Ever wondered what the difference was between trail running shoes and road running shoes? Look no further as below we answer your question.

Apart from their shape, look and feel, there are other features to take into consideration and we have listed some below.

Bolstered Uppers:

The uppers of the shoes are the most crucial part of a shoe’s anatomy. They are usually made with breathable material like nylon, polyester or nylon mesh.

The trail running shoes are built to be more rugged and have reinforced, bolstered uppers with waterproof linings or coatings to ensure protection from rocky ground, roots and sticks on the trail and keep away from moisture. There are a couple more features in the Trail running shoes which set them apart from the Road running shoes. Some trail shoes have lace pockets on their tongue and gaiter attachment points on the heels and/ or toes. These lace pockets/ garages are useful for stuffing the extra-long loops of your laces while the gaiter attachment points help in successfully avoiding and keeping away dust, mud, snow and water out of your shoes.

Road running shoes, on the other hand, don’t need this, because when you are pounding on a paved surface, it is unlikely for running shoes to encounter any obstacles and instead making them a bit lighter and more breathable, comfortable shoes.

Hefty Outsoles:

The outsoles of the two shoes are visibly different and are easy to tell apart at the first glance.

Trail running shoes typically have hefty, softer and beefier lugs for better grip for uneven, rocky terrain. These lugs are available in varied designs based on the type of terrain the shoes are designed for. These shoes use a softer rubber than a typical road shoe so as to help the grip and is able to bend around the obstacles while running on trails for a better grip.

The road running shoes have smoother, flatter, less knobby and more durable soles for cemented surfaces on which they pound on regularly. The hard rubber is built to hold up better with frequent friction with the paved surfaces.

Stiffer Midsoles:

Midsoles are the cushioning stability layer in your average shoe which is located on the outsole and the upper.

The Trail running shoes generally have stiffer midsoles to create and ensure a more stable platform on rocky, uneven terrain to add protection against sharp objects, rocks and sticks on the trail way. Some trail shoes have rock plates in between the midsoles and uppers to add to the protection from the uneven trail.

The road running shoes have softer, cushioned midsoles for easy running on cemented pavements and hence don’t require the same stiffness as the trail running shoes. But the midsoles still need protection which is achieved by incorporating softer cushioning on the sides of the road running shoe, than in those of the trail running shoes.

 

So now you know the differences spread the word to ensure yourself and everyone you know knows which are best for tough/flat terrain.