Traction & Cushioning: A Practical Buyers Guide

Traction & Cushioning: A Practical Buyers Guide

For wet pavement, look for siped rubber and continuous outsole coverage. For trails, check lug depth — 3-4mm handles most off-road. Heel-to-toe drop affects stride mechanics: lower drops favor forefoot landing, higher drops cushion heel strikers.

Stack height alone is a poor indicator. Foam compound matters more.