Reddit mentions: The best trail running shoes for men

Hey there! Sorry for the formatting and everything else I am on mobile. First of all, I completed my first TM back in 2014 and it was the most fun and the most mentally and physically demanding thing I have ever done.

The best thing about the TM is it is NOT a race. Get that out of your head now. It is all about helping your fellow Mudders out. Screw your time and enjoy yourself. Always help others and they will help you. And most importantly have fun!!

Now, to answer your questions.

1. As silly as it sounds, learn to climb stuff. Anything and everything. Go to a playground and do the monkey bars. Do a lot of upper body strength and conditioning. Make you sure you have a lot of cardio too. You will be running. A lot. You will be climbing stuff. A lot.
   
   
2. None are really TOO difficult but can be quite challenging. Everest was pretty challenging so was pole dancer. You may think I am crazy for saying it but the Arctic Enema got me the most. The water is SO cold that your body immediately shuts down and does not want to move. When you jump in make sure you go immediately under the obstacle and swim out or you will just freeze (no pun intended). Keep moving!!
   
   
3. There is plenty of water, snacks and everything on the trail. You do not want to carry anything you do not mind losing. Better yet, nothing. I did not even wear sunglasses. Trust me, after about the 6th mile you will wish you did not have anything extra.
   
   
4. Everyone that is running it with you. Everyone around you is constantly motivating you and pushing you to do your best. I have never been around a better group of people that wanted to see everyone else succeed in my life. Everyone will help you complete all of the obstacles.
   
   
5. Personally, I use the Solomon Speedcross 3 Trail Running shoe and they worked like a dream (https://www.amazon.com/Salomon-Mens-Speedcross-Trail-Running/dp/B007SK9V64#). A little pricey but well worth the money IMO.
   
   Hopefully this answered your questions and I am happy to answer anymore you have. I love the TM and cannot wait to complete another later this year.

Here are some videos:

Haile running

natural running tutorial

You can analyze their forms here, look how efficient and smooth they are:

Frank shorter

Abebe Bikila

You see how frank seems to be leaning forward and his legs move almost like a wheel, rhythmically? He isn't running across the ground, he's falling and catching himself with each step. Running is continuous falling. He isn't leaning forward or craning his back either, with proper form your body ends up in that lean and your legs end up at a certain natural cadence. If you aren't fighting your body then running faster comes easily. Actual running can be enjoyable and easy, not painful. Much of the pain comes from improper/inefficient running technique. It's the difference between going with the grain and against it. Efficient running is going with the grain.

I remember when I first took off these awful shoes that I had that were really hurting me back in the day (they weren't even the correct size and they were puma sneakers) and I ran barefoot and went way faster. My heart would beat and my breath would have trouble keeping up with how fast I was going but my legs had no problem with it. I also noticed my cadence increased and I went much faster. This was in like tenth grade, before I did cross country my junior year. I was just getting into running.

When you run with proper form, you don't need to try to move your legs faster, they end up moving faster on their own. You get around a 180 cadence (maybe slightly less or more). It doesn't have to be exact but it ends up being around that. Many people go slower, like 130 steps per minute, it's because they're running inefficiently. Look at all elite runners and they have a similar cadence and stride. Interestingly enough the world record holder for the 5000m and 10000m had a cadence of around 190 and it was around 215 for his final kick at the olympics. His stride remained the same.

When you run correctly it feels effortless, like you're gliding across the ground, flying almost. That first time you really get it right it feels amazing, when i've taken off shoes I felt like a weight had lifted off me (it had) and it was like my feet weren't there. When you don't have issues picking up your feet then you go faster and when you don't have an arch preventing your feet from naturally carrying you forward than you go faster.

If you look at most runners who are fast and even sprinters like Usain Bolt who dominate, you'll notice that their legs come up behind to their butts. This happens more with faster races than longer races like marathons, but it's a pattern. This is because these runners have good hip mobility and hip extension. Having a posterior pelvic tilt or weak glutes and a weak back can lead to an inability to have that same range of motion. The legs coming up behind you to your butt is a sign of efficient form and it means your legs are moving like slingshots and you aren't wasting energy to go as fast as you're going, you're being efficient. You'll notice in Kenenisa Bekele's world record 5000m run his legs come up right behind his butt. His hip extension and hip mobility is on point. If your hip flexors are weak and your hip extensors are short and you have weak glutes or pelvic tilt issues then you will not be able to do that. Of course running properly can strengthen all those muscles.

