What are gravel running shoes? (2025)

“In general, we find that many of these shoes have more of an impact on road running than on the track,” Bowden says. “So, there will be a combination of foams, midsole geometry, less attention to fit, and a more precise outsole pattern compared to regular shoes.”

What are the benefits of gravel shoes?

In one word: diversity. You can lace up a gravel shoe at home with confidence that it will handle whatever lies ahead, provided you don’t hit a real technical trail or ankle-deep mud.

“Many shoes in this category can work well on roads, gravel trails, and light trails,” says Bowden. “This is not something that very many road shoes or custom shoes can do.”

The more bouncy midsoles aim to make heel-to-toe transitions easier, reducing leg muscle fatigue on uneven ground and on longer distance runs. They’re also often lighter than technical shoes, thanks to smaller lugs, less noticeable rock panels, and lower levels of upper reinforcement. This provides greater agility than heavier shoes, so you can move faster and lighter on runable terrain.

Do gravel shoes look different than “regular” track shoes?

“Yes and no,” Bowden says. A lot depends on the brand. Some companies, like Kraft, have many Gravel options. Others, like Salomon and Hoka, use redesigned road running shoes for their gravel category.

Bodine warns that gravel shoes have limits, too. “In my experience, most gravel shoes will be limited when you get to a moderately technical trail running scenario. Again, since the bulk of the gravel shoe experience is focused on overall riding on smoother terrain, performance declines when there are more turns or more challenging terrain with rocks and roots.”

Do you really need gravel shoes?

Photography: Kiran Alger

Like everything in the world of running shoes, it depends. There are trail shoes available with the chops to tackle everything from technical terrain to more runable terrain, e.g Hoka Speedgot 6 ($125). Some of the higher priced shoes e.g North Face Active Pro 3 ($250) Pair modified versions of the road shoes’ vibrant foams with carbon plates to deliver bouncy rides that don’t feel out of place on the trail. I’ve tested a lot of these shoes, and some quality road shoes perform better on the trail than cheaper road shoes.

However, if you regularly tackle harder, less technical mixed terrain while running, generally in drier conditions – and rarely venture onto more technical trails – there’s a good case for investing in a gravel shoe. It will happily carry you from road to road and back again, and even cover your trails On the road To the trail.

Likewise, if you’re a newcomer to road running, a gravel shoe may serve as a good halfway house as you transition from asphalt to singletrack, thanks to a ride that retains some of the familiarity of road shoes. They’re also an excellent suitcase shoe – if you’re traveling and can only fit one shoe in your luggage, the versatility of a gravel shoe makes it a great choice.