Soil Shaker by Higher State are a budget trail running shoe designed for the muddiest of conditions. We put the latest version to the test on the boggy Peak District fells. First Impressions Let’s start with comfort. Despite looking a little boxy and rigid compared to other trail running shoes, the Soiler Shaker 2 is actually quite comfortable and has a lot more flexibility than you may first think. It has good cushioning and low, firm support around the ankle. Weighing in at just under 300g – that’s about average for a trail running shoe – it strikes a good balance between weight and support. It’s a fairly narrow fit, so if you have wide feet, this may not be the shoe for you.

It’s a good combination of cushioning technologies and feels stable too thanks to the plate, which also contributes to the responsive feel and push off. In times when we all need to consider our environmental footprint I would want to see how long the Soil Shaker 2 lasted before they needed replacing. If we want to reduce the amount of things that we throw into landfill then spending more money on kit that lasts longer is a better approach. A longer term test of the shoes is needed, hopefully the Soil Shakers prove to be both inexpensive and long lasting. Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best used for: Training; Weight: 238g; Heel-to-toe offset: 9mm The moulded EVA footbed offers extra cushioning as well as anatomical support, fitting the shape and size of your foot to ensure ultimate comfort. Additionally, the moulded EVA midsole provides superior lightweight cushioning to ensure a smooth ride, especially on difficult or unpredictable terrain. Having ample cushioning ensures a more enjoyable, comfortable run as you can maximise both focus and performance. Soil Shaker Outsole If that’s not a problem then a neutral shoe is best. The choice then comes down to whether you want a cushioned shoe to protect your body from the impact of running, or something more streamlined and lightweight to use for fast running, like speedy training sessions or races. There are also all-rounder shoes, which offer enough cushioning to cope with all your training while still being fast enough for races.The ripstop upper offers a durable and comfortable fit and the rubberised bonded overlays around the heel and toe give the shoe little protection. The gusseted tongue helps keep the worse of the conditions outside the shoe whilst it’s generous padding means you can pull the shoe on securely with comfort. In the midsole, you still have the same Floatride Energy foam, which is lightweight and comfortable, and makes the shoe suitable for a wide range of running, from easy plods through to speedwork. The outsole grips well in all conditions and is durable, and in general you can expect to log many hundreds of miles in the Floatride Energy 4 without worrying about it breaking down. This only increases the value it offers. Lighter trail shoes are useful when the course has long road or hard sections, or early in the season when the ground is still firm, where deeper lugs or spikes can be uncomfortable. However, for almost all of the UK cross-country season you will need more grip than an all-terrain trail shoe can provide. The lacing is standard, with a traditional lace-up closure and padded, gusseted tongue that sits snug to the front of your ankle. This close fit ensures debris doesn’t enter the shoe.

How to choose the best cheap running shoes for you Should I buy cheap running shoes or just look for a good deal? Deeper-lugged trail shoes are more comfortable than spikes and generally have more grip on the rear of the sole. (Spikes usually only have spikes on the forefoot, which means it’s more likely heel-striking runners will come a cropper running downhill in mud.) Look for shoes with at least 6mm lugs or ones described as fell running shoes to ensure you get the grip you need. Fartlektraining is great for cross-country. The speed-play nature of it mimics the ups and downs and the variations in intensity of a race. Plus a weekly long run will give you the strength required for longer races. Cross-Country Running Shoe Guide

The Trail Hub

Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Stability; Best used for: Training; Weight: 244g; Heel-to-toe offset: 6mm The outsole uses Continental rubber and is inspired from the patterns found on off-road bike, so traction is great weather descending or climbing rugged terrain. This second incarnation of SportShoes' own brand trail shoe is available in a variety of eye-catching colours. I opted for Blue & Yellow as I've got a bit of a thing for bright running shoes, and they fit nicely into the colour scheme of my beloved Leeds United! However, there are less bright colourways available too if that's more your thing. The Soil Shaker 2 is designed for fell and mountain running, and they certainly look the part. My first impression is that they look quite 'plush' for a fell running shoe- there is noticeably more padding along the inner sides than you would normally find in a shoe aimed at this particular market. Excess padding and material tends to hold water, and this is something that most manufacturers try hard to avoid. It does look comfortable though! With new shoes I like to try the 'flex test'- seeing if I can fold the shoe in half so that the toebox touches the heel. A nice flexible shoe should be able to do this easily and shows that the shoe will not hinder the natural movement of your foot when going through its motion. The Soil Shaker 2 passed this test with flying colours! In terms of weight, my pair of UK 9.5 shoes come in at around 320g, comparable to similar models on the market.