Kit lust

[skean]

Anyone got experience with Trail Running shoes (andygates and ravenbait maybe?)? Looking to buy a pair over the next few weeks, and am wondering in particular about Gore Tex or not. Heard varying opinions. Some say that although it keeps you dry, if moisture comes over the top of the shoe, it then stays inside the shoe and won't drain out. Salomon looks to have a

Comments

[ravenbait]

I wear Salomons!

Honestly, as far as I can tell the only way to choose a trail shoe is to go to the shop and buy the one that fits, no matter what brand it is. Gore Tex models will be a tighter fit and the GT sock tends to wear out before the rest of the shoe. They are warmer, but GT is breathable. If you fill them up with water they will take longer to dry out than non-GT shoes but it's not like sticking your feet inside a plastic bag.

I've had issues with the upper on my Salomons stretching so that the ball of my foot is on the edge of the footbed. I'm about to take them back to the shop as faulty. You might want to be wary of that.

Innov8 is a good brand.

[andygates]

The Inov8 mudclaw and rockclaw are very aggressive - fell racing in filthy mud or scree'n'gravel. If that's what you're doing, they a great rep among such nutters.

My Helly Trail Cutters are the far opposite end of the market - a very light slipper-like upper, sticky soft sole. Great on summer gravel dirt and grass, but they packed with mud during the Race From Hell and they get cold and wet fast. More of a fairweather shoe, IMO.

I have no experience of goretex (I don't mind wet feet so much) in shoes like this, and my only other similar shoe is the FiveFinger. There was a FF runner on That Race. But that's a cult thing. ;)