Swimrun Shoes 101: Everything from the Knees Down

Swimrun Shoes 101: Everything from the Knees Down | Episode 327

Welcome to episode 327 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!

The most popular gear question we get is about shoes. Do you need a special swimrun shoe? Are you going to get blisters running in wet socks? We are busting every myth in this one.

Episode 327 is a full Swimrun 101 breakdown of everything from the knees down — shoes, socks, laces, modifications, how to test your gear at home, when it makes sense to upgrade, and how to retire a pair with dignity. It is a callback to one of our most popular episodes ever, the Swimrun Shoedown, recast for 2026 with everything we have learned since.

The short answer on shoes: you probably already own something that works for your first swimrun. Start with a trail shoe that drains well, do a bucket test to check, lace it snug, and pair it with a thin synthetic sock. Blisters are not actually a thing in swimrun — we have done 30-plus swimruns and countless training hours and it has never happened once.

For people looking to upgrade, we break down how to think about it — course type, race distance, technical terrain vs. fire roads — and what we are actually racing in heading into 2026. Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Trail Ultras have been our go-to for the last few years. The Hoka Tecton X3 is on our radar for Ötillö Worlds in September. We also cover lace swaps, the drilling holes debate, gaiters, dry bags for post-race travel, and the LTBz tradition of leaving your retired shoes at the race site.

Enjoy!

That's it for this week's show.

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Thanks for listening and see you out there!

Chip and Chris