Kiprun Kipride Gravel First Run Review: A Comfort-First Gravel Shoe at a Sensible Price

Introduction

The Kiprun Kipride Gravel is a gravel running shoe built to handle training over a wide range of terrains, and after a first 10k that covered road, grass, and trail, it left a strong impression. Priced at £109.99 in the UK, it sits at the accessible end of a category that is getting crowded fast, and it holds its own remarkably well.

First Impressions and Fit

The shoe weighs 279g (9.8 oz) for men in a size 8.5, with a 6mm drop. Fasttec foam in the midsole aims to provide shock absorption and energy return, paired with a wide base for stability. The upper is reinforced with a light toe cap intended to handle roots and rocks without adding unnecessary weight, and a lace lock system lets you secure the fit quickly and tuck the laces away in an elasticated loop.

On fit, there is quite a lot of room in the toe box. A UK size 8 runner testing this in an 8.5 found plenty of space for the big toe but stayed comfortable, and would happily keep that size. The recommendation is to stick to your normal running shoe size, though going up half a size is an option if you like extra room in trail shoes. The upper itself is genuinely plush, with heavy padding and a massive, well-cushioned tongue. This is a shoe designed for pure comfort out on the trails, and it works.

Ride and Midsole Feel

The midsole does not feel very soft, which is exactly what you want in a gravel shoe: stability comes first. That said, there is a bit of give if you press down on the heel, and a noticeable touch of energy return that helps the shoe roll forward nicely. The overall character is balanced rather than hard or overly plush, with a smooth transition through the stride.

The outsole is a highlight. The 3mm lugs are unusually generous for a gravel shoe, sitting just under what a standard trail shoe offers, and the thick layer of rubber underneath looks built to last. On tarmac sections the outsole never felt obtrusive; the ride stayed smooth and comfortable, which is not always the case when a firm outsole dulls the road feel of a trail or gravel shoe.

How It Handled Mixed Terrain

The first run mixed a mostly-road parkrun at around marathon pace (4:05 per kilometre) with easy running at 5:10 per kilometre on grass and trailier public footpaths around Brighton. Across all of it, the shoe maintained a consistent, smooth ride, and stability was never in question on any of the surfaces covered.

The 3mm lugs should also give it an edge when conditions turn wetter and muddier. Many gravel shoes run shallow lugs that struggle once UK footpaths get soft, so this one looks better placed to carry through the muddier parts of the year. It is not a speed shoe and would not be the pick for intervals or fast track-style sessions, but for steady, consistent paces over longer distances, it feels well suited.

Verdict: Who Should Buy It

This is a very solid entry into the gravel category, and the price makes it easy to recommend. It is not currently available in the US, but in the UK it sits around the £110 mark, which is strong value for a big-stacked gravel shoe. It rides very similarly to the Salomon AeroGlide 4 Gravel: the Kipride Gravel arguably has the better outsole, while the Salomon offers a slightly softer midsole, but there is not a lot between them. For long, comfortable miles across mixed terrain, this is an easy shoe to like.

If your training blends road, grass, and trail, and you want one comfortable shoe that does all three without fuss, the Kipride Gravel deserves a spot on your shortlist.

Conclusion

The Kiprun Kipride Gravel delivers a stable, comfortable ride with a surprisingly capable outsole, all at a very reasonable price. It may not be a speed shoe, but for steady long-distance training across mixed terrain, it is one of the more impressive gravel shoes to arrive recently.