School · Shoes, explained · 40 s .
Trail outsoles
Lugs, rubber and rock plates.
Lugs are the studs on a trail sole. 3–4 mm grip well on dry paths and rock; 5 mm or more bite into mud and loose ground.
The rubber compound matters as much as the shape: sticky rubbers like Vibram Megagrip grip wet limestone, common in Mallorca.
Some trail shoes add a rock plate to stop sharp stones pressing through.
Rocky, dry Mallorca: medium lugs and sticky rubber beat deep mud lugs.
Quick check .
For Mallorca's dry, rocky limestone, which outsole fits?
3–4 mm lugs grip on dry trails and rock; sticky rubber makes the difference on limestone.