Best Trail Running Shoes for Men of 2026
TRAIL RUNNERS FOR RUNNING, HIKING, AND BACKPACKING IN ALL CONDITIONS AND TERRAIN
September 25th, 2026, updated with 4 new winners and 5 new shoes tested
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A good trail running shoe should give you enough grip, protection, and stability for uneven terrain without feeling heavy or cumbersome. For this guide, we focused on men’s trail running shoes that work across a range of terrain and distances, from smooth dirt paths and gravel to steep, rocky, and technical trails.
Our lead tester, Sam Schild, is an experienced trail runner, thru-hiker, and mountain athlete with thousands of miles on trails across Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. For this guide, he and other testers ran in the shoes on familiar routes and unfamiliar terrain, including technical scrambles, scree, mud, wet leaves, and slick rock. Some models were also worn over multiple seasons, allowing us to evaluate how their cushioning, uppers, and outsoles held up over time.
We evaluated each shoe for fit and comfort, traction, cushioning and responsiveness, stability, breathability, upper durability, and how secure it felt on uneven terrain. We also considered weight, heel-to-toe drop, underfoot protection, and how well each model performed across short runs, long efforts, and different trail conditions.
Top Pick: The La Sportiva Prodigio 2 earns our Best Overall award. It stood out for its secure fit on technical scree and scrambles, responsive cushioning for long efforts, dependable traction on wet leaves and slick rock, and stable feel on exposed terrain.
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Comparison Table
| TRAIL RUNNING SHOE | TREELINE AWARD | MSRP | WEIGHT (per shoe) | CUSHION | HEEL DROP | STACK HEIGHT | CLOSURE TYPE | ROCK PLATE? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Sportiva Prodigio 2 | Best overall Read why |
$170 | 9.3 oz | Maximum | 6 mm | 34 - 28 mm | Lace-up | Yes |
| HOKA Speedgoat 7 | Best cushioned Read why |
$165 | 9.7 oz | Moderate | 5 mm | 37.3 - 33.3 mm (men’s), 37.3 - 33.3 mm (women’s) | Lace-up | No |
| norda 001A | Best long distance Read why |
$295 | 9.5 oz | Moderate | 5 mm | 26 - 21 mm | Lace-up | No |
| norda 000 | Best durable Read why |
$295 | 10.4 oz | Maximum | 5 mm | 26 - 21 mm | Lace-up | No |
| Altra Lone Peak 9+ | Best trail running shoes for hiking Read why |
$160 | 11.1 oz | Moderate | 0 mm | 25 mm | Lace-up | Yes |
The Best Men's Trail Running Shoes
Best Overall Trail Running Shoes: La Sportiva Prodigio 2
Sizes available: 7.5 - 15.5
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 6 mm
Stack height: 34 - 28 mm
Weight: 9.3 oz / 263.6 g
What we liked: Responsive midsole, well-cushioned, stable upper, grippy outsole, excels on any terrain
What we didn’t like: La Sportiva sizing is weird
The La Sportiva did almost everything right with its newest trail running shoe, the Prodigio 2. The original Prodigio was our former favorite overall shoe, and the Prodigio 2 takes everything we loved about the original and refines it. For this reason, we’ve given the Prodigio 2 our top choice as the best trail running shoe overall.
It has just the right amount of cushioning for long days on the trail without feeling like it raises your foot’s center of gravity too much, and it’s very light for a shoe with this much cushion. But unlike some well-cushioned shoes, these are great all-around. They also feel fantastic while descending, which isn’t what you’d expect from a higher-stack height shoe. We’ve worn these on super-steep mountains in Arizona with no trail to the top and on long marathon-distance runs over rolling, smoother terrain. They feel great in every condition we can think of to throw at them, whether that’s uphill, flats, or technical downhill sections, on trail or off—they inspire confidence in all of it.
You can read our in-depth review of the La Sportiva Prodigio 2 here for all the details. If you’re looking for a lightweight boot that feels like a trail runner, check out our review of the La Sportiva Prodigio Hike.
La Sportiva Prodigio 2
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La Sportiva has several shoes in the Prodigio line: Prodigio 2, Prodigio Max, and Prodigio Pro. The Prodigio Max has more cushion, and the Prodigio Pro is a race-day-ready version.
The Prodigio Max is our favorite shoe for long distances. You can read our full review of the Prodigio Max here. If you like the sound of the Prodigio 2 but want more cushion, check out the Prodigio Max. The Prodigio Max is more expensive than the Prodigio 2, but only by $15.
The Prodigio Pro has a super-critical EVA foam midsole, commonly used in "super shoes." If the Pro didn’t cost $225, we would recommend it over the standard Prodigio 2. You can read more in our review of the Prodigio Pro below. We just can’t bring ourselves to recommend a shoe for everyone that costs that much more. However, if you have an extra 55 bucks, the Prodigio Pro is a stellar shoe, but the standard Prodigio is also great. You can’t go wrong with either choice.
There is also a high-ankle hiking shoe version of the Prodigio, the Prodigio Hike. It’s less in the run family, but still a great shoe.
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The Prodigio 2 has a 34-28 mm stack height and features La Sportiva’s own compression-molded XFlow midsole, made with nitrogen-infused EVA foam. The Prodigio 2’s midsole has a slight curve that rolls your foot forward as you stride. This is a subtle difference compared to the original Prodigio, but it helps propel you.
This midsole is one of the most responsive we’ve ever worn. It feels dense yet springy. The energy return as you push off is unparalleled. They don’t feel like they have as much cushion as they do, which is a good thing.
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The outsole rubber is also incredibly sticky. It uses La Sportiva’s Frixion Red (XT 2.0) outsole. This outsole uses a dual rubber compound with stickier rubber in the center and more durable, longer-lasting rubber on the sides of the sole, where most people tend to wear down their outsoles fastest. This gives you sticky rubber where you need it without sacrificing longevity, since stickier rubber is softer and wears down faster.
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It has a recycled high-tenacity airmesh upper that’s very breathable. This upper material barely absorbs any water and makes for one of the fastest-drying shoes we’ve worn. It has a thermoform-reinforced toe cap, and the laminating wraps around the sides of the shoe to increase overall durability across most high-wear areas of the upper. The cushioned tongue attaches to an elastic nylon cage mid-foot, reinforcing the entire front of your foot.
The Prodigio 2 has a redesigned heel cup, with more cushioning around the ankle and tongue (mentioned above), compared to the original Prodigio. We think this additional cushion makes the shoe more comfortable overall, while maintaining that locked-in feel the original Prodigio provided.
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If you’ve never worn La Sportiva shoes, the sizing is a bit weird. We wear a full size larger in La Sportiva than we do with other trail running shoe brands. Many people also find La Sportiva shoes too narrow. But once we figured out we needed to size up, we found they weren’t quite as narrow as we expected.
The Prodigio 2s have a wide toe box that fits Sam, our main tester, who has slightly wider-than-average feet. If you need an extremely wide shoe, we recommend the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3, HOKA Speedgoat 7 (which comes in wide sizes), or either of the Altra models we tested here—the Timp 6 and Lone Peak 9+. However, we've seen many people who fit into the Prodigio, so they’ll probably fit your feet, too. Just remember to size up a full size.
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There aren’t many shoes that offer this much cushion in such a responsive, stable, and grippy platform, and for that reason, we think the Prodigios are the best trail running shoes overall.
Best cushioned trail running shoes: Hoka Speedgoat 7
Sizes available: 7 - 14
Widths available: Standard, wide
Drop: 5 mm
Stack height: 37.3 - 33.3 mm
Weight: 9.7 oz / 275 g
What we liked: Lightweight, great for mixed surface runs, well-cushioned
What we didn’t like: Not the best on rough terrain
The HOKA Speedgoat 7 is one of the most cushioned trail runner we tested and one of our favorites for ultra-distance running and fast hiking. We’ve been wearing Speedgoats for years, and we love the generous amount of cushioning, the sticky Vibram Megagrip outsole, and the very supportive upper.
The newest version of the Speedgoat, the Speedgoat 7, features a redesigned heel collar, a new upper, and a supercritical EVA foam midsole. We know some people had to cut down the heel collar on the Speedgoat 6 to make it wearable, so hopefully this heel collar redesign solves this problem. The Speedgoat has been our overall winner in our Best Women's Trail Running Shoes guide for years, and that hasn’t changed.
You can read our in-depth review of the HOKA Speedgoat 7 for more details.
Hoka Speedgoat 7
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We’ve worn the Speedgoats while thru-hiking thousands of miles, on the Continental Divide Trail, Appalachian Trail, Arizona Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, Colorado Trail, and Collegiate Peaks Loop. We’ve put a ton of miles on the new Speedgoat 7s while trail running in Colorado and Arizona.
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The newest version of Speedgoat has removed that extra millimeter of heel-to-toe drop from the Speedgoat 6. The stack is now 37-33 mm (though HOKA lists it as 37.3-33.3 mm, we refuse to say anything other than 37-33 from here on out), whereas the Speedgoat 6 was 38-33, and the Speedgoat 5 was 38-34 mm. These changes aren’t noticeable, and overall, the Speedgoat 7 feels similar to the Speedgoat 6 in terms of foot position. See our review of the Speedgoat 6 trail running shoes.
The Speedgoat 7 continues to shave weight off previous versions, weighing 9.7 oz per shoe compared to the Speedgoat 6’s 9.8 oz per shoe.
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As mentioned above, the Speedgoats have a stack height of 33 millimeters. That makes them one of the most cushioned trail runners we tested. This feature reduces the trail feel but lets you walk over sharp rocks without feeling them on your feet.
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The Speedgoat 7 also features a sticky Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5mm lugs for grip on dirt and mud. HOKA has redesigned the lug orientation, which we think helps, but we didn’t have any problem with the previous version’s traction. Between the sticky rubber outsole and the huge lugs, these shoes grip everything.
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They also have an extremely stable upper. When you lace these shoes, the mesh wraps around your foot as if it were designed for your foot. This upper is one of the best-fitting ones we’ve worn, and it stays comfortable all day.
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The HOKA Speedgoat 7 shoes have a ton of stack and cushioning, and you can feel it, especially on bigger mile days. In theory, more stack means a higher center of gravity for your feet and ankles. So, in theory, the Speedgoats should be more prone to rolling an ankle than shoes with a low stack height. However, in all the years and miles we’ve put into these shoes, we haven’t ever rolled an ankle. That’s more than we can say about other trail runners with much less stack height.
