Archive for month: February, 2017

Running is one of the purest forms of exercise you can perform.  When you run, you are using the body’s natural movements to propel yourself forward at high speeds —  it is exhilarating, rewarding, and challenging.

Obstacle course running makes the act of running even more exciting!  It involves running over all kinds of terrain, climbing obstacles, and jumping over barricades.  Obstacle running is a form of running that feels much more enjoyable than running in circles on a track or dodging traffic as you jog in the city.

However, obstacle course running is also an extremely demanding form of running that requires a lot of skill.  It also requires better equipment, including a great pair of running shoes that are suited to many different types of terrain including sand, dirt, rocks, cement, and mud.

This guide will offer some tips for buying the right pair of running shoes before highlighting 5 of the best obstacle course shoes on the market!

Choosing the Right Obstacle Course Shoes

Here are a few simple tips to help you choose a great pair of obstacle course shoes.

The Inov-8 X-Talon 212 is a reliable and highly durable shoe that was first released in 2013.  It is specifically designed for obstacle course and cross country running, and is packed with useful features.  It has become a best seller for Inov-8 and are used by many obstacle course racers.

The shoe is primarily made from fabric and synthetic materials, with a natural rubber sole.  It is a tight-knit shoe to reduce the risk of water ingress and the textile upper is abrasion resistant — ensuring the shoe continues to look great for a few years.  If water does manage to enter the Inov-8 X-Talon 212, its quick draining system will take care of it.

These shoes come with a 6 mm removable insole, allowing the wearer to tweak the fit.  The midsole is made from injected EVA, which adds to the comfort of the shoe.  The sole features very deep cleats, which are perfect for wet conditions.

This is another very popular shoe amongst obstacle course racers and you will regularly spot it out on the trail.  The popularity of the Salomon Speedcross 3 is based upon its incredibly durability, and performance.  This shoe is also a fantastic all-rounder — if you are unsure about the weather or trail conditions, you can wear these shoes and be prepared for anything.

This shoe is packed with useful features including anti-debris mesh to keep crud out of your shoes and the quicklace speed lacing system.  This lacing system uses Kevlar fibres and a plastic pulley system to lace up your shoes and lock the laces into place.  This system seals the shoes well and makes putting them on a breeze.

The Speedcross 3 has a well padded heel, so it is an excellent option for runners who experience some heel discomfort.  This shoe has a synthetic, seamless upper with SensiFit construction.  This is a seriously well-made upper that will do well in any weather conditions.  The sole is synthetic and has a sole tread depth of 3/16 inch.  It has an aggressive tread pattern which provides excellent traction on most surfaces.

ASICS recently updated its Fuji Runnegade line, making a number of improvements which make the shoe even better for obstacle course running.  The ASICS Fuji Runnegade 2 how has a better sole and an anti-gravel tongue to prevent debris from entering the shoe.

The latest version also has better drainage and breathability, which makes this shoe a great choice in wet conditions.  The Fuji Runnegade 2 has a Solyte® midsole, which reduces the weight of the shoe.

ASICS shoes are usually very comfortable and the Fuji Runnegade 2 is no exception.  It has a thick heel gel cup and plenty of cushioning in the shoe itself.  The excellent support provided by this shoe makes it a great choice for people with weak heels or ankles.

Rebook appears committed to produce a great pair of obstacle course running shoes.  They have been regularly modifying their All-Terrain Super OR shoe based on user feedback since it was released.

The latest version of the shoe features a super-tough Condura® upper, which uses high tenacity synthetic fibers.  This is a huge improvement over the original All-Terrain Super OR, which had issues with ripping.

This shoe uses a speed lacing system that is simple-to-use and effective.  It helps to reduce the amount of debris that can enter the shoe while running.  If any fluid does enter the shoe, it is quickly removed with the Reebok’s H2O Drain technology.  Other useful features include mid-foot teeth for additional traction while climbing and an underfoot rock guard.  This is a great all-rounder shoe that will perform well in any conditions.

This is another great pair of obstacle course shoes from Inov-8.  These shoes are designed for competitive runners and are very lightweight.  Because they are designed to minimize their weight, they have less padding than most obstacle course shoes and the heel drop is only 3 millimeters.

Other features include a water-repellant textile upper, thick teeth on the sole tread, a toe guard, a removable 3 mm insole, the TPU Lacing System, and a minimally-padded tongue.  These shoes have a low-profile injected-EVA midsole, making them somewhat shorter than most other pairs of obstacle course shoes.

If you are interested in racing competitively, these shoes are an excellent choice — just be aware that because they are lighter, they are less durable than other obstacle course shoes.  If you regularly run in extreme conditions, you will see these fail earlier.

Our Verdict