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.

If you are enjoying the **Löw Tide Böyz**, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that's the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on **Apple Podcasts**, **Spotify**, and on **YouTube**. Check out our **website** for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page **@thelowtideboyz** on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at **lowtideboyz@gmail.com**. Finally, you can support our efforts on **Patreon**...if you feel so inclined.

Thanks for listening and see you out there!

Chip and Chris

Welcome to episode 326 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!

The Countdown to Ötillö series is back. With five months to go until the 20th anniversary of the Swimrun World Championship, we are kicking off a monthly series tracking our build all the way to September. This one is packed.

First, super intern Dave Damer joins us to break down the 2026 Ötillö start list. 199 teams, 24 countries, and nearly half the field doing Ötillö for the first time. US participation has gone from 16 athletes in 2022 to 68 this year, and two new countries, Argentina and Zimbabwe, are on the start list for the very first time.

Then Coach Liz — Chipper's swimrun coach and Ötillö finisher — sits down with us to talk through what a five month build to a race like this actually looks like. Rest days, balancing training with family and summer schedules, open water swim prep, wetsuit practice, gut training for a race that can go all day, and the gear decisions you want sorted before you are standing at the start line in Sweden.

Enjoy!

That's it for this week's show.

If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that's the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon...if you feel so inclined.

Thanks for listening and see you out there!

Chip and Chris

Welcome to episode 325 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!

We’ve got a great show for everyone this week! We’re going back into the vault for our Throwback Mixtape series with a conversation from 2020 with the one and only Erika Rosenbaum. Not only is she an amazing Swimrunner, she launched the “short course” Swimrun movement, and if that wasn’t enough, she literally coined the name “Swimrun” and then gave it away to help grow the sport. She’s a legend and we’re excited to re-share our conversation with her.

Enjoy!

~~~

That’s it for this week’s show.

If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player and leave us a five-star rating and review since that’s the best way for people to discover the show and the sport of Swimrun. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and on YouTube. Check out our website for Swimrun resources including gear guides, tips, how-to videos and so much more. Also make sure to check out our meme page @thelowtideboyz on Instagram. If you have any suggestions for the show or questions for us, send us a dm or an email at lowtideboyz@gmail.com. Finally, you can support our efforts on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.

Thanks for listening and see you out there!

- Chip and Chris