I would recommend running in dirt or grass and seeing what it feels like, you can even wear socks. I've gone running in socks before. When you run properly it will feel like it hurts more than usual. It's like if you sit with good posture and it hurts more than slouching. Slouching is still worse for you. You will eventually get used to it, but don't run inefficiently because it hurts less at first. It will be better for you in the long run. (get it? long run? ayyy)

If you don't stretch after biking you will have to stretch after running or injury is a risk. DO NOT stretch before, only stretch afterwards. There are dynamic stretches or warm ups you can do before running but just starting to run is a warm up itself. No static stretching, one exception which you may need to make is stretching your quads by bending at your knee and bringing your foot behind you to your butt. Like this. That's the one stretch that's okay to do before running.

I have used an exercise bike in the past when I was just starting to exercise. I don't like riding regular bikes because I'm not that good at it and I have trouble crossing streets. I don't like the thin road bikes because they require slouching and a bit of pelvis tucking and that bothers me, it may be different for you. I just think running is better overall for your body while biking works less muscles, but they both are cardio and cardio is good for you.

This is the exact model of shoes that worked really well for me during track season in xc. I set most of my PRs in this shoe and I had the best luck with them. I got injured later because I purchased a shoe with a terrible arch that rolled my ankles outward, but these shoes are great. They are neutral running shoes, they may have more on the bottom than your average minimalist shoe or sock, but they are neutral and good for practicing good form, although you may have trouble landing on your toes at first if you use these types of shoes. Of course going exactly on your toes isn't ideal, it may be good to get the transition going and prevent you from heel striking if you currently do, but you should be landing on your forefoot. That means slightly in front of the middle area of your foot, definitely not the heel though.

Just remember looking for neutral shoes with little heel rise or arch is the best way to go. Flat, neutral shoes, no rise. Not shoes for under or overpronation, neutral works great, it's closer to being barefoot than shoes with huge arches or angles. When it comes to form these shoes may be better, depending on how much you run the one I linked may get worn out quickly, but surface and how hard you pound the pavement as well as how often matters. If the shoes gets torn apart you obviously don't want to keep using it, rather get a new one. I think I used mine 3 or more months, but I couldn't afford newer ones, I would have replaced them earlier. Let's say if you're running 60 miles a weeks than 2-3 months should be good.

If you are going to get minimalist shoes instead of those ones then avoid the five finger shoes! They spread your toes apart and that will hurt your running and make you run weakly and may even cause injury. Having your toes apart in socks or barefoot is fine because they are apart anyway, but having them apart in those shoes will prevent you from "kicking" off the ground or having any power in your run, when I used those five finger gimmicks I ended up doing a weird walk/waddle run because I couldn't push off my toes, and trying would probably hurt them. They were forced apart. If going for minimalist shoes, go for ones that keep your toes together, like this or the ones in the suggestions.

FYI my normal shoe size and my spike size was 10 but my running shoe size was 9.5. A good shoe will still screw you over if it doesn't fit you properly, so be sure to get a proper fit.

I've run down there in mostly just any old trail shoe. I've never had issues with feet up to... 3 hours outside. Hoka's are a good choice because they have a HUGE sole and your feet probably won't get cold. I've run in saucony peregrine as well. They make a peregrine ice+ which could be a great option. The surface isn't usually slick, but a compound designed for cold is going to be better. The tread looks decent (not as aggressive as the regular peregrine).

I'd say just make sure the fit is comfortable, I sometimes throw on a second pair of socks down there. I'll suffer on the treadmill below about -40 though. A calm day at pole though, the temp really doesn't matter. Hands can go fast, so definitely try out different things before you go out for a LONG run. That said, I've had a lot of times where I feel like I'm gonna turn around because my hands are cold, then the blood just starts really pumping and I warm up and I'm fine.

edit: the packed down track following the traverse really would be great for those peregrine shoes. Also the sea ice at mcmurdo is pretty much just packed ice, so something with a soft compound would be great. When I did the marathon there I just ran in hoka road running shoes and I was mostly fine.

The current winter site manager at Pole is VERY into jogging outside and if you're wintering he's gonna be your guy next year, too. He's a great dude and could probably answer your questions as well as appreciate a winterover reaching out about stuff.

