Email- Introduction
- Choosing Trail Runners
- Best Trail Running Shoes{4 mentions}{7 mentions}{5 mentions}{4 mentions}{3 mentions}{3 mentions}{1 mention}{2 mentions}
- Waterproof Trail Shoes{4 mentions}{4 mentions}{2 mentions}{2 mentions}
- Budget Trail Runners{5 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}{2 mentions}{1 mention}{2 mentions}
- Motion-Control Trail Shoes{3 mentions}{4 mentions}{2 mentions}{7 mentions}{1 mention}
- Green Trail-Running Shoes{2 mentions}{3 mentions}{3 mentions}
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Green Trail-Running Shoes
The top picks in eco-friendly trail runners
Many shoe manufacturers are making a concerted effort to construct their trail-running shoes in a more eco-friendly fashion, and several companies are focusing on this niche market completely.
END (Environmentally Neutral Design) Footwear has received a lot of praise from reviewers for its green running shoes, and the END Stumptown 12 oz. (*Est. $85) is leading the pack. END uses recycled EVA in the midsole, recycled shoelaces and bamboo in the tongue and collar. This trail-running shoe is Runner's World pick for the best debut of 2009, scoring points for its light weight and flexibility. Since it finds the protection minimal, Runner's World recommends it for level trails, rather than hilly or rocky terrain. Testers for Running Times find the shoe fits best on runners with wide feet.
Blue Ridge Outdoors also likes the END Stumptown 12 oz., calling it one of the fastest running shoes of 2009. The heel on the END Stumptown 12 oz. is lighter than other trail-running shoes the magazine evaluated, but they find it still holds up well for long trail runs. In a detailed review, Jason Mitchell of FeedtheHabit.com finds that the mesh upper is lightweight and breathes well during hot weather. As a result of his personal testing, Mitchell thinks the End Stumptown 12 oz. is a good choice ("both green and affordable") for trail runners who don't need a great deal of cushioning or support. It's available in men's and women's sizes.
Nike also offers a well-reviewed green trail-running shoe for men and women in the Nike Air Pegasus+ 25 ESC (*Est. $85). While Fitness magazine ultimately picks the Brooks Cascadia 4 as the best trail runner of the year, the Nike Air Pegasus+ 25 ESC is a close runner-up, winning accolades for an eco-friendly outsole and protective upper. Part of Nike's new Considered Design line, this trail-running shoe is made from a number of recycled materials. A tester for Fitness finds it lightweight and thinks the colors are perfect for hiding mud and dirt. Editors at the British edition of Men's Fitness praise the air-cushioned insole on the waterproof version of the Nike Air Pegasus+ 25 ESC, which they find makes this trail runner feel just as comfortable as a regular running shoe.
The top-rated Brooks Cascadia 4 (reviewed earlier in this report), made with the biodegradable BioMoGo midsole, is also a good choice for an environmentally friendly (or at least friendlier) trail running shoe.
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