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If you’re looking for the most cushioning in a trail running shoe, we think you’ll notice the extra 0.3 mm HOKA has added to the forefoot (just kidding). But we do think you should check out the HOKA Speedgoat 7.
Best Trail Running Shoes for long distances: Norda 001a
Sizes available: 8 - 13
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 5 mm
Stack height: 26 - 21 mm
Weight: 9.5 oz
What we liked: Comfortable, long-lasting midsole, durable upper, grippy outsole
What we didn’t like: Expensive, sizing runs small
The norda 001a is an extremely durable trail shoe with a grippy outsole making it a clear winner for best long distances. These shoes are built for long distances without being heavy or bulky. This lets you wear them every day without worrying about destroying your expensive super shoes. The midsole doesn’t compress as quickly as other running shoes, but it still feels light and quick. And the upper is reinforced with Dyneema for strength.
The 001a costs more than $100 more than our top pick for long distances, the La Sportiva Prodigio Max, but we expect it to last several hundred miles longer. The 001a also weighs about 2.2 ounces less per shoe. If money isn’t a consideration for you, and you’re looking for a fast and light shoe that won’t wear out after 200 miles, this is it. Also, since these shoes last over twice as long as some trail shoes, they could be the frugal option in the long run (pun intended!).
Norda 001a
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We’ve been testing the 001a for several months, and have over 400 miles on them already. We haven’t gone easy on them, either. We’ve put in tons of miles on these shoes in Utah, Colorado, and Hawaii. We’ve used them to climb mountain peaks, with long sections of off-trail travel, scrambling through scree fields, hopping over boulders, and crossing rivers. We also used them in the extremely wet, muddy Hawaiian rainforests, where we regularly moved through standing water up to our knees, with mud so thick it took two cycles through a washing machine to get most of it out of the shoes. While summiting a muddy volcano, we climbed multiple vertical rock and mud faces, and these shoes were impressively grippy on every climb.
We scrambled in and out of canyons in Utah, where we had to jam our foot in cracks, and trust the Vibram Megagrip outsole to hold on steep sandstone slab climbs. After all that, they’re still going strong.
We’ll write a full review once we’ve reached 700 miles. We expect these shoes to last at least that long; after 400 difficult miles, they look dirty but not even close to worn out: the upper is still in great shape with no tears, the midsole isn’t packed out, and the outsole isn’t falling apart.
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Beyond the durability, these shoes perform really well overall. They’re lightweight, weighing 9.5 ounces per shoe. This is lighter than average, but not the lightest shoe. Our overall favorite, the La Sportiva Prodigio 2, weighs 9.3 ounces per shoe.
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The 001a also has an extremely grippy outsole. The outsole is fully rubber, with no exposed midsole foam. And the rubber compound is Vibram Megagrip. These have become our go-to scrambling shoes, and the sticky rubber outsole inspires confidence on climbs and descents. We don’t hesitate to smear on smooth rock faces because the outsole always seems to hold on. They have arrow-shaped lugs that point forward on the forefoot and back on the heel. These lugs bite into dirt, loose rocky terrain, and muddy conditions.
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The midsole is made of Arnitel TPEE (Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer) midsole. This midsole material is extremely long-lasting; after 400 miles it still feels bouncy and cushions our footfalls. But it doesn’t feel hard when new, either. The most remarkable thing about this midsole is how long it lasts and how good it feels out of the box and for the next 500+ miles.
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The major downside of the 001a is the price, as mentioned above. However, we’re starting to believe they’re worth the price considering how well they perform and how long they last.
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Another consideration is that norda shoes run small, and they don’t have consistent sizing. Sam, our men’s tester, typically wears a men’s size 9.5. He wears a size 10 in the 001a. But he wears a 10.5 in the Norda 000, which we cover below.
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We also want to note that the 001a doesn’t have much padding around the heel and ankle collar. There is a small amount of cushion about a centimeter below the top of the shoe, on the outside edges below the ankle, but no padding on the heel. This mostly hasn’t been an issue for us, but after two weeks of walking and running through sticky mud in Hawaii, the mud made the leather-like ankle collar material very stiff, causing abrasions on our heel and ankles. After multiple washes in a washing machine using a garment bag, the material is starting to soften again. If you want more padding around the ankle collar, the norda 000, which we are also testing but haven’t put as many miles in yet, has more padding around the ankle and heel.
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If you’re looking for a supershoe that doesn’t break down after 200, you should definitely consider the norda 001a. They’re lightweight and fast, and the longest-lasting running shoes we’ve ever used.
Best durable men’s trail running shoes: Norda 000
Sizes available: 8 - 15
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 5 mm
Stack height: 26 - 21 mm
Weight: 10.4 oz
What we liked: Lightweight, comfortable, Dyneema-reinforced upper, durable midsole, padded ankle collar
What we didn’t like: Expensive, runs even smaller than norda 001
The norda 000 is an extremely durable trail shoe with a grippy outsole. These shoes are very similar to the Norda 001a, but they have a padded heel collar and a brand-new Vibram Stream Flow midsole. This midsole, which hasn’t been used in any shoe other than the 000, is as light as supercritical foam but doesn’t compress and lose its bounce nearly as quickly.
The 000 are designed for mountain running. They weigh slightly more than the 001a, weighing 10.37 ounces per shoe. The upper is made with seamless, bio-circular Dyneema material, which uses plant-based oils to make UHMWPE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) fiber. This fiber is woven into something that looks like ripstop but is significantly more durable than traditional nylon or polyester ripstop.
For more see my in-depth review of the norda 000.
Norda 000
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Honestly, we didn’t think there was much of anything wrong with the norda 001a, but then we got a pair of the 000, and we like them even more. Despite being heavier than the norda 001, the norda 000 feel lighter, and the midsole feels firm, yet cushiony, but not in the max-cushion pillow-soft way that some supercritical midsole foam feels.
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The 000 has extra padding around the ankle collar. We don’t hate the feel of the 001a’s ankle collar, which is an uncushioned leather-like material around the edge. But we’ve had some issues with this uncushioned edge rubbing on our ankle bones after we got the shoes extremely muddy, which made the leather-like material stiffer. The 000 feels more comfortable out of the box, and the padded heel cup and ankle collar feel more similar to other trail running shoes we’re used to. We haven’t put as many miles on the 000 as the 001a, but we suspect the 000 will last a long time. The padded ankle collar material might abrade and develop wear marks, but we’ll have to wait and see. We’ll keep you updated as well.
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The norda 000 uses a new Vibram Stream Flow midsole, which is used for the first time in the 000. This midsole feels like supercritical foam in terms of weight, but it doesn’t feel as bouncy as supercritical foam sometimes does. It will also last much longer than other midsole foams, especially the foams used in other supershoes that integrate supercritical EVA or TPEE foams into the midsole.
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The 000 has the full-coverage soleplate of Vibram Megagrip rubber as the norda 001a. This outsole is grippy and long-lasting, with no exposed midsole foam that would cause durability concerns.
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If you’re looking for a supershoe that doesn’t break down after 200 miles or less and you want a padded ankle collar, you should consider the norda 000.
Best trail running shoes for hiking: Altra Lone Peak 9+
Sizes available: 7-16
Widths available: Regular, wide
Drop: 0 mm
Stack height: 25 mm
Weight: 11.1 oz / 317 g
What we liked: Zero drop, wide toe box, great trail feel, minimalist shoe, available in many sizes, 9+ version has sticky rubber outsole
What we didn’t like: Not great on technical terrain, minimalist trail shoe feel isn’t for everyone
The Altra Lone Peaks are some of the most popular trail running shoes for hiking. Altra has a massive following among trail runners, thru-hikers, and ultralight backpackers who want a shoe that allows your foot to move naturally with room to accommodate foot swelling in extreme conditions.
The Lone Peak 9+, and not the standard Lone Peak 9, now has a Vibram Megagrip outsole.
We love the Lone Peak 9+ so much we wrote a whole review about them. You can also learn about the waterproof version in our in-depth review of the Altra Lone Peak 9+ GTX trail running shoes.
Altra Lone Peak 9+
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The addition of Megagrip to the Lone Peak 9+ makes it on par with the Timp 5 in terms of grip. We think the Lone Peak 9+ is a great shoe, but the Timp has more cushion and is slightly narrower throughout, making it slightly more stable on technical terrain.
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We first wore Lone Peaks while thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and have tested Lone Peak versions 1 through 9+ at this point. We tested the Lone Peak 9+ trails in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. These shoes excel on smoother trails – they’re great for running over sand and packed dirt in desert environments. The minimalist design is quite popular outside desert regions, too. With the addition of the Vibram Megagrip in the 9+, they’re much better on slick rock and in other scrambling scenarios as well.
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These are zero-drop shoes, meaning your heel is at the same level as your forefoot – how it would be when you’re barefoot. The toe box is very wide, so your toes don’t rub each other as you move. The result is an incredibly comfortable trail shoe that is less prone to causing blisters or chafing.
The Lone Peaks have a relatively low stack height, so you’re close to the ground and can feel the trail beneath your feet, further adding to the natural barefoot feel. They're constructed with a seamless and stitchless upper, making them even less prone to discomfort from chafing or rubbing. The upper is almost entirely mesh, making these some of the most breathable shoes we tested. The wide platform creates a very stable feel. The tread is grippy, and the deep directional lugs help grip loose dirt and sand.
However, some people don’t love how the minimalist design makes them feel less stable. If you’re used to a more rigid trail shoe, they'll feel flimsy, especially at first. We noticed this on rocky trails where the shoes didn’t feel as protective. However, if you’re looking for a zero-drop trail runner, you probably know the benefits of this design.
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Note that the sizing of the 9s is slightly larger than the 7s. When testing the Lone Peak 9+, we went with a half-size smaller than usual, which greatly improved how they felt on our feet. If you want the widest zero-drop shoe, we recommend the Lone Peak 9+. If you want a slightly narrower zero-drop trail shoe, we also love the Altra Timp 5.
Best trail running shoe for beginners: Salomon Genesis 2
Sizes available: 7 - 14
Widths available: Regular and Wide
Drop: 8 mm
Stack height: 33.5 - 25.5 mm
Weight: 9.9 oz
What we liked: Affordable, durable, lightweight, quick-lacing system stays tight
What we didn’t like: Narrower fit
The Salomon Genesis 2 is a durable, lightweight, and affordable trail running shoe, which makes it an excellent choice for best trail running shoe for beginners. These are some of the least expensive trail running shoes we tested, but they perform almost as well as many more expensive shoes. They have an extremely tear-resistant Matryx upper, a grippy outsole, and Salomon’s quicklace system that never comes untied.