Don't recommend steel toed boots at all, people talk about composite toe but I've never tried those. I use quite a few Gortex shoes, but I don't use them to keep my feet dry; I mean if you're going through some nasty swamp water somewhere and want to keep that water off you, sure use gortex. But gortex does not keep you dry, it keeps outside moisture from getting inside, and inside moisture from getting out. You will sweat and gortex will keep it inside your shoe, so you still end up with soaked socks. I just use them because I like them, they are comfortable for me, everyone needs to find their own shoe though. This is one pair I use a lot

https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/product/quest-4d-3-gtxr.html#1191=9861

I also use this shoe from salomon, it's non-gortex and dries very quickly so when I'm around rivers and what not my shoes dry pretty quick, and again, they are comfortable. Your feet are very important, they get you from point A to point B. Take care of them, keep them comfortable, and do not take my shoes as a recomendation, they fit my fat crooked feet, lol. Find shoes that fit your feet well, go to a store and try on different shoes, even order from amazon, they have a 30 day no questions asked return policy (This does not apply to everything, some products are sketch and don't allow it, but I believe all Salomon products allow this, double check before buying)

I'm thru-hiking the AT now, SOBO. I started in running shoes and they got destroyed. I switched to Merrells and they got destroyed. I picked up a pair of Adidas Galaxy Trail shoes and they are downright amazing. I got my first pair in Massachusetts and hiked 1,000 miles in them before I traded them out for another pair I bought on amazon. The first pair definitely had more life in them but I didn't want to get into a spot where I needed new shoes and couldn't get the ones I wanted. These shoes are comfy, haven't caused me any blisters, break in easily, and grip rocks like you wouldn't believe. You can't go wrong with these. I'd say you could do the whole trail in two pairs but I'd get three and do it comfortably in three pairs, never having to worry about whether or not your tread is going to slip on the rocks. You'll love these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H5WVB4E/ref=twister_B01DFVOCHM?th=1&psc=1

In terms of twisting your ankle, it's going to happen. Fortunately none of my twists have turned into sprains. I don't think high-boot vs low-cut shoe is going to make all that much of a difference. Get a good pair of hiking poles that you can trust. I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself during an ankle twist with my poles. Don't go cheap on your hiking poles.

And don't go waterproof. Your feet will expand a bit but definitely not two sizes larger. I bought a 9.5 (male) of the Galaxy Trails and I'm usually a 9 or a 9.5 Get the bigger size of what you normally fit into.

Run as much as possible. As others have mentioned, running hills/trails would be the most practical way to go about it. It's usually advised that you can run about 6-8miles comfortably before Tough Mudder.

Strength is certainly required, but you don't need to be a bodybuilder. Focus on doing some pull-ups and dips in the weight room and you'll be fine. The lighter you weigh, the easier most of the obstacles will be.

Make sure you get your rest. It's equally as important as the exercising. The same goes for your diet.

If you're still looking for a pair of kicks then I HIGHLY recommend these...

http://www.amazon.com/Salomon-Speedcross-Trail-Running-Union/dp/B008JEW692/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375233013&sr=8-1&keywords=salomon+speedcross+3

Those are the best trail running shoes I've owned and they're still in great shape after Tough Mudder. The rubber cleats get surprisingly great traction on smooth surfaces. Also, I experienced absolutely no foot/ankle pain after the run.

For clothing, wear a light shirt and socks that are at least mostly polyester or whatever else wicks moisture. They will get soaked, so the lighter the material the better. I don't wear compression shorts, but I've got nothing against them. You certainly don't want anything too baggy that will get snagged on something.

The week leading up to Tough Mudder should be a week of very light training. Don't be trying anything that could possibly get you hurt. A lot of people get cramps during Tough Mudder, so make sure you're getting plenty of salt and water in your diet a few days before the run. And don't forget those carbs!

Good luck!

I have the pedals, although by a different brand, and love them. Very light and grippy at a good price.

I just bought some 5.10 impacts for $80, so pretty good deal. I haven't had a chance to ride them but one trip around the neighborhood. Your post made me do some research on the Links.

What I don't like about the impacts is that the things are pretty big. So I went to look at the Links and they have that kind of skate shoe look as well. I really wish there was a more minimalist shoe, that doesn't look skate shoe styled, with the impact soles.

I do like the Link look a little better, but the extra stickiness of the impacts and super stiff sole made me decide to keep them.

