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Post by parchibald on Apr 20, 2010 10:56:55 GMT -5
Hey all,
My buddy just got some Vibram 5fingers, and I am staying with New Balance (MT100s), butam curious what other people actually wear. I am interested because I am always on the lookout for closeouts, but don't really know anything about brands like Salomon or La Sportiva or Inov8. Any comments? If you are so inclined, maybe a comment on your running style (barefoot?) or any other "issues".
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Post by D on Apr 20, 2010 11:13:51 GMT -5
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Post by acurrano on Apr 20, 2010 13:31:47 GMT -5
I am a bit of a novice as far as long distance running is concerned, so you may want to take my advice with a grain of salt. I try to use a "pose" style when I run, but find myself reverting to heel-strike at times.
I love Inov8's. I ran the STTS in a pair of Roclite 295's that I have owned for about 2 weeks, with only one 5 mile run and a lot of daily wear to break them in. They break in quickly (i didn't get any blisters), they are light and flexible compared to most trail running shoes I've tried, and work well for a Pose-type (forefoot strike) running style since the heel is not much thicker than the rest of the sole. The traction is incredible - I don't remember slipping at all, not once, even on wet rocks, mud, etc. The cushioning and support are sufficient but not excessive. I have tried on some Sportiva trail runners (too stiff for me) and all the standard road running shoes seem to have too much heel cushion, they feel clunky and/or spongy after using inov8's almost exclusively for the last 2-3 years. Most trail running shoes I've tried on seem either too stiff or have too much heel thickness.
I also recently got a pair of five fingers, and I love them, but I don't think my feet or my technique are ready for long runs in them at this point. I may try to work up to it gradually. I know at least one guy ran the STTS 50k in a pair of five fingers and he did fine, but said the gravel/road at the end was a bit painful.
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Post by mweston on Apr 20, 2010 15:41:31 GMT -5
Brooks ASRs have worked great for me since sometime in 2007 when I started wearing them. I tried a pair of La Sportiva Crosslite's and they seemed great at first, but caused a nasty blister when I went further.
I also have a pair of VFF Treks which I wear once or twice a week on short runs (longest so far is 7 miles), and I love how it feels to run in them. I'm not sure if I'll ever run ultras in them, but know better than to say I never will. I'm also curious about some of the more minimal shoes like the MT100 and some of the Inov8s, but haven't tried them yet.
I did see the guy in VFFs in the race. They weren't even the Treks, so that's pretty hard core.
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Post by parchibald on Apr 20, 2010 15:48:11 GMT -5
Well, since starting this thread (about 4 hours ago) I got my new New Balance MB100s and took them for a spin in Annadel SP. Hills, rocks, some mud. The shoes are great. Super light, no padding anywhere I can find (less weight, less stuff to get wet and wear out), Thin but fairly stiff, protective soles. I would call these things "trail flats".
I have been a New Balance guy for a long time. Originally I wanted to find a shoe company that made at lest some effort to make shoes here in the US, and Nike REALLY bugs me. As it is, the NBs fit me really well, and I think I proved today that they don't even need to be broken in. I am not very particular about support/control/padding/whatever, as I seem to have a very neutral gait (it helps to be slow, too:)
Interesting what people said about Inov8s, I am going to look into those. I like light, thin shoes, and am trying to run more on my forefoot (PACE style?), so the flat sole and minimalist heel sounds good.
Oh, and thanks for that link. That was interesting.
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Post by G on Apr 20, 2010 16:19:08 GMT -5
I wear no shoes right now, because the race is over, but my foot is the size of a prize hog's hammock.  It is really fugly (see will's post on Raul's sprained ankle).  However, for STTS and other trail runs I wear Adida's Response Trails, because I've been wearing the line since it's creation in the Roosevelt administration (Franklin or Teddy?  ). |
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Post by bobbyv on Apr 21, 2010 11:24:41 GMT -5
I wear the North face GTX XCR Trail running shoes. I have weird duck feet and I need a shoe that have a wide toe box. These are the only trail shoes I have found to work good for me. They are not light but I have found that my legs adapted just fine. Been with them for a while now.
