I’ve never bought trail running shoes before, but there are some good discounts right now, and I’ll let to get some to use down the road. What do I need to take into consideration? Do the normal shoe considerations still apply - stability/cushioning, over/under pronator, etc.? I need a shoe that runs small…
I just started running in some Salomon XA Pro 3D trail runners and I love them. They have a nice wide toe box which is important for me. And after a few runs I can certainly feel the difference in traction when on the trails, esp on grass or muddy sections. The few models I tried on seems to not have a lot of support for pronators; since I am a supinator this was not a problem for me. I would think most of the same rules for your road shoes will apply, except maybe in the cushioning area (being off road, you should be able to go with less cushioning).
AP
Kids trail running shoes??? Do they exist? Ha!
No seriously, seems like I read somewhere that trail running shoes are not much different than regular shoes – change the color (dark) and the tread. I’m sure there are exceptions, but that’s my impression of most of them.
Mostly what I’ve found is the same issues apply with a few additional ones. Depending on where you live and the type of trails you’ll be running, make sure the lugs will grip the type of ground you’ll be on. Weight isn’t as much of an issue as it would be with racing flats, unless you plan on racing in trail runs or XTERRA. That being said, I’ve been thinking about the new Asics Gel Trail Attack II shoes which are on;y 10.5 oz. I’m not overwhelmed with the color choices they made them in, but I’m not that concerned with it either. Also, if you need additional ankle support, many models are out there with additional support in that area. Hope this helps. Maybe Jim Vance or Kerry Clausen can pipe in and give some ideas from the XTERRA Pro point of view.
Most trail shoes are pretty stable by road shoe standards. They are also generally heavier. Brooks Cascadia, Salomon XA Pro & XA Comp are terrific shoes for rough trails. Most shoes like that have a plate of some kind under the sole that protects you from stone bruises, and that makes a big difference in the flexibility and cushion of the shoes. A lot of people think trail shoes are too hard to wear on the pavement. So it depends on what you want them for. They are great if you are running very rocky or muddy trails. If you are running well groomed trails, wooded trails that are mainly leaf mulch, etc., you’d likely be better off in normal running shoes.
I’m a supinator too.
Same rules apply. One thing you’ll notice is trail shoes are usually designed to be lower to the ground (more stability for uneven terrain) and slightly less cushioning (not as necessary on soft dirt). Lots of great options from a variety of brands. And, yes, there are kid sizes available.
like this asics model?
I figured 
Those Salomons come in white & pink, very cute I went for red & grey because I love to run in the mud…
They feel like there is less to them, except in one area: the heel cup, it feels like there is more stiffness there.
Also: these shoes have carbon fibre in them, so they must be fast, right?
I’ve had 2 pairs of Nike Alvord’s.
Not too expensive ( $ 70-75.00 ), fairly lightweight and the toe box is mucho comfy.
I’m just starting to get the gist of trailrunning…but for the narrow trails I run, they feel good.
Depends on the trail -
Smooth groomed grass or dirt you can run in your usual shoes. If uneven, rocky, muddy, hilly (especially if wet) trails, then trail shoes with good traction and some sort of underfoot protection work better.
A lot of trail shoes are unnecessarily heavy (to me anyway), but there are a lot of reasonably light options these days. I am a serious overpronator when my gait breaks down from fatigue, and I used to wear the most supportive trail shoes I could find (TNF Ultra 102, etc), but I don’t think that was helpful. So now I don’t worry too much about support and cushioning and look for light weight, traction, and some underfoot protection from rocks. Low profile is good too, so you are more stable on uneven ground.
I’ve never worn the Brooks Cascadia, but Scott Jurek was involved in their design, so that is a good sign.
I have used and like a lot Montrail Leona Divide but in last year have used Inov8 Mudroc and Flyroc. Light, excellent traction, good underfoot protection, but mayb e not supportive enough for longer distance and not cushioned enough for pavement. They have a lot of new models coming out, but the discounts now will be on last year’s of course.
Normal considerations dont necessarily apply to the same extent when considering trail shoes. Here’s my perspective of what’s out there:
Alot of the trail shoes are WAY overbuilt (in terms or protection). Unless you plan on doing fastpacking, or huge miles on real rough terrain, I would go w/ a lighter weight model. I LOVE the brooks cascadia’s. In my opinion, and I’ve discussed this w/ several shoe guys, it’s important to go with a company that specializes in building running shoes (ie: brooks, asics, mizuno, etc.) b/c these shoes are built like running shoes. Conversely, alot of trail shoes (Vasque, Montrail, etc.) are simply toned down hiking boots. These are awesome for mega miles on rough terrain, but are way too beefy for general training on trails.
On a further note, I raced Xterra’s quite successfully this past summer in regular running shoes (Mizuno Wave Rider’s). As long as you pay attention to your footing and balance, you can certainly get away w/ a lighter weight shoes.
I have a pair of Asics Gel Trail Attack, I’m not sure but I think they were discontinued(?!).
Anyway, I like them a lot, they’re not heavy or clunky and they offer adequate support. Their outsole thread is very good for the terrain where I run, a lot of hard-packed sand trails with rocky parts. They offer very good traction and I’m a fairly aggressive trail runner since I have a background in orienteering.
I’m a supinator also, and even though Asics doesn’t list them as such, the ASICS GEL -Trabuco VIII seem to be great for me. I guess I don’t notice as much on the trail, on the road anything that has the slightest bit of stability “enhancements” just kills me, but this shoe works great on the trail. They go down to size 5 for women, don’t know if that’s small enough for you.
I can wear a 5 in Asics or Nike since they run small and tend to be more narrow than something like NB. I wear a 4 or 4.5 in dress shoes. I have a very high arch, high instep, and very rigid feet (was in ballet for 9 years and still have ballerina feet).
Well I’m not a ballerina, but I’ve dated one. I do have really high arches also and like I said, this shoe seems to work really well. Granted I’m also distracted a lot on the trails around here, so maybe I’m just not noticing the shoe. 
Started running on trails this winter and picked up a pair of Asics Trail Attack II. They are awesome. Very light and stable for a trail shoe. Also the traction is great. I’ve worn them in snow, rain, and ice with no problems. On my longer runs say over 13 miles my feet do get beat up, but I think thats from having my orthodics in so there is less cushining.
The colors aren’t that great but I went with the bright orange. At least I wont be accidentally shot by a hunter. My bright orange shoes and yellow jacket does the trick.
Holy crap, me too!
You too…? Were a dancer? Have a size 4 foot?
7.5, but a 7 in those Salomons. How bizarre. I had to give it up once I grew boobs & hips. Instructor wouldn’t renew my scholarship because of it. Started track& field, and playing hockey and soccer instead