The terrain upon which you do the majority of your running should be one of the leading factors in your decision when trying to decide what shoes you are going to buy. The majority of running is done on the footpaths and roads of the city street and that is why we see so many different brands and models of road running shoes.

But there are other popular places to run such as the bush trails that give you a wonderful surrounding in which to run although it can be very uneven. It is this unpredictable and sometimes shifting surface that requires shoes that provide more features than the standard running shoe.

Heading off the paved surfaces and onto forest trails is a great way to experience the outdoors while exercising and a good pair of trail running shoes is essential. A very solid trail shoe is the Asics Trabuco 13, the latest version of what can be considered an iconic trail running shoe. The trail shoe has a base that is wider than the road running shoe to provide added stability and also has a lugged outsole to provide greater grip on the trail.

A type of shoe that is somewhat like a running shoe but comes with specialty features is the cross trainer. A cross trainer is heavier than the standard road running shoe and is designed to provide lateral support, something that you don’t usually get with a road shoe. You might wear a pair of cross training shoes when performing aerobics or volleyball so there is a great need to protect the ankles. Although cross trainers are designed with cushioning they are not designed as a running shoe and should not be used for extended running sessions.

Matching the type of exercise you do to the shoe that you wear is an important part of staying injury free. It will also help maximize your enjoyment of whatever sport you choose.