THE RIGHT STUFF — Warburton Trail Fest

TRAIL RUNNING - WE CLAIM IT’S ABOUT SIMPLICITY, ABOUT GETTING BACK TO BASICS, THE SHEDDING OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF LIFE… RIGHT?

WELL, YESSSSSS, BUUUUUT, GEEZ THERE’S SOME NICE KIT ABOUT (AND A LOT OF IT!).

AND REALISTICALLY, IF YOU DON’T HAVE A HYDRATION VEST FOR THE LONG RUN, OR YOU ERRONEOUSLY WEAR DOOR-TO-TRAIL SHOES ON A STEEP, MUDDY TRAIL (LIKE THE DONNA DOUBLE), WELL YOU’RE GONNA GET IN STRIFE.

Luckily for us our major event partner, Salomon (and Suunto) has a huge range that pretty much covers the gamut of what you’d need, and we’re here to tell you that a wardrobe half full of trail running shoes shouldn't be a guilt laden thing … it just means you’re prepared for any type of trail you might happen to run. After all PPPPP - Preparation Prevents P!ss Poor Performance, right? - so let’s prep you with a few tips on the best kit matched to the different trail run outings at the Salomon Warburton Trail Fest….

CHECK OUT OUR RECOMMENDED GEAR PAGE NOW… (Preview Below)

SHOES

LUMBERJACK ULTRA 50KM

Let’s start with advice for the Lumberjack Ultra, 50km of truly mixed terrain that can be flat, but uneven and carpeted with bush debris, then steep, slippery and potentially muddy; it’s soft and mossy in parts, technical and a downhill gradient in others,; there’s even some (eeeeeek) road running in parts; then there’s the home stretch on buffed, greed, gravel walking paths. It’s a real mixed back, making shoe selection difficult given it’s also an ultra.

Let’s start there - ultras tend to need a little more plush comfort and ride than shorter outings. The steep and damp stuff needs at least a modicum of grip. Then the technical down needs some decent amount of ground feel - giving the ability to react quickly to the uneven, ever-changing terrain beneath you, including roots and rocks. The soft stuff need grip again. Then the road and buff gravel sections mean you again need a little padding, feedback is not as important, comfort is (especially because these sections are late in the running). Hang on - there’s also a river crossing! And while it’d also late in the piece, you still want your shoes to drain decently for comfort in the last 5km or so. It’s a lot to ask of one shoe, but here’s our pick(s):

S/Lab Genesis - mixing it up - as the Lumberjack course does in terms of terrain - this is the go-to. Racey, grippy with plush but not too bolshy, they provide a good balance between grip, trail feel and protection. The calf cuddle sleeve is perfect for Lumberjack given this course throws plenty of debris at you, and the toe cap good for keeping the knocks at bay.

Ultra Glide 2 - another shoe that is described as a chameleon, because it copes with a variety of terrains and surfaces. Lucky that ‘cause the Lumberjack constantly changes between soft and wet, hard and slippery, mulch and then some road plus a river crossing… So these will just glide you right over the lot.

Read more on our shoe selections for each Trail Fest event HERE