As an outdoors journalist, I get to test a lot of the best trail running shoes, and in doing so, I have developed a whole new vocabulary. Where I once thought there was just a sole I've learned there is in fact a grippy outsole and a midsole – that wedge of cushion usually made with EVA foam which can ensure you don’t end up with sore feet after a long day on the trail. Tongues can be gussetted which helps keep debris out when you’re on loose terrain like desert trails or scree and it turns out those extra lace holes ensure a good lockdown fit. Oh and don’t even get me started on the virtues of a wide toe box.
In addition to all that, as I’ve learned, if you want a good run, you also have to pay attention to the upper, which is basically everything above the midsole. This needs to be breathable, otherwise you’ll be checking that your feet aren’t smoking after a few miles, and flexible enough that your foot isn’t restricted while you’re running. However, it also needs to give your feet really good protection against trail hazards like sharp rocks which can cause some serious damage to your toes. That’s a lot to live up to.
