Trail shoes for funny feet!

[shsoga]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone might be able to give me some advice on trail shoes. I graduated from couch to 5K nearly 3 years ago and have finally got to the stage where I am regularly and relatively comfortably running the full 5K. But I am so bored with my routes and want to head for the trails.

My trainers are not up to the job, especially with everywhere as wet as it is this spring. The problem is that I need a stability/motion control shoe, one that is deep enough for my very thick custom orthotics and is extra wide. I have read that all trail shoes are neutral, am I risking my knees by switching from a stability shoe to a neutral one – assuming I can find one wide and deep enough?

Any advice greatly appreciated please so I can continue expanding my running journey - and this from the person who posted three years ago, would I ever feel the love?!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I would recommend going to a specialist running shop and getting specialist advice about moving to a neutral shoe.

My default shoe for mixed surface runs is a road shoe, but as you say the offroad is extremely wet and sticky this year, so trail shoes probably are a must if you want to stay on your feet.

[shsoga Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks. It’s as much as anything about not wanting to wreck my road shoes as stay on my feet - added to which, the water would just go straight through them 😩

I haven’t been able to find a running store near me (Gatwick area), does anyone have any recommendations?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to shsoga]

If you run offroad you get wet feet.....can't be avoided

[shsoga Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Fair point!

[Buddy34 Graduate]

I'm no expert on trail shoes as I've never bought them. But I think the best thing to do would be to go to a running shoe store and take your custom orthotics with you and hopefully after trying multiple pairs you can find one that suits. Good luck 😊

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Trails are all neutral. I had knee issues which were eliminated by my hokas which have amazing cushioning and low drop which is good for knee issues. I have speedgoats for trail and gaviota (support shoes) for road. Absolutely swear by them. Size up.

[shsoga Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Thank you, that's really helpful. Unfortunately the Hoka Speedgoat don't come in extra wide but I think some Hoka shoes do, so I will check them out

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to shsoga]

Gaviota comes in wide 👍🏽

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to shsoga]

Speedgoat comes in wide. Go on the hoka site.

[shsoga Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

I just did, but they only go up to size 8. Did I mention that my feet are also impossibly big, just to add to the fun!! Challenger ATR are looking like an option though so thanks for pointing me in the right direction

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to shsoga]

Are you female? I am and I am a size 9. I buy men's size 10 to run in. They're a better width than women's too.

[shsoga Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

I am, I'm a size 9 too. I've tried men's shoes for running before but found that they are wider in the heel and slip. That was New Balance so I think I might give Hoka a try, given that they have worked for you.

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to shsoga]

Tie them using lock laces technique.

locklaces.com/blogs/resourc...

You mightn't need a wide men's shoe as they're wider anyway.

[shsoga Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Wonderful, you are a mine of information, thank you so much!

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to shsoga]

🤣

At one point I couldn't even walk downhill without my knee causing agony. Tried two physios. All sorts of stretches. Nothing worked. Got hokas - never had a knee issue since. Weird. It's the low drop.

[CocoChannel]

Ditto the advice about going to a running shop. I have very flat feet so use orthotics in my Brooks road shoes. I too wanted to get trail shoes recently and tried a load with my orthotics. Most of the shoes were too narrow for the orthotics, but a pair of Brooks trail shoes with a similar design to my road shoes did the job.

Trail shoes should last a few years, so it’s well worth travelling to a running shop.