There are a few easy entry-points for the ‘Gorpcore’ (technical outdoor clothing) trend. You could invest in a Patagonia down jacket, a pair of Carhartt Aviator pants, or many-pocketed gilet by from Nike’s ACG collection. But none of the above will be as comfortable as a pair of trail running shoes. They’re just like trainers, but somehow… more.
As road-running’s gnarlier brother, the sport of trail running is fraught with danger. Navigating footpaths and mountainous trails at full speed might offer a little more adrenaline than the usual slog around the park, but one slip or stumble could result in much more than just a bump to your ego. It’s why trail running shoes are designed to offer much more stability, grip, support and waterproof-ness than their urban counterpart – it’s essential that they do the job of simply keeping you on your feet. As adaptive athlete and Merrell ambassador told Runner’s World Magazine last year, “if you have insufficient traction or protection for your feet, that’s going to make it 10 times harder and create a miserable experience.”
But perhaps the best thing about trail running shoes is that they look especially good when not actually used for trail running… you might have seen people on social media wearing a pair of Salomon XT-6, which has somehow become the preeminent crossover shoe, and we’d wager than none of them are pictured halfway up a mountain. That’s not to say they couldn’t handle tough terrain, but shoes like the XT-6, Hoka One One’s Speedgoats etc have perhaps become more commonplace on the cooler streets of London or Tokyo than the trails of the great outdoors.
Either way, however you use them, it’s win-win. Either they’re getting you up the mountain with the minimum of fuss, or they’re guaranteed to keep your feet toasty on a trip to the corner shop for a pint of milk.
Salomon X And Wander
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