Do you love your trail running shoes? Many athletes do because they offer a ton of benefits over traditional running shoes. But can you wear them every day? Here’s what you need to know.
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The Benefits Of Trail Running Shoes
Trail running shoes offer more grip and often more stability than road running shoes. And definitely more than most casual all-around shoes.
They use lugs and various patterns on the sole of the shoe to provide better traction on uneven terrain. The depth of the lugs can help determine what types of trails the shoes should be used on.
Trail running shoes with light or thin lugs are good for hard ground trails or from “door to trail.” Meaning you essentially step out of your house/apt door and then run the roads or sideways needed to get to the trails.
Deep lugs are generally best for wet and muddy terrain or fell running. Fell running is a type of off-road running that takes place in the UK on mountainous terrain.
The shoes will often also have a waterproof and/or breathable membrane to keep your feet dry in wet conditions. Drainage holes are another benefit of most trail shoes. By combining a breathable membrane and holes for water to drain out of, trail running shoes can dry quickly.
Reasons To Wear Trail Running Shoes Everyday
There are many reasons for wearing trail shoes every day or as your casual shoe. I know this because it’s something I’m guilty of. As a trail runner, hiker, and general outdoor enthusiast, I never know what I’ll be getting into.
Plus I simply like the look and feel of trail running shoes over road shoes. And that’s all I really need to keep wearing mine.
But additionally, you may like the added stability or the traction offered. Or you may find yourself wanting an everyday athletic shoe that’s waterproof.
Reasons Not To Wear Them Everyday
The biggest downside of wearing trail running shoes every day is how fast you’ll wear down the lugs, or grip of the shoes. They’re mostly meant to be worn on soft ground, asphalt, and other hard surfaces will drastically cut down on the available tread.
Some trail running shoes offer soles with unique compounds or construction to help counter this. Vibram is a really popular brand that does this. (Yes, the five-finger toe shoe company) Any trail running shoes with Vibram soles are generally going to last longer and give you better traction. However, they’ll also cost a little bit more than shoes without it.
If you do get a waterproof version, it might not be as breathable. And may also hold water in the shoe if you step in a deep puddle. As opposed to quickly draining. The waterproof version might work best in winter and fall, but in summer you find it to be too hot.
Another thing to consider is that trail running shoes may weigh more than road running or casual shoes. Some do tend to look like bricks but offer a ton of support and grip. It just comes down to personal preference.
Best Trail Running Shoes For Everyday Use
If you’re in the camp of wanting to wear your trail running shoes every day, you may want to consider a “door to trail” style shoe with thin lugs. The Salomon Sense Ride 4 is a good shoe for something in the mold. Or maybe Nike’s Pegasus Trail model. I also like Saucony’s Peregrine 14. I used to wear Brooks Cascadia all the time but have since gone to a thinner, lighter-weight style.
More specifically, shoes that are near barefoot or zero drop. Although these take some time to get used to, I’ve found them to be well worth it, and I really like the grounded more natural feel.
Shoe companies like Altra strike a good balance of cushion, generally thinner soles and still being lightweight. I like wearing my Altra Lone Peak 6 casually, but they’re not my day-to-day.
That honor goes to Xero TerraFlex. I wear that shoe all day, every day, on repeat. It’s lightweight, breathable, and in my opinion, looks pretty sweet.
I do however find myself ordering them every 1.5 years or so. Although some may wish to have shoes last longer, know that these are trail shoes designed to be worn on softer surfaces. By wearing them every day, I cut the life expectancy of the shoe down greatly. But to me, it’s worth it. I’m on my 3rd pair.
Or you can try the best of both worlds. The outdoor shoe company, Lems, makes active casual trail shoes that look great and have that added traction. Check out their Trailhead and Mesa models.