See more in our in-depth review of the Salomon Genesis 2 trail running shoes.
Salomon Genesis 2
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If you’re familiar with the Salomon Sense Ride series, the Genesis 2 will feel similar. We think the Genesis feels slightly narrower through the midfoot, but might be wider in the toe box. But the Sense Ride and Genesis both have the same Salomon Contagrip outsole, a similar lug pattern, and a similar overall fit.
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The Genesis upper is made with Matryx, which uses individually coated high-tenacity Kevlar and technical yarn. We’ve used a few pairs of shoes with the Matryx upper, and we’ve never seen this material tear or develop holes. So far, after putting in long runs on technical trails, the Genesis 2 upper doesn’t have any tears. These make it a great option for runners of all types, especially beginners who are developing on footwork skills.
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These shoes feel quick on push-off and have quick turnover. They have what Salomon calls an activeCHASSIS, which is immediately noticeable on the run. This chassis is a midfoot and heel support insert that’s embedded in the midsole. Salomon claims it creates more guidance, agility, and freedom of movement. We think it feels like a rocker plate on a firm midsole, which is effectively what it is. Initially, we thought the midsole felt too dense, but by the end of the first 5-mile run, we were used to it and liked the feel.
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They have 33.5 mm of stack in the heel and 25.5 mm in the forefoot. The tread uses a combination of arrow- and square-shaped 4mm lugs. The arrow-shaped lugs are on most of the tread—on the entire heel and outer ⅔ of the forefoot. The square-shaped lugs are on the inner ⅓ of the forefoot. While these lugs don’t dig deep in mud or snow, they are adequate for most trail conditions since the rubber compound is grippy, too.
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While we think these shoes fit very well overall, we found them narrow through the midfoot. We keep adjusting the Quicklace system, hoping it will make them feel a little less tight around the arch. It’s not too narrow for shorter runs of up to 10 miles, but by the end of the second hour we’re ready to take these shoes off. Our main tester, Sam, has wider-than-average feet, though. So if you have narrower feet, this shouldn’t be an issue.
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If you’re looking for an affordable trail running shoe with a durable upper and higher heel-to-toe drop well-suited to beginner trail runners, the Genesis 2 is a great option.
Best trail running shoe for technical runs: La Sportiva Prodigio Pro
Sizes available: 7.5 - 13
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 6 mm
Stack height: 34 - 28 mm
Weight: 8.9 oz / 255 g
What we liked: Responsive midsole, energy transfer and stability, well-cushioned, stable upper, grippy outsole, excels on any terrain, durability,
What we didn’t like: price
The La Sportiva Pro is a favorite running shoe among Treeline Review testers and our winner for best trail running shoe for technical terrain. It won our award for Editor's Choice Best Gear of the Year.
The La Sportiva Pro features a “power wire” mesh upper—a network of small TPU wire overlays that wrap up and around the mesh material. The power wire upper aids in energy transfer and stability. It also improves the durability of the upper, since all those wires aren’t likely to tear as easily as the mesh. The upper also wraps around the ankle like a gaiter, which keeps debris out of your shoes.
The Prodigio Pro also features a super critical EVA foam midsole. Super critical EVA, commonly used in running “super shoes,” uses nitrogen injected into the foam during manufacturing to create a lighter and bouncier midsole than standard EVA. The Prodigio Pro’s midsole feels awesome, hands down.
The La Sportiva Prodigio Pro's super critical EVA foam midsoles feel fast, springy, and downright dreamy over long miles. These are the shoes we grab for a trail race or other important long-distance endeavors but we admit, we love wearing these shoes so much, we wear them as a daily driver.
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro
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We wore the Prodigio Pros for a Rim to Rim to Rim run across the Grand Canyon. While the shoes didn’t make R2R2R easy, we had virtually no foot problems over 45 miles and 22,000 feet of elevation gain.
Treeline Review writers of all trail running skill levels tested this shoe and almost everyone found them not just enjoyable, but noticeably fun to wear.
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The Prodigio Pro is a huge improvement over the standard Prodigio. If the Pro didn’t cost so much, we would recommend it over the standard Prodigio. However, we just can’t bring ourselves to recommend a shoe that costs that much more for everyone. If cost is less of a concern, the Prodigio Pro is a stellar shoe, but the standard Prodigio is also great. You can’t go wrong with either choice.
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Unlike many super shoes, the Prodigio Pro doesn’t have a carbon plate, which we think is overkill for trail shoes and makes them less useful as a daily trail runner.
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While these aren’t the number one trail shoe we recommend to most people because of the price, if money were no object, we would only wear these shoes. And if you’re looking for a special shoe for your next trail race, these are the best.
Best trail and road running shoes: Hoka Challenger 8
Sizes available: 7-15
Widths available: Regular, wide
Drop: 8 mm
Stack height: 42-34 mm (Men’s), 38-30mm (Women’s)
Weight: 9.7 oz
What we liked: Lightweight, great for mixed surface runs, well-cushioned
What we didn’t like: Not the best on rough terrain
The HOKA Challenger 8 is an excellent crossover trail running shoe. We’ve been wearing the Challengers as our road running shoes for several years, and the newest iteration is lighter than previous versions. The Challenger 8 has more heel-to-toe drop and more cushion than the Challenger 7.
Every trail runner needs shoes for road running because there are days when you just want to run out your front door. And if you’re like us, those runs follow paved roads to the closest gravel or dirt path. The Challengers are an excellent choice for this style of running.
They aren’t a pure road running shoe, not even close, in fact. They’re not as light as many road-specific shoes, but they feel great on gravel paths that wind through your city parks. We’ve put thousands of miles on gravel trails and smooth dirt paths in HOKA Challengers over the years, and they feel close to perfect for those conditions. If you like the HOKA Speedgoat, but don’t really go on technical trails, we think the Challenger is a great alternative.
The Challenger has tons of cushion, which we find more critical when pounding our feet over the pavement. They also have a great-fitting upper and a stable, supportive midsole.
Hoka Challenger 8
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We’ve tried “real” road running shoes for our best men’s road running shoes guide, but we've always returned to the Challengers for their multi-surface versatility. Road shoes feel flimsy compared to these shoes, and we’re not used to that feeling.
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If you’re more accustomed to the feel of road running shoes but want something that can also handle trails, we recommend the Craft Xplor 2. These shoes are gravel-specific running shoes, but they feel more like a road running shoe with a grippier tread. On the contrary, the Challenger feels like a trail running shoe with a somewhat smoother tread. The Craft Xplor feels faster but less beefy, whereas the Challenger feels burlier and more protective.
Since this is a trail running shoes guide, we think the Challenger is slightly better for trail runners who want a crossover shoe. However, if you're looking for something that leans more towards a road running shoe, consider the Craft Xplor 2 (more on these below).
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The biggest drawback of the HOKA Challengers, and any crossover shoes, is that they aren't the best for tearing up technical trails. They do better on steep inclines over strips of dirt than a road shoe, but they don’t provide nearly as much traction as many trail shoes. We lace up these shoes when we plan to run a little bit of everything—sand, dirt, gravel, and pavement—the Challengers can handle it all. We don’t see any reason to use a different shoe for all those trails closer to home.
Best zero-drop trail running shoes: Altra Timp 6
Sizes available: 7–15
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 0 mm
Stack height: 30 mm
Weight: 11.45 oz / 325 g
What we liked: Grippy Vibram Megagrip outsole, natural foot shape, wide toe box, stable upper
What we didn’t like: Zero drop isn’t for everyone, still narrower than the Altra Lone Peaks (but wider than previous Timp models)
The Altra Timp 6 is our favorite zero-drop trail running shoe. It provides stellar grip, fits well, and has just the right amount of cushioning. If you loved the previous Timp 5, you’ll be glad to know that the newest version hasn’t changed much. The latest version of the Timp features a redesigned outsole with larger lugs near the toe to improve traction. It also has one extra millimeter of stack height, a more flexible upper, and a slightly wider fit.
This is our favorite zero-drop shoe for long days on the trail, whether that’s running, hiking, or backpacking. The Timp 5 was our favorite version of the Timp we’ve worn. It was even better than the beloved Timp 2, which we wore while thru-hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail. The Timp 6 makes subtle improvements on the Timp 5 without losing what was great about it.
Learn more in our in-depth review of the Altra Timp 6 trail running shoes.
Altra Timp 6
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We tested the Timp 6 while trail running in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. We also used them while backpacking on the Ouachita Trail, where we had to carry a heavier-than-average thru-hiking pack due to winter conditions. We also used them on a backpacking trip along the Arizona Trail with an ultralight backpacking pack.
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The Timp 6 is ever so slightly wider through the mid and forefoot, but still not as wide as the Altra Lone Peak. We think this is mostly a good thing because some people find the Lone Peak too wide at the heel. But those who found the Lone Peak to be the correct width for their feet didn’t love the narrower fit of the previous Timp 5. We think the Timp 6 threads the needle between being wider through the toebox than previous Timps without being too wide. It still has that wide toebox that people love about Altras, but it’s not the absolute widest Altra shoe, either.
The Timp has slightly more grip and cushion than the extremely popular Lone Peak 9+ (more on that below). Though you can’t go wrong with the Lone Peak 9+, which now has Vibram Megagrip like the Timp, we still think the Timp 5 is best for most people.
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When we tried the Lone Peak 9+, it made us rethink what we should recommend as the best zero-drop trail runner. At the end of the day, we still recommend the Timp 6 because they have slightly more cushion and will fit more people’s feet, but you can’t go wrong with either of these shoes. And now that the Timp 6 is ever-so-slightly wider, we think they’re even better for even more people.
If you have a wider foot and want a lower-to-the-ground shoe with less cushion, we recommend the Altra Lone Peak 9+. However, the Lone Peak is wide, even through the heel. Our main tester, Sam, has wider-than-average feet, and the Lone Peaks still feel wide to him. The addition of a Vibram Megagrip outsole to the Lone Peak 9+ makes it a very compelling option, but, as we already said, the Timp 6 is slightly better for most people.
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For everyone but those with the widest feet, the Timp 6 is best. If you prefer a zero-drop shoe with a wide toe box but have never found Altra Lone Peaks to fit your foot snuggly, you should try the Timps. The Timps are ever-so-slightly narrower, which we found works with our wide but not the widest feet. And the Timp 6 has more cushion, which is more comfortable on rocky, uneven terrain.
If you like the roomy toe box of Altra shoes but prefer more offset, Altra’s Experience Wild 2 trail running shoes, which we featured in our Outdoor Gear We’re Testing Fall 2025 article, have a 4 mm drop.
