trial shoes or runners,

avfc1874

hi i'm on the lookout for a new pair of runners, but not sure wether to buy the trial runners or the normal running shoes. i'm not a serious runner but have done a few 5k races, and like going out for a few runs in the week. i some times run on the road and sometimes along canals and through fields so not sure what would be best.

Krusty_Clown

I presume you mean 'trail' shoes? You can't really use trail shoes on the road, as the rubber grips etc. will wear too quickly and they are not designed with road support in mind. If the budget won't stretch to a pair of each, I'd suggest running shoes is the way to go. Running shoes are fine on all but the worst kind of trails, where grip is particularly important. There are also hybrid shoes available (to suit both types of terrain) like the Salomon Crossmax, but based on the examples you've provided (canals and fields) running shoes should be fine.

robinph

Get some regular training shoes.

The likes of specialist trail shoes will only really be useful for you once you get into properly muddy and hilly terrain.

slideshow bob

I agree with the above posts, and would have been a similar advocate except...

I've been in a pair of trail shoes since the start of this year. I picked up a pair of Pegasus 28 Trails in a local shop bargain rack after getting tired of paying over the odds for shoes I've been in for over a decade (Asics were taking me for a ride all that time). Didn't think they'd be much good.

Most of my running is on roads, the track and a bit on paths. They've served me very well. About 500miles running up on them, used for kicking around most weekends, a few times through the washing machine and the only shoes I had for two weeks holidays this summer. Wasn't sure how they'd be for racing, but worked out grand - sub 19min for a 5k and a few decent (for me) 10ks. I reckon I'll get another couple of hundred running miles before we're sick of each other. All for €50.

I did the same with an end of line pair of Asics last year too, although they cost €67.

A couple of years ago I would have thought everything above was heresy: trail shoes on the road (never mind the track), into the washing machine (OMG!), walking around in them instead of resting them between training sessions. Then I read some research that linked injury to more expensive runners. (Can't recall exactly where, but similar stuff is here. And I decided the thousands of euros I'd spent on runners might have contributed to the other thousands of euros I'd spent on physio.

Haven't seen a physio for a long time (I wouldn't put it down to cheap runners - I dramatically changed training regimen too these last few years).

So trail shoes or runners is no big deal - wear whatever's comfortable.

But don't spend a month's spare cash on one pair of shoes - you'll mind them more than you'll mind your feet.

Rantan

avfc1874 wrote: »

hi i'm on the lookout for a new pair of runners, but not sure wether to buy the trial runners or the normal running shoes. i'm not a serious runner but have done a few 5k races, and like going out for a few runs in the week. i some times run on the road and sometimes along canals and through fields so not sure what would be best.

I try and get "off road" at least once a week - nothing too extreme, forest paths generally, just gravel/mucky/rocky but not hilly or mountains. I found i was wrecking my daily running shoes so got a pair of addidas kanadia. They are pretty basic trail shoes but do for what i need - I dont rotate them as often as I would normal shoes so make a pair last at least a year or two - last pair cost me £48gbp so yo ushould pick a pair up for about €60 or less if the budget can stretch - as posted elsewhere these arent great on the road so wouldn;t use them as daily tainers

Clearly the usual Walsh and Inov8 type mountain runners would be far too ott and will wear quickly on the road, as well as wearing out your feet. You can get cheap Asics trail runners for about the €35 mark in the Kildare Outlet that should be perfect, stand up well on roads, plenty of cushioning and support, and did all my IMRA races this summer in them so not lacking in grip either.