Are Trail Running Shoes Good for Walking on Concrete?
Are Trail Running Shoes Good for Walking on Concrete?
Yes, you can wear trail running shoes for walking on concrete. If your walk includes a mixture of pavement, gravel, grass and trails, they can actually be a handy option.
But if nearly all of your walking is on concrete or tarmac, they may not be the best shoe for the job.
The main difference comes down to the sole. Trail running shoes are designed to grip softer, uneven ground, while road running and walking shoes are generally built to feel smoother and more comfortable on hard surfaces.
Can You Wear Trail Running Shoes on Concrete?
Absolutely.
Walking across pavement or spending part of your route on concrete is not going to damage a trail shoe immediately.
The issue is more about how often you are doing it.
If you walk from home to a nearby trail, use them around town occasionally or regularly switch between road and off-road surfaces, there is no real problem.
If you are walking several kilometres on pavement every day, however, a road running or walking shoe will usually make more sense.
Why Do Trail Shoes Feel Different on Pavement?
Trail running shoes normally have a more pronounced tread underneath.
Those raised sections of rubber, usually called lugs, are there to dig into surfaces such as:
- mud
- loose soil
- gravel
- wet grass
- uneven trails
On concrete, there is nothing for those lugs to bite into.
A shoe with very aggressive tread can therefore feel firmer or slightly less smooth underfoot than a road shoe.
Not every trail shoe is the same though. Some have relatively shallow tread and are designed to cope with a mixture of surfaces.
Will Concrete Wear Out Trail Running Shoes Faster?
It can.
Concrete and tarmac are abrasive surfaces, and softer trail rubber can wear more quickly when it is repeatedly used on them.
Again, an occasional stretch of pavement is nothing to worry about.
It becomes more relevant if most of the shoe's mileage is being done on hard ground. In that situation, you may be wearing down the trail-specific part of the shoe without really getting much benefit from it.
What About Mixed Road and Trail Walks?
This is where trail running shoes can work really well for walking.
Plenty of routes in Ireland involve a bit of everything. You might start on pavement, move onto a gravel track, cross wet grass and finish on a forest path.
You don't necessarily want to change shoes halfway through your walk.
For that type of route, look for a versatile trail or road-to-trail shoe rather than something with extremely deep lugs designed for mud.
You still get additional grip when the ground becomes loose or slippery, but the shoe should feel more natural when you return to pavement.
Are Trail Shoes More Comfortable Than Walking Shoes?
Not automatically.
Comfort depends on the individual shoe, its cushioning and how well it fits your foot.
Trail shoes can be very comfortable for walking, particularly if you like lighter footwear and regularly use uneven ground.
But if nearly all of your walks are on flat pavement, a road running shoe or dedicated walking shoe will often provide a smoother ride.
The important thing is to choose for the surface you use most rather than simply assuming a trail shoe is better because it has more grip.
When Do Trail Running Shoes Make Sense for Walking?
Trail shoes are worth considering if your walks regularly include:
- forest and woodland paths
- gravel tracks
- parks and grass
- muddy sections
- coastal paths
- a mixture of road and trail
If your normal walk is almost entirely streets, pavements and other hard surfaces, there is probably little advantage in choosing an aggressive trail shoe.
The Bottom Line
Trail running shoes are perfectly fine for walking on concrete, particularly when pavement is only one part of a mixed route.
You do not need to avoid concrete just because you are wearing trail shoes.
But if most of your walking is on hard surfaces, choose footwear designed with those surfaces in mind. It will usually feel smoother underfoot, and you will not be unnecessarily wearing down trail tread that you rarely use.
Heading off the pavement regularly?
