Suggestions for Trail Runners

[jorge99s]

I have hiked in Brooks Pure Grit 3&4 for the past few years and now the new version just doesn't fit me properly. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good trail runner for backpacking? I've heard good things about the Brooks Cascadia and a couple dog Salomon styles. Any advice is much appreciated.

[DuneElliot]

Salomons are super comfortable but are notorious or noted for being narrow...that works for those of us with a narrow foot, but not for others. My XA 3D Ultra's are the widest of my Salomon TRs and are still comfortable but I can't wear them for hiking anymore because my foot moves around too much.

[gsingjane]

I have run in Brooks since they started making them. Had mixed experience with Cascadia - one pair was wonderful, the other pair tore the dickens out of my right heel. They're good shoes for folks with wider feet and you sure see a lot of them out there. No experience with Salomon, can't even squish them onto my flipper feet.

[smoovoperator]

Pearl izumi trail em n2 v3. Crazy comfy. Nice wide toe box

[Bansko]

My experience with Brooks Cascadias has been different than Gsingjane's, which just reinforces the importance of trying them on and seeing if they are a good fit for you. I've been wearing Brooks for a while and I wore Cascadias (versions 10 and 12) on my thru hike last year. I most definitely have a foot on the narrow side, and they worked well for me.

Even though I trained with Cascadias (and a full pack) prior to the hike, I still developed a few blisters which, after transforming to calises, weren't a problem. 15+ miles a day, all day, every day on rough terrain will do that, no matter your shoe choice.

I still wear Cascadias and if I were to begin anot her thru hike tomorrow I'd wear them again.

[Praha4]

+1 for the Brooks Cascadia

have worn the Cascadia 10s on last few section hikes and loved them, they get a bad rap for a weak spot that can tear, you can read about that at other forums

Brooks tried to address that weak spot with the Cascadia 11s

I'm sticking with the Cascadia 11 or 12 for next hike

[nsherry61]

Altra Lone Peak 3.0
Great toe box space.
Great built in rock guard.
Super light.
Zero drop (heal and toes are same level, no heal lift) which my be horrible for your Achilles, or the best foot position you've ever walked in.

I tolerate the zero drop (more important for runners than walkers) for the other benefits (fit & rock guard) which I absolutely love.

[MuddyWaters]

Ive hiked in inov8 for loooong time.

Even after they changed the shoes completely several yrs back, their cr@p shoes were still better than anyone elses. I tried them all.

Completely flat footbed, minimal midsole, aggressive deep tread, good tread compound

The new roclite 305 may be a step in right direction again for them. Loops for laces, shorter tongue .

[Deacon]

Ive hiked in inov8 for loooong time.

Even after they changed the shoes completely several yrs back, their cr@p shoes were still better than anyone elses. I tried them all.

Completely flat footbed, minimal midsole, aggressive deep tread, good tread compound

The new roclite 305 may be a step in right direction again for them. Loops for laces, shorter tongue .

Innovates are like most other imported shoes. They are so narrow that us duck footed people cannot wear them. Wish I could.

[MuddyWaters]

Innovates are like most other imported shoes. They are so narrow that us duck footed people cannot wear them. Wish I could.

They were narrow toes 4 yrs ago
Then they changed the roclites
But messed up so that wrinkle in top of shoe if didnt have really big feet, right over toes
Only race shoes are narrow now in toes

But yeah rest of foot is narrow and snug, low cut
Hoping 305 design gets rid of wrinkle. The tonge cut extended too far forward. Never seen in any other shoes anywhere...wasnt problem when toes were narrow, was when added extra room.

[One Half]

My feet like the New Balance Minimus

[Night Train]

Altra Lone Peak, Altra Superior, and just recently I've been trying out the Topo Runventure and the Topo MT2 on some of my training runs. Pleasantly surprised with the Topo's, drain very well, lightweight, roomy toebox, heel fit is awesome. Best of luck in your search.

[Night Train]

If drop is important to you....Altra has zero drop, Runventure's are around 2mm and the MT2's are 3mm.

[CHILL_TX]

Altra has been life changing for me. No more deciding between my pinky toe rubbing or the shoe being too long.

[Ethesis]

Altra Lone Peak 3.0
Great toe box space.
Great built in rock guard.
Super light.
Zero drop (heal and toes are same level, no heal lift) which my be horrible for your Achilles, or the best foot position you've ever walked in.

I tolerate the zero drop (more important for runners than walkers) for the other benefits (fit & rock guard) which I absolutely love.

This captures the entire issue with shoes.

I loved the feel of the Altra on my feet.

No Achilles problems at all.

But. They throw my knees out of alignment.

I tried other shoes that when updated hit my ankle bones.

The truth is (and this deserves a stickey):

Your feet, and your feet under a load, are probably different.

Fitting shoes is intensely personal and varies dramatically person to person.

Nothing beats a good fitting and some miles.

NB lists the lasts that their shoes are built on. If a shoe is built on a particular last and works for you, another shoe built on that last will too. They retired the last that worked best with my feet.

Brooks has switched things around on the Cascadia. It went from the choice for wide feet to the one for narrow feet.

But I wold still be in the Altras if my knees could take them. (And, they were invented by a guy with knee problems. For some they are the ultimate answer).

[Venchka]

Said better than I could. I'm also a happy owner.
http://sectionhiker.com/la-sportiva-...g-term-review/
In my case I went 1 whole size larger. 43.5.
Wayne


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[scrabbler]

Currently using a pair of Adidas Terrex Swift and really like the stiff rock plate. I dont feel every pebble, and the traction is nice in wet conditions.

[gsingjane]

Don't mean to hijack your thread here but also wondering whether anybody has any experience to report with HOKA shoes. I've been running in them for the past 6 months with great success, but wondering about hiking? And worried because it would be a super-expensive experiment to try and not have it work out?

[Venchka]

If/when I need new shoes I'm going to buy these.

Walmart.
Wayne


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[jorge99s]

Thanks for all of the feedback. Does anyone have any experience with the New Balance 10v1?