The second approach is more of a sieve design, with focuses on the belief that keeping your feet watertight is impossible, and focuses on drainage rather than protection. Waterproof protection – water will often be a problem on Britain’s trails, and when it comes to trail running trainers, there are two schools of thought: the waterproof shell, which works well when splashing through puddles, but does not allow water to escape from the shoe.This can help to protect the shoes against rocks and other off-road debris. Look for rubber or nylon reinforcements around the toe box, heel counter and the bottom of the upper. In-built protection – off-road running can be hard on your shoes, especially the upper.For mud and rocks, look for a shoe with longer lugs. For hard, rolling trails, you won't need too aggressive a grip. But what constitutes good grip will depend on the kind of trails you're running on.

Grip – without a good grip, you can’t run with confidence.There's a balance, though: if you're running marathon or ultra-marathon distances off-road, the need for ample cushioning is crucial. In fact, the lower the profile of the shoe, the more stable you’ll be on uneven ground. Low profile – the need for a thick layer of foam between your foot and the ground is negated when trail running.If, on the other hand, you're likely to be running in thick mud, or over rocks and more technically challenging terrain, you'll want a shoe with bigger lugs to help with the grip. Are these firm, well-groomed and mostly flat? If so, you might be okay running in your normal road running shoes – particularly during the summer months – or a trail shoe with a less aggressive tread. So which trail shoe is best for you? First, consider the kind of trails you'll mostly be running on. They also tend to be more durable and have sticky rubber outsoles or deep lugs for better grip. They're typically less cushioned, with stiffer midsoles than their road counterparts in order to offer more support and protect your feet from rocky surfaces. Trail running shoes are designed to cope with tougher, more unstable terrain than road shoes.

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