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The Timp’s tacky Vibram Megagrip outsole grips wet rocks and practically anything else. This is some of the stickiest rubber we’ve seen on any trail running shoe, and the same rubber used on the HOKA Speedgoat, Merrell Long Sky 2, and Altra Lone Peak 9+. The Vibram Megagrip compound makes you feel like you’re wearing a climbing shoe, albeit one that fits like a runner.
We can confidently smear on angled slick rock, rock hop across creeks, and even step on wet logs (though you should still be careful with these) with the Timp 6, thanks to the Megagrip outsole. The outsole isn’t pure magic. It still won’t stick to humid, sweating, slime-covered rocks and logs as we found in Arkansas. But the Vibram Megagrip is still better than most outsoles in terms of grip.
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The Timp 6 has just the right amount of cushioning. If you want a shoe with more cushioning that’s still zero drop, you should try the Altra Olympus, which has even more cushioning. But, we like the amount of cushioning on the Timps–it’s not too little but not too much either. The Timp 6 also uses the same Altra EGO MAX compound midsole as previous versions. This midsole offers an excellent cushion without feeling too soft when you push off.
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The Timp 6 is available as a high-top hiker version for people who prefer a lightweight hiking boot. The Timp 5 was available in a BOA version, which made tightening and loosening the shoe much faster and easier—you can literally tighten or loosen these with one hand. This is nice if you prefer your shoes tighter for downhill sections, but aren’t the type to stop, untie, then retie your shoes to tighten them. Typically, we keep our shoes laced at the same tightness all day, but with a BOA, that doesn’t have to be the case. They also never come untied, which is pretty great. We hope that the Timp 6 becomes available in BOA as well.
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If you’re looking for a zero-drop trail running shoe with stellar grip, plenty of cushion, and a wide but not too wide fit, you should check out the Timp 6.
Best Trail Running Shoes for Traction: La Sportiva Mutant
Sizes available: 40.5 - 47.5
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 10 mm
Stack height: 26 - 16 mm
Weight: 11.2 oz / 317 g
What we liked: excellent traction, gets grippier with more use, locked-in fit
What we didn't like: specialized use
The Mutant is one of the most unique trail running shoes we’ve ever worn. They’re incredibly grippy and feel closer to an approach shoe than a running shoe in many ways. But they are a trail running shoe, a running shoe that’s more suited for off-trail mountain runs and scrambling routes than smooth dirt tread.
We primarily wear the Mutant for peakbagging missions or other runs that involve a lot of scrambling. They’re ideal for alpine ridgelines, smearing on slick rock, and summiting 14ers. We’ve tested them in Utah slot canyons, high routes in Colorado’s Weminuche Wilderness, and class 4/5 scrambles to mountain summits. These shoes are wildly popular with trail runners who blur the line between running and climbing, and for good reason—there’s nothing else like the Mutant.
Editor's note: The La Sportiva Mutants appear to be discontinued but can still be found at some retailers. We still recommend these shoes and suggest getting them while you can.
La Sportiva Mutant
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The Mutant outsole is seriously sticky. We once dropped off a boulder blocking a slot canyon, then caught ourselves out of a free-fall by stemming across with our feet when the slick rock walls narrowed below. The outsole rubber grips smooth, near-vertical walls as well as rock shoes.
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They have massive 6mm lugs that give responsive grip on hardpack, loose dirt, and mud. With a new pair of these shoes, you don’t get much surface area to grip onto rock due to the lugs, but those lugs will seriously bite into soft dirt and mud. They grip well on rock even with the lugs, and will only become better at smearing as the lugs wear down.
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The upper features a very unique lacing and tongue system that hugs around your foot, providing a secure, locked-in fit. There isn’t a tongue on these shoes, though. Instead, both sides of the shoe overlap across the top, where the tongue on a traditional shoe would be.
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The lacing system allows you to tighten the shoe evenly by going beyond simply pulling the shoe up along the top. Each lace segment weaves through cord loops laminated along the sides of the shoe, extending to the midsole. Then, at the top of the shoe, where the two sides overlap (in lieu of a tongue), the outside end of the shoelace weaves back and forth through the material. When you lace up these shoes, you feel them tighten along the sides and securely across the top of your foot. The wraparound tongue makes them feel solid even when not tied. But once you tighten the laces, your foot isn’t moving.
We recently had to replace the shoelaces on our pair. While the lacing pattern creates an incredibly supportive upper, retracing that pattern proved infinitely more complicated than lacing up any shoes we’ve ever worn.
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The biggest drawback of these shoes is that they aren’t very versatile. We’ve used them for more traditional trail runs on hardpack dirt and rocky trails, and they work for this. But they don’t feel fast, and feel like too much shoe for anything but the most gnarly terrain. They’re also pretty narrow and can leave your toes feeling cramped during long days on the mountain.
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These are certainly not the do-it-all trail runners of your dreams, but they don’t try to be. They could be the don’t look down, I should be wearing climbing shoes trail runners of your dreams, though.
Best gravel Running Shoes: Craft Xplor 2
Sizes available: 8-13
Wide available: No
Drop: 6.0 mm
Stack height: 38.5 - 32.5 mm
Weight: 11 oz / 311 g
What we liked: Traction for dirt, versatile for road miles, comfortable, lightweight, grippy
What we didn’t like: Not great on muddy trails
The Craft Xplor 2 is our overall favorite gravel running shoe from our new Gravel Running Shoes guide. Most gravel running shoes seem to be little more than road running shoes with slightly more tread underfoot, whereas the Xplor 2 seems made explicitly for the unique crossover needs of multi-surface running. These shoes feel fast like a road running shoe, but they also have the stability, traction, and durability of a trail running shoe.
We tested the Craft Xplor 2 while running trails and roads across Colorado and Michigan. We love how light and nimble they feel on paved roads and sidewalks when we run out our front door. We also love the underfoot traction as the pavement ends and the roads get rougher. That’s why we’ve also named this shoe Best Gravel Running Shoe in our Best Women’s Trail Running Shoes guide. These shoes also made our writers’ Favorite Gear of 2025 and our Editors’ Choice: Best Gear of 2025 lists.
Craft Xplor 2
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We love connecting dirt roads with singletrack trails to create loops, and the Xplor 2’s full-coverage Vittoria underfoot tread and stable upper provide a confidence-inspiring platform on uneven surfaces. Vittoria is a bike tire brand, and the outsole really looks like a gravel bike tire. The outer edges of the tread have larger lugs, and the center lugs are shorter. This allows for more traction when you’re cornering without adding excessively large lugs, which would make the shoe heavier and less comfortable and efficient on the roads.
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They have a mesh upper that wraps comfortably around your foot and a wider toe box than many running shoes. They have a rubber toe cap that’s akin to many trail running shoes, but the mesh near the toes is reinforced with laminated overlays to protect those high-wear areas from abrasion. They also don’t have any exposed foam on the tread, which makes them much more durable than many running shoes—whether those are road, trail, or gravel shoes.
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The biggest drawback of these shoes is that they’re gravel shoes, so they’re not perfect for road or trail. There are dedicated road shoes that are faster and dedicated trail shoes that are better suited for technical terrain. However, the Craft Xplor 2s don’t try to be the quickest road shoe or the techiest trail shoe. Instead, they balance the most critical elements of road and trail, and combine them in one do-it-all shoe. We think they’re best for dirt and gravel roads, and feel quicker than our favorite crossover shoe, the HOKA Challenger 8.
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If you’re unsure whether you’d like the Craft Xplor or the HOKA Challenger 8 more, here’s a quick breakdown of the differences. The Craft Xplor 2 has a lower stack height and less heel-to-toe drop than the Challenger 8, so it feels slightly more stable. The Xplor’s midsole feels somewhat firmer, yet springier. The Challenger, on the other hand, has a pillowy-soft midsole with MetaRocker technology that propels you forward as you stride. Many people love the feel of HOKA shoes, which are most distinct in the midsole design and technology. If you like how HOKA shoes feel and have worn the Speedgoat previously, you’ll probably like the Challenger. If you don’t love how HOKAs feel, or want a lower-to-the-ground, lighter shoe, we recommend the Craft Xplor.
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For an all-surface trail shoe that is light enough for tempo runs but comfortable, grippy, and durable enough for dirt, gravel, and rocky surfaces, we don’t think you can do much better than the Craft Xlor 2.
Best waterproof trail running shoes: La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX
Sizes available: 6-13.5
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 8 mm
Stack height: 20 - 28 mm
Weight: 12.5 oz / 355 g
What we liked: Integrated waterproof gaiter, excellent traction, BOA dial lacing
What we didn’t like: Very expensive, La Sportiva sizing runs small
The La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX are the best waterproof trail running shoes we’ve worn. Many trail runners come in a waterproof version, but few others feature a full-coverage integrated waterproof gaiter like these. Thanks to the Cyklons, we could trail run five or more days a week during a very snowy January in Colorado. We ran hundreds of miles on trails, climbed 14ers, and snowshoed in these fully waterproof shoes. The waterproof gaiters kept our feet dry and warm even in temperatures near zero degrees Fahrenheit. You don’t have to worry about puddles splashing into the top of your trail shoe and soaking your feet when wearing the Cyklons. They have transformed our winter and wet-weather trail running.
See our in-depth review of the La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX trail running shoes for more information.
La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX
The Cyklons feature a full-coverage waterproof gaiter that extends above your ankle. The gaiter zips shut over a BOA lacing system. The BOA dial is outside the waterproof gaiter and is easy to operate with gloves or waterproof mittens. This feature lets you easily tighten or loosen the shoes as trail conditions change. They also have deep 7-millimeter lugs with La Sportiva’s stickiest rubber. The lugs bite into snow and mud very well. We rarely felt the tread wasn’t enough on its own, and we only needed to add microspikes when running on smooth ice. The shoe that sits inside the integrated gaiter is very comfortable, too. Over many full days on rough trails, they remained comfortable.
However, the Cyklons are expensive. If you’re a hardcore foul-weather runner, they’re worth it. We’ve already convinced a few of our trail-running friends they’re worth the price this winter, and no one who’s tried them has been disappointed. But if you only plan to run trails a handful of times when it’s cold and wet, they might not be worth it.
Other Trail Running Shoes We Tested
Brooks Ghost Trail
Sizes available: 7 - 15
Widths available: Medium (1D) and Wide (2E)
Drop: 8 mm
Stack height: 36 - 28 mm
Weight: 10.7 oz
What we liked: Lightweight, comfortable, an off-road version of a well-loved shoe
What we didn’t like: Not the best for technical terrain
The Brooks Ghost Trail is the off-road-ready version of the Brooks Ghost road running shoe. This shoe excels in mixed-surface runs. While Brooks doesn’t call this a gravel shoe, we think it’s best for “gravel” running, which means anything from pavement to dirt, and yes, gravel roads.
