Gravel Running Shoes Are the Best Suitcase Shoe

"The more rockered midsoles aim to smooth your heel-to-toe transitions, cutting the calf muscle fatigue over uneven ground and on longer runs. They're also often lighter than technical trail shoes, thanks to the smaller lugs, less pronounced rock plates, and lower levels of upper reinforcement. That serves up more agility than heftier trail shoes, so you can move faster and lighter over runnable ground."

"Some companies, like Craft, have many gravel-specific options. Others, like Salomon and Hoka, use their redesigned road running shoes for their gravel category. Gravel shoes also have limits, warns Bodin. "In my experience, most gravel shoes will be limited when they reach a moderately technical trail-running scenario. Again, because the bulk of the gravel shoe experience is focused on the overall ride on smoother terrain, performance declines when there are more turns or more challenging terrain with rocks and roots.""

Gravel shoes lean toward a road-running influence while adding features for light off-road use, creating a versatile option for roads, gravel paths, and easy trails. Manufacturers mix foams and midsole geometries, use subtler outsole patterns, and sometimes deprioritize fit compared with dedicated trail shoes. Rockered midsoles smooth transitions and reduce calf fatigue, while smaller lugs, fewer rock plates, and lighter uppers increase agility. Brand approaches vary: some brands offer gravel-specific models, while others adapt road designs. Gravel shoes perform well on smoother mixed terrain but struggle on technical routes with rocks, roots, or deep mud.

Read at WIRED