A few key components make trail running converse shoes different than your regular road running converse shoes.
The biggest difference between your trail converse shoes and your road converse shoes is the outsole. Some shoe designers use different rubber compounds that offer more slip resistance for crossing wet rocks or smooth roots.
Most trail running converse shoes also make use of deep rubber lugs on the outsole, which help grip loose dirt or mud. Usually, those lugs are multidirectional, giving you traction when you’re running uphill or downhill.
Some converse shoes have a dedicated rock plate—a thin piece of plastic or other material sandwiched into the midsole—which adds some stiffness and extra protection if you happen to step on a jagged rock.