It has a comfortable upper, a responsive midsole, and a grippy enough outsole for long runs when you aren’t worried about what surface comes around the next bend. Compared to the Ghost 17 road running shoe, which has 10mm of drop, the Ghost Trail has a lower 8 mm heel-to-toe drop. The Ghost Trail also has rubber overlays on the mesh upper for added durability. The Ghost Trail doesn’t feel exactly like the Ghost road shoe, but if you like the Ghost road running shoe, you’ll probably like the Ghost Trail, too. The shoes have the same midsole, so the ride will feel similar. The uppers on the Ghost and Ghost Trail are similar as well, so they’ll fit similarly.
Brooks Ghost Trail
The Ghost Trail has 3 mm lugs and a TrailTack Green rubber outsole. The tread pattern looks like a gravel bike or fast-rolling mountain bike tire. This outsole is grippy enough for dirt roads and smoother, less rugged trails, but if you’re looking for a shoe for technical trails, this isn’t the one. These shoes excel on hard-packed dirt and gravel surfaces. The lugs aren’t deep enough for loose, technical terrain, but they’re a little too deep for extended road use.
They have an 8 mm heel-to-toe drop, which helps with uphill running. It also helps road runners transitioning to trail running, because road shoes tend to have a higher drop than trail shoes. More road shoes have a higher drop of 8-12 mm than trail shoes, but trail shoes tend to have 4-8. Since the Ghost Trail has a high drop for a trail shoe, it can help with the transition from road to trail shoes.
Sizes available: 7 - 13
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 7 mm
Stack height: 32 - 25 mm
Weight: 11 oz
What we liked: Wider fit, nitrogen-infused midsole, has a rock plate
What we didn’t like: Larger and wider fit isn’t perfect
The Helly Hansen Kestrel TR are trail running shoes that try to do a bit of everything. They have a nitrogen-injected supercritical foam midsole for a responsive, springy ride. They have shorter lugs, so they’re suited to gravel roads, mixed-surface runs, and trails. And they have a Pebax rock plate, which helps propel you forward with each stride.
Helly Hansen Kestrel TR
We like all the design elements of this shoe. It’s well cushioned, with a heel stack height of 32 mm and a forefoot stack of 25 mm. The rubber outsole is grippy enough, though we wouldn’t trust it on steep slabs of exposed slick rock. They’re comfortable out of the box, too. We put them on and immediately went on a 5-mile run with no issues.
Our biggest gripe with these shoes is the width. They’re extremely wide, so we had to tighten the laces a lot more than we normally do to get a solid, locked-in fit. Even then, we didn’t feel super confident on technical terrain. If you have wider feet, you might have a better experience, but these shoes cost about as much as other trail running shoes that we liked more, so you might want to consider those first.
Sizes available: 40 - 49.5
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 6 mm
Stack height: 37 - 31 mm
Weight: 10.4 oz / 295 g
What we liked: cushioning, durability, firmer midsole that lasts longer, comfort
What we didn’t like: price
The La Sportiva Prodigio Max was our former best trail running shoe for long distances because it has tons of cushioning, a durable upper, and a super solid midsole that doesn’t compress as quickly as many high-stack trail running competitors.
Compared to other long distance running shoes like the HOKA Speedgoat, the Prodigio Max has a firmer midsole that lasts longer. So while they don’t feel quite as soft as the Speedgoats initially, they feel more comfortable for more miles.
We wore the Prodigio Max while thru-hiking 500 miles on the New Mexico section of the Continental Divide Trail. Before we left, we wore them on while trail running in Arizona. We weren’t planning to wear them on the CDT, but after a few runs, we were sold. The toe box is wide enough for our tester’s wider-than-average feet, the midsole feels solid and lasts a long time, and the upper mesh is reinforced with TPU-wire overlays, so the shoes won’t fall apart if you tear the upper.
Still, we find the new norda 001a and the norda 000 to be more comfortable shoes than the La Sportiva Prodigio Max and now recommend them as our best trail runners for long distances.
Read our full, in-depth review of the La Sportiva Prodigio Max here.
The La Sportiva Prodigio Max won Treeline Review's Editor's Choice Best Outdoor Gear of 2025 award.
La Sportiva Prodigio Max
After over 500 miles, our Prodigio Max trail running shoes don’t look brand new anymore, but they still have a lot of life left in them. The midsole is made with La Sportiva’s XFlow Endurance with EVA+NITRO along the outside, with an eTPU inner core. The result is more longevity around the outside with more cushion in the middle to help absorb impact underfoot.
After over 500 miles, there are some tears in the mesh upper of our pair, but that’s common with trail running shoes. However, the small tears in the mesh are underneath the TPU wire overlays, so those tears won’t result in catastrophic failure anytime soon.
They have 37mm of stack in the heel and 31mm in the forefoot. This is enough cushion for any long-distance endeavor. We wouldn’t want any more cushion underfoot than this because it would negatively affect the stability. The HOKA Speedgoat 6, for reference, has 40-35 mm of stack in the men’s shoe and 38-33 mm of stack in the women’s.
Like every La Sportiva shoe we’ve worn, we get a full size larger than we usually wear in other brands with the Prodigio Max. We recommend you do the same.
Weight per shoe: 9.34 oz
Drop: 6mm
Lug: 5mm
Stack Height: 31 - 25 mm
What we liked: Grippy outsole rubber, stellar lug traction in loose conditions, affordable
What we didn’t like: Midsole feels stiff
The Merrell Agility Peak 6 is a great shoe if you need maximum traction on loose or muddy trails. They have deep 5mm X-shaped lugs and a Vibram Megagrip outsole. These shoes have a good amount of cushion, with a 38-30 mm stack height. They also have the same Floatpro midsole as the Merrell Long Sky 2, which we love. However, something about the midsole and outsole combination on the Agility Peak 6 feels stiffer than the midsole on the much beloved, now discontinued Long Sky 2.
We tested the Agility Peak while running on rocky, technical terrain along the Arizona Trail in southern Arizona. The 5 mm lugs feel ideal for steep, loose dirt and mud, though we mostly found dry dirt in the southwest during spring. We also tried wearing them on some hard-packed dirt surfaces, but felt like a little too much shoe for groomed trail and gravel roads. Also, as we wore them longer, the midsole got less stiff.
If you like how Merrell shoes fit your feet but want a little more cushion than the Long Sky 2, the Agility Peak 6 is worth checking out.
Merrell Agility Peak 6
Sizes available: 7-13
Wide available: No
Drop: 0.0 mm
Stack height: 15 - 15 mm
Weight: 7.5 oz
What we liked: Minimalist design, zero drop, wide toe box, great for workouts and runs
What we didn’t like: Less cushioning for long runs, zero drop isn’t for everyone
The Notace Yama T1 is another zero-drop running shoe, much like the Altra Timp, Lone Peak, and Olympus. But unlike those Altra models, the Yama T1 is a much more minimalist shoe with less cushion and underfoot support. The Lone Peak, which has the least stack of any of the aforementioned Altra models, has 25 mm of stack height. The Yama T1 only has 15 mm of stack. This is significantly less stack than any other trail running shoe we’ve included here. So what does it offer, besides minimal cushion and super-low groundfeel? Top of our tester’s list in testing was the stable, hugging wrap of the upper that kept our foot secure while running.
If you’re looking for a true minimalist trail shoe, you can’t do much better than the Yama T1. However, a minimalist trail shoe is a pretty niche need, and you could seriously hurt yourself if you start running long distances in zero-drop shoes without building up foot strength. We love them for short runs and everyday wear, and also loved their grip on dirt to gravel and mixed trails, so we recommend them for that. If you’re a seasoned minimalist shoe aficionado, you should consider these for all your trail runs, too.
Learn more in our in-depth review of the Notace Yama T1 trail running shoes.
Notace Yama T1
Sizes available: 5-15
Widths available: No
Drop: 0.0 mm
Stack height: 33 - 33 mm
Weight: 12.2 oz
What we liked: Zero drop with max cushion, wide toe box, sticky rubber outsole
What we didn’t like: Zero drop isn’t for everyone
The Altra Olympus 6 has the most cushion of any zero-drop shoe we’ve tested. This is one of our favorite trail running shoes for thru-hiking because it has a wide toe box and maximum cushioning to protect your feet from rocky trails. We’ve worn these shoes on thru-hikes on the Arizona Trail and Pacific Northwest Trail. These trails tackle some seriously rough terrain, and we love the stability the Olympus provides.
They also have a Vibram Megagrip outsole, which is some of the stickiest rubber, and one of the reasons we love the Altra Timp, Altra Lone Peak 9+, and Merrell Long Sky 2. If you like the sound of the Altra Lone Peak 9+ or Altra Timp 6 but want even more cushion, you should try the Olympus.
You can read our in-depth review on the Altra Olympus 6 here and our in-depth review of the new Olympus 7 trail running shoes here.
Altra Olympus 6
Sizes available: 7-14
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 11 mm
Stack height: Heel 28.7; toe 17.3 mm
Weight per shoe: 11.4 oz / 323 g
What we liked: Extremely protective, stiff midsole
What we didn’t like: Feel more like a hiking shoe than a runner
The Salomon XA Pro 3D have been around for nine iterations. They’re a very popular shoe for hiking and backpacking, even though Salomon lists these as a trail runner. These shoes have a very firm midsole that feels great when picking your way through rough, rocky trails. They have a grippy outsole that works in wet conditions.
With the most recent version, Salomon has made these shoes lighter and more responsive than previous versions, but they still don’t feel as nimble as many of the other trail runners we tested here. However, if you’re looking for a durable shoe to transition away from hiking boots or even lightweight hiking boots, this is a great option.
Learn more in our in-depth review of the Salomon XA Pro 3D V9 GTX shoes.
Salomon XA Pro 3D V9
Sizes available: 6 - 13.5
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 12 mm
Stack height: Heel 29; toe 17 mm
Weight: 12.37 oz / 328 g
What we liked: Super durable, breathable, sticky rubber outsole
What we didn’t like: Runs narrow, La Sportiva sizing runs small, better for fast hiking than trail running
The La Sportiva Wildcat was our former winner for best light and fast hiking shoe. Often “running” long distances means "fast hiking" as much as it does running. The Wildcat is relatively heavy compared with other trail running shoes we tested, but it’s also one of the most durable and protective shoes. It's a very popular shoe with long-distance thru-hikers, and we’ve seen multiple pairs of these shoes last for nearly 1000 miles. While we wouldn’t recommend relying on a single pair of these shoes for that long, we can confirm it has been done.