I wish there was something a bit more light hiking or trail running shoe looking versus a "i used to be a skateboarder, now i need a mountain biking shoe" type look to it. Something along the lines of this

I normally run in vibram five fingers, but they don't cut it for winter running for me.

Two winters ago was quite dry in Rochester, NY so I bought http://www.amazon.com/Merrell-Barefoot-Trail-Adventure-Yellow/dp/B004L8UPZM/ Merrell Trail Gloves. I like the shoes in dry weather, but they are not a good shoe for wet weather or hills. They have uphill traction, but seem like they are designed to lose all traction on downhills.

Last winter I bought Inov-8 Mudclaw 265s http://www.amazon.com/Inov-8-Mudclaw-Trail-Running-Shoe/dp/B008VPX09Y and could not be happier. I ran in snow, ice, and wore them with racing snow shoes and they performed perfectly. Every time I put my foot down it stayed exactly where I placed it, no slip, even on the steepest of trails.

The only downside to the Mudclaws is that the rubber is fairly soft when the weather gets warm. They should be winter only shoes in the city, or you will wear through the tread quickly if you run on pavement/concrete on a warm day (I swear I could feel the shoes wearing away as they stuck to the road on a hot day).


http://kahtoola.com/product/microspikes/ are also great, but probably overkill for city running. They worked great interlocking with the gnarly tread on the Mudclaws for super icy races.

Wool socks are magic and worth the money.

Hey man, I started to get plantar fasciitis in both my feet from wearing cleats. I switched to turfs, but still was sore from time to time. I have now switched over to trailrunners and use them exclusively.

I am an infield/outfield player depending on what night I'm playing or what the team needs. I play almost every night from April thru November. I've played in all types of horrible field conditions and have to say that if I was going to slip or lose my footing in trail runners, I would have in cleats also.

https://www.amazon.com/Salomon-Speedcross-Running-Silver-Metallic-X/dp/B004LB4V5E/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1480448362&sr=1-1&nodeID=7141123011&keywords=salomon%2Bshoes&th=1&psc=1
These are what I would recommend. 2 year warranty I believe as well. Just get some when they're on sale. I think I've paid at most $75 for a pair. I use them for golf too.

My feet great after tournaments and they're nice and light without any sacrifice to footing. I'm a fast base runner and these are perfectly fine for having to round bases or stop on a dime and run back to base. As for heel cushioning, there is some, but I like that it has some (goes back to the plantar fasciitis and not wanting that ever again).

Anytime I hear people asking about what type of cleats to get I always suggest trail runners. Make the switch and your fet will thank you for it.

I'd go on Amazon and buy some good shoes. Amazon has the Salomon Speedcross 4 for a good price.

https://www.amazon.com/Salomon-Speedcross-Trail-Runner-Black/dp/B017SQX5FU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1505775595&sr=8-4&keywords=Salomon+Men%27s+Speedcross+4

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Salomon+Men%27s+Speedcross+4

They have deals on other brands as well.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Inov-8+X-Talon+212

I think that hydrating your body is good, but the best thing you can do is have good shoes to run in. If you are in good shape you will be fine.

I have disc-golf dedicated footwear, and yes, I feel it makes a huge difference in my game. I've noticed most shoes that I find appealing are marketed as "trail-running" shoes.

Most courses I play are heavily wooded and often damp/wet in places. I have a pair of NB 1524's that are extremely comfortable and waterproof. They've held up a couple of seasons and still look great.

Playing barefoot isn't really an option for me, but when it is sunny and dry I like to wear my NB Minimus. They've held up OK after getting them last December but you can definitely tell they're not fat-boy shoes; only pair of Vibram soles that I've had show significant wear and I would doubt holding up for 3+ seasons.

I use tesla minimalist shoes. I quit track because of shin splints but after I started doing minimalist shoes running I never had problems with shin splints again. I know how to spread the impact of running pretty nicely along my whole leg, can't really explain how to to do this though I just know it feels right.

I noticed my running is a lot quieter than my sister when we run together if that helps. I guess graceful, quiet is the style? Whereas my sister is stomping the pavement I'm gently pushing. I think everyone will have their own running style but try to minimize the impact.

I remember slamming my feet over and over again in track when I got shin splints, but that was mostly due to how restricting the shoes were. Anyway, this is all anecdotal and applies to me, but I don't know if it'll help others, just thought I'd throw in my two cents.

