Trail shoes are great choices of footwear if you intend to run long distances on road; however, there are a few things you should consider before committing to any pair of trail shoes. In other words, when shopping for shoes specifically designed for road running, one of the most important questions to ask is if the shoe is classified as stability, neutral, or motion control. However, with very few exceptions, almost all trail-running shoes are classified as neutral shoes. Therefore, while looking around at other options, there is a separate set of things you need to bear in mind. In addition to the fact that a pair of shoes should be comfortable to wear, there are five more factors that should be taken into account when selecting the best shoe for trail running.
- Tread
The most notable difference between shoes designed for road running and those designed for trail running is the more aggressive tread on the latter. The "cleats" on the outsole of a shoe are called lugs, and the deeper and more widely spread they are, the greater grip a shoe will provide you in mud. 
Be aware, however, that running on pavement or even hard soil might be painful when wearing shoes with deep lugs that measure between 5 and 7 millimeters in height. If you do most of your running on trails that have been packed down, or if you want to use a shoe for both trails and roads, you should opt for one that has lugs that are shorter (2mm–4mm) and placed more tightly together. Keep an eye out for the word "sticky rubber" in the outsole description of the shoe if you want to do a lot of running on gravel or uneven paths. The use of this specific rubber results in increased grip on the rock.
- Providing Support
Over the last several years, this facet of running shoes, whether designed for trails or roads, has seen the greatest modification. After the release of Christopher McDougall's best-selling book Born to Run in 2009, a flurry of shoe manufacturers rushed to produce minimalist footwear with less padding and a greater degree of "ground feel. 
" In more recent years, a number of shoe manufacturers, like Hoka One One, have taken the opposite approach and developed maximalist footwear that has an increased amount of cushioning than ever before. Although this is to a significant extent a question of one's own preferences, we will provide some general pointers to get you started. If you: (a) wish to use a shoe for both trails and roads; (b) typically run on hard-packed trails; or (c) intend to run very long distances, you may want to consider purchasing a pair of shoes with greater cushioning. If you: (a) run the majority of your miles on smooth, soft trails; (b) run the majority of your miles over shorter distances; or (c) just want a more agile, close-to-the-ground sensation, you may choose to go with less cushioning. The majority of runners with a larger build or those who battle with knee or joint problems have discovered that shoes with a lot of cushioning help lessen the impact of running.
- Geologic Plateau
The midsole of certain trail-running shoes is designed to have a rock plate or a nylon shank, both of which serve to protect the wearer's foot from the effects of rock bruising. It is a good idea to look for a shoe that already has this sort of protection built in if you want to run on trails that are rocky, gravelly, or tricky in nature. 
Rock plates add weight to a shoe inexorably, and if you don't need one—for example, if you run largely on smooth, soft trails or the road—preferable it's not to be bogged down by needless ounces than to be weighed down by rock plates.
- Heel-to-Toe Drop
In the most recent few years, this aspect has just recently been included in the standard vocabulary of running shoes. Heel-to-toe drop, which is sometimes referred to simply as drop, is a measurement that indicates how many millimeters of more cushioning are located in the heel compared to the toe. The traditional drop for running shoes is between 10mm and 12mm, which provides a generous amount of cushioning in the heel for runners who tend to heel strike, or in other words, land on their heels when they run. When a shoe has a drop that is lower, it will assist encourage a midfoot strike more than it would a heel strike. Many people believe that a midfoot strike has less effect on the body than a heel hit. When the drop is lower, your Achilles tendon will have to work harder, so be aware that switching to a shoe with a drop of 0–4 millimeters may require some time to adjust to, particularly when you are running uphill.
- Characteristics of Waterproofing
There are even waterproof iterations of some footwear. They are denoted by the letters "GTX," which is an abbreviation for "Gore-Tex®," albeit this is not always the case. 
Some, like integrated gaiters, may contain characteristics that assist protect the wearer from the elements, such as snow, dirt, or rain. Running in snow, cold weather, or other conditions that include moisture are best suited for shoes that are waterproof. In almost all other circumstances, they are likely to be excessive. Even if the waterproof membrane is labeled as "breathable," it will never breathe as well as it would in a shoe that is not waterproof. For this reason, if you live in an area where it rains sometimes but the temperature is consistently high, you should choose a shoe that has plenty of ventilation and mesh so that it can dry out fast. Keep in mind that if water or snow gets into the top of a waterproof shoe (for example, while walking across a stream), it may become stuck within the membrane. This is something you should keep in mind. Consider purchasing a pair of non-waterproof shoes that drain quickly instead, or pair your waterproof shoes with a gaiter designed specifically for trail running that prevents water or snow from entering through the collar. After locating the most suitable footwear for trail running, it is time to head out onto the trails.