La Sportiva Wildcat
The Wildcat is “overbuilt” by modern trail running shoe standards, but we think that's a good thing for the right uses. It has a burly toe cap, and stiffer soles than many trail runners. With a unique lug pattern made of long, thin rubber cleats that run lengthwise, they do well in rough terrain and feel more akin to the tread of a hiking shoe than a runner. The outsole rubber is quite sticky, and the shorter lugs allow for a solid platform to grab onto smooth rock. The upper is a comfortable and airy mesh with synthetic leather overlays for durability. They breathe well and kept our feet comfortable in hot conditions.
Though the Wildcat is excellent for long distances, it doesn’t have as much cushioning as some trail runners. They have a firmer midsole that doesn’t compress quickly, so they don’t have that cloud-like cushion feeling. While this isn't a dealbreaker for us, it might not be best if you prefer that soft, cushioned feeling of modern trail running shoes. The Wildcat is an excellent option for light and fast hiking. And let’s be honest, not all “trail runs” have to be 100% running because most of us can’t run over everything.
Sizes available: US Men’s 6-14.5 / EU 38 - 48.5
Widths available: Standard (D)
Drop: 7 mm
Stack height: Heel 29 mm; toe 22 mm
Weight: 9.7 oz / 275 g
What we liked: Lightweight, great fit, comfortable tongue, grippy tread, wider than most La Sportiva shoes
What we didn’t like: La Sportiva sizing runs small
The La Sportiva Jackal II trail running shoes are lightweight trail runners that balance foot protection, grip, and all-day comfort very well. These shoes have a wide toe box that makes them great for long, ultra-distance trail adventures, but their all-day comfort also translates well to any length run.
We’ve worn the Jackals since the original version for everything – from backpacking the Arizona Trail across the Grand Canyon to running trails in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. We even use the Jackals for “road to trail” type runs, where we start on pavement and eventually end up on dirt or gravel surfaces.
You can read our in-depth review of the La Sportiva Jackal 2 here.
La Sportiva Jackal II
The Jackal II has a wider last than most other La Sportiva shoes, which have a reputation for running relatively narrow (see our shoe diagram for an explanation about lasts). We loved the original Jackals but had some issues with the heel fit and comfort. The Jackal II has a much-improved heel that fits better, especially with this heel lock lacing technique. They have plenty of room in the toe box for long days on the trail. However, unlike some trail runners with wider toe boxes, these shoes are super stable on rocky, technical terrain.
The Jackal II tread is some of the grippiest we’ve used. They feel secure while hopping from rock to rock or making sharp cuts around a downhill switchback. They also have a highly breathable upper, which helps on those long, hot days. The biggest drawback of these shoes is the fit. With all La Sportiva shoes, we have to get a full size bigger than we usually wear with other brands’ shoes. Once we figured out sizing, they fit really well and are wide enough for our wider-than-average feet.
There aren’t many shoes that work this well for anything the trail throws at you, and we love the Jackal II for that reason. They used to be our favorite trail runner overall, but they’ve since been usurped by the La Sportiva Prodigio. If you want the La Sportiva model with the widest toe box, this is still the shoe for you.
Sizes available: 7-14
Widths available: Standard, Wide
Drop: 10 mm
Stack height: Heel 32 mm; toe 22 mm
Weight: 10.5 oz / 298 g
What we liked: Great traction, quicklace system, very protective, comes in standard and wide sizes
What we didn’t like: Feels like overkill on flatter terrain
The Salomon Speedcross 6 is a stellar trail running shoe for muddy, steep, or technical conditions. These shoes give you some of the best traction of any trail shoe available. Their massive 5 mm lugs bite into soft dirt and mud, and the sticky rubber grips onto slickrock and loose hardpacked dirt as well.
This shoe is designed for rough trails and has a stable, protective upper. The updated Speedcross 6 has a revamped upper material that feels more like a knit sock than previous versions. This revamped upper is more comfortable than previous versions, which were already quite comfortable. Other than the updated upper, the Speedcross 6 is largely the same as the Speedcross 5. They still lace up with the Salomon quicklace system, which tightens in one motion and never comes untied. The quicklace system paired with this new knit sock-like upper feels great even when you really tighten the laces.
For more info, read about our in-depth testing in our full Salomon Speedcross 6 Review.
Salomon Speedcross 6
Stack: 13 -19 mm
Drop: 6 mm
Weight: 10.5 oz
What we liked: Grippy, stable, low to the ground, comes in wide sizing
What we didn’t like: Not very much cushion, heavier, La Sportiva sizing is weird
The La Sportiva Bushido III is a low-stack trail runner for technical terrain. This is one of the most stable-feeling shoes we’ve tested. It doesn’t have the most cushioning and wouldn’t be our top choice for ultra-distance endeavors. But it has enough cushioning, and this shoe shines in its traction and stability, not cushioning. Now that the Bushido III comes in wide, which is new for this year, we recommend it to anyone looking for a stable shoe with excellent traction that’s low to the ground.
We’ve been a fan of the Bushido for years but never found they fit our feet well. Older Bushido models are probably one of the biggest culprits for La Sportiva’s reputation of having narrow-fitting shoes. We wanted to love these shoes for techy, rocky terrain, but they felt too much like a ballerina slipper for longer runs.
You can read our in-depth review of the La Sportiva Bushido III here.
La Sportiva Bushido III
While the Bushido III may not offer as much cushioning as the Altra Timp, HOKA Speedgoat, or La Sportiva Prodigio, it provides enough for longer 10-20 mile runs. We've tested it on 20-mile runs and found it cushioned enough for that distance, but longer than that is too much.
The Bushido outsole has a grippier rubber in the middle, with a slightly harder rubber around the edges. This provides traction where you need it with a longer-lasting rubber on the sides of the outsole, where shoes tend to wear out faster. These shoes are fantastic for scrambling and smearing on slick rock. And after several months and nearly 200 miles of use, the outsoles still look pretty fresh.
These are shoes we grab for the techiest runs, where you can’t actually run the entire time because the terrain is too steep, rocky, and exposed. If that’s the terrain you like to get after, this is the shoe for you.
Sizes available: 40 - 48
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 4 mm
Stack height: 26.5 - 22.5 mm
Weight: 9.9 oz / 280 g
What we liked: durability, incredibly grippy, built in sock liner keeps debris out, stability
What we didn’t like: very niche
The Scarpa Ribelle Run 2 is designed for running on burly trails. They feature a built-in sock liner to prevent debris from entering, reinforced overlays throughout the upper, and a grippy rubber outsole with 6mm lugs. These shoes have the look and feel of a lightweight mountaineering boot mixed with an approach shoe.
We tested these shoes running in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness badlands of northwest New Mexico, as well as on off-trail routes in southeast Utah and Colorado. They’re well-suited for technical, rocky terrain, are incredibly grippy on steep trails, and the built-in sock liner keeps debris out.
Most trail running shoes feature a reinforced toe cap, but these shoes take it a step further. They feature a rubber strip that extends from the heel to the toe, covering the midsole and leaving no exposed foam on the sides of the shoe except around the heel cup. There is also no exposed midsole foam on the tread. This is an ideal design for extremely rocky terrain, where sharp rocks can tear up the midsoles of traditional trail runner shoes.
Scarpa Ribelle Run 2
They have a 26.5-22.5mm stack with a 4mm drop. This is a relatively low amount of drop, which creates better stability on uneven terrain. We like these shoes overall, but they’re quite stiff, and we wish they provided a better trail feel.
The Ribelle Run 2 is a great trail running shoe for those accustomed to wearing mountaineering boots, but we know that’s not everyone. These are perhaps even more niche than the La Sportiva Mutant and cost more.
Sizes available: 7.5 - 13
Widths available: Narrow
Drop: 6 mm
Stack height: 29 - 23 mm
Weight: 9.6 oz / 270 g
What we liked: light, fast, grippy, traction, changing directions and braking, refined fit
What we didn’t like: narrow, price
The Rossignol Vezor trail running shoes are light, fast, and grippy. These shoes are designed for technical trails and high-elevation running. We tested these while running in the La Sal Mountains of southeast Utah.
They feature a Michelin-formula rubber outsole with 4mm lugs. This outsole provides good traction on varied terrain and works well for changing directions and braking.
The most unique feature of these shoes is the three-part removable footbed system that allows you to refine the fit. In reality, this means the shoes come with two insoles. On the first run, we found the shoes to be very tight-fitting, so we removed one of the two insoles to “customize” the fit. Now that we only have one set of insoles, the shoes fit better, but they still run very narrow.
These shoes are best for short and fast technical trails, skyrunning, and for people with narrow feet. They’re more expensive than many shoes we tested here, yet they don’t perform better. They feel like a narrower version of the Merrell Long Sky 2 that costs $40 more. They aren’t for everyone, but they could work for you. The modular footbed system is interesting, too.
Rossignol Vezor
Sizes available: 39 - 49.5
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 6 mm
Stack height: 31 - 25 mm
Weight: 10.9 oz / 310 g
What we liked: cushion, excel on technical, supportive, stable, traction
What we didn’t like: price, sizing, narrow
The La Sportiva Akasha II is an all-around excellent trail running shoe, designed specifically for mountain running. We reach for these shoes often because they offer more cushion than many La Sportiva shoes, with the exception of the Prodigio and Prodigio Max, and are fantastic on technical terrain. They’re supportive, stable, and inspire confidence on rocky trails, granite scrambles, and steep slopes.
Although they excel on rugged terrain, they also perform very well on smoother trails. We’ve worn these for countless 20–50 mile days, and know several runners who use these shoes for 100–250 mile races.
They have short, low-profile lugs and a sticky rubber outsole. Along the edges of the outsole, on the inside area near the toe and the outside of the heel (referred to as the “climbing zone” on approach shoes), there is smoother and more durable rubber. This allows you to smear on rock faces more easily while increasing the longevity of the outsole rubber.
La Sportiva Akasha II
It has a dual-injection EVA midsole that reduces shock as you run over rocky, rugged terrain. And the midsole is shaped with a trail rocker, which encourages your foot to roll forward with each stride. These shoes feel firm underfoot, yet remain comfortable for extended days on the mountain.
