Most of the Urban runners who hit the trails for the first time experience slipping quite often due to a lack of grip and traction in the shoes. It’s because the shoes they normally wear are for roads and similar surfaces.
Shoes designed for both terrains are drastically different and we are here to answer all of your queries regarding both pairs of shoes. But before we answer those questions we would like to give brief information about the terrain you will be running on.
Roads and concrete.
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Concrete and roads are the smoothest surfaces that one can run on. Due to the smoothness, we can have a consistent running pace on this surface. The surface hard reflecting most of the downward pressure we exert while running, which can cause joint pains.
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Trails and off-road tracks.
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Trails have uneven surfaces and can be a slow surface to run on compared to roads and synthetic surfaces. Mud and sand surfaces are softer to run and absorb most of the downward pressure exerted during the run. The uneven surface and pointed rocks can cause injury.
Since both surfaces are way different therefore shoes for both surfaces are designed differently.
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Road /Concrete Running shoes.
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Road or concrete shoes are lighter and have breathable uppers for comfort. They have better-cushioning midsoles for better shock absorption. Their rubber soles are better for road and pavement grip.
These features are essential while running on the roads and concrete, you need more cushioning on the midsoles as well as a comfortable upper to minimize the downward pressure.
The light weight of these shoes makes sure that you run longer and have more miles per run. The extra padding and cushioning are the key features in a road running shoe that helps with shock absorption.
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Trail Running shoes
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Trail shoes are designed to provide a better grip and traction on uneven surfaces. The sticky rubber outsole and lugs provide the much-needed traction on a muddy surface.
Trail shoes have stiffer midsoles for better support and protective rock plates to protect the runner from pointy rocky surfaces.
The upper part of the trail shoes is made up of more durable materials to keep debris and mud away from the shoes. The added features in trail running shoes like outsoles, midsoles, and rock plates make them heavier than road shoes.
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