Joe Rogan was never a fan of doing cardio. He was surprised how out of shape he felt after struggling to finish Cameron Hanes Keep Hammering 5k in February of 2017 which he did not train for. About a month later he started running on a regular basis to improve his lack of endurance. Rogan does hill sprints and runs the trails near his house while staying away from running on concrete or asphalt.
Joe tested out several different pairs of running shoes including Under Armour Charged Trail Running Shoes and Merrell Vapor Glove 2 Trail Running Shoes before settling on the following shoes:
- Vibram Five Fingers V Trail Runner
- Salomon Speedcross 3 Trail Runner
- Vivobarefoot Primus Trail SG *NEW*
Vibram Five Fingers V Trail Runner
Joe Rogan’s interest in minimalist shoes led him to try Vibram Five Fingers V Trail Runners. The lack of cushioning forces you to land on the balls of your feet while running rather than landing on your heels. Your toes also spread out giving you a better grip and feel for the ground. It’s important to ease into running with toe shoes after switching from regular running shoes to avoid injury. The different running style takes some getting used to and you need to build up strength in your feet. Rogan noticed a little bit of foot and ankle pain when he first started so he listened to Mark Sisson’s advice to start slow and dialled it back. It’s also the reason why he alternates between these shoes and Salomon Speedcross 3 Trail Runners. Joe credits the Vibram Five Fingers shoes for his improved ability to hold yoga poses by increasing his foot strength.
Salomon Speedcross 3 Trail Runner
Joe Rogan discussed running shoes with Courtney Dauwalter on episode #1027 of the JRE Podcast. Courtney is an ultra marathon runner who won the 2017 Moab 240 race in Utah. She finished the 238.3 mile course in just under 58 hours, beating the 2nd place finisher by over 10 hours. Joe loves Salomon’s trail running shoes and so does Courtney. He wears the Salomon Speedcross 3 Trail Runner shoes. They are lightweight with an aggressive tread for running technical trails. Rogan alternates these shoes with his Vibram Five Fingers Trail Runners while maintaining the same running style, landing on the balls of his feet. A newer version, the Salomon Speedcross 4 Trail Runner, is also available.
Vivobarefoot Primus Trail SG
Joe Rogan recently tried another trail runner with no padding, Vivobarefoot Primus Trail SG. He wanted a shoe with more traction when the trail conditions are muddy. He likes the wide toe box which allows him to spread his toes out to get a better grip on the terrain. The sole is thick enough that he can maintain a face pace while running over jagged rocks. These Vivos are water-wicking, quick-draining and have a breathable mesh.
Salomon Sense Ride
Courtney Dauwalter trains and competes in Salomon Sense Ride trail running shoes.