My girlfriend and I absolutely love our Salomon Speedcross 3 trail runners. They are super light, durable, comfortable to wear for long periods of time, breathable, and have amazing grip (except on ice). They are $115 or less on Amazon, depending on the style. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LB4V72/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_05EmxbH4X498V

If you really want goretex and waterproof, Salomon has the XA Pro 3D GTX trail runners. They are more expensive, as any shoe that is waterproof and/or has goretex will be. About $140-160. I haven't personally tried them, but they are very well reviewed. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KWKTB1M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_AWEmxbT6C510J


I also highly recommend going to a store to try a few different shoes on. What works for me and others might not be a good fit for you. Amazon has a great return policy though, as long as you have prime.

I found the Montrail Sabino Trail Mid GTX Hiking Boots at a Columbia outlet store near Boston for ~$40. Amazon has them for ~$100: http://www.amazon.com/Montrail-Sabino-Trail-Mid-GTX/dp/B00331332A

I LOVE these boots! They're super light, incredibly comfortable, provide support in all the right places, warm when it's cold but airy and breathable enough when it's hot outside. And most important, totally waterproof thanks to the GORE-TEX® lining.

Here's the Backpacker Magazine review: http://www.backpacker.com/gear-review-montrail-sabino-trail-mid-gtx-boots/gear/15439

Highly, highly recommended.

I live/run in a city too. I have these and love them:
http://www.amazon.com/Merrell-Mens-Ascend-Glove-Trail-Running/dp/B00B98NFAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425785059&sr=8-1&keywords=Merrell+ascend+glove
They have a bit more padding than some other minimal shoes (6mm, so still not a ton) and find having just a bit of padding is nice. I'm also considering getting a pair of Merrell vapor gloves (zero padding) which I've heard good things about. I'm a lot newer runner than you but I find these (Ascend) to be super comfortable up to the half-marathon distance that I've done.

I like to bring my minimalist trail runners (http://www.amazon.com/Merrell-Trail-Glove-Barefoot-Running/dp/B005N4IUL4). The are light and pack super small and can be used for short-medium length hikes. I like that they are designed to be comfortable without socks and have a sandal type feel that is nice after a long ride.

I used Solomon speedcross 3 for the warrior dash and spartan super. They were recommended to me by a group of acquaintances that participate in a few mud runs per year.

I used them and suggested them to friends and everyone I know who has used them love them.

http://www.amazon.com/Salomon-Speedcross-Trail-Running-Cloud/dp/B008JEWJ8K/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1418762298&sr=1-1

Just bought a pair of their Barefoot Trail Gloves (women's) and fell in love. They are so comfortable! They aren't ugly like the Five Fingers, and have support, unlike my Vivobarefoot sneakers. They also have a mesh upper, which might be handy in the humid climate of Indonesia. My boyfriend also bought a pair and he has found it has helped his posture and back pain. They definitely seem to be high-quality, and I've so far experienced good customer service from Merrell.

http://www.amazon.com/Merrell-Mens-Barefoot-Trail-Glove/dp/B005N4IUL4

If you haven't worn minimalist shoes/don't go barefoot often, it's possible you might need a transition period to strengthen the different muscles, but it's definitely worth it.

I use the Salomom Men's Speedcross 3 Trail Running shoes. They clean off nicely afterwards with a hose so you can run in them again. They are light weight with excellent traction and enough cushion for rocky terrain.

http://www.amazon.com/Salomon-Speedcross-Running-Silver-Metallic-X/dp/B004LB4V72/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1371517039&sr=8-3&keywords=trail+shoes

My favorites are Merrell Trail Gloves. I've had both the first and second versions, and am a big fan of both. They have a "rock plate" or something like that that helps to prevent anything from going through the sole, but I live in the northeast, so I don't have as many puncture issues as people in say the southwest (damn goat head thorns!). While I certainly feel the ground a lot more, there's never been a time that I've had anything puncture my foot in those.

Related note, I've had Merrell Trailgloves for a few years and they're the best made athletic shoe I've ever owned. My last pair of New Balances fell apart within three months, and never have I had a pair look good after a year. My trailgloves look new, absolutely no separation of glue or stitching issues. I'm almost through the tread though and will definitely buy another pair.

