Trail Shoes 2005

By Sean Timothy Rivers

As with any walking shoe, it is recommended you visit a walking and running store to get properly fitted. As a walker, the shoes you wear are the most important piece of equipment. If you have the wrong shoe, everything can go south in a hurry.

Inov8 Terroc
The European-inspired Terroc is the antithesis of what we’ve come to expect from trail shoes here in the U.S.: light, flexible, and fast. Imagine, if you will, that you’re on a relaxing walk through Forest Park when you encounter what you think might be a bear. You hightail it to the next trail head, only to remember that Forest Park not only doesn’t have any bears, but you were actually frightened by a poor little ground squirrel. After you scoop your ego up off the dirt, you realize the shoes on your feet didn’t slow you down one bit when you needed them most. In fact, you hardly felt like you had anything on — a two-fold result of their minimal upper and midsole and because the adrenaline cut off feeling to your lower extremities.

The minutiae: With a low-profile midsole, flexible forefoot, and lightweight upper, the Inov8 is the trail equivalent of a race-walking shoe for the roads. It is best for walkers with a fairly efficient foot strike with minimal pronation.

Adidas Supernova Trail
Always a safe bet, the newest Supernova Trail doesn’t disappoint. If you live where most walkers do, you understand finding a nearby trail involves two options: 1) jump in your car and drive to it; or 2) face the concrete and walk there. If you’re the type of person who most often chooses option number two, the Supernova Trail is your shoe. If you try this feat with other trail shoes, you might find yourself bandaging your feet upon arrival at the trailhead. In the spirit of a classic female deodorant commercial, the Supernova Trail is tough enough for the trail but gentle enough for the roads.

The minutiae: With aggressive tread, a full medial post for over-pronation, and a tight-fitting upper that hugs your arch and heel, the Supernova Trail does it by the books.

New Balance 766 (Water Resistant)
Have you ever known someone you didn’t particularly pay very close attention to until one day, they finally dressed themselves up and suddenly you hardly recognized them? If so, consider the 766, the shoe equivalent of that person. The road version of this shoe has always been fairly unassuming. But after slapping a new water-resistant upper on it, it transformed into a multi-faceted marvel. Now it magically seems just at home mucking about in the mud on the trails as it does cruising on the sidewalks on a rainy day. Moreover, the beauty of water-resistance, as opposed to water-proof, is that it breathes much better on those few days it isn’t raining.

The minutiae: One of the most versatile options for walkers, the 766 is great for those jaunts in the wet grass in the neighborhood park and for those rainy days on the trails. Not recommended for really rough terrain, but then again, why do you want that if you’re only treading on bark-chip trails?

MontrailHurricane Ridge
The SUV of trail shoes, the Hurricane Ridge has no problems conquering even the most perilous conditions. Stuck in a monsoon? Not a problem with the shoe’s waterproof, Gore-tex upper. Lost your way in the wilderness? You’ll have no problems trekking off the trail with its super-aggressive tread. Found out the "trail" your friend took you on is really borderline mountaineering? The reinforced midsole makes traversing rocks and roots a safer endeavor.

The minutiae: The Hurricane Ridge is about as stiff as you can get without becoming a boot. It’s a safe bet for those really rugged trails or even backpacking.

Brooks Cascadia
If you don’t mind frightening the wildlife with day-glow colored feet, you’ll be pleased by the nimble fit of the Cascadia. What it lacks in style, it more than makes up for in pure versatility. It’s low enough to the ground to give you a good, stable feel of the trail, but it also has enough midsole to protect you from rocks and the impact of a long walk.

The minutiae: With Brooks’ new Pivot Post technology, the Cascadia delivers on the trails, but doesn’t provide the traditional stability that most road shoes offer.

Mizuno Wave Rider
Okay, so this isn’t technically a trail shoe. But the bottom line is we rarely get on the trails every day, so a good road shoe can be a trail aficionado’s best friend. The Rider’s combination of cushioning and weightlessness make it a great choice for those who pound the pavement between trail excursions. Mizuno’s “Wave” technology is the secret behind the feathery fit of its shoes. There may not be a waterproof upper or a robust tread on this shoe, but who needs it when you’re skipping over asphalt and sewer drains most of the winter?

The minutiae: Most of us don’t get a chance to travel to the trails every day this winter. Consequently, we need a good road shoe just like we do in the summer. The Rider is best for those who do not overpronate.

Sean Rivers is co-owner of Foot Traffic a walking and running store in NE Portland, downtown Portland, and Lake Oswego,
visit www.foottraffic.us for a location near you.