Nike - Terra Kiger 8

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.

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.

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)

For me in wet terrain with rocks, the best is Asicsgrip (6). After that, probably Vibram (tried in Hoka and Nike shoes), Contagrip in Salomon Speedcross 4 and Continental in various Adidas models. Here, some variation between them (for example, Continental in Adidas Terrex Two Flow is better than in Adidas Terrex Agravic Flow 2.0 (so a 4 for them). After those, probably the outsole by La Sportiva (in Jackal model) and various Nike outsoles (Kiger 8, Wildhorse 6, Pegasus 4 TR) in wet terrain (btw, in mid Spring to mid Autumn, Nike are pretty nice shoes here)

Kiger 8 was a wide fit and one of the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. I bought them on sale) and although they're a disaster on wet rock, they're excellent on dry terrain. Honestly, for the summer, they've probably been the best trail shoes I've ever owned (roomy, breathable, durable). I wear a size 47 (US size 14.5 or 15). wildhorse 8 are more uncomfortable and narrow (my only experience with wildhorse)

>... false sense of security so you roll/sprain your ankle worse. This was very true for me :) In my country the "old hiking rule" was that you always need high boots for mountains because they would protect your ankles. But it turns out that with high boots I had a false sense of security and was thus less careful when descending and consequently often twisted my ankle. The high shoe maybe helped a bit and prevented a harder sprain but it still hurt. I then switched to trail runners and I can see that I now walk way more carefully and have a way more precise foot placement than before. Consequently I haven't twisted my ankle ever since the switch. However it must be said that not all trail runners are equal in terms of stability and ground feel... La Sportiva Bushido which I have now are awesome but some Nike trail runners I had in the past were very bad and unstable.

Terra kiger , thank me later