GORE-TEX TRAIL RUNNING SHOES review.

I was asked if I wanted to do a review on a pair of running shoes from SportShoes.com , so I went and had a look at their website to see what they were all about and what they have to offer.

First of all they have a great video to help you choose the right style of trainers for you, it explains how you work out which is best for your foot type.

There is no such thing as the best running shoe in the world, because everyone is different, everyone has different attributes and requirements as a runner. Unsurprisingly, there are too many individual variables to make the perfect shoe for everyone - no two runners are the same! Our video guide therefore offers some helpful running shoe advice, allowing you to make a more informed decision when choosing running shoes which are right for you.

So I read their item on choosing the correct type and worked out that I need support running shoes. Next off I decided what use I will have for the shoes, what sort of terrain I will be going over, and I decided I wanted them waterproof - well you have all seen this summer weather. 

I chose this pair, because they suit my foot type, have a gel cushioning system, this is important to me as I have been prone to plantar fasciitis, and have a trapped  nerve in between my second and third toes. I do use insoles from the podiatrist to help with these problems.   I chose a gore-tex product - guaranteed to keep your feet dry, and have a trail specific outsole to provide both uphill and downhill traction. This was important to me as I have little sense of balance, tend to fall quite easily and hoping I will be less prone to slipping with them than with my normal foot wear. 

I tried them out the first evening along the river path, through all the mud and across grass and when we got home the outer material of the shoes was wet but my feet were bone dry, so 10 out of 10 on that score. 

I felt my feet were well supported, I had good traction, and apart from a numbness in my toe ( normal for me no matter what I have on) then my feet were still feeling good and we were out for  just over an hour. 10 out of 10 for this as well

I thought I would test their breath-ability properties by wearing them to work. I walk an average of twelve thousand steps in a  six hour shift, and it is a very physical job that gets the feet ( and the rest of the body) rather warm and wet. Normally at the end of my shift my socks are rather damp to say the least, but at the end or todays shift they were still dry, so 10 out of 10 for this as well. 

At the end of a shift my feet ache and I find my legs very tired. They were much better today even with little discomfort from the trapped nerve. This will be down to the gel padding doing its job well. 

Verdict - I could not fault these shoes in any respect at all, well made, very comfortable, offering good support and they do everything they promise to do. 


I was provided with the pair of running shoes for the purposes of this review, but this post is an honest opinion of my findings. OH is very jealous....thank goodness I got a pair he didnt want to pinch off me.