Top 5 shoes for the trails this summer

We have selected 5 pairs that tick a lot of boxes for a variety of trail requirements. It might be the vertical kilometre or La Junction you want to achieve while in the Chamonix valley and we know one of these pairs will help you along the way.

 
1. Inov-8 ROCLITE 275 - For the everyday trailer 

Let's start with a solid all-rounder. The Roclite 275 is a great pair to start anyone off on their trail adventures. From muddy mountain trails to rugged gravel descents and everything that Chamonix can throw at you. This is a lightweight trail shoe that still packs a bunch. It contains "Powerflow" shock absorption which takes the brunt of the trauma away from the wrong places and puts it back into the right ones. It also features inov-8's graphene-grip AKA the G-GRIP for improved traction which is a fancy way of saying the grip is excellent in slippy conditions (always a bonus in the mountains). The shoes also have a rock plate, to shield the foot against rogue mountain rocks. 

2. HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat 3 - For the knee conscious, needs comfort Trailer 

HOKA ONE ONE has come a long way over the years. They have always placed cushion comfort and lower limb support over all else, but for the first few seasons in their R&D process the shoes were massive, the soles were super thick and lifted wearers high off the ground. The idea behind the cushion was genius but perhaps its only been in the past few seasons that the design has caught up with the technology. The Speedgoat is a great shoe for someone who wants to protect their lower limbs from as much trauma as possible. With 5mm lugs they give good grip on dry or hard trails. And even though they still have that chunky look, they are light and of course SUPER comfy. 
 

3. La Sportiva Kaptiva - For the uber-competitive Trailer

Now, for the obsessive, watch wearing, timekeeping, Strava loving occasional event entering runner we have the Kaptiva. This is a thoroughbred trail shoe. The comp shoe of choice. It features heavily on the Sky Running world circuit and mountain running events with technical terrain. The Kaptiva is, in essence, a stripped-down racing-flat trail shoe. It has just the perfect amounts of everything and no more. Precision grip placement, a touch of cushion and a little comfort (but you'll be travelling so fast in these you won't have time to notice). The trial bike of the trail shoe world. This shoe is not designed to hang about. 

4. Salomon Speedcross 5 - For the Trailer with high aspirations 

This one is a Chamonix staple.  A local brand tested on Chamonix trails, with an R&D HQ a stone's throw away and the worlds finest trail runner Kilian Jornet sporting them across every major running event (and winning). The Salomon Speedcross is the go-to trail shoe for the casual and obsessive trailers alike. Like Kilian, it's nimble and bouncy across even the toughest of trails. It's lightweight but with the right amount of cushion too. The trailed (see what we did there) and tested Contagrip rubber sole is a genius move which applies chunky chevron-shaped lugs to the terrain to give great grip in muddy, snowy and slippy conditions and it has been known to produce all three on one Chamonix day!

5. Brooks Cascadia 13 - For the dawn till dusk sorta trailer

If its a long day of mostly hiking up with downhill and flat sprints then this could be the one you want. The Cascadia 13 with its convexed arch gives stellar support through the midfoot and ankle, the uppers give plenty of flexibility and ample wiggle room for those toes, and we all know they can swell up after a few hours on the move.  A major bonus for this model is the waterproofed Gore-Tex version that will make even the wettest mountain days a total breeze. 

Well, we hope that has given you some food for thought. 5 variations, for 5 kinds of Trailer, who above all else absolutely love getting out and amongst the mountain when they come to Chamonix. Running, hiking or a combo of both is all good here, not to mention all the other activities on your Amazon Creek chalet doorstep. The best part is after you have given all you can to the mountain, you can always have a luxury chalet to return to. There you will always find food freshly prepared and private spa facilities that are always ready to rejuvenate and ready you for the next adventure.