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I need a new pair of shoes for running on the white cliffs in Kent and coastal paths in the South West.
I have some Peregrines but they've developed an annoying squeak so I'm saving them for muddy winter runs.
I'd prefer something with better ground feel and lightweight rather than max cushion which is where most trail shoes seem to be going.
These will be exclusively for summer running with distances up to a marathon.
Peregrines are very spongy, I bought a pair at one point and soon gave up on them.
Any more fell type running shoes would be better. Inov8 are the kings of this type of shoe, don’t discount Altra or Brooks either
brooks are ~50% off start fitness at the moment for cascadias and divides.
Inov8 X-Talons are my go-to for this kind of thing. Super light, just enough support but still loads of ground feel.
I have a NOS pair of 190s though, so don't know what the newer 210/212's are like in comparison, but can't imagine they'd be leagues different
Inov8 Roclite
some inov8's must be better than others because the parkclaws I'll be putting in the bin when my brooks order turns up are the shittest running shoes i've had in years.
How dry is the ground? The OP did say summer only, I wouldn’t recommend x-talons on dry ground, maybe for a short blast but not up to marathon distance.
Salomon s/lab ultra - the absolute rolls Royce option for trail when it isn’t that wet. But bloody hell they are expensive.
Inovs8's are pretty awful and I don't like Altras much either, plus the build quality is pathetic. Shoes are very personal choices.
Cliff runs sound very exciting, but realistically they're not very rocky, not very technical, but quite big ups and downs. Quite stony so I wouldn't want something too sensitive or those 20 milers will be a bit hard work.
Try another pair peregrines? Hoka Zinal are a bit lighter, but won't last as long, Torrents a bit much probably.
I'd be tempted to go to a shop and have a look at a lot of shoes rather than guessing off the internet.
Inov8 Roclites are brilliant for mixed terrain, they'll cope with most things. If your feet don't like the shape of Inov8's I thoroughly recommend VJ Sport MaxX. They're awesome, better grip (I'm not so convinced by graphene grip...) and tougher uppers. Similar stack height, slightly less drop. Harder to get at the same price as the Inov8 shoes though.
I’d be tempted to go to a shop and have a look at a lot of shoes rather than guessing off the internet.
But you only really know when you run in them on the actual terrain. Most runners will have a fair few pairs of shoes that are rejected through trial and error and settle on a favourite.
I like inov8 full on mud fell running shoes. I don’t really like their trail shoes.
I run in Inov8 Trail Talon 235s, have done for the last 6-7 yrs. They fit me perfectly, shame they wear out rather quickly. I can get through a pair every 10 months or so but they do get worn everyday.
Inov8 are brilliant. Inov8 are pretty awful. Nowt quite as polarising as shoes or tyres!
Basque coast/pyrenees here, so little mud, more fireroad and technical rock up to scrambling. Lots of cliff paths!
Roclites worked fine but an update lost the toe bumper: my hobbit toes always punch a hole in the upper if there's no reinforcement. Lasted six runs before grit was getting in the hole. That's not their fault though.
Nike Terra Kiger work brilliantly and just fit. Despite being named after a local race, their Zegama is too cushioned/high - ankle sprain recipe on technical rocks for me. Pegasus cope on most runs, but ridiculous road shoe sticking-out heel can catch on steps down. The new model is more road than trail, too.
Bought Fujitrabucos from Decathlon in an emergency (someone nicked my Zegamas while they were drying on the roof of the van lol) and they've been absolutely fine.
I would suggest just going to a decent shop and trying a few pairs on. - Yes, something may rub at mile 20 which you didn't notice in the 5 minutes on the treadmill in the shop, but you may as well reduce the chance of it happening ?
the parkclaw 260 were comfy. but.
the laces were awful, would come undone 3-4 times a run. swapped laces from an old pair of brooks and issue went away.
the sole material was lethal in the wet.
the sole material also wouldn't grip to the midsole, had to glue them back together multiple times.
the midsole is collapsing after <250miles.
they look nice though.
I would always go for the shoe or brand you already like, then choose that model with an aggressive outersole if it exists. IMO go for a dedicated off road shoe or brand only if you absolutely need to. They tend to be much lower and lack cushioning. I run a lot off road and seldom do I need a dedicated off road shoe, they are all a compromise and if its slimy mud after rain then you will slip in anything other than spikes or heavily studded fell shoes which will likely be useless for the rest of the run, not to mention worn out at the end. I just run in say Pegasus trail shoes (lots of equivalents exist, Saucony, Hoka, Addidas, Asics etc) and accept that for most of the run they will be ok.
