What are Approach and Trail Running Shoes

Do you run in the wilderness on a regular basis? Whether it’s hill running or a dash through the woods, you’ll benefit from a pair of quality trail running or approach shoes. But, what’s the difference between the two types of shoes? Keep reading to find out…

What are trail running shoes?

First off, let’s take a look at trail running shoes.

As you’ve probably guessed, trail running shoes are designed for people who regularly run on trails. Trail running shoes feature an aggressive, grippy tread, with a sole that usually wraps around the front of the shoe, protecting the runner’s toes from impact with stones etc.

Trail running shoes are generally quite light too (at least half the weight of a hiking boot).

What is trail running?

Trail running is a form of running exercise that involves running on trails, and where the gradient is particularly steep, hiking. It traditionally takes place on hiking trails, where there are large ascents and descents.

Because of the settings in which trail running occurs, it is considered to be a form of exercise that is particularly good for mental health.

Trail shoes anatomy and key terms

If you’re looking for a dedicated pair of trail running shoes, then it’s handy to know the anatomy of your typical trail shoe along with some of the key terms associated with this type of shoe:

Upper: the upper part of the shoe that covers the foot and is very breathable.
Heel support or cup: holds your heel in the shoe and prevents any lifting or shifting as you run over rough ground. Much more structured than road running shoes with additional padding.
Heel counter: designed to help lock your foot in place and anchor the shoe to the midsole for support on changing ground.
Gusseted tongue: this means the tongue is stitched to the upper which prevents stones and other debris from entering the shoe as you move.
Eyelets: these hold the laces in place and secure the upper layer.
Foot cradle or overlay: this is part of the upper and wraps around the side of the foot to provide additional support.
Toe box: this adds stability to the foot and can be a deciding factor in comfort and fit. It must be spacious enough to allow your foot to move naturally but not so much as to overwork your muscles.
Toe rand, cap or bumper: a rubber coating that protects your toes from being stubbed, bruised or broken.
Midsole: sitting between the upper and outsole, the midsole cushions your foot stride. Trail shoes feature a foam midsole that promotes sure-footedness on uneven ground.
Cushion: part of the midsole, it absorbs shock and provides an energy rebound.
Rock plate: located between the sole and midsole, it helps protect against sharp objects.
Drop: this is the midsole’s height difference between the heel and toe.
Outsole: this is the shoe’s sole and sits beneath the midsole. Trail running shoes use deeper lugs and stickier rubbers for better grip.
Lugs and depth: lugs provide grip on loose surfaces – they come in a variety of lengths. Tread and lug depth enhance traction as they are the shoe’s contact patch.
Lug pattern: the direction and pattern of lugs on a trail shoe enhances its stability and grip.

Tip – type of lugs you want on your trail shoe will depend on what type of running you’ll be doing. Bigger lugs are best for grip on loose, gravelly ground. However, smaller lugs, that are closer together, are better for smooth dirt trails.

As you can see, there are quite a few features that are unique to trail running shoes. If you’re tempted to save money and go running in standard road running trainers, you’ll regret it. There’s a good reason why trail shoes have features such as rock plates!

Which brings us neatly on to our next point…

Trail shoes anatomy and key terms
If you’re looking for a dedicated pair of trail running shoes, then it’s handy to know the anatomy of your typical trail shoe along with some of the key terms associated with this type of shoe:

Upper: the upper part of the shoe that covers the foot and is very breathable.
Heel support or cup: holds your heel in the shoe and prevents any lifting or shifting as you run over rough ground. Much more structured than road running shoes with additional padding.
Heel counter: designed to help lock your foot in place and anchor the shoe to the midsole for support on changing ground.
Gusseted tongue: this means the tongue is stitched to the upper which prevents stones and other debris from entering the shoe as you move.
Eyelets: these hold the laces in place and secure the upper layer.
Foot cradle or overlay: this is part of the upper and wraps around the side of the foot to provide additional support.
Toe box: this adds stability to the foot and can be a deciding factor in comfort and fit. It must be spacious enough to allow your foot to move naturally but not so much as to overwork your muscles.
Toe rand, cap or bumper: a rubber coating that protects your toes from being stubbed, bruised or broken.
Midsole: sitting between the upper and outsole, the midsole cushions your foot stride. Trail shoes feature a foam midsole that promotes sure-footedness on uneven ground.
Cushion: part of the midsole, it absorbs shock and provides an energy rebound.
Rock plate: located between the sole and midsole, it helps protect against sharp objects.
Drop: this is the midsole’s height difference between the heel and toe.
Outsole: this is the shoe’s sole and sits beneath the midsole. Trail running shoes use deeper lugs and stickier rubbers for better grip.
Lugs and depth: lugs provide grip on loose surfaces – they come in a variety of lengths. Tread and lug depth enhance traction as they are the shoe’s contact patch.
Lug pattern: the direction and pattern of lugs on a trail shoe enhances its stability and grip.

