Do I really need fell shoes?

I'm thinking of doing Latrigg as my first fell race next week. I currently wear these New Balance 572 off-road shoes (link to image: http://media.kohls.com.edgesuite.net...0&op_sharpen=1) and have had no problems at all with grip, although I usually stick to trails so don't know how they perform on slippery rock and wet grassy slopes. The website for the race does say that studded shoes will be required in wet conditions. Does this mean that if I go in my NB's that I'll just be on my arse the whole time on the descent? Or is it more of a warning that you just won't be able to go quite flat out without fell shoes? I don't mind having to slow a little, I just don't want to spend the entire time trying to stay upright!

I haven't done the Latrigg race, but I'd be surprised if you weren't at a disadvantage in those shoes, particularly on fast grassy descents. No idea how they'll stick to rock, but you'll be lucky if they're as good as proper fell shoes for that either. It's your first fell race, so I'd go for it in the shoes you've got, unless you've already committed yourself to more fell races. If you're definitely going to do a load more, then you may as well buy the fell shoes now - you will in the end anyway.

Oh - welcome to the forum by the way!

I've got some similar NB 749's that are great for trails
I wouldn't use them on a fell-race though
not cos of their lack of grip (sliding down a steep grassy slope on your @rse is often quicker anyway!)
but I'd be afraid of "tipping off" the blocky raised sole on loose rocky stuff and turning an ankle or tweaking a knee
low profile for me

Ok thanks guys. I've just discovered the More Mile Cheviot 2's so I may get some of them ordered. I'm definitely going to be doing more fell races so need a pair at some point, it's just that as well as fell running this is my first triathlon season, and the amount of equipment I've had to buy has just got to silly levels, so I'm trying to stick to only buying when neccessary.

When I first started running I had some Salomon Trail shoes and didn't buy any proper fell shoes for at least six months. Despite falling on my arse a couple of times I still managed to finish 12th at the Kinder Downfall. The main thing, as Daz says, is the stability that low-profile shoes offer.

I've run a fair few miles on the fells/moors in my 572s and think you'd probably be fine in them (though I've not done Latrigg). In fact, they're better than some proper fell shoes on wet rock. On the other hand, they aren't as good on wet grass and mud, so you would be at a disadvantage compared to others wearing fell shoes if you're wanting to compete out-and-out. I've only raced once in them (Wadsworth trog 2012 when it was so icy shoe choice was almost irrelevant) but if I didn't have fell shoes I would probably use this fairly happily. In short, if you are sure you are going to do lots of races and have the chance to buy fell shoes before, then they will possibly allow you to be more confident/competitive. If you don't get chance/want to buy just yet, the 572s will be fine for getting round.

I did Latrigg last year and will be doing it again on Wednesday. Its an ideal race for a first timer, it has more of a trail feel about it and its only 3 miles. I don't recall there being any rocky sections but there is steep grass and steep forest trail, really steep, if your a mid-packer like me you will be walking most of the ascent, but what goes up must come down, the decent is fantastic, very fast, non-technical. I did it in Roclite 295's last year (dry conditions) which are a trail type shoe and they were ok. This year I will be using Mudclaws, just for extra grip on the decent as I want to go flat out. My mate will be using Cheviot 2's, he loves em. Incidentally I wore NB trail shoes on my first fell race, the grip was fine but my toes got squished to the end of the shoe on the decent and I ended up with a couple of black toe nails, so remember to tie the laces nice and tight to give as much support as possible if you use them.

Thanks everybody. I've got some Cheviot 2's ordered and they should be with me on Monday, but if they aren't right I won't bother too much about it and just give it a go in my trail shoes. Just got to get over this knee tweak now though or else I won't be doing any racing at all on Wednesday!

I have another question that's probably been asked a million times so I won't start a new thread. What kind of kit requirements are usually enforced for a race like Latrigg (3 mile cat A race)? From what I can tell the full safety kit is only mandatory for long and medium A races but it's a bit vague for everything else, seemingly down to organiser's discretion. I'm going to take all the kit anyway just in case, just wondering what the norm is for this kind of race.

In all the short races I have done (about 15) safety kit has never been enforced or checked by the race organisers, its has been left up to the runner to decide what is appropriate on the day, you notice the odd runner with a bum bag but the majority don't bother with any extra kit. Obviously the mediums and longs in the high fells are a different matter altogether with much more stringent kit requirements.

It's not a bad idea to take it all in a bag, and then just see what you need when you get there; you don't have to run with it all, but at least if you need it, you'll have all your kit to hand.

Cheviot 2s are an ideal fell shoe to start off with and at £30 not too big an investment if it turns out not to be for you.

Have a good run at Latrigg - with brand new Cheviots on you'll have more grip than 99% of the field ! :)

Just had a short run to test out both the new Cheviots and the knee issue. Both were fine so I'm confident of making it to the race, and pretty excited for my first proper fell race experience. If anybody's there and you see a shorty with a black and white COLT (City of Lancaster Triathlon) top on, say hi!