An ultra-running friend who is sponsored by Salomon gave me an extra pair of Salomon trail running shoes made of GoreTex. I LOVE these shoes in the winter, they allow me to slog through muck and splash through puddles with nary a thought. Only trouble is they don’t fit me optimally, and I suspect they’re not really as supportive as my trusty Brooks Addictions. I haven’t experienced any significant mechanical problems as of yet, but I’ve decided that I’d really really like to find a pair of waterproof running shoes that fit well and provide motion control.
Catalog listings for trail running shoes are maddening, they make no mention of the type of running mechanics for which the shoes are best suited, all they talk about is how great the shoes are at tearing up the trails. Or am I wrong, and I just haven’t found the shop or web site that DOES address this issue?
Can someone point me to a site that provides this info? Even better, are there any shops on the SF Peninsula that stock a selection of real trail runners? Runner’s High has no waterproof trail shoes, just the Brooks Adrenaline ASR which is “water resistant”. I know Brooks also makes a trail version of the Addiction, but they’re not waterproof.
Any good personal recommendations of waterproof trail runners that provide motion control?
This is a tough question, and I am most definately not a running shoe expert. We need Shawn F of Asics in on this one.
That said, I’ve done enough trail running and racing to be able to provide some limited insights.
First off, the mechanics of a true “motion control” shoe for trail running are tricky since they are somewhat different than a pavement shoe. The angle your foot is settling onto the surface and the surface itself are changing in a trail environement, and that may make an excessively stable, motion control shoe hard on connective tissues in the ankle/achilles.
I used the Salomon shoe for two big adventure race (Eco-Challenge and Raid Gauloises) and it was a good shoe- this was the older previous version i believe called the “Raid XA” or some such thing- they were yellow and blue and did not have the cushioning of the newer Gore XCR shoes from Salomon.
I used the Montrail Vitesse in the 105 mile Jordan Telecom Desert Cup in Jordan and it was a superb shoe that fit my average foot perfectly. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Montrail- they are real trail shoes, not rugged fashion shoes like some big company’s models.
something to consider when venturing down the waterproof shoe path, not only does it not let water in, they also don’t let water out. You can end up wearing a couple of buckets on your feet if the water/snow goes over the top of the shoe.
That’s the very reason that I like the much aligned Adidas Climacool system. Water comes in and goes out, great for shoreline runs, crossing streams or any waterlogged routes. Ideal for me living on the coast.
something to consider when venturing down the waterproof shoe path, not only does it not let water in, they also don’t let water out. You can end up wearing a couple of buckets on your feet if the water/snow goes over the top of the shoe.
No worries there. I was initially concerned about this as well, but I always wear gaiters with 'em. Also, I only ever wear these shoes when it’s pretty cool, so the sweat factor inside the shoe is minimal. The Goretex definitely won me over!
Descriptions of trail shoes that map to those we’re used to for road shoes are impossible to find. As Tom D. suggests, the performance issues are different on trails, and maybe that’s why shoes don’t seem to carry the same classifications. You don’t (or shouldn’t) do a lot of heel striking on trails with any pitch to them.
I like the Salomon XA Pros as a general purpose trail running shoe. My street shoe trainers are stability trainers. For faster trail stuff, I like the Salomon XA Comp. It has a more curved last than the Pro, and is substantially lighter. I did the Pike’s Peak Ascent in them a couple of years ago, but the curved last does take some getting used to if you’re accustomed to a straighter last, which is what most stability shoes have. Chances are a sponsored runner is running in the Comp. I think you’d do well in the Pro if you need stability.