There was a posting here before I did the Rodeo beach run last year and someone was asking what kind of shoe they should use. A few people responded that regular running shoes are fine. There were some areas at Rodeo beach (and even at Rancho San Antonio) that are rocky and if it wasn't for the protection from my North Face shoes those rocks would of dug deep into my feet. I can see someone getting really hurt without good trail running bottoms.
Have a good one,
Bobby
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Post by G on Apr 21, 2010 12:19:46 GMT -5
Bobby brings up a really good point. If you're a roadrunner, you pick a shoe that's right for your foot and your biomechanics. But if you're a trail runner, you also have to consider the terrain you're running on.
Road shoes are okay for the ranch roads and tame single tracks in our local parks, but when you get onto technical trails you need the greater protection and traction found in a trail shoe. Shoes are tools and you need the right tool for the job. You wouldn't use a crescent wrench to drive a nail, would you?
I find many trail shoes (esp. those from mountaineering/boot making companies like Salomen and North Face) to be too stiff. I don't want to work my achilles and other lower leg tendons to death. But, if you were traversing a scree slope in the Sierra, the stoutest trail shoe would be inadequate. Not only would your feet be painfully poked and prodded, but you'd find the soles of the shoes would twist sideways like corkscrews. I've done it and actually looked down and seen my soles staring back at me.
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Post by thr3ee on Apr 21, 2010 12:56:06 GMT -5
I run in road shoes (Brooks Adrenaline GTS) on all terrain, at all distances. I've been running trails for more than a dozen years, have tried various trail shoes, never found any that really worked for my feet and so now I just run everything in road shoes. I realize they don't give you the feeling of "security" that some trail shoes may, but I actually think they have made me a better runner especially on technical stuff.
I'm not saying that they are for everyone or that trail shoes aren't useful, but I do want to give at least one data point that says that says they aren't a necessity.
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Post by G on Apr 21, 2010 18:26:30 GMT -5
thr3ee
My wife wears Adrenalines too. Have you tried the trail version of the Adrenaline? I'd imagine it's built on the same last and fits pretty much the same.
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Post by mweston on Apr 21, 2010 19:48:31 GMT -5
the trail version of the Adrenaline? When I said Brooks ASR above, I left out the Adrenaline part of the name, but that is what they are. They work for me, though I can't personally speak to their similarity to the road version. I was told they are pretty similar by a salesperson at some running store (I think it was Rogue Valley in Ashland). |
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Post by thr3ee on Apr 25, 2010 9:16:26 GMT -5
thr3ee My wife wears Adrenalines too. Have you tried the trail version of the Adrenaline? I'd imagine it's built on the same last and fits pretty much the same. I have excessively wide feet and need my shoes in EE size. The trail Adrenalines don't come in width sizing. I also have relatively narrow heals so trail shoes like NB that do come in width, but have a square shape don't work for me either. I pretty much gave up on trail shoes about 4 years ago and have run everything in road shoes including some very tough ultras (Bighorn 100, Plain 100). |
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Post by luciano on Apr 27, 2010 1:45:40 GMT -5
I run in road shoes (...) I'm not saying that they are for everyone or that trail shoes aren't useful, but I do want to give at least one data point that says that says they aren't a necessity. + 1 |
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Post by Hone on Apr 28, 2010 10:02:29 GMT -5
I live in Alaska and I will be the first to say that trail shoes are way overrated. Even on super technical trails for the most part Nike LunerRacers and shoes like that work great. I have yet to run a race in California that would actually require trail shoes. That being said I usually wear Inov8 230s because they are light and I get the hookups on them. The less shoe the better. I have a friend that just ran a 13 hour 100 in a pair of Nike Mayfly's (4 ounces) and no socks. Pretty cool. |
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Post by GP on Apr 29, 2010 21:50:52 GMT -5
To Accurano Congratulations Allen on your fine STTS performance on your first ULtra.  It's far better than I expected given your self assessment on your training. Obviously, you didn't stop along the way to free solo Berry CreeK Falls. ;D We shall meet yet. |
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It is really fugly (see will's post on Raul's sprained ankle). 
).
It's far better than I expected