“In general, we are noticing many of these shoes have more of a road running influence than they do trail,” says Bodin. “So, there will be a mix of foams, midsole geometries, less attention to fit, and a more subtle outsole pattern compared to trail shoes.”
What Are the Benefits of Gravel Shoes?
In a word: versatility. You can lace up a gravel shoe at home with confidence that they’ll handle whatever lies ahead, provided you’re not hitting a really technical trail or ankle-deep mud.
“Many of the shoes in this category can run well on roads, gravel paths, and light trails,” says Bodin. “That’s not something that very many strictly road shoes or dedicated trail shoes can do.”
The more rockered midsoles aim to smooth your heel-to-toe transitions, cutting the calf muscle fatigue over uneven ground and on longer runs. They’re also often lighter than technical trail shoes, thanks to the smaller lugs, less pronounced rock plates, and lower levels of upper reinforcement. That serves up more agility than heftier trail shoes, so you can move faster and lighter over runnable ground.
Do Gravel Shoes Feel Different From “Regular” Trail Shoes?
“Yes and no,” says Bodin. A lot depends on the brand. Some companies, like Craft, have many gravel-specific options. Others, like Salomon and Hoka, use their redesigned road running shoes for their gravel category.
Gravel shoes also have limits, warns Bodin. “In my experience, most gravel shoes will be limited when they reach a moderately technical trail-running scenario. Again, because the bulk of the gravel shoe experience is focused on the overall ride on smoother terrain, performance declines when there are more turns or more challenging terrain with rocks and roots.”
Do You Really Need a Gravel Shoe?
Like everything in running shoe world, that depends. There are trail shoes out there with the chops to conquer everything from technical to more runnable terrain, like the Hoka Speedgoat 6 ($125). Some of the pricier trail shoes like the North Face Vectiv Pro 3 ($250) pair modified versions of their springy road-shoe foams with carbon plates to deliver bouncier rides that don’t feel out of place on the road. I’ve tested loads of these shoes, and some top-tier trail shoes run better on the road than cheaper road shoes.
However, if you regularly tackle firmer, less technical mixed terrain on your runs, generally in drier conditions—and rarely venture onto more technical trails—there’s a good case for investing in a gravel shoe. It’ll carry you happily from road to trail and back again, and even cover your road runs on the way to the trail.
Likewise, if you’re a newcomer to trail running, a gravel shoe could be a good halfway house as you transition from the asphalt to the single track, thanks to a ride which retains some road-shoe familiarity. They’re also an excellent suitcase shoe—if you’re traveling and you can only fit one shoe in your luggage, the versatility of a gravel shoe makes it a great choice.
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