Is there anything that will get you closer to nature than hitting the trails for a winter run or hike? Possibly not. As a bonus, heading off road is good news for your pace, strength and injury resilience, too. While the road and trail activities require the same striding action – that is, putting one foot in front of the other – they’re also worlds apart because they place different demands on the body. Heading off the beaten path means your foot will be coming down onto an uneven surface, and your hips, knees and ankles will have to compensate to help move your body forward. This builds strength, which is a great grounding for faster and stronger striding on the roads. So, if you’ve been hitting the pavements all summer-long, step out of your comfort zone this winter by tackling the dirt track. The catch? You’ll need a grippy pair of shoes to do it…
BEFORE YOU BUY
When buying a pair of trail shoes, it’s easy to get lost in the technicalities and drowned in jargon such as ‘lugs’ and ‘rock plate’, when all you care about is comfort and not sliding about. To help you cut through the noise, Neil Findlay, resident product expert at Merrell (), offers these top
