UKH

Any good advice on some good quality fell running trainers, currently using a pair of merrell somethings but they feel more like approach shoes and if i ever go for a mixed tarmac/trail run they give me shin problems. Thanks

In reply to tingle:

You could look at the Inov8 range or Salomon Speedcross, but it depends on your feet quite a bit. I like the latter, although they are a bit slippy on wet rock or compacted chalk.

In reply to SouthernSteve:

I 've got lovely inov8 roclites but they slip on wet rock. Fab on wet grass etc.

In reply to tingle: seek out a specialist shop and try a few pairs on. I have Innov8 roclites, they're not a bad shoe but too wide for me. On downhill sections my feet move around in the shoe too much and become uncomfortable. My La Sportiva bushidos are practically perfect. It's what works for you and the terrain you hope to run on.

In reply to tingle:

I swear by Inov8 X-Talons these days. Really pleased with my 1st pair and well on to my second. Fit is key though! If you're up In the Lakes at all pop and see the lovely people at Pete Bland or Needle sports + they'll sort you out!

Re: Salomon - loads of people love them but for me the heel is a bit too spacious and I'm not a fan of the price.

In reply to bouldery bits:

Decathlon


^ Go to Decathlon, you won't see the lovely people as above, but your wallet will survive the visit....

In reply to bouldery bits:


In my experience Salomon's can usually be picked up on sale somewhere.

In reply to tingle:

Mixed tarmac/trail shoes or fell shoes?

The studs on fell shoes get worn down quickly if you do a lot of tarmac.

In reply to tingle:

I recently picked up some Mountain Bear Ground Control from Tk Max for about £15. I'd definitely recommend them, especially at that price.

In reply to tingle:

My brand recommendations would be Inov8 or Walsh.

IMHO Salomon make great euro trail shoes, but they're not great in serious fell environments where wet grass is usually a big feature.

In reply to tingle:

Appart from Inov8 shoes have a look at Salomon Fellraiser and Fellcross. Both are narrower that Speedcross with a lower heel and the Fellraisers have served me well on a couple of OMMs. I am even pleasantly surprised that they're not wearing down too fast - I guess bog and grass is not rather kind to shoe soles (even if it's rather less kind to my ankles).

In reply to wydffart:


My roclites are by far the greatest things to ever grace my feet, but I've heard that the quality and longevity of them possibly isn't what it used to be. I'd be interested to hear about recent experiences.

(I bought mine, honestly, about 7 years ago and I've worn right through the rubber soles with the uppers still beautifully intact. I stopped running in them but they still feel so comfortable they became my everyday walking trainers.)

I only wear studs for racing or on training runs which I know I'll be descending steep grass or eroded steep paths, otherwise I wear Asics trail shoes.

In reply to plyometrics:



Salomons like the Fellraiser or Fellcross are good on wet grass. It's wet rock that lets them down in comparison to Inov8s.

In reply to tingle:
if you are doing mixed road and trail, you probably better off with trail shoes than fell shoes! Unless you are really keen to wear through the studs on your shoes very fast.
I'm not sure shin pain is likely to be related to the level of grip, maybe more to the fit and level of heel raise, or maybe just that it is not the terrain you are used to?

In reply to DaveHK:
I'm not convinced anything is good on wet rock, not Salomon, but not Inov8 either. In fact the rubber compounds in road shoes, especially the Continental rubber they use in some Adidas, are probably the best.

Comparing Speedcross to X-Talons, I think the Salomon let themselves down on steep grassy descents. I managed to smash my foot up pretty badly slipping on wet rock wearing X-Talons on the Kentmere Horseshoe.

In reply to Alyson:



Wow.
I've had mine about 2 years +-, and they're beginning to fall apart (although still perfectly usable at the moment, but the black upper is delaminating from the structural mesh near the creases). Used for a 100km walk, dozens of weekend hillwalking trips, and are my spring/summer/autumn approach shoes, occasional use as travel shoes - never ran in the things though. Considering how useful they are, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another pair even if I only get 2 years out of them again.

