Do I need trail shoes?

[Puppy-love]

It’s a beautiful morning in Budapest and I’m off to the woods for a trot with the dog. I do most of my running on the road but I do the odd trail in the woods too. I’m very careful and extra slow so that I don’t trip or put my foot into a hole dug by a wild boar but should I have trail shoes? Do they make a lot of difference? More to the point, am I ruining my lovely ASICS? Very grateful for your much more experiences advice fellow runners.

[backintime Graduate10]

For me it depended on the weather.

I have been wearing my "normal" shoes in the woods but recently it has rained a lot and it's started getting slippery, so I bought some shoes that are billed as "Road to Trail" which should allow me to do both. They're not for deep mud but they are supposed to hold on muddy trails - time will tell, I haven't tried them yet as I only got them yesterday

[Puppy-love in reply to backintime]

Thank you backintime. That's very helpful. We've having a lovely dry autumn so far but I know it'll be welly (for dog walks - haven't tried them for running yet) weather soon. Enjoy your new shoes.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

I would thoroughly recommend them Puppy-love. I couldn’t be without mine as they open up so many more running route possibilities. Mine offer more support than my road shoes (although all trail shoes are neutral) and allow for running on tougher terrain, but most of all they have way more grip. A lot of the routes I run, I simply wouldn’t even attempt in road shoes.

And you most probably aren’t doing your beloved Asics much good either! 😅 Asics do good trail shoes too if you like the brand. Mine are and I love them! 🏃‍♀️👍

Happy trails in beautiful Budapest! 😀

[Puppy-love in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you cheekychipmunks. That's very helpful. I will wait until I think I deserve a pressie (which might be today as my husband made me cross this morning :)). I do love my Asics and don't want to upset them.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Puppy-love]

I think today is a great day to buy yourself a pressie! Show us a photo when you get them though - it’s the rule! 😅😅

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

As with backintime, my road shoes do well on light trail until it gets muddy out there. Anyway, you can never have too many shoes!

[Puppy-love in reply to UnfitNoMore]

That is so true, UnfitNoMore. There’s always room for another pair of shoes.