My first ultra in serious rain taught me that not all shoes handle weather equally. Ten miles in and my feet were soaked, heavy, and developing blisters from the constant squishing. By mile 30 I could barely run because my waterlogged shoes felt like concrete blocks.
Meanwhile, runners passing me had shoes that drained quickly and dried while running. Their feet weren’t any drier than mine, but their shoes handled the water without becoming useless.
Weather creates challenges regular training runs don’t expose. Hours of rain, extreme heat, freezing temperatures, snow, mud – ultras happen in conditions you’d normally stay inside for. Your shoes need to function regardless of what weather throws at you.
Here’s what actually matters for different weather conditions based on races through rain, snow, desert heat, and everything between.
Waterproof Versus Water-Resistant Versus Breathable
Waterproof shoes with Gore-Tex or similar membranes keep water out initially. Great for shallow puddles or light rain. But once water enters through the top, it’s trapped inside and never leaves. Your feet marinate in sweat and any water that got in.
I learned this during a creek crossing. Water poured over the top of my waterproof shoes and they stayed soaked for 20 miles. Non-waterproof shoes would’ve drained and dried significantly faster.
Water-resistant treatments repel water briefly but aren’t truly waterproof. They work okay for short runs in light rain but fail during sustained downpours or stream crossings.
Breathable mesh shoes without waterproofing actually work better in most wet conditions. Water enters freely but also drains immediately. Your feet get wet but the shoes don’t stay heavy and waterlogged.
I only use waterproof shoes for cold, wet conditions where keeping feet dry longer matters for warmth. Any other situation, I prefer shoes that breathe and drain over waterproof models.
Drainage Systems And Quick-Drying Materials
Mesh uppers with large pore sizes drain water faster than tight-weave materials. You want shoes that shed water actively rather than holding it like a sponge.
Some shoes include drainage ports in the midsole and outsole. Water flows through these holes instead of pooling inside. Makes a noticeable difference in how quickly shoes dry while running.
Midsole foam absorption varies between materials. Some foams soak up water and stay heavy. Others repel water and maintain normal weight even when wet. EVA-based foams tend to absorb more than newer materials like PEBAX.
Upper materials matter hugely. Synthetic mesh dries faster than anything else. Knit uppers look modern but hold moisture longer. Avoid shoes with lots of overlays and reinforcements that trap water.
I test drainage by stepping in water and then running. Good shoes feel normal after a few minutes of running as water evacuates. Bad shoes stay heavy and squishy for miles.
Heat Management And Breathability
Desert races and summer ultras create heat challenges that destroy feet if your shoes don’t breathe. Trapped heat and moisture cause blisters faster than any other factor.
Maximum breathability requires large mesh openings in the upper. Shoes marketed for hot conditions usually have aggressive ventilation that keeps air flowing over your feet.
Light-colored shoes stay cooler than dark shoes in direct sun. Black shoes absorb heat and can get hot enough to feel through the insole on exposed trail sections.
Thinner midsoles reduce heat retention but sacrifice cushioning. Finding balance between protection and temperature management matters for hot-weather ultras.
When comparing recommended ultra footwear, check user reviews from runners in hot climates. They’ll reveal which models actually breathe versus which ones turn your feet into sweat factories.
Socks matter as much as shoes for heat management. Thin, moisture-wicking socks work better in heat than thick cushioned models. Some runners even go sockless in extreme heat, though that creates blister risks.
Cold Weather And Snow Performance
Freezing conditions require different considerations. I’ve run ultras in snow where maintaining foot warmth mattered more than any other factor.
Insulated shoes exist but aren’t common in the ultra world. Most runners layer with thicker socks, vapor barrier liners, or even bread bags inside shoes to maintain warmth in extreme cold.
Waterproof shoes make more sense in cold weather. Keeping feet dry longer prevents heat loss. Once feet get wet in freezing conditions, they stay cold no matter what you do.
Traction on snow and ice requires aggressive lugs and sticky rubber compounds. Some shoes have specialized winter outsoles with carbide tips or specific rubber formulations for cold temperatures.
Snow enters low-cut shoes easily. Gaiters become essential for keeping snow out of your shoes during winter ultras. Even tall gaiters don’t stop everything, but they dramatically reduce snow intrusion.
I run in slightly larger shoes during winter to accommodate thicker socks and potential toe swelling from cold. Tight shoes in cold weather increase frostbite risk by restricting circulation.
Mud-Handling Capabilities
Mud varies from slick clay to thick paste to soupy mess. Shoe performance changes drastically based on mud type and lug design.
Widely-spaced lugs clear mud better than tightly-packed tread patterns. Mud packs into tight patterns and creates a smooth sole that slides everywhere. Wide spacing lets mud fall out naturally.
Lug depth matters – shallow lugs fill with mud immediately and lose all traction. Deep lugs maintain some grip even when partially filled. I prefer 5-6mm lugs minimum for muddy conditions.
Some rubber compounds shed mud better than others. Softer compounds conform to surfaces and provide grip, but also collect mud more readily. Harder compounds resist mud buildup but offer less initial grip.
Muddy shoes get heavy fast as pounds of mud accumulate on the outsole. Stop periodically to scrape or bang shoes against rocks to remove buildup. Those extra pounds waste energy over long distances.
Upper materials that resist mud absorption stay lighter and more comfortable. Synthetic mesh sheds mud better than knit materials. Minimal overlays mean fewer places for mud to stick.
Wrapping This Up
Weather-ready shoes handle conditions beyond your control during ultras. Rain, heat, cold, snow, and mud all demand different features and compromises.
Breathable, quick-draining shoes work better than waterproof models for most conditions. Accept that your feet will get wet and choose shoes that function well wet rather than trying to stay dry.
Test shoes in weather conditions matching your goal race. Shoes that work great in dry conditions might fail completely in rain or mud. Know how they perform before race day.
No single shoe handles all conditions perfectly. Owning multiple pairs optimized for different weather lets you choose appropriately based on forecasts. Extra investment but worthwhile for consistent performance.
Pay attention to forecasts and recent weather in the days before your race. Trail conditions change dramatically based on recent rain, and you might need to switch shoes last-minute based on actual conditions.
