Trail running in summer: how do I choose my equipment?

Summer is a special season for trail running enthusiasts. Summer conditions make the mountains more accessible. With more time off, runners have more time to indulge their passion. Runners also often set their running goal for the year during this period! So how can you avoid missing out? Firstly, by diligently and intelligently making sure your training is enjoyable, but also by making the right choice of equipment, particularly for your feet.

In summer, sessions are longer; running and hiking take place on wilder, rougher terrain; and the hot, humid conditions are more demanding. Confidence in your equipment is therefore essential. For nearly 50 years, Sidas has been designing comfort and performance solutions for the feet of sportsmen and women. Our socks, insoles and protective equipment for trail running have one goal: to make you forget about your feet when you're running on trails, so you can focus on the moment.

If you're trail running this summer, find out how to choose the right equipment in this guide! What socks, insoles and foot protection should you use for summer trail running? Right this way!

”How not to miss your trail goals? Firstly, by diligently and intelligently making sure your training is enjoyable, but also by making the right choice of equipment, particularly for your feet.”

I TRAIL RUN IN SUMMER: WHAT SOLUTIONS CAN PREVENT PLANTAR PAIN?

The foot is the trail runner's most essential tool. It is put to the test all year round, but even more so in summer. The sessions are longer, the heat more intense and the terrain is often rougher. All these conditions combined make summer a perfect storm for plantar pain.

What problems could arise? There are many: blisters and overheating caused by the heat, dry paths and perspiration; black nails; muscular pain under the arch of the foot; ankle sprains due to lack of stability or missteps...

That's why taking care of your feet means first, preparing them, and then kitting them out. So what equipment can help you avoid foot pain? What is the right trail equipment for summer? The answer is simple:

- Thin, breathable, technical socks for summer conditions. Choose from 'Trail Protect' socks, 'T-Free Trail' socks & 'Trail Ultra' socks, depending on your specific needs.

- Customised insoles, developed specifically for trail running to provide comfort, stability and precision. Choose from the '3D Trail+' insoles or the '3Feet Trail' insoles.

- Compression sleeves to optimise blood circulation and the performance of your muscles: the 'Ultra Light Run Calf' compression sleeves.

- Protection for your feet: anti-friction cream, recovery gel, toe protectors, anti-blister protection...

The sessions are longer, the heat more intense and the terrain is often rougher. All these conditions combined make summer a perfect storm for plantar pain.

WHAT ARE THE BEST TRAIL RUNNING SOCKS FOR SUMMER?

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TRAIL RUNNING SOCKS Which socks are best for summer trail running? These are some of the questions that runners often ask themselves! Your instincts are correct. Why? Because your sock is in direct contact with your foot, it plays a crucial role in your comfort and performance. Using your entire budget to buy good shoes and compensating by saving money on socks therefore has proven to be a very bad idea.

What are the qualities of a good trail running sock for summer? The sock must be:

- Thin, because that's what makes it unnoticeable in your shoe. It gives your feet complete freedom of movement within the confines of the footbed.

- Breathable, because moisture is your foot's worst enemy. Particularly in summer, when sweating is more intense.

- Comfortable, with strategically placed integrated supports, to protect the most susceptible parts of the foot.

- Made from natural and ethical fibres.

WHAT SIDAS SOCK MODEL SHOULD YOU CHOOSE FOR TRAIL RUNNING IN SUMMER?

At Sidas, we've designed 3 models of socks that are perfectly suited to the demands of trail running in summer conditions:

- The 'T-Free' trail sock:

Thought of as a 'game-changer' and developed in collaboration with one of the world's top trail runners, Jonathan Albon, this sock sets a new standard in terms of comfort and performance. This is thanks to a unique concept: a technology that frees up the big toe. The big toe plays a fundamental role in the body's balance, alignment and propulsion, so restoring its freedom allows your foot to regain all its natural stability and dynamism. Its airy, breathable mesh positioned under the arch of the foot and its composition of fibres derived from Polygiene Stayfresh technology ensure long-lasting freshness and improved odour management ideal for summer.

- The 'Trail Ultra' trail sock:

Ultra-technical, ultra-light & ultra-breathable trail socks. These innovative socks are the perfect partner in your long summer adventures or your running goals for the season. What are its key advantages? :

- 'Ultra Fit' technology which allows it to function like an exoskeleton, offsetting the results of muscular fatigue over every passing hour and thereby limiting the risk of injury.
- 'In & Out' construction: no loose threads means no badly placed seams which could cause unpleasant chafing.

