Key specs – Terrain: Road; Arch support: Neutral; Best used for: Training; Weight: 285g; Heel-to-toe offset: 10mm

Updated Ripstop Mesh Upper - Robust upper and offers debris protection, while still providing much needed breathability. That said, I was expecting to be disappointed. How can they be as good as the alternatives which retail (and have sale prices) at least double the cost of these? The Soil Shakers look quite chunky and certainly aren’t the lightest trail / fell shoe on the market; my pair of size 7 mens weighed in at 564g. I expected them to feel stiff and “clumpy” but they are actually remarkably flexible. When I tried them on I found that the laces were far too short to allow them to be fastened properly using all the eyelets! Although classed as a trail running shoe their aggressive sole makes them well suited to running on the fells. Features 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.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.

Compared with many others, running is a cheap sport. You don’t need a membership at special facilities to do it, or a whole load of very technical kit. However, while you might not need it, it’s certainly possible to splash a lot of cash on running gear, and that’s especially true when it comes to shoes.One of the best things about running is that it’s relatively inexpensive. A pair of running shoes and some sporty clothes is all you need to start pounding the pavement in earnest. Even if you pay to enter the odd event and join a club, it’s still much cheaper than most other sports. What kind of running shoes should you wear for a cross-country race? The answer can change with every cross-country race you do, and even in the days leading up to a race depending on the vagaries of the weather. There are three main options: normal trail shoes with relatively small lugs that are good for a variety of surfaces; deep-lugged or studded trail shoes designed for muddy conditions and fell running; or lightweight racing shoes with spikes in for gripping in the mud. 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. The multi-directional stud pattern of the Vibram rubber sole does a good job both ascending and descending and with the build quality feeling top-notch the shoe should be able to handle the worst conditions with ease and comfort. Grass and parkland, in varying degrees of muddiness as the season progresses, are the most common surfaces you’ll encounter in British cross-country, but you’ll still get a fair amount of variety from course to course. Don’t be surprised to encounter trails, clay or an out-and-out bog. Do you need to be a member of a running club to attend races? And what do they cost?