Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Road running had its breakthrough...trail running hasn’t - yet?
In this episode of the Singletrack Podcast, Finn Melanson talks with sport scientist and physiologist Geoff Burns to unpack one of the biggest open questions in trail running right now: why shoe technology hasn’t produced a single, decisive “Vaporfly moment” on the trails - and whether it ever will.
Geoff explains why trail running is fundamentally different from road running when it comes to performance gains. While road shoes can be optimized for straight-line efficiency on uniform surfaces, trail shoes operate in a far more complex system - one shaped by uneven terrain, gradients, stability demands, traction, weight, and constantly changing conditions
Geoff explains:
* Why super-shoe logic breaks down on trails
* The real role of foams, plates, and energy return off-road
* Why shoe tech gains often disappear on uphill, downhill, or technical terrain
* Whether trail shoes are nearing saturation—or still wide open for innovation
* How weight, traction, durability, and stability compete with pure efficiency
* Why different trail races may require entirely different “optimal” shoes
* What shoe tech might be changing in the sport
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Trail Running Shoe Technology
03:00 The Evolution of Road Running Shoes
05:46 Understanding Foam and Plate Interactions
08:56 Challenges in Trail Shoe Design
12:10 The Future of Trail Running Shoes
14:56 Material Innovations in Trail Running
17:53 The Role of Traction and Weight
21:05 Optimizing for Performance and Safety
24:14 The Nuances of Rubber and Grip
27:07 Conclusion and Future Directions
34:33 The Evolution of Trail Running Shoes
42:02 The Role of EVA in Modern Footwear
46:00 Training with Advanced Foams and Plates
51:30 The Future of Gear Regulation in Trail Running
01:05:59 The Future of Trail Running Sponsorships
01:11:43 The Impact of Shoe Technology on Performance
01:15:48 Comparing Historical Performances in Trail Running
01:21:43 Biomechanics and the Evolution of Running Shoes
01:33:28 Training Strategies for Trail Runners
Partners:
* Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (nordarun.com/)
* Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
* deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website to get 20% off your next order (partners.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20)
* Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (raideresearch.com/)
* Gorewear - use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website (bit.ly/3JVNIbL) to get 30% off your purchase.
Follow Singletrack on Instagram:
instagram.com/runsingletrack
Subscribe to Singletrack on Apple:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/singletrack/id1572382413
Subscribe to Singletrack on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/7jAsWCRNSCU8nh81vrAaC2?si=3ac02e4e32b946c4
Road running had its breakthrough...trail running hasn’t - yet?
In this episode of the Singletrack Podcast, Finn Melanson talks with sport scientist and physiologist Geoff Burns to unpack one of the biggest open questions in trail running right now: why shoe technology hasn’t produced a single, decisive “Vaporfly moment” on the trails - and whether it ever will.
Geoff explains why trail running is fundamentally different from road running when it comes to performance gains. While road shoes can be optimized for straight-line efficiency on uniform surfaces, trail shoes operate in a far more complex system - one shaped by uneven terrain, gradients, stability demands, traction, weight, and constantly changing conditions
Geoff explains:
* Why super-shoe logic breaks down on trails
* The real role of foams, plates, and energy return off-road
* Why shoe tech gains often disappear on uphill, downhill, or technical terrain
* Whether trail shoes are nearing saturation—or still wide open for innovation
* How weight, traction, durability, and stability compete with pure efficiency
* Why different trail races may require entirely different “optimal” shoes
* What shoe tech might be changing in the sport
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Trail Running Shoe Technology
03:00 The Evolution of Road Running Shoes
05:46 Understanding Foam and Plate Interactions
08:56 Challenges in Trail Shoe Design
12:10 The Future of Trail Running Shoes
14:56 Material Innovations in Trail Running
17:53 The Role of Traction and Weight
21:05 Optimizing for Performance and Safety
24:14 The Nuances of Rubber and Grip
27:07 Conclusion and Future Directions
34:33 The Evolution of Trail Running Shoes
42:02 The Role of EVA in Modern Footwear
46:00 Training with Advanced Foams and Plates
51:30 The Future of Gear Regulation in Trail Running
01:05:59 The Future of Trail Running Sponsorships
01:11:43 The Impact of Shoe Technology on Performance
01:15:48 Comparing Historical Performances in Trail Running
01:21:43 Biomechanics and the Evolution of Running Shoes
01:33:28 Training Strategies for Trail Runners
Partners:
* Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (nordarun.com/)
* Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
* deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website to get 20% off your next order (partners.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20)
* Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (raideresearch.com/)
* Gorewear - use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website (bit.ly/3JVNIbL) to get 30% off your purchase.
Follow Singletrack on Instagram:
instagram.com/runsingletrack
Subscribe to Singletrack on Apple:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/singletrack/id1572382413
Subscribe to Singletrack on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/7jAsWCRNSCU8nh81vrAaC2?si=3ac02e4e32b946c4
