Even if you’re happy buying any brand, there are still some decisions to be made about the shoe you buy. The main one is whether you need a shoe with stability features to counter overpronation – where your foot rolls excessively inwards upon landing, which can increase your risk of injuries. Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Stability; Best used for: Training; Weight: 244g; Heel-to-toe offset: 6mm

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. The upper is made up of 50% recycled materials and uses an open mesh knit which thankful lets any water out as easily as it gets in. Rubberised welded sections provide protection in key areas of friction and add to the overall durability of the shoe. The fourth version of the Agility Peak sees updates to the midsole cushioning, upper fit and overall quality of the shoe that makes a serious contender in this space. If you’re someone who wants the best of everything the minute it comes out, there’s no getting around it—you’ll need to splurge to get the running shoes you want, especially if you’re after a set of the best carbon plate running shoes. Thankfully a good pair will usually last for more than 500 miles and the materials used in some of the top-line shoes offer some impressive benefits.

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? At this price, the Escape Pursuit has to be one of the best value trail shoes available this winter! Runners who overpronate and need a stability shoe sometimes miss out on the most exciting new developments in running. That’s often because brands focus on creating new soft, springy foams, which are great fun but not exactly what you want underfoot if seeking stability. That said, I was expecting to be disappointed. How can they be as good as the alternatives which retail (and have sale prices) at least double the cost of these? It’s a well put together shoe and feels strong and durable yet at the same time comfortable for long days on the trails.

Previously I’d run in Inov8s but whilst they score well on the grip, I tended to find them too narrow a fit. And my feet aren’t that wide. I understand that they do come in different shoe widths, but when I bought my last pair of X-Talons (admittedly a long time ago) it was Hobson’s choice! Our Higher State Trail Running Ambassador, Josh Westwood, has been busy putting the Trail Running Shoesto the test. 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? No, certainly not. This is one of the inherent beauties of cross-country. In the same field you’ll find elite thoroughbreds, complete newcomers, veterans and juniors. It really is all abilities. Do you need spikes or can you weartrail shoes? The 7mm outsole lugs excel in the wet and mud and are the standout feature of the shoe, making it a great value option for the winter.Updated Ripstop Mesh Upper– Robust upper and offers debris protection, while still providing much needed breathability. Grass and parkland, in varying degrees of muddiness as the season progresses, are the most common surfaces you’ll encounter in British cross-country, but you’ll still get a fair amount of variety from course to course. Don’t be surprised to encounter trails, clay or an out-and-out bog. Do you need to be a member of a running club to attend races? And what do they cost? Lighter trail shoes are useful when the course has long road or hard sections, or early in the season when the ground is still firm, where deeper lugs or spikes can be uncomfortable. However, for almost all of the UK cross-country season you will need more grip than an all-terrain trail shoe can provide.

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. 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.Pop into any specialist running shop and you’ll likely be able to get gait analysis, where an expert observes your running form for free. Primarily, the specialist will look at how much your foot rolls inward when it hits the ground. “Overpronation”, where the foot rolls excessively inwards, can increase your risk of injury, so runners that overpronate are generally advised to buy stability shoes that gently guide your foot into a neutral position when they land. If your foot already lands in a neutral position when running, you should generally go for a neutral shoe, although heavy runners might welcome the extra support of a stability shoe. It’s particularly good for short, sharp interval sessions, but really can handle almost any kind of running, with the one caveat that you might want more support than it offers on long runs. It’s certainly got the speed for racing as well as training, and the durable outsole grips fantastically well in all conditions. 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. The flexibilty of the sole means there is little underfoot protection so running on stony ground can be uncomfortable. Perfect for fell and mountain running, the Higher State Soil Shaker 2 has an 8mm drop, rugged outsole and ripstop upper that will have you tearing through the mud with ease, whilst offering maximum cushioning and ventilation. Lighter and more robust than its predecessor, the Soil Shaker 2 will have you running with efficiency and agility.