- La trail sock ‘Trail Protect’ :

The Trail Protect sock has established itself as the 'benchmark' in trail running socks. Thanks to its breathability, durability, comfort and versatility, this is one of the most popular socks worn by runners taking part in the legendary UTMB. 'In & Out' construction, ankle support band, integrated supports, breathable mesh, natural fibre composition, anti-blister grip strip... Here you can discover the key elements behind one of the best-sellers in the world of trail and ultra-trail.

WHY DO INSOLES IMPROVE COMFORT AND PERFORMANCE DURING TRAIL RUNNING?

For nearly 50 years, we at Sidas have been designing comfort solutions for the feet of sportsmen and women. Our historic expertise embodies a conviction: that it's the combination of the right shoe, the right sock and the right sole that provides women and men trail runners with more cushioning, more precision and more stability. That's right, it's the synergy of these 3 elements that optimises pleasure and performance! Yes, you can improve your performance and comfort with Sidas insoles! All you have to do is choose the ones best suited to your training needs from the following 2 new models:

- The '3D Trail +' trail insoles:

Developed in collaboration with the champions of Team Salomon, these insoles include a range of innovations designed to meet the demands of ultra-distance. What are its strengths? Its non-slip surface keeps the foot in the shoe and prevents any micro-friction that can lead to overheating and blisters; its composition, based on a combination of foams that are both thin and light; and finally, its durability, to support you with consistent high standards and reliability over the many kilometres involved in an ultra-trail.

- The '3Feet Trail' trail insoles:

These insoles have just come out of our R&D laboratory, wherein 50 years of expertise is condensed into just 39 grammes. Equipped with the new Sidas Grip technology, they offer optimum control over even the roughest types of terrain. These breathable insoles are micro-perforated for optimum moisture wicking. Finally, thanks to the 3Feet concept, '3Feet Trail' trail insoles offer precise arch support and reduced muscle fatigue whether you have a flat foot, regular or high arch.

HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF MY FEET WHEN TRAIL RUNNING IN SUMMER? AND HOW DO I AVOID INJURIES?

As we emphasised earlier in this article, the key to comfort and performance lies in the combination of the right shoe, the right sock and the right insole.

However, sometimes the heat or the demands of the terrain are such that this equipment is not enough. That's when you need to complete it with these accessories and protective equipment that are anything but an afterthought, and can — as our professional athletes can attest — save your race. Toe protectors, anti-blister protection, anti-friction cream, compression sleeves... Here's a short list of essential tools to ward off any possibility of pain and run your trails in peace this summer:

- The anti-friction cream :

The best friend of trail ultra runners. One word of advice: keep this miraculous cream to hand, not just during prep but also during the race itself and particularly at aid stations. This anti-friction cream, distinguished from its competitors by its 99% natural composition, has a protective property that increases your skin's elasticity and tone as well as its ability to defend against moisture and repeated impact. We've made our tubes of anti-friction cream available in small tubes, so you can take them with you absolutely everywhere, even when you're pinning on your race number.

- The toe protectors:

These toe protectors in the form of silicone caps help cushion the impact on the front of the foot - and thus prevent the appearance of black toenails, particularly when running downhill - but also limit friction between your toes. Washable and reusable, these toe protectors come in different sizes, for each toe, and are as thin as they are light, so they remain unnoticed during your run. So much so that you'll not only forget about pain, but you'll forget you're wearing them!

- The recovery gel:

With its immediate cooling effect, this recovery gel optimises circulation after exercise in order to prevent any potential foot pain while promoting muscle relaxation. This recovery cream will not provide any benefits during the race itself. However, its use can be invaluable: in advance, during preparation, after long or intense sessions, to promote recovery and make it easier to get on with the good days; afterwards, once you've crossed the finish line, to get your legs back to normal as quickly as possible, and, high on endorphins, sign up for your next race! This feeling of freshness is all the more pleasant in summer, when training in very hot weather.

- The blister protection:

Unlike traditional hydrocolloid plasters whic often irritate rather than heal your blisters,our anti-blister protection in silicone gel can be used from the first sign of chafing to curb the blister's growth. Applied at aid stations to chafed areas that you're worried could develop into injuries after dutifully drying your feet, these anti-blister protectors will help you reach the mythical finish line pain-free.

- The compression sleeves:

Ultra-light and so thin you'll forget they're there, our 'Ultra Light Run Calf' compression sleeves stabilise your muscles, reduce muscle breakdown and promote blood circulation during exercise; at the same time optimising your venous return and therefore your post-race recovery!

"The key to comfort and performance lies in the combination of the right shoe, the right sock and the right insole."