Higher State Soil Shaker 2 Trail Running Shoes

Product Information

Designed for the trails and the changeable conditions that they can present, this shoe offers stable, durable cushioning and comfort with versatile all-terrain traction and a great fitting upper at a great value price point. In the midsole, you still have the same Floatride Energy foam, which is lightweight and comfortable, and makes the shoe suitable for a wide range of running, from easy plods through to speedwork. The outsole grips well in all conditions and is durable, and in general you can expect to log many hundreds of miles in the Floatride Energy 4 without worrying about it breaking down. This only increases the value it offers.

Our Higher State Trail Running Ambassador, Josh Westwood, has been busy putting the Trail Running Shoesto the test.Either will be fine on most courses, especially earlier in the season when it’s not so wet and muddy. But on particularly muddy courses, and as you start to seek out more performance gains, spikes are your best bet. Is there any other kit you need aside from appropriate shoes? Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best used for: Training and racing; Weight: 193g (UK 9 ); Heel-to-toe offset: 10mm READ NEXT: Run further and faster with the best running shoes The best cheap running shoes to buy 1. Reebok Floatride Energy 4: Best cheap all-rounder running shoes The shoe is a good choice as a versatile option that can handle most terrains and conditions this winter. In times when we all need to consider our environmental footprint I would want to see how long the Soil Shaker 2 lasted before they needed replacing. If we want to reduce the amount of things that we throw into landfill then spending more money on kit that lasts longer is a better approach. A longer term test of the shoes is needed, hopefully the Soil Shakers prove to be both inexpensive and long lasting.

I did my first walk in the Soil Shakers yesterday - 12+ miles on mostly damp tarmac, which I usually find to be the slipperiest of all surfaces - especially when coated in a thin layer of oily clay! I was really pleased with the grip, which was far better than my Merrells - my usual favourite road shoes. And despite walking a fair distance in brand new shoes, my feet felt fine. What kind of running shoes should you wear for a cross-country race? The answer can change with every cross-country race you do, and even in the days leading up to a race depending on the vagaries of the weather. There are three main options: normal trail shoes with relatively small lugs that are good for a variety of surfaces; deep-lugged or studded trail shoes designed for muddy conditions and fell running; or lightweight racing shoes with spikes in for gripping in the mud. The ripstop upper offers a durable and comfortable fit and the rubberised bonded overlays around the heel and toe give the shoe little protection. The gusseted tongue helps keep the worse of the conditions outside the shoe whilst it’s generous padding means you can pull the shoe on securely with comfort.The outsole uses Continental rubber and is inspired from the patterns found on off-road bike, so traction is great weather descending or climbing rugged terrain. It’s a great update to an already popular model and could be considered one of the best all-round trail shoes around. Not a member yet? Sign up here to be part of the RunUltra community and share tips and stories with thousands of fellow runners around the world. They come in a multitude of colours which always baffles me with fell running shoes because the minute you hit the fells the shoes all adopt the same mud colour anyway. So a grey/brown colour ought to be sufficient, although that’s probably why I never got a job in marketing!!!

Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best used for: Training; Weight: 285g; Heel-to-toe offset: 10mm If that’s not a problem then a neutral shoe is best. The choice then comes down to whether you want a cushioned shoe to protect your body from the impact of running, or something more streamlined and lightweight to use for fast running, like speedy training sessions or races. There are also all-rounder shoes, which offer enough cushioning to cope with all your training while still being fast enough for races. The Vibram outsole has 3mm deep lugs, ok on most trails except for muddier routes, but being Vibram it copes very well in the wet and dry. The cushioning is relatively deep for a trail shoe at 29mm in the heel (10mm drop) and that’s what helps give it that very cushioned feel.During January it’s hard to avoid the fact that there are sales on everywhere in the UK. I’m not much of a shopper generally as I tend to replace stuff once it’s worn out, but there’s no harm in looking, right? The flexibilty of the sole means there is little underfoot protection so running on stony ground can be uncomfortable.