Second this, with trail you have to factor in the surface & elevation in terms of it slowing your pace but also increasing your HR. I dabble in both road & trail, they are both quite different but great.
And just like in the road sector, trail shoes have been evolving over the years. I started with 2x pairs of Salomons (speed cross for the mud/snow & Elevate GTX for everything else). Eventually got the 1st gen Brooks Catamount for when it was dry/events. Now got a pair of ASICS Trabuco 14 GTX that I absolutely love. A hydration pack is helpful, you can often find them cheap in the middle aisle in Aldi or decathlon is a good shout. And if you get into the longer distances then you get to eat actual food, which is nice.
I used to like the Brooks Adrenaline GTS series until they changed the design so i’m using the Brooks Catamount line now for trail runs, no complaints.
I have a broad forefoot and a narrow heel. Brooks has been good to me as well as La Sportiva. Prodigo Pros and Caldera 8 is what I am working with now. For faster nimbler shoe I have been using the Catamount. Not sure about this latest version, haven't tried it.
I went from the New Balance Hierros to the Brooks Catamount 3, and I like how much ground feel I have with the Catamount. If you're in the US, you can get some pretty good deals on the Catamount 3 instead of the newer Catamount 4, too! I usually get at least 400 miles out of my pairs on some pretty technical trails and feel like they're a good value on a high performing shoe.
The Catamount is a much lighter weight shoe with less cushion. To me, it feels much faster and more nimble. Even though there's less cushion, I've still worn it for 50 mile races with no issues. I like that it's a high performing shoe that is still relatively affordable and I can get a decent amount of miles out of before they start wearing down too much. It also runs pretty well on the road, so it's pretty versatile as a road to trail shoe or just strictly trail.
But as others have said, the best shoe for you is the one that fits your feet the best. Find places with good selection or good return policies to see what works best for you!
bedevere1975
