Whether you run on roads, gravel, or trails, getting a pair of shoes that are specifically designed for your adventures will make a huge difference to your overall enjoyment. This article examines some of the key differences including outsoles, cushioning, uppers, carbon plates, and more to help runners of all types make the right choice.

Outsole Design and Traction

The outsole of a shoe, which makes contact with the ground, provides essential traction on different surfaces. Its lug pattern and rubber compound determine grip, durability, and protection. Clearly, the outsole is one of the most immediately recognizable differences between road, trail and gravel shoes.

Road shoes feature a flat, minimal tread that is optimised for smooth grip on asphalt. This minimal tread is designed to move over tarmac as fast and efficiently as possible but the compromise is that it performs poorly on loose terrain.

Trail shoes are recognizable by their deep, aggressive multi-directional lugs that provide additional traction on technical terrain like mud, rocks and loose surfaces. They provide essential traction and safety on ascents and descents.

Taking inspiration from gravel bike tires, gravel shoes have a hybrid outsole with a central rolling band and lugs on the side. This design provides a balanced grip for a stable yet smooth ride over mixed surfaces.

Cushioning and Comfort

Once you put your shoes on and lace them up, the differences between road, trail and gravel shoes becomes even more apparent. Cushioning absorbs impact and reduces stress on joints and muscles for a more comfortable run. It also enhances efficiency by lessening fatigue.

Road shoes generally feature more cushioning that delivers comfort, protection and energy return, especially on long runs.

Trail running shoes, on the other hand, are less cushioned for better ground feel and agility. Throw in a thick outsole for protection and the result is a firmer, more stable ride.

Gravel running shoes aim for the sweet spot between comfort and versatility by featuring road midsoles with tuned protection for mixed terrain. Indeed, the midsoles of gravel shoes are the same as road shoes, it’s the outsole that is different.

Road running shoes for women | Road running shoes for men

Performance in Wet and Muddy Conditions

Wet and muddy conditions are one scenario where the differences between road, trail and gravel running shoes become very apparent.

Road running shoes with their minimal tread design are designed to excel on dry, hard surfaces. However, this means they are often slippery in adverse conditions.

Trail running shoes are designed with deep lugs to provide superior traction in mud and over loose, technical terrain.

With their moderately lugged outsoles and durable mesh uppers, gravel running shoes can be decent in wet conditions, but they’re not designed for deep mud.

Shoe Weight and Performance

Lightweight shoes enable you to move faster as well as reduce fatigue over long distances. All the best road running shoes are made to be as light as possible however, whether you’re on the road or trail, adding additional performance and comfort features invariably adds weight.

Because road running shoes are designed for more controlled surfaces like roads, running tracks and treadmills, road runners benefit from lighter shoes with more energy efficiency.

Because of the protection required and stability needed for overcoming harsh terrain, trail shoes are commonly heavier than road shoes.

Gravel running shoes are optimised for lightness and support and their weight usually falls between that of road and trail shoes.

Upper Material and Performance

The upper of a running shoe secures the foot to the midsole, providing a comfortable, breathable, and supportive fit. It prevents excessive movement and often incorporates features for ventilation and protection.

Road shoe uppers are typically made from a lightweight mesh for max breathability.

Trail running shoe uppers provide tough, tear-resistant, debris protection.

Gravel shoe uppers are breathable with reinforced zones for lightweight protection.

Trail running shoes for women | Trail running shoes for men

How to choose the right running shoes

For many runners, deciding between road, trail or gravel shoes is easy. City streets are best confronted with a comfortable, lightweight pair of road shoes. Technical trails require stable, supportive trail shoes with extra traction. Runners who venture from pavement to compact gravel will benefit from the emerging gravel shoe category.

But what if your running habits are not so easily categorised? What if you’re fortunate enough to live in a place where you can take advantage of the opportunity to run on streets and trails? In that case, our advice is to invest in a pair of shoes for each. Not only will your runs be much more enjoyable, but your shoes will also last a lot longer when they’re used for the specific purpose they were designed for.

Road-to-trail shoe compromises

But what if you don’t have the budget for multiple pairs of running shoes, or you just need to simplify your life by cutting back on all the stuff? Or for whatever the reason you’re leaning towards one pair of running shoes to do it all? Fortunately for you, running shoes have become so specialised that there are now more hybrid options than ever before. But be forewarned that you’ll have to make some compromises. For instance, most running shoes designed for both road and trail won’t have an outsole that’s aggressive enough for very technical trails with steep climbs and descents. Slippery or unstable terrain can be a real safety concern, and having the kind of shoes that will keep you upright and injury free can make the difference between finishing a difficult run with a smile on your face and ending it with bruised and bloody knees and arms.

Drawbacks of trail shoes on pavement

To our knowledge, using trail shoes on tarmac has never killed anybody. However, spend enough time clomping around in them on the street, and it won’t be long before your next run takes you to the front door of your nearest specialty running shop! Drawbacks of using trail shoes on pavement:

• Heavier, less efficient ride
• Excessive grip causes drag
• Lugs wear down quickly on asphalt
• Stiff, noisy, and slow
• Can cause foot fatigue on long road sections.

Gravel shoes for women | Gravel shoes for men

Gravel Shoes vs. Traditional Trail Shoes

With all this talk about gravel running and trail running, you wouldn’t be the only one to ask about the difference between the two. It’s certainly not a binary choice and there’s plenty of grey area in between. To begin with, trail shoes are designed with maximum traction and protection for conquering technical terrain.

Gravel shoes on the other hand are designed with more road shoe influence to provide a lighter, smoother ride. They feature road-like cushioning, a smart, hybrid grip outsole, are lightweight yet durable, and are protective where needed and not as overbuilt as trail shoes. These design elements are what make gravel running shoes ideal for running on unpaved roads and compact trails.

Signs to Replace Your Shoes

We know how much you love your shoes but when you see any of the signs below it’s time to start looking for a new pair:

• Worn lugs or outsole rubber
• Flattened midsole feel
• Reduced grip or comfort
• Upper tears or heel collar breakdown

Finally, the differences between road, trail, and gravel shoes are significant and distinct. Sure, you can (and should) make do with whatever you have if it gets you out the door. But using the right pair of shoes for the terrain they’re designed for will elevate your running experience.

So now for the fun part: head over to your favorite specialty running retailer, geek out, gear up, and get going. Check out our running community page for more how-to articles, tips, innovative new gear and more.