The biggest drawback with these shoes, like every pair of La Sportiva shoes, is the sizing. We get a full size larger than we usually wear in other brands with the Akasha II. Even after getting a full size larger, these shoes are slightly narrower in the toe box than we’d ideally want. The fit is excellent, and you can’t have a shoe that allows your toes to splay out and climb technical terrain like a rock shoe, but they’re just not wide enough for our slightly wider-than-average feet for extremely long days. If you have narrower feet, don’t sleep on these shoes, though.
Sizes available: 40 - 48
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 4 mm
Stack height: 28 - 24 mm
Weight: 10.2 oz / 290 g
What we liked: supercritcal foam adds momentum
What we didn’t like: stiff midsole, price
The Scarpa Spin Ultra 2 is a trail running shoe designed for long distances over moderately technical terrain. We found they worked best on hard-packed dirt. They have 28 mm of stack in the heel and 24mm in the forefoot. They have a Vibram Megagrip outsole and 2.5mm lugs.
While the Spin Ultra 2 is billed as an all-day comfort trail running shoe, we found the midsole to be pretty stiff. This supercritical foam midsole helps maintain momentum as you push off, but it isn’t as comfortable as shoes with a more flexible midsole. As you break them in, the midsole isn’t quite as stiff, but they’re certainly still firmer than average.
The Spin Ultra 2 are some of the most expensive trail running shoes we tested, and don’t perform as well as we’d hope for a shoe that costs just under $200.
Scarpa Spin Ultra 2
Sizes available: 7 - 14
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 8 mm
Stack height: 45 - 37 mm
Weight: 11.7 oz / 332 g
What we liked: grippiness, surprisingly stable, good for uphill
What we didn’t like: less stable on downhill, price, versatility
The HOKA Mafate 5 are trail runners designed for technical trails where you need maximum grip. They take everything trail runners loved about the Mafate 4 and improve on them.
The most notable difference is that the Mafate 5 features a ton of stack: 45 mm in the heel and 37 mm in the forefoot. Considering the fact that your heel is a full 50 mm off the ground (including the 5mm lugs), the Mafate 5 feels surprisingly stable. We wore these on trail runs in Colorado’s Sangre De Cristo mountains, on wet, steep, technical trails. The deep lugs and Vibram Megagrip outsole bite into loose dirt really well, and inspire confidence on downhill sections of trail.
HOKA Mafate 5
The midsole uses a dual-density foam design, with a supercritical foam layer throughout the heel and on the top side (closest to your foot) of the forefoot. There is also compression-molded EVA foam along the bottom of the forefoot (closer to the ground). This compression-molded foam is lighter and helps with stability, while the supercritical foam is springier. There is also a TPU plastic plate, which HOKA calls its Rocker Integrity Technology, sandwiched between the two foam layers in the forefoot to add stiffness. This isn’t a carbon plate, and it doesn’t go the full length of the midsole, but it makes the shoe feel more solid when you push off.
We mentioned the massive amount of stack height above, but we want to return to this. The 45-37 mm of stack means they have 8 mm of heel-to-toe drop, which is a lot for a trail shoe. This makes them well-equipped for running uphill, but a little less stable on downhill sections. The high stack and TPU plate certainly make these shoes feel fast.
We think the new HOKA Mafate 5 is a great shoe for those looking for an ultra-cushioned shoe for high-mileage days, but we’re not convinced they’re as versatile as some other trail running shoes with less heel-to-toe drop and a slightly lower stack height. They’re also more expensive than our favorite HOKA trail shoes, the Speedgoat. Learn more in our in-depth review of the HOKA Mafate 5 trail running shoes.
How to Choose a Trail Running Shoe
The best trail running shoe for you depends on where you run, how far you usually go, and what feels comfortable on your feet. Start with your typical terrain and distance, then consider whether you need extra traction, protection, cushioning, weather resistance, or road-to-trail versatility.
Use shoes that already fit you well as a reference point, especially for width, cushioning, and heel-to-toe drop. The table below can help narrow down which features are most useful for the kind of running you do most often.
| Running scenario | What to prioritize | Shoe characteristics to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth trails and gravel | Comfort, efficiency, versatility | Moderate cushioning, shallower lugs, lighter weight |
| Rocky and technical trails | Grip, security, protection | Sticky outsole rubber, secure fit, rock protection, stable platform |
| Mud and loose terrain | Traction and debris shedding | Deeper, widely spaced lugs |
| Long-distance trail running | Comfort over time | Cushioning, secure fit, room for foot swelling, durable outsole |
| Shorter or faster runs | Responsiveness and lower weight | Lighter construction, responsive cushioning, less bulk |
The Topo Athletic are great for trail and rough trail but aren’t designed for off-trail or scrambling.
Comparison of the soles on some of the trail runners we tested. From left to right: La Sportiva Jackal II, La Sportiva Wildcat, Altra Lone Peak 7, Salomon Speedcross 5, and La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX.
The author in the Salomon Sense Rides on a backpacking trip. When choosing what trail runners to wear, decide your use case scenario, where you’ll be running, and the conditions you expect.
A cactus that lodged itself into a pair of HOKA trail running shoes we were testing. The stack height and cushioning is enough that even the spines on this plant didn’t penetrate through.
Trail Running Shoe Anatomy
Talking about trail running shoes can get technical, but they’re just shoes, really. We’ll define some key parts of a trail running shoe below.
Midsole
This is the part of a trail running shoe that contains the cushioning. The midsole is a cushioning foam that sits above the outsole, in between the insole and outsole of a shoe.
Outsole
The outsole of a trail running shoe is the part of the shoe that makes contact with the ground. The outsole of a trail running shoe is made of durable rubber that will grip the trail as you move.
Insole
The insole is a removable insert that sits between the bottom of your foot and the top of a shoe’s midsole. We go into more detail about this below, but you can replace the insoles in your trail running shoes to get more arch support.
Upper
The upper of a trail running shoe is all the material that makes up the shoe. Trail running shoe uppers are attached to the midsole, and are usually made of mesh or other breathable material. The upper is where the shoelaces attach to trail running shoes.
Toe box
The toe box of a trail running shoe is the area where the front section of your foot sits. Toe box is used to reference the shape of the shoe beyond where the laces reach. The amount of space in the toe box varies widely among trail shoes.
Tongue
This is the part of the upper that sits between the laces and the top of your foot. The tongue is usually only attached to the upper near the bottom of the laces, at the toe box. Some trail running shoes have a tongue that wraps around the entire top of your foot for a more secure fit.
Heel Cup or Heel
The heel cup of a trail running shoe is the place where your heel sits inside the shoe. This is sometimes also referred to as the heel counter. Really, this is the back of the shoe that is responsible for holding your heel in place.
Last
The last is a foot-shaped mold that a shoe is molded around. The shape and size of the last determines the shape of a shoe. When talking shoes, last is used as shorthand for the overall shape of the shoe
The author running in the winter in the La Sportiva Jackal II trail running shoes, which have excellent grip even on snow.
What to look for in trail running shoes
Man standing on an overlook wearing the HOKA Speedgoat 6 and a running vest
There are hundreds of trail running shoes, so finding the right one can be difficult and overwhelming. We’re here to help. We’ll tell you what to look for in a trail running shoe. We’ll tell you what may not be as crucial for your first trail runner, and we’ll tell you what is.
We’ll break down what makes a great trail running shoe. That way, you can make your own informed decision on which trail running shoe is best for you.
We wrote a separate article about how to choose trail running shoes, but we’ll go through the most important points below to help you choose the best trail runners here as well.
Stability
Trail running shoes should feel stable because you’re running over varied terrain. You don’t want your foot to move inside a shoe when pushing off a giant root, do you? For this reason, you want a shoe that inspires confidence in your feet, providing a platform to move quickly over unstable terrain.
Many factors come into play when assessing the stability of a trail running shoe. A trail running shoe with good stability mostly fits well and has good traction.
Side note: In the (road) running shoe world, “stability” is also a category. Running shoes are sometimes categorized as either “neutral,” “stability,” or “cushioned.” In this sense, “stability” refers to the amount of arch support a shoe provides to prevent overpronation. Read the “Arch Support” section below for more on this.
Traction
The La Sportiva Wildcat trail running shoes have a unique lug pattern made of long, thin rubber cleats that run lengthwise across the bottom of the shoe.
Trail running shoes have a grippy tread on the underside to maintain traction over loose, muddy, or snowy conditions. This tread is found on the shoe’s outsole, or the part that contacts the ground. The tread is made of a pattern or lugs, rubber cleats that dig into the ground to give the shoe traction.
The lugs on trail runners vary in size. The size of the lugs of trail runners is referred to as “lug depth” since it measures how deep the lugs can dig into the ground. The lugs on a trail running shoe can be big and few, small and many, or a combination of both. Lugs come in many different shapes and sizes. Generally speaking, the more pronounced the lugs and tread on a running shoe, the more they will grip the ground under you.
Another factor contributing to traction is the rubber compound used in the outsole to make up the tread. Not all rubber is equal. If you walk across an angled rock surface in climbing shoes, the road running shoes, you’ll notice a difference in how well the shoes grip the slick rock. For this reason, trail running shoes tend to use stickier rubber than road running shoes. But, some trail runners use a grippier rubber compound than others.
WeighT
How much does this trail runner weigh? This one is simple and easy to measure with a scale. Weight is essential in trail runners because you’ll use your legs to lift each shoe 1000s of times every run.
Stack Height
Measuring stack height of two trail shoes. Here are two extremes: HOKA Challenger 7 (left) and Altra Lone Peak 7 (right).
Stack height refers to the total height of everything between the bottom of your foot and the ground in a trail running shoe. Stack height comprises the outsole, where the tread is found, and the midsole, where the cushion and supportive parts of the shoe are found. Stack height is often measured in two numbers, one under the heel and one under the forefoot, since most trail running shoes have a different measurement in these places (see heel-to-toe drop below).
Waterproofing
Some trail running shoes are waterproof, but not all are. Waterproof trail runners are usually made with a waterproof material in the upper instead of mesh. Waterproof trail runners don’t breathe as well, which can cause blisters in warm conditions. For this reason, we think waterproof trail running shoes are great for cold and wet conditions, but not when it’s warm out.
We wear waterproof trail running shoes in winter, mostly for running through the snow. But we usually put our waterproof trail runners away in the spring and reach for a breathable mesh pair instead.
Mesh and Breathability
Mesh and breathability are important for a trail running shoe. When running or hiking for hours, a shoe with lots of mesh to allow your foot to breathe keeps your feet drier and helps prevent blisters. Wet feet can slide inside the shoe and cause stability issues and blisters. Except for in cold weather, we recommend trail running shoes with a breathable mesh upper in all conditions.
