A Multiphase Analysis of Next-generation Trail Footwear
NEXTGENTRAIL
2 other identifiers
interventional
30
0 countries
N/A
Brief Summary
This study will investigate how different advanced-foam trail-running footwear configurations affect running economy, performance, comfort, and fatigue in competitive trail runners. The project aims to determine whether footwear characteristics, particularly foam properties and stack height, influence physiological and biomechanical responses during both controlled laboratory running and real-world trail running. Approximately 30 competitive trail runners with experience in technical trail running and no musculoskeletal injury during the previous six months will participate. The study will use a two-phase experimental design. In Phase 1, participants will complete running economy assessments in three footwear conditions in randomized order. The footwear conditions will include a high-stack advanced-foam prototype, a medium-stack advanced-foam prototype, and a conventional-foam shoe. Laboratory testing will be performed during uphill and downhill treadmill running. Participants will also complete field-based running economy trials on real trail terrain at a controlled speed, followed by a short time trial to establish a representative running pace. In Phase 2, participants will complete prolonged trail-running sessions in the two advanced-foam footwear configurations on a 15-km trail course. Running economy and fatigue-related responses will be assessed repeatedly during the prolonged exercise sessions to evaluate changes in physiological and biomechanical efficiency over time. The primary physiological outcome will be running economy, assessed through oxygen consumption and energy cost. Additional outcomes will include heart rate, step frequency, step length, ground contact time, perceived exertion, comfort, perceived performance, and pacing-related measures. The study will compare laboratory and field responses to determine whether differences in running economy observed under controlled conditions are maintained during real trail running and whether footwear configuration influences the deterioration of running economy and fatigue during prolonged exercise.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for not_applicable
Started Nov 2026
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
September 22, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
October 2, 2026
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
November 1, 2026
ExpectedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
March 1, 2028
Study Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
March 1, 2028
October 2, 2026
September 1, 2026
1.3 years
September 22, 2026
September 28, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Running economy
Running economy will be assessed through oxygen consumption (V̇O₂) and energy cost expressed in W·kg-¹ during running in the different footwear conditions. Measurements will be obtained using breath-by-breath gas analysis during controlled laboratory and field-based trail-running trials.
During each 5-minute running trial for each footwear model in Phase 1 (indoor laboratory conditions) and Phase 2 (outdoor trail-running conditions).
Secondary Outcomes (3)
Heart Rate
During each 5-minute running trial for each footwear model in Phase 1 (indoor laboratory conditions) and Phase 2 (outdoor trail-running conditions).
Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters
During each 5-minute running trial for each footwear model in Phase 1 (indoor laboratory conditions) and Phase 2 (outdoor trail-running conditions).
Comfort, Perceived Performance, and Rate of Perceived Exertion
After each 5-minute running trial for each footwear model in Phase 1 (indoor laboratory conditions) and Phase 2 (outdoor trail-running conditions).
Study Arms (3)
High-Stack Advanced-Foam Footwear
EXPERIMENTALParticipants will perform the experimental running trials wearing a high-stack advanced-foam trail-running shoe (approximately 38.5 mm stack height, 6 mm drop, and 220 g). This footwear condition will be used to assess running economy, physiological and biomechanical responses, comfort, perceived performance, and fatigue-related changes during laboratory and field-based trail running.
Medium-Stack Advanced-Foam Footwear
EXPERIMENTALParticipants will perform the experimental running trials wearing a medium-stack advanced-foam trail-running shoe (approximately 28.5 mm stack height, 6 mm drop, and 180 g). This footwear condition will be used to assess running economy, physiological and biomechanical responses, comfort, perceived performance, and fatigue-related changes during laboratory and field-based trail running.
Conventional-Foam Footwear
ACTIVE COMPARATORParticipants will perform the experimental running trials wearing a conventional-foam trail-running shoe (approximately 31.5 mm stack height, 6 mm drop, and 300 g). This footwear condition will serve as the conventional-footwear comparison for assessing running economy, physiological and biomechanical responses, comfort, perceived performance, and fatigue-related changes during laboratory and field-based trail running.
Interventions
Three trail running shoes with different characteristics will be compared in terms of their physiological and biomechanical effects.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Competitive trail runners.
- Experience in technical trail running.
- Willingness to provide written informed consent.
You may not qualify if:
- Musculoskeletal injury in the previous 6 months.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Related Publications (3)
Rodrigo-Carranza V, Hoogkamer W, Salinero JJ, Rodriguez-Barbero S, Gonzalez-Rave JM, Gonzalez-Mohino F. Influence of Running Shoe Longitudinal Bending Stiffness on Running Economy and Performance in Trained and National Level Runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2023 Dec 1;55(12):2290-2298. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003254. Epub 2023 Jul 14.
PMID: 37443458RESULTRodrigo-Carranza V, Hoogkamer W, Gonzalez-Rave JM, Gonzalez-Mohino F. Relationship Between Advanced Footwear Technology Longitudinal Bending Stiffness and Energy Cost of Running. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2024 Jun;34(6):e14687. doi: 10.1111/sms.14687.
PMID: 38923087RESULTRodrigo-Carranza V, Gonzalez-Mohino F, Santos-Concejero J, Gonzalez-Rave JM. Influence of Shoe Mass on Performance and Running Economy in Trained Runners. Front Physiol. 2020 Sep 23;11:573660. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.573660. eCollection 2020.
PMID: 33071828RESULT
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT
- Masking Details
- Participants will be able to see the footwear used in each experimental condition; however, they will not be informed about the specific technical characteristics or differences between the footwear models, such as foam composition, stack height, or other performance-related features. The technical characteristics of the footwear will therefore be concealed from participants to minimize potential expectations or bias related to the footwear configuration.
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- CROSSOVER
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Senior Lecturer
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
September 22, 2026
First Posted
October 2, 2026
Study Start (Estimated)
November 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
March 1, 2028
Study Completion (Estimated)
March 1, 2028
Last Updated
October 2, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-09