Tip – type of lugs you want on your trail shoe will depend on what type of running you’ll be doing. Bigger lugs are best for grip on loose, gravelly ground. However, smaller lugs, that are closer together, are better for smooth dirt trails.
As you can see, there are quite a few features that are unique to trail running shoes. If you’re tempted to save money and go running in standard road running trainers, you’ll regret it. There’s a good reason why trail shoes have features such as rock plates!
Which brings us neatly on to our next point…

Why do I need trail running shoes?

While road running shoes can provide some stability if you run across a field, they won’t pass muster when it comes to more serious, challenging terrain.

Trail running shoes are extremely helpful on steep inclines, technical terrain, or simply when trails are wet and muddy. Trail running shoes protect your feet in ways road running shoes cannot.

Put simply, trail shoes enable you to run smoothly over rough, challenging surfaces.

How should trail running shoes fit?

For the ideal fit, trail shoes should be snug around your heel and foot arch to prevent lifting. The front of the shoe should be about a finger’s width away from your toes.

Because of the way trail shoes fit, you could end up having to buy a completely different size compared to your everyday shoes or road running shoes.

When trying a pair of trail shoes, it’s important to remember that your feet swell when you run, especially on longer routes. So, try on your shoes in the afternoon and try different brands of trail shoes.

Trail running shoe buying tips

Here are a few tips to remember when you’re buying and trying on trail running shoes:

Ask yourself, “what type of terrain am I going to be running on?”
Try trail running shoes on in the afternoon.
Think about the distances you’ll be running in the trail shoes.
Consider your build and how much support you’ll need the trail shoes to provide.
Check how the shoes fit around your heel and arch particularly.
Make sure you wear the right type of socks when trying on trail shoes.

What are approach shoes?

At first glance, there may not seem to be a huge number of differences between trail shoes and approach shoes. But, there are. Whilst trail and approach shoes share some common traits, they are used in very different ways.

Approach shoes are a type of lightweight hiking boot. They’re perfect for hikers who enjoy traversing exposed, rocky ridge lines and engaging in some easy scrambling. Approach shoes are in effect part climbing shoe, part hiking shoe.

That’s why you’ll find that approach shoes have an upper that resembles a hiking shoe, but a sole like the ones you find on climbing shoes – made of soft, sticky rubber. Approach shoes also generally feature a rubber strip that runs around the side of the shoe to protect its stitching when pressed up against rockfaces etc.

Approach shoes are also stiffer across their length. This is to make them better for ‘edging’ – a climbing term used for using the side of your shoe to step on small holds or ‘edges’ sticking out of rock faces.

Because of these features, approach shoes are generally considered safer than trail running shoes for use on very technical ground.

How should approach shoes fit?

As with trail running shoes, approach shoes should be snug around your heel and arch to prevent lifting.

The best advice is to shop for approach shoes after you’ve been on your feet all day. This is because your feet will have swollen slightly and will be mimicking the state they’d be in after a long day’s hiking.

Probably the most important thing to think about when trying on approach shoes is to make sure that your toes don’t rub against the end of the shoe. When you’ve got the boots on and the laces are tightened, your toes should still feel ‘free’. Try lightly kicking the floor, or find a downhill ramp to walk on. If your toes even slightly bump the end of the shoe you’ll regret it.

If approach shoes don’t fit, a period of climbing and scrambling can lead to you losing toenails, developing bone spurs or doing other kinds of damage to your feet.

Approach shoe buying tips

Here are a few tips to remember when you’re buying and trying on approach shoes:

How much climbing versus hiking will you be doing? Different approach shoes tend to sit closer to one of these activities than the other e.g. some are designed for more walking than climbing, others are designed for more climbing than walking.
Try approach shoes on after you’ve been on your feet all day or a long walk.
Make sure the approach shoes fit properly – especially around your toes.
Bring appropriate socks with you for the fitting.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our buying guide to trail running shoes and approach shoes. If you’re looking to refresh your boots for your hiking and climbing trips this summer and autumn, check out our extensive range here at Winfields Outdoors.

Buy online or at one of our 7 stores. Plus, don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter to receive 5% off your first order online!