It's their minimalist line that I wear. MT00, MR10, MT20.

These are my favorite shoes right now, incredibly comfortable.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Balance-MR10v2-Minimus-Running/dp/B0096615AS

This is one of those products that going cheap is going to end up costing you more.

If you pay a good amount on a quality pair, they're going to last you a lot longer, and give you what you're actually looking to get out of them. Especially if you're not going on crazy trails with them every day.

I absolutely LOVE my Salomons. You can get a pair on Amazon for about $100. Keep an eye out for some of the uglier colors - they'll dip down to $80 sometimes.

https://www.amazon.com/Salomon-Speedcross-Running-Silver-Metallic-X/dp/B008JEWJ8K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485982683&sr=8-1&keywords=salomon%2Btrail%2Brunning%2Bshoes&th=1&psc=1

I love city walking / urban hiking in the New Balance Minimus Zero, and have even run a half-marathon in them. However I find them not actually enough cushion for all wilderness trails; on real rocky ground, I dislike how much sharp things hurt. They're also not that durable, in the upper; they can rip, and they don't last. However, if you're actually someone who's gone REAL barefoot outdoors, and enjoy it, they'll probably work for you.

My favorite hiking barefoot shoe right now is the Merrell Trail Glove. It is certainly heavier by a few ounces, but it's still much lighter than basically any other shoe, comfortable as heck, and much more durable. It's 0mm drop, but with 4mm cushion. http://www.amazon.com/Merrell-Mens-Barefoot-Trail-Glove/dp/B005N4IUL4

I tried the toe shoes and, unfortunately, they did not comfortably fit my freakishly long and awkwardly shaped toes.

That being said, I did pick up these: Merrell's.

I've used them for about 3 weeks and they are fantastic. They have the same "natural footing" as the five-fingers and even use a Vibrams sole. I've noticed an improvement in my knee (old basketball injury) hurting less after workouts or runs. They are also quite comfortable and have felt natural since the moment I put them on.

Barefoot running has changed my knees completely. I love it. I use the merrell trail gloves

>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot_running#Health_and_medical_implications

I just got Salomon Speedcross 4 and did my first race over the weekend they were great, kept rocks out, and I had grip on everything.

Salomon Men's Speedcross 4 Trail Runner, Black A1U8, 12 M US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017SQX5FU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Z4PgDbRB8CX7S

YMMV - But I got these for DG, and they're great. Replaced a pair of Merrel MOABs.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RN63357/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


If you pivot on the ball of your foot though... Look elsewhere. They have enough grip and flexibility... They don't like to spin on the ball. The shoe will just deform around your foot.

Oh, I meant running in minimal shoes and wearing regular shoes when I'm not running. My bad.

My motivation: general fitness. I want to stay slim but I could really use some exercise. My legs won't get bigger from running a little, right?

I have a pair of these shoes but I haven't trained myself to run in them yet. Would it be fine to run in these and wear Converse when I'm not running? Thanks.

Above all else I recommend these shoes. Especially if running up a mountainous TM course.

http://www.amazon.com/Salomon-Speedcross-Running-Silver-Metallic-X/dp/B004LB4V72/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1464739904&sr=1-1&nodeID=7141123011&keywords=salomon+speedcross+3

>https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RN63357/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o00\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I just got a pair of these a month and a half ago and the heel of my sole just tore apart. Loved the feel and everything else but I think something with a thicker sole is needed.

I really like my Merrell Barefoots, not toe shoes and I do wear socks with them, they are really light weight and I've worn mine for trips ranging from hiking in Nepal to walking around European cities.

I think I'll stick with my Salomons

For me it depends on the trip/trail. If it's a day hike I wear a trail runner and if it's anything overnight or more I wear boots. Depending on how strenuous or damp my multi-day trips are, sometimes I will take flip-flops just to walk around camp.

I prefer barefoot style shoes, so I currently own Merrell Trail Gloves, New Balance Minumus MT10, and just ordered some VivoBarefoot Neo Trails to try out.

I have been running and use these: Merrell Trail Glove

I typically run 4 miles a day and these feel so good on the feet. They weigh almost nothing and they have a Vibram sole.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005N4IUL4/

Merrell Trail Glove Barefoot Running Shoe - Men's Merrell http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005N4IUL4/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_ZQ3gtb1C28S5G

I specifically have the mostly black with yellow accents, in wide.