
The thick padding gives you a squishy feel and is ideal for regular runners and marathon runners. Known as the best running shoes for injury prevention, these come with the maximum padding available, meaning more stack height. However, the different types of cushioned shoes are based on the stack height, which is the shoe thickness between your feet and the ground.

The padding of your shoes determines if you either want to feel the ground or just float on it. Midsoles with rock plate to protect your feet against rough surfaces.Įach runner may require a different level of cushioning. Softer midsoles with cushions to protect your feet from the pavement These are smaller, lighter and breathable.įlat outsoles built with heavy-duty rubber to combat the hard concrete.īigger outsoles made with sticky rubber to suit the uneven trail surfaces. Road vs Trail shoe Differences Road Running Shoes These are made of plastic or carbon fibre material either embedded within the midsole or sandwiched between your midsole and outsole to give you that extra protection against small rocks and other sharp objects. Most importantly, its key feature is the inclusion of a rock plate. Trail shoes are designed for better grip, support and protection around your ankles. If you frequent rough, off-road, muddy or inclined trails, this kind is your best pick. These are designed to hold the impact of the hard surfaces and have less wear and tear compared to the rugged trails. These are the most common types of shoe ideal for human-made surfaces like the pavement, footpath or concrete roads. Now, let’s understand the purpose of these different kinds. There is a difference in the look, feel and design of the shoes because road running shoes are not best fit for trails and vice versa. Manufactures design running shoes keeping in mind what kind of surface you plan to run on.

Now, let’s discuss all these types further. You have to consider the environment or the surface where you run, your weight, speed, body type, foot type and above all, your gait. Picking the right pair of shoes can be tricky.
