Nike - Air Zoom Terra Kiger 6

Here’s my contribution. I haven’t done controlled tests like you did, but I run a lot of rocky vertical terrain and have put lots of miles in all these shoes. Trying to focus here on wet rock grip from the outsole and ignore other shoe attributes (fit, lock down, flexibility/stiffness, weight, cushion, etc) that also come into play with their overall ability to do the job on wet rock 5: VJ Maxx 1&2 VJ Spark Arcteryx Norvan VT (limited mileage) 4. Arcteryx Norvan SL 1, 2, &3 Salomon s/Lab Sense 7&8 Nnormal Kjeraq 3. La Sportiva Helios SR La Sportiva Vertical K & VK INOV-8 F-Lite 195 2. Whole bunch of older inov-8 x-talon and RocLite models NB minimus Salomon s/lab ultra 3 Salomon s/lab sense 7SG 1. Old Nike Terra kiger Salomon s/lab sense 1, 2, 3 For spiked shoes, I actually think they suffer quite a bit on rock because they don’t stick instantly like pure rubber soles. 4. VJ Devil 4 3. VJ bold race, VJ ice hero, INOV-8 ORoc 280

Rotating out Nike Zegama 2 and Terra Kiger depending on run type and/or weather.

Altra escalante racers for all distances on road and nike kigers for trails. I actually prefer a slightly tighter shoe for trails bc it feels more secure on the technical stuff.

Peg trails and the wild horses are my favorites right now. Terra Kigers are good too but I’ve just gone through 3-4 pairs of those.

I have Nike trail runners, I love them-they have support in the toes for when you smash your foot in a root. I cramp badly if I eat as well-so following for the rest. 😊

The last set of kigers or Wildhorses I have had was in 2014/2015. I’ll have to look into the new ones if they have fixed the previous issue.

I mostly wear Topos but got the Terra Kigers on sale recently. They are awesome shoes

Like any surface change, mix trail runs in gradually, starting at shorter distances/whatever you're doing now. Your ankles will thank you, and it'll give you some time to build the stabilizing muscles that don't get as much work on pavement. (Though I guess this partially depends on what gravel you're running on, too.) And, what u/medicore_remnants said about hiking, though I'd add that the goal is \*often\* to keep perceived effort mostly even across uphill/flat/downhill segments. That can mean hiking uphills, but doesn't have to be. (I also know trail runners who are very specific about uphill hiking form for efficiency — long strides and a solid hip bend for loading. I wouldn't sweat it.) I run in Nike Kiger/Pegasus Trail (with extra love for the Kigers — they're an amazing shoe and everyone I know who wears them swears by them, but that's also selecting for folks who liked the feel). Beyond that, I'll let other folks take over on shoe & preparation recs (and assume you'll be wise about HM training). For finding trails: whatever you use for hiking. AllTrails, Gaia, Avenza, Hiking Project, Google Maps, Strava, etc. It's all good. TBH sometimes I'll just look at a topo and pick a place that looks like it'd be fun/has trails. >I really want to do a half marathon at a national park. Lastly, and taking unsolicited advice as usual, I suspect I won't be the only one to say: consider setting some intermediate goals along the way. It's easy to get excited about a long race somewhere amazing (and I have done so!!), and just as easy to lose momentum when it feels too far away, either by date or by fitness. Having ways to celebrate milestones along the way (longest/furthest runs, most elevation, fastest split of a given distance) or to be in community with runners (run clubs, running shorter trail races, volunteering for the longer ones, etc.) is a great way to feed that joy and build momentum.

Neutral shoes are fine because the terrain is so varied when trail running. Stability shoes on trails are a recipe for rolled ankles (have flat feet, run in Nike Peg Trails, Nike Terra Kigers, and Saucony Peregrines just fine)

I live in Corvallis, but I wear Nike Terra Kiger and Altra Lone peak

I’ve only worn various generations of Altra Lone Peaks and Nike Terra Kigers and won races in both pairs, so they’re my favorite fast trail shoe.