I’ve run in typically don’t hold up for very rocky terrain. I road run in those hoka carbon x’s and I’ve often thought that would be a nice platform if they had appropriate tread.