Best road-to-trail transition shoes

Asics' heritage lies within track running and you immediately feel that in the construction of this shoe, with a lightweight build, racer profile and minimal protection. If you're used to road running, the ride will be familiar – Asics claim it to be neutral; the drop is 10mm and movement natural, particularly for midfoot runners like myself. We'd recommend reserving the Fujitrabuco 5 for low-land trails such as the ones these were tested on, as the off-road specific features, like multi-directional lugs and a firm sole, are understated, despite the bulky toe-protection plate. For shoes flitting between tarmac and trails, though, these were brilliant to fly around in. Great fun to race around gentle trails, with top road-running credentials.

If you're all about putting a few miles in on the road, then on a whim, heading for a bit of off-road action, then the Brooks Caldera is worth a look. We love the cushioning - premier league, top notch - but we also like the way this shoes feels on road and off thanks to brooks' bioMoGo DNA which is specifically designed for a more responsive ride. Interestingly, for what looks like a bulky shoe, it's actually pretty light and is especially handy on harder surfaces. It's pretty much the shoe of choice in our stable for longer runs which mix tarmac with forest trails. A 10km along a canal path? They'll chew it up and spit it out loose rubble and all. Maybe, just maybe you might investigate a longer run in them like an ultra. They do have a 5mm drop which is on the flatter side of things, but such is that cushioning you'd probably not notice that.

As the mountain ultra-themed moniker of these shoes might suggest, they're a sound choice for more technical terrain. If you're tackling the UTMB - the 100-mile race through the Alps these shoes were designed for, well then you'd expect great grip, nice support and more than a touch of comfort as you're going to be out in them a (very) long time. No surprise then these shoes offer all of the above. Let's start with grip; deep lugs across the width of the midfoot which afford incredible grip on loose surfaces and rock.The chevron of shallower lugs at the toe promotes a rapid toe-off, while a similar section of outsole at the rear assists with descents. The Trans Alps are built for speed... but not at the expense of comfort. There's a good amount of cushioning underfoot, and they don't feel too aggressive, either, thanksto an 8mm drop., which essentially means you can get on with them famously from day one. The toebox is quite wide, too, which improved our experience.

The knitted fabric provides super comfort from the off, and not surprisingly saves on weight. Yes, they are indeed nice and light, but did you know a slip-on construction optimises dimensions thus reducing destablising volume? No, neither did we! But if you fancy a stable, harder ride performance shoe that loves solid surfaces like the road, but happily hits four wheel drive mode then give them some thought. We did note they feel a little narrow early on, but after a mile that changed. forefoot strikers who enjoy park paths will love these shoes as will Alpine dwellers, if you happen to live there. For runners who love nothing more than to windmill at pace downhill, you'll please to learn the Impact brake System lugs offer different angle inclinations for grip whatever the inclination.

This is a really interesting shoe for all of you looking to experience the world of super low drop shoes. By that we mean less than 2mm - essentially a flat to the ground experience that simulates barefoot running. We say 'interesting' because these lightweight, durable shoes actually feel quite cushioned, soft even. They are biomechanically designed to enable the natural movement of the foot and kevlar aramid fiber is used in the rear materials of the upper. The result? A tough, trail-friendly shoe at home on the road that can cope with hard packed surfaces and road; there are 4mm lugs for moderate mud. if you fancy exploring the world of zero drop you definitely should give these a go thanks to the cushioning technology.

The heel cup of Salming's Trail T2 sits low on the ankle, to minimise the weight of the shoe itself – despite that, it feels secure, and the low profile accentuates the lightweight build. Don't assume this shoe can't handle the trails, though; it's better suited to wet, dirty and uneven ground than road, so ideal for routes with only a portion of tarmac. With a neutral 5mm drop, Salming's TOC66 compound on the sole grips unsteady surfaces, so we felt comfortable kicking up a gear on a particularly wet and windy test run. Salming claims the sole enhances proprioception, which we couldn't feel, but the T2 was still a responsive, speedy ride. More off-road than on-road, and a great lightweight racing shoe.