safarisamHi, does anyone else trail run? I got super into it this year and feel pretty dumb for not doing it sooner. Seems like it should help my ski touring out this winter.
Do you guys run thru the winter or leave it as a seasonal sport? (Also if you do run in the winter how are the kahtoola microspikes because my yaktrax run did not hold up this past winter)
I do! It's the worst and also the best! I mostly run in the shoulder seasons and some in the winter. Mid-summer we usually do a few big run/hike/scrambles with plenty of walking, but jogging in the mellow bits. IMO "Trail Running" is best used as an excuse to do routes that usually take backpackers three days in one long day, so you get to drink hot coffee before, and cold beer after, instead of hauling around a heavy pack.
For winter running, I don't do have microspikes, I have done a few spring jogs that required an ice axe (most running vests have good attachment points). In the winter I'm usually running packed snowmobile trails which have the perfect consistency for jogging without hurting your knees and have great traction.
For winter runs I do have the Salomon S-Lab XA Alpine, which is a pretty interesting shoe. It's super expensive, but also if you're using it mostly on snow/mud it never wears out, mine are four years old and still look new. If you run in the winter a lot I highly recommend it. The sole is pretty stiff, it's not fun on like dry dirt trails, but you can kick steps really well with it, and it keeps your feet really dry, and the gaiter thing is awesome. I believe Salomon made a crampon for it for some of their athletes, but I don't think it ever became publicly available.
I've been in a bunch of different vests/packs and haven't found the perfect one yet, although I do love the Salomon ones. Currently in an INOV8 pack that is so big I could probably camp out of it, need to get something smaller for next year. And I need to get a little windbreaker/houdini thing.
Running is cool! Let's have a running thread!
