{"id":202353,"date":"2026-08-31T12:41:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T19:41:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=202353"},"modified":"2026-08-31T13:42:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T20:42:56","slug":"gravel-running-shoes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/run\/gravel-running-shoes","title":{"rendered":"How It Works: Gravel Running Shoes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Runners tend to categorize our outings by the terrain we cover. Road runs<\/strong> follow asphalt streets, concrete paths and cement sidewalks. Trail runs<\/strong> incorporate swaths of dirt, crushed limestone, maybe even boulder and scree fields (if you\u2019re skyrunning<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But our actual<\/em> daily runs? Odds are, if you shop at REI, you cover multiple surfaces\u2014some smooth, some rough, perhaps a few that are downright technical. A new category of shoe ready for multi-terrain outings is here to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enter: Gravel Shoes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot of runners are realizing they actually are<\/em> on trails, even if they didn\u2019t think of it that way before,\u201d says Bekah Broe, senior director of performance footwear at HOKA<\/a>. For example, any time you step off the pavement and onto the desire line next to it, or the rural road underneath you unexpectedly turns to dirt, you\u2019re effectively on a trail\u2014or at least a trail-like surface. \u201cCreating specific product solutions for a light off-road environment offers a new level of precision that runners are looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That new level of precision inspired a burgeoning trend in running footwear: gravel shoes<\/strong>. Despite the name, the category isn\u2019t for mono-terrain routes made from small stones. Rather, gravel shoes are purpose-built to provide enough cushion for comfort on paved surfaces, sufficient grip for stability on mild trails, and the ability to effortlessly carry the user from one surface to the next and back again<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, they\u2019re designed for running environments as diverse as runners ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gravel Is Growing: The Data<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany runners can relate to the experience of going on a single run that varies in terrain, from roads to gravel paths or light trails,\u201d says Brandon Crouch, merchandising manager for the gravel category at Salomon<\/a> North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The relatability of gravel running is evident in the numbers. Market research analyst Mordor Intelligence<\/a> reported that light trail-running (or gravel) shoes captured nearly 64%<\/a> of the trail-running shoes market share in 2025. Sales at REI Co-op concur, demonstrating growth across light trail and all-terrain (or somewhat rugged trails) with the light trail space growing at a faster rate. Market research firms like Circana<\/a> see a lot of excitement on this side of trail-running too. Footwear and accessories industry advisor Beth Goldstein expects momentum to pick up later this year and thinks runners can expect more products and innovation from top brands in the space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A runner in the Aero Glide 4 GRVL trail-running shoes. Photo courtesy of Salomon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To see which brands she means, just look at the footwear wall at your local REI. HOKA delivers on gravel with its Challenger<\/a> franchise and Rocket X Trail (men\u2019s<\/a> and women\u2019s<\/a>); Salomon offers the Aero Glide 4 GRVL (men\u2019s<\/a> and women\u2019s<\/a>); NNormal introduced the Cadi (men\u2019s<\/a> and women\u2019s<\/a>) this spring; and the Brooks Ghost trail-running shoes (men\u2019s<\/a> and women\u2019s<\/a>) belong here too. \u201cMore brands trying to figure out the space,\u201d says Cole Erickson, REI category merchandise manager for trail run and recovery footwear. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot happening, and it\u2019s because the category is growing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Gravel?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many experts point to gravel biking\u2019s rise over the past two decades as carving the way for gravel running. In the two-wheeled realm, road biking\u2019s speed-enhancing, aerodynamic geometry adopted a mountain bike\u2019s more robust drive train and trail-ready tires. The resulting hybrid is comfortable in both worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More recently, \u201cthis concept has been applied to the shoe model,\u201d explains Connor Curley, U.S. sales and commercial manager for NNormal<\/a>, \u201cwith the comfort and performance road shoe getting the confidence-inspiring outsole tread version of a big, knobby tire.\u201d (NNormal is owned by the Spanish lifestyle footwear brand Camper, whose own logo ironically reads \u201cWalk, Don\u2019t Run\u201d\u2014this partnership perhaps symbolizing the ways in which the running industry is expanding its reach to those looking for versatility and flexibility in their footwear.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Brooks Ghost Trail trail-running shoes. Photo by Taylor Feist.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With gravel shoes, performance is still the focus. Broe adds that a trickle-down effect from more \u201crunnable\u201d trail races like the Western States Endurance Run<\/a> and Javelina Jundred<\/a> (both 100 miles) also plays a role in the rise of gravel running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrail athletes like Hayden Hawks and Adam Peterman are looking for fast, often road-inspired solutions to help equip them for a specific kind of adventure,\u201d she says. \u201cLike these athletes, a lot of runners start their careers on the road, too. We want an experience that feels familiar, but as we start to explore other terrains, it becomes apparent that a more specialized product could really help create more confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hybrid Model<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The concept of a shoe fit for multiple types of terrain isn\u2019t wholly new. Hybrid running shoes date back at least to the late 2000s with options from Brooks<\/a> and ASICS<\/a>; Salomon came out with the Sense Ride<\/a>, a versatile trail shoe with a less aggressive lug pattern, around 2017. Previously, however, these crossbreeds tended to skew heavily toward whichever category\u2014road or trail\u2014in which their manufacturer had the strongest foothold. Their \u201chybridity\u201d usually meant an addition of grip to road shoes or a reduction in grip for trail shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGravel running, in my mind, fits in this category of light trail that\u2019s always existed,\u201d Erickson says. But it\u2019s the holistic changes to shoe design that have birthed the new subcategory. How that thought manifests depends on the gravel shoe\u2019s logo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parts of a Gravel Shoe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A gravel shoe outsole<\/strong>, that hard rubber on the bottom, typically falls between 1 and 3 millimeters thick to offer a bit more protection (than a road shoe would) against sharp rocks; however, in varieties like the Aero Glide 4 GRVL from Salomon, the rubber is applied only in specific areas (leaving portions of the soft midsole exposed) to provide more rebound on pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outsole also features small points of raised rubber, called lugs<\/strong>, that offer \u201ca little bit more bite\u201d on varied trail surfaces, Erickson explains. The lugs are often arranged closer together than on traditional trail shoes to provide more surface area\u2014and better footing\u2014on roads. This shoe category doesn\u2019t typically have a rock plate, which protects a runner\u2019s feet on more rugged and jagged terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two
The HOKA Challenger 8 trail-running shoes. Photo courtesy of HOKA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Gravel shoe midsoles<\/strong>, the central foam component, tend to lean toward road shoe geometry and may incorporate super or supercritical foams for an extra efficiency boost. In the upper, the fabric layer covering the foot, a gravel shoe will often combine more breathable materials with durability-enhancing yet lightweight and flexible TPU or EVA overlays that provide \u201cpadding more than armor\u201d in areas like the toe box subjected to abrasive dirt and rocks, Curley says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Are Gravel Shoes For?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These components create a package perfect for those looking to diversify their daily mileage. Gravel runners might be trail loyalists who take roads to get to dirt. Maybe they\u2019re pavement pounders who are \u201ctrail curious,\u201d as Erickson calls them, keen to immerse themselves in more natural environments and avoid the danger of jogging near cars. Others might be travelers limited by space in the overhead bin, or all-weather road runners who need a touch more grip for snow- and ice-covered asphalt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, gravel shoe consumers prioritize versatility, Curley says. They want the option of mixing light trail into their road run. \u201cIt conceptually solves the problem of having a quiver of shoes,\u201d he adds. \u201cThis is one shoe that can do most things well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another benefit of the gravel running space: It\u2019s relatively undefined. Thus, it comes without the potentially intimidating preconceptions someone new to running might harbor about road and trail activities. Gravel running isn\u2019t grounded in speedwork<\/a>, Zone 2 recovery days<\/a> and marathon training plans<\/a>, and it doesn\u2019t demand such rugged terrain that you need to travel the world to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, gravel running is \u201cmore experiential than performance-based, more about exploring than structuring your workouts for a specific purpose,\u201d Crouch says. Maybe you\u2019re just running for mental health benefits or because a friend invited you to their low-pressure running group. \u201cGravel running really is this freeing space that\u2019s about community and authenticity. The product becomes the footnote\u2014it\u2019s just your vehicle that allows you to do the thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gravel Is Here to Stay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Notably, experts expect gravel shoes to evolve in coming years. Salomon has already provided a peek into what\u2019s to come with a premium gravel shoe featuring two layers of high-performance super foam and a split carbon blade that together maximize rebound and energy return. Curley expects new iterations to home in the shoe\u2019s intended distance (short versus long) and use case (training versus racing).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why all this specification? No two runners have the exact same needs, and having a new type of shoe ready to cater to more people is a move towards inclusivity. \u201cGravel shoes are solving a problem,\u201d Erickson says. \u201cIf your main usage is light trail or gravel running or you start on a paved path and end up on a dirt or gravel path, your experience is likely going to be enhanced by having one of these shoes compared with having either an all-terrain shoe or a pure road-running shoe.\u201d Because of that persistent need among runners of all backgrounds, gravel isn\u2019t going away. \u201cThis is more than a trend,\u201d says Broe. \u201cIt\u2019s an acknowledgement by the consumer\u2014and running industry\u2014that trail isn\u2019t a single surface or environment. Products serve the runner best when they acknowledge the diversity of surfaces we encounter in the outdoors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shop Gravel-Running Shoes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Runners tend to categorize our outings by the terrain we cover. Road runs follow asphalt streets, concrete paths and cement sidewalks. Trail runs incorporate swaths of dirt, crushed limestone, maybe even boulder and scree fields (if you\u2019re skyrunning). But our actual daily runs? Odds are, if you shop at REI, you cover multiple surfaces\u2014some smooth, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30729,"featured_media":202408,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10],"tags":[727],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-202353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-run","tag-latest-posts"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/run\/gravel-running-shoes","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"How It Works: Gravel Running Shoes","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/run\/gravel-running-shoes","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/run\/gravel-running-shoes"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/08\/SS26_GRAVEL_GLIDE_Performance_RoryGriffin_010.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/08\/SS26_GRAVEL_GLIDE_Performance_RoryGriffin_010.jpg?fit=8034%2C5359"},"articleSection":"Run","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cassie da Costa"}],"creator":["Cassie da Costa"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["latest posts"],"dateCreated":"2026-08-31T19:41:21Z","datePublished":"2026-08-31T19:41:21Z","dateModified":"2026-08-31T20:42:56Z"},"rendered":"