Steep climbs, fast downhills and technical trails. Whether you are on alpine trails, your local mountain, or small forest paths, trail running is guaranteed never boring. New challenges and stamina always await; balance and coordination, too, get trained. At the same time, trail running is a special running experience in nature.

But which shoes are best suited for it, how do you properly use poles and, above all, what is the proper technique to run uphill as fast as possible? Lukas, our DYNAFIT athlete manager and a former trail running national team athlete himself, has all the answers for you in 3 short videos.

The most important item are appropriate trail running shoes with sufficient grip so you don’t slip on various surfaces underfoot. Rule of thumb for a proper fit: Allow a thumb’s width of room at the front of the shoe.

Aside from footwear, choosing the correct running backpack is not to be ignored. Depending on the distance, there are various models. Fundamentally this is key: Pack everything you might need while running in pockets that are quickly accessible.

To save energy on steep terrain or when walking sections, poles are indispensable for your trail adventures. To select the right pole length, there is no one uniform rule. Rather, it depends on the terrain. On steep terrain, shorter poles. That’s why we recommend adjustable poles.

When it comes to apparel, always pay close attention that tights or shorts don’t chafe on your inner thighs. Depending on how warm or cold it is, it is also advisable to use a layering system on your upper body. Especially important is to always have a light wind jacket along since weather in the mountains can quickly change.

In the following video, you can find all the expert tips from Lukas when it comes to gear.

Apparel & Equipment Men

Apparel & Equipment Women

To have more fun on the trails and to better apportion your energy reserves, using proper technique on climbs is essential. Smaller steps and the right arm movement in this case play key roles. One point to start: Even pro runners don’t run the really steep sections!

Lukas explains perfect running technique for uphills in the video.  

After an uphill comes a downhill and with it all kinds of fun. Downhills are of course often exhausting and not simple to master – in particular when the section is also technically challenging or the weather isn’t all the best. Indeed, total concentration and holding your torso stable are demanded, and always keep an eye on the trail ahead.

In the coming video, Lukas shows in detail how to best master downhills so you get to the bottom safely. 

#SPEEDUP