UKC

I'm away to buy mine today (or tomorrow) and opinion is divided among mates.

What trainers/boots/hybrids do you use?

In reply to Tony the Blade:

Inov8 Flyrocs for me. my partner had Mudroc 280s last year, but needs a new pair and may try something different.

In reply to Tony the Blade: Depends how fast you're aiming to run! Trainers/fell running shoes are fine. I managed it last year in a pair of old Timberland off-road trainers - hardly specialist gear - but I slid around quite a bit (allowing even Rubbishy to keep up with me in his Walshes). Generally muddy, and slippery as hell when descending, so look for a trainer with a bit of 'bite'.

In reply to Tony the Blade: I really adidas swoops. Walshes are the wrong shape for my feet. Lots of people rate Innov8.

In reply to Tony the Blade:
Get some fell shoes, e.g Walshes, Swoops or Inov-8.
I use Inov-8 shoes but the most important thing is to get ones that fit! For the KIMM/OMM you are going to be running over lots of evil tussock grass & heather so ideally you need shoes with a low and narrow heel. Normal trainers and "trail" shoes have a much higher heel so your ankles will keep getting turned over and you risk twisting an ankle. As well as decent grip, fell shoes lace up well on your feet so there is less risk of losing them in a bog too. Fell shoes are crap on road though.

In reply to Tony the Blade:

These bad boys would be prime...
http://sneakers.pair.com/l/pumps99.jpg

In reply to Tony the Blade:
I've got Adidas Swoops and I LOVE them!! Was wanting to get Innov-8's after hearing good things about them, but they just weren't right for my feet. Recommend trying on lots of pairs.

In reply to Tony the Blade:

Inov8 mudrocs for me.

In reply to Marc C: Either the OMM or the LAMM specifies in the rules that trainers are not allowed and are a bit more specific about footware. Dont know whether its enforced, but i'd say if you want to fell run, get some fell shoes- you'll really notice the diiference, especially downhill!

In reply to Tony the Blade:

New Balance RX Terrains.

In reply to Tony the Blade: Firstly what fits.

Re boots or trainers, depends what you are used to. If you've done quite a lot in the fells in trainers, then go trainers.

In reply to Tony the Blade:
Check what it says in the regulations. What have you been running in up to now?
A specialist running shop should have a decent selection of 'fell shoes' for you to try, get what feels best. I'd always go for fell shoes over trail shoes for these things (I have both). Especially the OMM, it's very probably going to be wet underfoot for most of the time. Get out in them before the event on the hills and get them wet.. you only have a couple of weeks and you will be wearing them for 2 days (and they'll be wet for those two days) so best be aware if you need to tape any bits of your feet up before you start!

In reply to Tony the Blade:
Go for fell shoes, but as the others say, make sure they fit your foot well.

I've always used Walsh's, and didn't get on with the Inov8's, but then my old man is the other way round.

Only thing to watch it the quality with the Walsh's - my first pair lasted ages, but the last two have both suffered from the sole coming unstuck Something to do with a change to the glue used apparently. Not sure if they;ve sorted it out now.

In reply to Tony the Blade:

I read somewhere that bob graham used a pair of these:

http://www.jamesandjames.com/pictures/dunlop/r1555.jpg

plus hard boiled eggs for fuel of course.

In reply to Tony the Blade:

It'd be worth having a look at La Sportiva's shoes, especially if you're planning to do some scrambling in them. I've reviewed the RaceBlades in the gear section if you want more details.

In reply to Tony the Blade:

this is a bit like the rock shoe conundrem (um spulling!!) try on and find what you like

done a few mountain marathons (about 10) and alot of fell races and my choice is inov-8 mudclaw 270 (not the newer 330 that are heavier, i really swaer by them, aggresive, and shed water very well.

I used to use walsh pb but they crucified my feet, however alot of people say that the inov don't fit that well around the heal and aren't as durable as walshes. so horses for courses

makes i would recommend to look out for are walsh, mountain bear and inov-8 (though not all their shoes are fell shoes check their suitability sheet on website), or new balance rx, i would suggest wearing something with a really aggressive outsole like the pb or mudclaw, it will really give you confidence on decent, and stick like sh1t to a blanket on the up hils, and specialist feelshoes like these seem to shed water better, and they are usually designed for british conditions rather than french, austrian, swiss or us, that are very different, like salomon, north face, timberland.

size wise, i personally go for a half size bigger than normal, though this will be explained by the shop you try them on at, with at least a thumb width extra length as your feet will swell up alarmingly over the weekend and it should hopefully then prevent painful rubs

and lastly don't bother with a gore-tex lining, your feet will get wet about 7 o'clock saturday morning and eventually dryout somewhere south of scoth corner on the drive home on sunday, and gore-tex won't won't make it any better!!!!!

apart from that, you have a cracking time and i hope you love it

other views are available on the fra (fell running association) website on their forum!

In reply to all of you:

I thank you, once again I thank you all.

After reading your advice I went to Run & Become and tried on various different pairs, paying particullar emphasis on those recommended by your good selves.

In the end I plumped for a pair of adidas Swoop 2's as I found they fitted like the proverbial glove and seemed to offer a degree of support that I need for my previously ruptured plantar fascia.

Once again, a very big thanks to all of you.

TtB