This week I’m going to outline a few of my current favourite pieces of gear.
Before we get started, in the interests of full disclosure, I am a brand ambassador for most of the brands of gear I’ll be writing about this week. That said, the only gear I can make informed comment on is gear that I use, and that happens to be gear from brands I have a relationship with (in most cases).
That out of the way, lets get to it:
SHOES
Altra Lone Peak 1.5
My Use: Long and/or rocky and/or muddy trail running
Stats: Zero drop, 17mm stack height, 290grams (stats taken from Running Warehouse)
These are my all-time favourite trail shoe. They have enough cushioning (for my preferences) to deal with all trail conditions, yet are minimal enough to suit my desire for as little shoe as possible. They have a super wide toe-box which I love. They excel on loose and rocky terrain and make long trail runs a dream on the feet.
My only wish is for the rubber on the outsole to be a little more, well, like rubber – they’re like ice skates on rocks when crossing creeks (and on bitumen for that matter, but they don’t belong there).
Altra Superior (soon to be Altra Superior 1.5)
My Use: Shorter and/or less rocky trail running
Stats: Zero drop, 12mm stack height, 290 grams (stats taken from Running Warehouse)
[Stats for the soon-to-be released Superior 1.5: Zero drop, 15mm stack height, 320 grams (stats taken from Running Warehouse)]
The style of shoe that I wear most often. The Altra Superior is a stripped down trail shoe, perfect for faster outings or longer runs on more forgiving ground. Like the Lone Peak, they have a super wide toe-box that allows your toes to move, making for a really comfortable fit. I don’t find the grip on these quite as reliable as the Lone Peak 1.5, but if I know the trail conditions aren’t too rocky and/or muddy I’ll choose these every time.
I’m eagerly awaiting the Australian release of the Superior 1.5!
Altra The One
My Use: Pretty much all my road running…unless I’m barefoot!
Stats: Zero drop, 13mm stack height, 225 grams (stats taken from Running Warehouse)
The newest shoe in my rotation, The One has made a great first impression. I like my road running shoes with just a little cushioning, but I also like that cushioning to be stiff (not too spongy/pillowy…made up word?). The One ticks that box. As with all Altra shoes, the toe box is wide for maximum toe comfort and movement, and these shoes are also super light. I liken them to a traditional racing flat…and for me that’s exactly what I want.
Others
I would have added the Merrell Bare Access (version 1) to this list for road running shoes, however they have been superseded twice by versions 2 and 3, both of which I consider inferior to the original. The original was a great shoe (still is if you can find it) - I found the original Bare Access to run very similar to the Altra The One, although The One has a wider toe box.
I still like the inov-8 Trailroc range for trail running, with their greatest strength being their excellent grip on almost all terrain. I have dropped them from my rotation however as the durability of the shoes has been an ongoing issue for me (the upper kept wearing through), and the toebox was a little too narrow for my liking.
There you have it. What are your go-to shoes?
See you out there – Juddy