The 15 Best Trail Running Shoes
The 15 Best Trail Running Shoes
Whatever your preference or personal ideology, we think everyone can be a trail runner, especially with the help of a good pair of shoes. The two main things to consider before purchasing trail running shoes are what type your feet need (think stiff or pliable, neutral or stable, wide or narrow, high or low heel-to-toe drop) and what type of shoes the terrain you run demands. With the latter, try to think about whether the trails you encounter are technical or smooth, flat or steep, have loose or firm footing, and whether or not you cross water.
The following are trail shoes that we think deserve special recognition because they are worthy of your feet. These 16 shoes were tested by us, and at least one will likely offer the fit and function you need.
1) Brooks Caldera 4
Brooks
amazon.com
The Caldera has been long appreciated by our testers for its comfort and versatility. The shoe’s soft padding and low, nonaggressive lugs might not dig deep into loose mud but they’re plenty grippy for most off-road adventures and transition well from the rocks and dirt to pavement. This fourth version of the shoe gains a thicker midsole and outsole for even more protection and cushioning, without adding any excess bulk. It’s also roomier than the 3, with an EVA-based, biodegradable foam midsole underfoot that provides a high level of rebound and energy return. A mudguard and TPU toe cap protect your feet from gnarly technical terrain.
2) Salomon Men's Sense Ride 3 Trail Running, Balsam Green/Vanilla Ice/Sulphur, 8.5
Salomon
amazon.com
$120.00
The Sense Ride 3 is a cult favorite that works for a lot of different runners, from beginners to longtime trail racers. That could be a byproduct of its two-layered cushioning system well-suited to all distances, or it could be related to a moderate heel-toe offset that feels familiar to those used to both standard and zero-drop shoes. Our testers praised those features, and also the soft cushion, confidence-building traction, and durable mesh upper on these rugged trail runners.
3) Saucony Peregrine 10
Saucony
amazon.com
The peregrine falcon is known for its speed while diving—up to 200mph, which makes it the fastest in the animal kingdom overall. Some of that swiftness finds its way into its namesake trail shoe, which has long been a Runner’s World award winner due to its nimble ride and uncanny ability to bite down and find traction on mud, snow, ice, and all manner of sloppy, slippery surfaces. Light, fast, and comfortable, the neutral shoe is a top all-arounder for both short trail races and long runs. The 6mm-lugged rubber outsole is ultra-grippy. The soft Pwrrun midsole made from TPU-based bead foam strikes a nice balance between just enough cushion and a connected ground feel. And the upper is breathable and formfitting, thanks to a trail-specific design that holds your foot in place and provides added protection at the toe.
4) Altra Superior 4.5
ALTRA
amazon.com
The Altra Superior 4.5 doesn’t completely overhaul the winning formula of the lightweight, responsive 4.0, but it does make a few slight tweaks to the engineered knit upper for an overall higher-quality feel. The shoe’s claw-like lugs give it solid grip, even on slick surfaces. Removable stone guards are included for tackling more technical trails. And the brand’s signature wide toe-box allows your feet plenty of room to move, breathe, and even swell after a long day—though it bears mentioning that some of our testers found this iteration to be snugger than its predecessors.
5) Topo Athletic Runventure 3
Topo Athletic
amazon.com
If you like a well-cushioned shoe like Hoka’s Speedgoat or Brooks’s Caldera, steer clear of this zero-drop, minimalist hybrid. But if you’re in search of something light and nimble that can hold its own in the mud—but won’t feel like a brick is strapped to your foot when you transition to the pavement—check out the Runventure 3. What the shoe lacks in plushness and arch support it makes up for in other areas: a formfitting water-repellent upper, flexible forefoot plate, and sticky Vibram XS Trek EVO outsole. That plate will shield the pad of your foot when it lands hard on a root, but the rest of the shoe won’t give you much additional protection—ultimately it’s almost like a race flat for well-groomed off-road terrain. Testers who lean toward preferring minimalist trail footwear loved the comfortable fit and overall responsive ride of this shoe.
6) Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3
Salomon
backcountry.com
French ultrarunner and three-time UTMB winner Fran?ois D’Haene helped design this premium trail shoe for going long and fast without having to worry that your shoe will be the weak link in your race plan. The previous S/Lab Sense Ultra had a bouncy EnergyCell+midsole that provided plenty of cushion on technical terrain, a rock plate to protect feet from gnarly obstacles, and a versatile rubber Contagrip outsole for holding fast to any surface. The 3 sticks to that winning formula but streamlines the upper for a seamless, improved fit without losing the durability we appreciated in the 2. The result is a shoe with a smooth ride and just the right balance of cushion, grip, and speed for high race mileage.
7) HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat 4
HOKA ONE ONE
amazon.com
The Speedgoat 4 builds on its predecessor’s legacy as a fast and furious trail monster known for sticky lugs and soft landings. But this time around, the shoe adds a little extra foam in the heel and updates the mesh upper to breathe and drain better. Some of our testers found the 4’s cushioning to be too pillowy and less reactive, but most found it to be an overall comfortable and protective trail runner that feels much lighter than its stats would suggest.
8) La Sportiva Bushido II
La Sportiva
amazon.com
This burly trail crusher brings plenty of structure and support to a responsive platform. But the outsole is what we like most—sticky, aggressive lugs line the perimeter and bottom of the shoe, making it easy to virtually grab hold of uneven terrain. We also appreciated the heavy-duty toe cap, which protects the foot should you kick into rocks. A breathable mesh upper and just the right amount of cushion in the midsole make this standout shoe versatile enough to manage long, slow mileage and speed workouts.
9) Merrell MTL Skyfire
Merrell
amazon.com
Looking for a trail shoe with grippy 5mm lugs and a firm, responsive midsole that will shield your foot from choppy technical terrain—for less than $100? The MTL Skyfire has a smooth, agile ride and traction that performs far beyond its price. The shoe’s midsole cushioning might be more firm and responsive than soft and plush, but that’s just a side effect of the rock plate at the forefoot designed to protect your foot. Although Merrell appears to have shaved cost with a fairly utilitarian upper, you can still expect a snug, locked-in fit from an internal sleeve and tear-resistant netting that stretches from the TPU heel counter to toe cap. Overall the shoe delivers a nimble, racer-like feel with everything you need for going fast at high, rocky elevation.
10) INOV-8 RocLite 275
Inov-8
amazon.com
The RocLite 275 can be divisive on harder-packed trails, due to its somewhat stiff feel, but it shines on knotty, technical terrain where that stiffness feels more like responsiveness and snap. Lightweight and moderately cushioned, the shoe packs in lots of protection for your feet: a rock plate at the sole, a Meta-Plate shank under the midfoot that acts as an impact shield, and an adaptive, water-resistant upper that expands as your feet swell. However, the big sell here is the outsole. Made of a durable, graphene-infused rubber that Inov-8 claims is 50 percent stronger and hardier than the average outsole rubber, the G-Grip outsole has polygonal lugs that claw into slippery and rocky surfaces alike.
13) Salomon Supercross
Salomon
amazon.com
Take everything you love about the Speedcross 5—the deep tread, ripstop upper, well-cushioned midsole, and overall rugged styling—and then tweak it slightly for better value. Ta-da! You’ve got the Supercross. The shoe departs from its fancier sibling in a few ways: It’s made with a harder rubber compound, lacks a purpose-built lace garage for your shoelaces (you’ll have to just tuck those in), and has a different tongue. But if you want a super-durable trail runner that resists mud while protecting your foot from technical terrain—and you want it for a before-sale price of $110—this is your shoe.
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