As you say Inov 8 are polarising. IMO they are rubbish...
Inov8 are too skinny for me. Enjoy my altra Lone peaks
Lone Peaks are great, but takes a little while to adjust to the zero drop. Lovely and wide.
I really get on well with Nike Trail shoes. Pegasus Trail when it's not super muddy/I have a mile or two of road to and from the trails, Wild Horses when there's little/no road to worry about or I'm doing less distance (they're grippier, but lighter and less cushioned). There's a Terra Kiger too, I think that's marketed for rocky terrain but no experience of it personally.
I didn't get on well with the Inov-8's I've tried, but that was just from a personal foot shape/size point of view rather than an issue with the actual product.
Thanks Roverpig, I've gone for the Supertrac RC. Looked at online reviews and they seem very good. Only 50 rubs too!
No problem. Sorry, I was in a rush when I posted the link and didn’t have time to add any context, but I got a pair of these about a year back and I find them good on rocky Scottish stuff. I use a more padded pair of Salomon Pulsar Trail shoes if I want something with more cushion (and less grip) but the Supertracs are great for when ground feel is more important than a bit of extra cushioning. So hopefully they will suit you well and at that price you can’t go too far wrong 🙂
They do come up a bit small though but luckily SportShoes are good with returns.
Probably to late but for summer running I swear by Nike Pegasus Trail 4’s. They’re not great in the mud but for firmer trails and longer distance stuff they’re top class.
Shoes are very personal choices.
I run a lot off road and seldom do I need a dedicated off road shoe
Agree with those comments. Each time I've bought trail shoes I've worn them out more walking than running. If the terrain is easy enough to run a running shoe is up to it, especially in Summer. If the terrain really is bad enough for a grippy trail shoe I want stability too which means a firm fairly wide heel that's not too high. In that respect I was disappointed in Salomon but I'm happy with my current Veets XTR (buy one or two sizes up from street size).
I hope one day Altra start making shoes with a propper sole with a bit of drop. Love the shape of thier shoes, but hate the minimalist soles. Also hope Altra start making XC clipless shoes the same shape as their run shoes. I'd pay silly money for them.
Inov-8s that are made with the 'knitted' upper e.g. Roclites, Parkclaws tend to wear through near the toes for me. The ones made of the 'ballistic nylon' e.g. Mudclaws, X Talons (212 / 260) go forever.
I find the Peregrines a good, firm cushioned shoe, Scott Supertrac is a similar level of cushioning. Anyhting softer and I think you're looking at Nike Pegasus / trail type shoes, whish is fine for firm, bone dry conditions but find they risk rolling your ankles too easily on rough ground.
Had a few weeks with the Supertrac now. Ran about twenty miles in a couple of runs at Lulworth Cove, Worbarrow Bay way in Dorset, quite alot of ups and downs and about twenty miles more in woody and quite sloppy trails of late in the North Downs in Kent. They've been great so far. Much more ground feel than the Peregrines which I've had a couple of versions of. They're lighter, fit my foot better and it's easier to pick up the pace in them. They're surprisingly good on the road and hard packed ground.
Salomon S-Lab Ultra 3. The ground feel of their other more minimalist trail shoes like the sense, but with enough extra cushioning to make them ok on harder surfaces too and better underfoot protection on rocky ground. 8mm drop so don't make your calfs as angry as Inov-8s.
But then everyone else I know runs in Peregrines, soooo...
just done a 300km trek in the mountains, all off road and rocky, wearing altra olympus 5's. I had to reglue the treads 3 times and patch up a hole in the outer that ripped through near my little toe. Build quality is pretty poor, but I knew that when I went so I took glue! In fact I pretty much had the exact experience of several posters on the altra review site.
Performance wise they were good, very high grip wet or dry, very quick to dry out when soaked. apart from the tread falling off my main gripe is the width of the heel block - it's so wide your feet won't fit in those narrow single tracks that seem to be a few inches deep, so you get pitched about all the time. Quite disturbing anywhere near a drop! So good on typical trails but on techy ground a bit iffy imo