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“Tips” The Pros and Cons of Waterproof Running Shoes

Running with wet feet is not going to be a pleasant experience for many people. However, we cannot control all the weather elements nor water-containing obstacles on our run. Waterproof running shoes are made to fix that. 

a man runs in rain

Waterproof running shoes – Needed features

First, you should understand what water resistance is. Waterproof technology is popular in many sporting goods today such as clothes, hats, shoes, etc. In which shoes are applied this modern technology quite a lot.

Some of the more effective waterproofing technologies like Gore-tex are selected by many major shoe manufacturers. There is also more technology such as Sympatex, Comfortex, etc. No matter which technology is manufactured, the main purpose is still waterproofing the shoes to protect your inner feet.

However, keep in mind that waterproof shoes are only limited to a certain extent, so you should not put too many expectations on the shoe and be able to immerse it in any water-filled stretch. Only after a while will your feet start to feel wet. Because they are waterproof shoes, not like rubber boots that are completely not absorbed when there is water.

Want not to be soaked in water deep inside you need to go constantly to push the water on the surface to the outside and not to soak it for too long, a long time will make the water gradually seep into the inside more.

needed features for a waterproof running shoes

Related: Running Gear For Rain and Wind: How to Handle A Rainy Race

 

Reasons to/not to buy waterproof running shoes

1. Pros

  • Waterproofing protects shoes, prevents shoes from being worn, increases durability.
  • Do not absorb water into the foot, causing skin irritation, scratching, or irritation.
  • Anti-slippery keeps you from getting injured while running.
  • Protect your health from diseases such as soles of the feet, foot fungus, acne in the legs, sprains, ankle sprains, …
  • Keep feet warm in winter and lightweight, comfortable.

2. Cons

  • Feet can get too hot on sunny runs in mild weather.
  • Waterproof shoes typically aren’t as flexible as traditional models.
  • $15-$20 more than non-waterproof models.
  • Most waterproof shoes are slightly heavier than non-waterproof shoes.
  • Moisture still can enter the socks.
a person runs in rain
Waterproof running shoes have both good and bad points

What to look for in a pair of waterproof running shoes?

Knowing what to look for in a pair of waterproof trail running shoes is more important than simply picking up a shoe with a great reputation. 

There are four main items in the criteria that all runners should try to meet when picking up a new shoe in cushioning, waterproof features, tread & traction and the heel-to-toe drop. Let’s take a look at each of the criteria in a little more detail.

1. Cushioning

The level of cushioning in a running shoe is another area that’s often up for debate with some runners preferring to “float” whereas others like to “feel”. 

There’s no real right answer for the amount of cushion that you should be opting for, and personal preference plays the largest part. In general, there are four main cushioning levels that runners can opt for:

  • Barefoot

As the name suggests, these are running shoes with no padding allowing the wearer to feel the trail and let your body do the rest. 

  • Minimal

If you’re not fully committed to the barefoot shoe, a minimal cushion might be for you. There’s much of the same benefit, but with a thin layer of the good stuff to reduce discomfort. 

  • Moderate

Moderate padding is the most common for trail running shoes and allows for enough padding to ensure comfort over a rocky trail. 

  • Maximum cushioning

A shoe with maximum padding is what you’re be looking at if you’re trying to minimize the stress on the joints and keep things easy on longer runs. 

 

2. Waterproof features

If you’re looking for a waterproof trail running shoe, there’s at least one clue to easy finding, it’s in the name. Gore-tex technology, one of the most popular technologies today for waterproof shoes, is abbreviated as GTX. Therefore, the shoes that have the word “GTX” in the name are more likely to be waterproof shoes.

There are innumerable benefits to keeping your feet dry, in general and on a trail, but I think we can all agree that wet feet are never good. For me, that’s a good enough reason to choose a waterproof solution when running through wet trails.

 

3. Tread & traction

Next on the list, it’s the tread and traction provided by a pair of waterproof trail running shoes. You should keep it in mind when choosing a new pair of running shoes.

It should come as no surprise that the underside of your shoe is one of the most important considerations when choosing a trail running shoe. Make sure you have absolute confidence in your placement.

If your path is no more than dirt, you won’t need peak traction. However, if you’re planning on scaling mountains or run over hills – you may want to consider focusing on additional traction and traction-like grip.

 

4. Heel-to-toe drop

Typically, minimalist shoes will have a heel drop of 0mm, minimalist shoes will have a drop between 0mm and 4mm, and the rest of the package will fit between 4mm and about 12mm.

If you’ve never heard of a heel drop before, then there’s nothing to worry about, though you should keep this in mind when shopping for your new trail running shoes. If you’re not sure where to start, then a great starting point is to look into your other sports or running shoes.

Ideally running on low-heeled shoes is best as it encourages swinging with the middle or forefoots, ensuring a solid grounding platform with the best balance and muscle interaction, but not for free. for everyone.

happy woman under rain
Having the right waterproof running gear in general and running shoes in particular makes you feel relax during runs

You know, there isn’t a shoe that is 100% suitable for everyone. You should consider factors that can influence the biological texture of your feet, choosing between different sizes, designs, and brands of shoes. After all, the advice we give is that you should have shoes that are suitable for each of your training purposes, and waterproof running shoes are one of them.

WellTraining

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