Making Kona on 12 Hours a Week
The fall is a great time to take a break from the roads and explore some new terrain. It’s the perfect opportunity to forget about hitting a certain pace and simply explore some of the trails in your area. Those trail efforts will be a lot more fun with the right shoe – we’ve got some suggestions for you here that are sure to fit the bill.
Inov-8 Terra Ultra G260
$200 This summer Inov-8, the company that is based in the heart of fell-running heaven, the Lake District in northern England, launched a new series of training shoes that incorporate graphene, considered the world’s strongest material. The shoe most likely to fit the bill here in Canada is the Terra Ultra G260, which is geared for harder packed trails than you’ll typically see in the green, green fells around the company’s head office. The shoe, weighing 260 g, features a graphene-enhanced rubber outsole, breathable mesh upper enforced with Kevlar and a low-riding neutral platform that makes it really easy to keep your legs turning over on the trails.
Saucony Xodus ISO3
$180 Using Saucony’s Everun midsole material throughout you get lots of lightweight, comfortable cushioning in the Xodus ISO3. This lightweight (349 g) trail running trainer has a comfortable Isofit mesh upper that provides lots of breathable support. Traction comes from the 6 mm outsole lugs on the dual compound pwrtrac and XT-900 outsole. The end result is a fast feeling shoe with lots of support and traction, perfect for your next trail effort.
Under Armour UA Horizon 50
$180 These heavy-duty trail runners could easily double as hiking shoes, too, but at 337 g, they are considerably lighter than any hiking boot. There’s a quick-drying air mesh upper that fits snug to your foot and breaths well, so you’ll remain comfortable on longer efforts, too. The neutral last and full-length EVA midsole provides lots of flexibility and cushioning, so you get the best of both worlds when it comes to quick turnover and support as you hit the trails. There’s a welded heel and toe cap for abrasion resistance, lots of traction tanks to the zonal rubber outsole and the Lycra stretch collar ensures you won’t get sand, rocks or twigs in the shoe on gnarly trails.