Like shoes in general, everybody has their own preference. It comes down to what works for you. Trail shoes offer a few advantages, and a few drawbacks, depending on the terrain you are running. In general, most trail shoes have less cushioning than many people are used to, but that does aid stability. If you are running on hard packed trails, with small or no rocks/roots, etc, road trainers work just fine. If you run more technical trails, you'll find a toe guard, offered on many trail shoes, to be a great thing. I personally find that the biggest advantage of trail specific shoes is in the footing/traction. I can run on loose dirt, mud, wet grass, etc, and not slip and slide like I do with my road trainers. Also, if you typically encounter water crossings on your trails, many trail shoes drain better.
So, in a nutshell, it pretty much depends on the terrain you are running. If your trails are not technical, and your street trainers feel okay, then save your money. If you have issues with footing, stability, or toe bruising, then you might want to give some trail shoes a try.
http://This message has been edited by piejones (edited Jun-21-2007).
