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The Kiprun Kipride Gravel is a road-to-trail shoe built for training over a mix of surfaces. It takes what Kiprun has learned from its road range and applies it to a shoe that suits gravel paths, footpaths and light trails as well as tarmac. It is a cheaper alternative to the Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL, and it sits alongside the Kiprun Tempo in the brand’s line-up of great value daily shoes.
We tested it on a mix of easy runs, long runs, shorter efforts and recovery jogs. After using it for around 70km, we’ve found it to be a very impressive all-rounder across road, gravel paths and lighter trails, especially for the price.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £109.99 (not currently available in the US)
- Weight: 279g / 9.8oz (men’s UK 8.5)
- Drop: 6mm (39mm/33mm)
- Midsole: FastTech foam
- Upper: Engineered mesh
- Outsole: Thick rubber with 3mm lugs
Kiprun Kipride Gravel Review
How’s The Fit?
The pair we tested was half a size bigger than we’d normally wear. Given the choice, we’d suggest going for your normal running shoe size.
The upper is well padded, with a nice thick tongue for plenty of comfort. It holds the foot firmly in place despite the roomier fit and we found it very comfortable across all of our testing. The lace lock system is a handy touch that lets you set the fit quickly and tuck the laces away.
The Run Test: Likes
Almost all of our testing was on the roads and gravelly public footpaths, as well as a half marathon event across fields and public footpaths. We found that the Kipride Gravel worked impressively well across all the terrains we tested it on, working just as well as a road shoe as it did a lighter trail shoe.
The midsole uses the standard FastTech foam, rather than the FastTech Plus you get in the Kiprun Tempo. The result is a similar ride but one that provides a more balanced and slightly more stable experience than its road counterpart; a plus point when hitting uneven surfaces.
Despite the fact the midsole is quite high, the shoe never feels wobbly, and the wide forefoot adds to that steady feel when you land on the front of the shoe. The midsole design gives a smooth transition, which makes it easy to plough through an easy run or a steady, consistent effort.
There’s also a surprising level of versatility to the Kipride Gravel which we found out while pushing its limits during a parkrun. Although it’s on the heavier side for a road shoe when picking up the pace, we found that it was pretty easy to maintain a faster effort of around 4:15 min/km for the duration of a 5k effort. It doesn’t feel like a naturally fast shoe, but the smooth transition helps to roll through when needed.
One of the standout features is the thick outsole. The rubber is really grippy, and the lugs are thick, close to the level of a proper trail shoe. It coped fine with the odd shower we ran through, though we haven’t tested it in properly wet, muddy conditions. From the 70km we’ve covered in the shoe so far we’d expect it to be pretty durable.
The Run Test: Dislikes
Because the midsole is on the higher side, you may notice it on trickier terrain. The lugs are also on the verge of being proper trail lugs, but they aren’t quite there. If you do a lot of running in wet mud, you’ll need to reach for a more formidable trail option.
We also found that when compared to some gravel rivals, specifically the Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL, it doesn’t quite have the same level of energy return.
Verdict And Alternatives
The Kiprun Kipride Gravel is a great shoe, and for the price in the UK it is fantastic value. It is comfortable, stable and handles easy runs well, while also being good for longer or more consistent efforts. It is a strong option if you want a gravel shoe, or a road shoe that lets you dip off onto country paths and light trails. If you live in the countryside like we do, it means you can take whichever path you like during the spring/summer months.
It’s not a fast shoe or a mud shoe, but for value and versatility it is hard to beat. Kiprun shoes often go down in price, and if this one does, it is an absolute steal.
If you’re looking at other options, we think the Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL is the superior shoe. It may be more expensive, but you’re getting a slightly livelier and more cushioned midsole, although there’s not a great deal in it.