No matter you’re a hiker, runner, or an athlete, there’s this one thing that can create a big difference in a great experience or a useless one – shoes. With a gamut of brands, types, features, and styles of shoes on the market, you might start scratching your head. And with all these confusions, there comes the trail-running shoes and road-running shoes.

Just see and wear both kinds and you’ll feel the difference. Things don’t end here, you need to learn the difference between them if you don’t want to experience a lousy experience while running or walking.

Trail-Running Shoes v/s Road-Running Shoes

Outsole of the Shoes

The bottom of the shoes known as the outsoles are the part that provides maximum grip on the surface while walking or running. Starting with the first and most clear difference, the pattern and size of the outsoles are designed according to the different terrains people will be using to move on. Rubber outsoles are considered one of the best kinds because for their flexibility and lightweight that is easy to adapt to the surface and provides an excellent grip. The material is much softer as compared to other soles, therefore, considering trail-running shoes for walking on the road where your foot might hit on a hard roadway is not a good option.

Coming to the road-running shoes, they come with more leveled and less-knobby outsoles that allow the wearer to run on the cemented roads with stability and consistency. So, the shoes with rubber outsole are much better for the paved floors.

Uppers of the Shoes

Polyester, nylon, and nylon mesh are the common type of materials used in the uppers of the shoe. They are not only designed for a better look but are responsible for the protection of your feet.

While running you’re likely to hit the rocks, sticks, and roots, and this is why the upper of the trail shoes are rugged and often reinforced with synthetic edges, like around the heels, sides, and toes. In fact, there are some models that come equipped with waterproof linings to absorb the moisture. Even though they can be easily worn during wet climate conditions, there comes a limitation. Once the moisture gets in, they become a little tough and slow to drain out as compared to the non-waterproof shoes.

Talking about the road-running shoes, they are designed to walk on the paved or smooth surfaces, which means chances are low that your feet will hit any hard objects. Due to the reason, the uppers of such shoes don’t require much reinforcement and generally have mesh uppers to make them breathable and lightweight.

Midsoles of the Shoes

Midsoles of the shoes are for proper cushioning that helps in preventing any kind of pain and improving body mechanics. It even helps in making the activities comfortable and safer.

Trail-running shoes are equipped with comparatively stiffer midsoles to provide your feet with proper support while walking on the rough tracks and bumpy surfaces. In fact, there are some models that use rock plates between the outsoles and midsoles to protect your feet from any hard-hitting objects. Other deciding factors of a quality pair of shoes are the height of the midsoles, the right amount of cushion, drop, and the type of terrain you want to walk on.

Coming to the road-running shoes, they don’t need the same type of toughness in the midsoles, but the prime purpose of proper cushioning stays the same. Medical posts and torsion bars are common types of things added in the road-running shoes. They are present on the shoe’s sides to keep the extreme inward and outward motion in control.

So, now when you know the differences between the trail-running shoes and road-running shoes, the process of selecting the best and quality pair won’t seem daunting.