Gore-Tex® Trail Shoes

The Gore-Tex® Trail Shoes, the perfect balance between waterproofing and breathability

The running community in France brings together millions of people each year, coming from all walks of life to participate in a running event, a trail, or a jog. Trail running in nature is a rapidly growing activity that increasingly attracts city dwellers looking to escape the daily grind. The Gore-Tex® trail shoes in particular are becoming the number one choice in households. The Gore-Tex® membrane is an extremely thin layer of polytetrafluoroethylene, a material that contains over 1.4 billion pores per cm², allowing a product to prevent water molecules from penetrating. A Gore-Tex® trail shoe is thus recognized in the sports community for its durability and waterproofing. This waterproofing will be particularly useful during running sessions on muddy or snowy terrain. If you plan to visit the Mont Blanc region for a winter trail weekend, for example, there's no doubt that a Gore-Tex® trail shoe will provide you with all the warmth and comfort you need.

To choose Gore-Tex® trail shoes or not, that is the question

You want to adopt a Gore-Tex® trail shoe but are unsure if it suits your sporting practice. There are several reasons that may lead you to choose a women's Gore-Tex® trail shoe or a men's Gore-Tex® trail shoe! During your trail, you might encounter a stream or face light to heavy rain. In this case, the Gore-Tex® trail shoe is a wise choice as it will keep your feet dry and thus more effectively combat potential blisters. Conversely, if you are certain that your future terrain will not have any wet parts and the weather will be mild, as it can be during the Grande Bleue trail in Spain, opting for a model without a Gore-Tex® lining is a brilliant idea. You will indeed sweat more than in an ultra-breathable Gore-Tex® trail shoe, and with this sweat, you risk being wetter inside than from the outside.

How to choose your Gore-Tex® trail shoes wisely?

Just like a classic trail shoe, a Gore-Tex® trail shoe should be chosen based on several criteria. First, you need to determine your stride: are you a pronator, supinator, or do you have a so-called "universal" stride? To determine this, we recommend checking the wear on your Gore-Tex® trail shoe: this will help you identify which side you tend to walk (or run) on. Next, you will need to tackle the difficult choice of the drop of your Gore-Tex® trail shoe. The more regularly you practice, the more your drop will instinctively decrease. The universal drop of 8 mm is ideal for starting running and trail practice. For overweight individuals, a 10 mm drop, which offers more protection, is ideal. Conversely, a lean and highly trained person will see the drop of their Gore-Tex® trail shoe decrease over time and years.
Depending on the type of terrain you will be traversing on your next trail, you should also consider the outsole of your Gore-Tex® trail shoe. There are indeed several types of lugs to meet all your sporting needs. Some lugs will be prominent and flexible, ideal for running on soft terrain, while others, smaller lugs, will grip less and be used on trails, even if they are rocky. However, with a Gore-Tex® trail shoe equipped with lugs, it is advisable to avoid running on tarmacked surfaces, which can be detrimental to the shoes' integrity.
Finally, it is essential to remember that the primary role of a Gore-Tex® trail shoe is to properly support your ankle and protect your entire foot from various elements encountered, such as stones and other obstacles on your run. Some trail shoes have reinforcements that are ideal for effectively combating these elements. There are Gore-Tex® trail shoes equipped with a carbon plate designed to increase their lifespan and comfort, while others offer a well-reinforced mesh.
With all these selection criteria, how can you resist the temptation of a quality pair and proudly add a Gore-Tex® trail shoe to your wardrobe for your next running adventure? After choosing your Gore-Tex® trail shoe, all that's left is to decide where your next trail will take place!
On your next weekend, you could explore the Néouvielle reserve during a run with your new pair of Gore-Tex® trail shoes. You will discover a protected area where over 200 lakes, illuminated by the sun, await only one thing: for you to admire them as you navigate around them with your Gore-Tex® trail shoes.
If you are already well acquainted with the Pyrenees, you could then head with your Gore-Tex® trail shoe into the heart of the Alps to connect Chamonix to Zermatt on a trail. Again, the Gore-Tex® trail shoe will effectively protect you from the cold associated with altitude.
Perhaps all these destinations do not appeal to you much, and a long journey to try a Gore-Tex® trail shoe sounds more enticing. If that is the case, the Patagonia trail may be a dream for you. Will you set off to explore the Santa Cruz Province in Argentina with your future pair of Gore-Tex® trail shoes, or do you prefer a destination on another continent?

Salomon Gore-Tex® trail shoes, the shoes that protect you

Our top brands

Patagonia Ortovox Rab La Sortiva Lowa Altra Millet Moon Boot Helly Hansen Barbour Fjällräven Columbia Scarpa Vaude Mammut Julbo New Balance Hanwag Birkenstock Petzl