Comfort
A comfortable trail running shoe can be the difference between having a great day on the trail and having sore feet. We recommend trying on as many styles of trail running shoes as you can to see which feels the most comfortable to you. Everyone’s feet are different, and something that fits your feet well will be the most comfortable.
Other factors play into the comfort of a trail runner: underfoot cushioning, tongue design, and even the thickness of the laces can affect the comfort of a shoe. Exposed seams can chafe or rub over the course of a long run, too. We assessed all these trail running shoes for long-term comfort during testing, but you can feel a lot of these comfort factors when you first try on a shoe. Try on some trail running shoes and see for yourself.
While the wide platform on these shoes makes for a very comfortable ride, some don’t love how it makes them feel less stable.
Protection
Most trail running shoes have some protection in the upper for rocks, roots, and debris on the trail. This protection is most evident in a rubber protective toe cap on trail runners. Some trail running shoes have a big, burly, rubberized toe section that wraps onto the top of the shoe. Some trail runners have less toe protection. You’ll also see more substantial protection along the sides and heel of trail runners than you do on road running shoes.
Depending on the type of trail you’ll be running most often, pick a shoe with more or less protection. If you’re always going to be running on well-groomed trails, you don’t need as much protection as you will if you’re primarily running on a rugged trail or off-trail scrambling missions.
Trail feel
Trail feel refers to how much your feet can feel the trail through the underside of a shoe. Generally speaking, the lower the stack height, the better you’ll be able to feel the trail. Trail feel is important for maintaining stability over varied terrain, but too much trail feel could make your feet feel sore after a long day running over sharp rocks or roots.
Man trail running on rocky terrain in the HOKA Speedgoat 6
Rock plates
Some trail running shoes have rock plates to protect the soles of your feet from feeling the sharp edges of rocks on the trail. But, you guessed it, a rock plate also diminishes how well you can feel the trail beneath you. Some trail running shoes come with a removable rock plate, which is a stiff insert between the insole and midsole of a shoe. That used to be more popular with trail runners, but these days rock plates tend to be built into the midsole of trail runners.
Man sitting inside a tent placing his HOKA Speedgoat 6 trail running shoes into the vestibule
Heel-to-toe drop
Heel-to-toe drop refers to the difference in stack height between the heel and forefoot of a shoe. It is, quite literally, the number of millimeters the shoe drops from the heel to the forefoot.
More heel-to-toe drop makes you naturally lean forward and helps propel you up a hill. But, too much heel-to-toe drop can make you feel unstable, so finding the right balance of forward lean and stability is key here. The “best” heel-to-toe drop usually comes down to personal preference, but we recommend starting with a trail runner with an average (4-8 millimeters) drop.
Some trail running shoes are “zero drop.” These shoes have no heel-to-toe drop and allow your foot to move in the same ways it would if you were barefoot. Some people love zero-drop shoes.
Some people prefer some amount of drop. There is no wrong answer here.
Heel slippage
The heel cup of a trail running shoe should fit your foot well to minimize heel slippage. Here are three heels to give you an idea of how they are shaped differently. From left to right: Salomon Sense Ride 5, HOKA Speedgoat 5, Brooks Catamount.
Heel slippage will negatively affect the comfort and stability of a trail running shoe. If your heel doesn’t fit into a shoe properly, it will slide slightly every time you push off the ground. This sliding can cause chafing and blisters on the back of your heel.
When trying on trail running shoes for the first time, be sure to wear the socks you’d normally wear when running. Then, find an inclined surface to push up on to determine whether the heel slips on this particular model.
If you like how a shoe feels, but the heel slips, you can also try the runner’s loop lacing method. This technique is a lacing alternative that locks your heel in place.
Cushioning
Close-up on the Saucony Peregrine and its comfortable upper and generous cushioning.
A trail running shoe with adequate cushioning will keep your feet comfortable and happy over a long day on the trail. You can usually tell how much cushioning a trail runner has by looking at the shoe's stack height. However, more cushion is not always better.
A trail running shoe with a lot of cushioning will affect trail feel and stability. If you’re higher off the ground, your foot can more easily roll and could cause an ankle sprain. When choosing your shoe, remember that trail running shoes usually lack the ankle support of a hiking boot. Not enough cushioning will tire your feet, though. The right amount of cushion will vary based on the runner and the conditions.
Arch support
Most trail running shoes have a stiffer midsole and, therefore, more arch support than a road running shoe. But, some trail running shoes are more “stable” in this sense than others. Generally speaking, a more minimalist trail running shoe will have less arch support than a shoe with a sturdier midsole.
Man posing on a trail wearing the HOKA Speedgoat 6
FAQ
Close up of the La Sportiva Jackal II on rocky terrain.
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You can use trail running shoes on the road. Trail running shoes are running shoes, after all. But, you will wear down the tread designed to provide traction on dirt if you run with trail running shoes on the road for long distances. Some trail running shoes are designed for a mix of roads and dirt, so we recommend this style if you plan to run on multiple surfaces with your trail running shoes.
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The difference between running shoes and trail running shoes is that trail running shoes have an underfoot tread designed for dirt, rocks, and roots. Trail running shoes also have more material to protect your feet as you move over and around any obstacles.
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Trail runners should be relatively tight so your foot doesn’t slide around in the shoe as you push off in any direction. However, trail running shoes should not be so tight that they constrict blood flow to your feet or make them uncomfortable.
Depending on the terrain, you should tighten your trail running shoes enough to maintain stability while being as comfortable as possible. -
Trail shoes should not always be a size bigger, but sometimes this is a good idea. If you’re going to be in a hot environment or running for long distances where your foot will swell, you might want to try a trail running shoe a half or full size bigger. This factor varies from person to person, though. Many trail running shoes designed for ultra-distances have a bigger toe box, which is usually where your foot swells. In this case, you might not need a larger trail shoe.
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You can absolutely run long distances in trail running shoes. Trail shoes are designed to be used for long-distance runs.
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You should wear comfortable running socks that breathe well with trail running shoes. Some prefer wool socks for trail running, while others prefer synthetic socks. See our guides to the Best Running socks for more recommendations. You may prefer hiking socks if you're hiking, backpacking, or thru-hiking. See our guide to Best Hiking Socks for our favorites.
You can also learn about our favorite running gear items in our Best Running Accessories guide.
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Yes, but whether they feel good on pavement depends on the shoe. Models with shallow lugs and a smoother outsole tend to work better for mixed road-and-trail routes, while aggressive lugs can feel awkward on pavement and may wear down faster. If a large portion of your regular route is on roads, a road-to-trail shoe is usually the better choice.
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Trail running shoes should hold your heel and midfoot securely without squeezing your feet. Your toes need enough room to spread naturally, and a little extra space can be helpful on long runs when feet tend to swell. The best fit varies by foot shape, so pay attention to width and toe-box shape rather than automatically sizing up.
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Yes. Trail running shoes can work well for hiking and backpacking, especially if you prefer lighter, more flexible footwear. For rough terrain or carrying a heavier pack, look for a durable outsole, secure fit, adequate underfoot protection, and enough cushioning for the distance. Some hikers may still prefer the additional structure and protection of hiking shoes or boots.
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There is no fixed mileage at which every trail running shoe needs to be replaced. Lifespan varies with terrain, running style, body weight, shoe construction, and how frequently you use them. Look for worn-down lugs, compressed cushioning, damaged uppers, loss of traction, or a noticeable change in comfort or stability rather than relying only on mileage.
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Yes, depending on the conditions. For light snow, a trail shoe with good traction may be enough, while cold, deep, or slushy conditions can make a waterproof model more useful. For icy trails, the shoe's outsole alone may not provide enough grip, and separate traction devices may be appropriate.
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Not usually, but gaiters can be useful on trails with sand, loose scree, snow, or lots of small debris that can enter around the ankle collar. They can also help keep snow out during winter runs. For ordinary maintained trails, most runners will not need them.
The author testing the ON Cloudvista shoes on technical terrain.
Close up on the sole and traction on the HOKA Speedgoat 5 trail running shoes.
care and maintenance tips
The author running on rocky terrain in the Salomon Speedcross 6, which are trail running shoes noted for their traction.
Trail running shoes do not need much maintenance, but keeping them clean and drying them properly can help them last longer.
Clean and dry your shoes
After muddy runs, brush or rinse off dirt and grit, especially around the outsole and upper. Remove the insoles if the shoes are very wet and let everything air dry. Avoid direct heat, which can damage foams, adhesives, and upper materials.
Check high-wear areas
Keep an eye on the outsole lugs, midsole, upper, and heel lining. Worn-down tread, torn mesh, separating soles, or cushioning that feels noticeably flat are signs that performance may be declining.
Know when to replace them
There is no single mileage at which every trail running shoe needs to be replaced. Terrain, running style, body weight, and shoe construction all affect lifespan. Replace them when traction, cushioning, fit, or overall comfort has noticeably deteriorated rather than relying only on a fixed mileage number.
How we tested
The author running in the Salomon Sense Ride trail shoes, a comfortable cushioned trail runner at a more affordable price.
We tested trail running shoes over several months on trail runs in Colorado and Arizona. We wore every pair on the Colorado Front Range trails we know best and explored new trails to see how they fared in less predictable conditions. We ran anywhere from 25 to 50 miles per week while testing these shoes, and during the higher volume weeks, we could tell which shoes were more supportive than others. We wore many pairs back to back, on the same trail on the same day, to get a feel for how each pair did over the same conditions.
We've used some of the shoes we tested for several years and already knew them well, and some we wore for the first time during the testing process. We wore every pair for many runs throughout the testing process to determine how they break in and get a sense of their durability.
- Multiple testers on familiar and unfamiliar trails
- Back-to-back sessions on the same routes
- 25–50 running miles per week
- Repeated runs in every pair
- Long-term use across multiple seasons
- Outsole grip on varied surfaces
- Midsole cushioning and responsiveness
- Upper breathability and durability
- Fit, stability, and foot security
- Protection and long-run comfort
Why you should trust us / About the author
Sam Schild is a thru-hiker, trail runner, cyclist, and mountain athlete based in Colorado. He’s been a runner since he was a child when he ran 5 days a week as cardiovascular training for soccer. As he grew older, he stopped playing team sports and focused on running and cycling.
After moving to Colorado a decade ago, he started trail running on the local trails. Since then, he has completed countless ultra-distance self-supported trail runs on trails throughout the American Southwest. He has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, and the Colorado Trail twice, always in trail runners.
You can read more about Sam on his author page or his website.