In reply to The New NickB:


Of course not, but my feeling (having used both a lot) is that Inov8s are a bit better than Salomon.

In reply to tingle:

I recommend you go somewhere decent that can advise you, think about where you will run, how long for, and be realistic. Theres a big difference between fells and trails imho. Trail shoes will get you round most of the Peak District, but probably not more extreme parts of the lakes for example.

Also it changes as you go - I started in Salomon Speedcross and loved them, but found the upper wore out really quick (250k) and the toe to heel drop was too high, making me unstable and reducing power. So now I'm on a mix of Inov8s and Saucony Peregrines, no doubt it'll be different next year!

I've also found it useful to go up half a size as my mileage increased, too tight in the toebox and you might get damaged toenails.. ive got 2 at the moment

In reply to tingle:

I have trail shoes for tarmac / forest trails and fell shoes only for very wet, thick mud. The fell studs are uncomfortable on hard paths, but they keep feet nice and dry when it's really muddy. I think you need 2 or 3 pairs (3rd pair for proper road if you do any) unfortunately.

"My roclites are by far the greatest things to ever grace my feet, but I've heard that the quality and longevity of them possibly isn't what it used to be. I'd be interested to hear about recent experiences. "

I bought a pair of Innov8 295s recently and I'm disappointed in how long they have lasted. I don't know how many miles I've done in them, maybe 200? The sole has separated from the upper and now I'm back to using my Dad's old Mizunos that are still going strong!

In reply to tingle:

Salomon sense pro grate shoe I use for running cross country in all weather on grass flint chalk and the odd bit of road they don't have massive lungs so are comfy on harder trails but still grip on soft stuff

In reply to tingle:

Honestly, go to a shop with a treadmill. The fit of the shoe is probably more important than anything else; heel slippage, heel drop, toe space, etc. If you're running comfortably it'll be alot more fun, even if you don't have a typical fell shoe alot of the trail variants seem up to the task. I've just bought a pair of innov8 triathlons and they make me feel like an actual elf from Lord of the rings.

In reply to tingle:

Done the sandstone trail race. With new out of the box speedcross. No pain, discomfort or blisters. Can't recommend them enough

In reply to The New NickB:

I LOVE my adidas adizero XTs; my regular run is good trail, bad trail a mile or so of road and similar amount on grass and they are great across the board. I also use them at Newborough which is good trail, sandy beach, shell path, rock and they are still good though the mesh lets loads of sand in . The (continental rubber) soles remain in decent nick which Im quite impressed by given the amount of hard stuff they've been used on, but the uppers are pulling away from the soles so time for a new pair.

Having trouble replacing them since the only womens ones I can now find are all Stella McCartneyed up and cost more than £100. Got the existing ones in a sale for £40.... if anyone knows of any "same but different" Id be please to know what they are. Just tried some salomon speedcross and am finding all that cushioning odd and the heels a bit wide.

In reply to goosebump:

Something tells me Stella has never been for a run in mud...white?! http://www.adidas.co.uk/adizero-xt-shoes/AQ2687.html

I'm currently considering the Adidas kanadia trail 8 as fell running trainers. I had the 5th gen of the shoe and they were good for a couple of years of fells and trails until they were a bit worn down. They've now become walking to crag shoes and general walking when I'm not wearing boots, so I know if I take a punt on the kanadia if anything they'll last for ages (had the 5th gen for about 4 years and the uppers are still absolutely fine)! https://www.runnersneed.com/p/adidas-women-s-kanadia-8-trail-L2314366.6341....

If anyone's got any thoughts on the kanadias then I'm all ears. Will be used mainly in the peak district running so peaty bogs and muddy paths with the odd bit of gritstoney path but I'm hoping to use them as general fell running for everywhere really - Wales, Lakes, parts of Scotland.