With the change in seasons and the cooler, wetter weather setting in, running outside can get a little tricky – or should that be slippery?!
And that is where a specific type of running shoe can come in handy. Trail running shoes by design have more grip, many have waterproof, or water resistant fabric and some also have studs to cope with snow and ice allowing you to get outside to run and cope with a variety of conditions, on and off-road.
How do you choose a winter running shoe? It all comes down to your local weather conditions, preferred level of comfort and predominant running surface. Do you still want to go off-road this winter? Then you’ll probably need a shoe with good ‘lugs’ for grip, maybe a Gore-Tex layer in the upper materials, and don’t forget some good socks! If you think you’ll be sticking more to the roads but expect some ice this winter then looking at a studded shoe to avoid slipping could help!
We’re highlighting four brands here that we know offer some amazing running shoe technology for wintery days. Depending on where you live and the type of running you choose to do this winter we hope this will give you an idea of what is available and how to make those chilly, potentially slushy days more comfortable. Whilst we haven’t covered every shoe on the market these are a few of our personal favourites.
Merrel might be better known for hiking boots but their trail running shoes are very comfortable and extremely grippy. With a new ‘Eco Dyed‘ range, Merrel are also trying to reduce their environmental footprint. Our choices are the Antora or Moab Flight shoes for trail running this winter. Susie has recently been wearing the Merrel Skyfire, a light weight trail shoe with a ‘Quantum Grip’ sole – we’re waiting to see how it will hold up this winter.
With a fantastic range of shoes Inov-8 have your winter running covered! They even have a very useful shoe guide here. Our top pick is the RocLite range since it has the widest choice of all Inov-8 shoes. The Parkclaw comes in a close second followed by the TerraUltra if you were looking for a zero-drop shoe.
Icebug started in 2001 in Sweden and are way out in front when it comes to sustainability credentials. They have a great range of footwear for winter running and our pick for a good, all-round shoe is the new RB9X with a Gore-Tex layer. If you need a studded running shoe for icy conditions Icebug are also your go-to brand.
Hoka is well known for its highly cushioned shoes but the Challenger ATR is a good hybrid shoe that is ideal for trail and road running. Both Georgie and Susie have worn many pairs of the Challenger ATR model over the last few years, including through winter (as seen in both images in this post). Hoka do also have models with Gore-Tex protection for cold and wet running – worth checking out.
We hope this provides you with a quick guide to what’s available in the running shoe market this winter. There are a number of other brands that have created specific models for cold, wet and wintry days – have you tried them? Let us know what your favourite winter trail running shoe is?!
Happy Trails,
Georgie & Susie.