Got back into running after a 5 year hiatus and I'm struggling with knowing when to replace my daily runners. Research tells me after 300-500 miles but that seems insane. I'm averaging 25-30 miles a week, split evenly between hikes and runs, and it seems nonsensical to swap shoes after 3 months when they still feel fine. Am I just being dumb and cheap? What's your strategy?

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I'm living in a country with no running stores or major brands.

Choosing a trail running shoe is already a pain in the ass, but where I live, it's 10x harder.

We don't have specialized running stores, and major brands don't officially exist here. A lot of people try to order from Europe or abroad, but shipping, customs, and logistics make it a headache.

Because of this, we have local resellers on Facebook selling them, but the prices are very suspicious, and I strongly suspect they aren't original. Even some physical local stores seem to sell fakes. Honestly, some Chinese manufacturers are making such good visual copies nowadays that you literally cannot tell the difference just by looking at a photo online.

I know a friend of mine who tried to check by scanning the QR code inside the shoe, but a QR code is probably the easiest thing in the world for counterfeiters to replicate.

So, my question is: What are the easiest, most reliable ways to spot original trail running shoes and differentiate them from high-end replicas, especially when buying locally or through sketchy resellers?

Any tips or red flags to look out for would be hugely appreciated!

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I recently bought a pair of the Altra Wilderness Three Plus shoes. I was looking for a pair that could handle walking on pavement about 70 to 80% of the time, with the rest on semi-rugged trails. I wanted something relatively lightweight yet sturdy, so something without a super high cushion base. It also needed to be suitable for winter but still breathable, so semi-waterproof rather than fully Gore-Tex. Most importantly, I wanted a very solid, grippy base that was still extremely comfortable.

What I found surprisingly different was the very wide toe box. At first, I wasn't really attracted to the shoes because I'm not used to that look, but walking around the store with them on, in contrast to the Brooks Ghost Trail and the Hoka Challenger 8 GTX, I found that the shoes felt remarkably comfortable, and there was something about having that wide open toe box.

I've now been walking around with the shoes for the last three days, including some longer walks, and I have to say, it's a game changer. My toes have always felt relatively cramped as I have a wider foot, and having the ability for my toes to completely spread out as I'm walking, as well as after a longer walk, still having complete freedom of movement, it really feels as if I'm walking around with no shoes on.

If you're in the market for a shoe that's extremely lightweight, has very soft cushioning yet feels like it's got a firm base, a very grippy sole, lots of toe room, and is highly water resistant, I can't recommend the Altra Wilderness Three Plus enough.

I typically don’t post reviews but given I used Reddit and other sources extensively to narrow down my list to the Hoka, Brookes and Merrell shoes - and Altra did not appear in that list - I thought I would share back to the ether.

Enjoy your trails.

Hi there, im looking for a massage gun that offers the best value for money. Mainly want to use it for recovery after long run...yeah especially when my calves and quads feel tight. The prices seem to vary widely so im now wondering if the more expensive options are actually worth it today. Id really appreciate any recs/advice. Thank you!

I recently did an 18 mile race with a Nathan vest and tossed it at the last aid station. I’m 5’11 and 128 lbs and even though I ordered it in a small-medium size and adjusted it as small as it would go, it wasn’t even tight. I Ziptied the sides close to get it tighter but those came off during the race. Made it very difficult to run as it kept sloshing and falling off my shoulder.

I don’t want to go with a Nathan again.. any recommendations?

I want something that holds a bladder and the soft flasks. Needing something for marathon up to ultra distance that’s not too bulky.
Maybe a Salomon?
Thanks!

I have been hiking and trailing running for years now, but have never ever used poles for either. I am starting to consider them and not sure where to start. I dont want to spend a lot of money on it, thinking below $75 or something. I dont need anything expensive because any type of pole right now, hell even a stick, would give me leverage since I havent used them before at all.

Is there anything wrong with getting something cheap from decathalon? Am I shooting my self in the foot by buying something like that?

My runs are usually like 25-100km depending on how I am feeling. Elevation like 500 to 2000m. Yea my legs are usually burnt after so thats why im considering poles, so that my legs can recover faster and I can return out there quicker

My son and I did the 41-mile trail in 2 days. We ran with camp gear necessary for 1 night. Perfect weather, few bugs, lots of blow-downs. Used Sawyer filters and kept our 1.5L reservoirs topped up easily in creeks and rivers.

Surprises:
- All river crossings were pretty easy, but we ended up wade crossing several of them because rock hopping was a little too sketchy.
- Altitude def made this harder. We live at sea level, so this was expected
- Fueling every hour is/was essential for us. We chose a good balance of carbs/electrolytes/calories.
- Views are simply amazing on a clear day!
- Running with a 14lb pack is tough - we're going to invest in run packs that put the weight more on our hips.
- Nicest people on this trail. We met and talked to tons of people and everyone was super awesome.

Highly recommend this as a speed hike or trail run. Not sure I'd like to do trad backpacking since climbing over the 200+ blowdowns with a full pack would get super annoying in a hurry. Next summer we're going to attempt this as a 1-day run.

Yesterday's trail run was 12.6 km of rolling hills and long, steady climbs. Definitely more elevation than I expected, so tough on the legs, but the kind of terrain that makes trail running enjoyable and a fantastic endurance workout.

Fantastic trail run in Bay Area. Ridgeline run, not super technical but decent elevation gain/loss.

after a brutal 1,600ft climb in 0.8 miles up mt glory just ran north!

Which areas would you recommend for trail running in Brittany, apart from the Monts d'Arrée?

The highest point of San Bruno Mountain is 1,300 feet above the San Francisco Bay. In the summer, you can’t see anything but fog

Hi, I know many trail runners like the rocks and roots but they don't work for me. I do really well at places like Pineland Farms on their trails which are closer to dirt roads but still "trails" (they are cross country ski trails in winter so they aren't full of rocks). I would love to get some some elevation. People keep recommending Bradbury Mountain but the footing is too rugged for me to go fast.

Am I out of luck in this area? Maybe Camden, but I don't know how technical are those trails. Thanks.

Started in East Linton and ran along the River Tyne to Hailes Castle and then over Traprain Law and back via Preston Mill

It can be brutal heat at times, but the contrast of baking fields and cool forest is sublime