Published June 6, 2021 10:53AM
If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy
The Best Trail Running Shoes We've Tried
These are the best trail running shoes we've tried, and advice for picking your next pair.
No matter what your trail-running goals are, picking the best shoe for you is an important step toward your perfect race or adventure day. There are dozens of options out there, made for every type of trail and foot imaginable, so what matters most is that you select shoes based on what you’re looking for, not what the internet or your running partner recommends.
We haven’t tried every shoe out there, but we take a lot of pride in putting every pair of shoes that comes across our desks through its paces. That means taking them up Colorado 14ers, running in snowstorms, traipsing around the sandy Moab desert and ripping flowing singletrack to see what shoes work best where.
What kind of trail will you typically be running? Steep? Loose? Muddy? Long?
All of those factors can guide what pair of shoes you pick.
RELATED READING:
What You Need To Know About Running Shoes And Injuries
Why do you need a trail shoe?
Trail shoes differ from road shoes in a few key ways. One of the biggest differences is the tread,or the grippy bottom part of the shoe. Trail shoes will often have sticker, heartier rubber and deeper, more aggressive lugs, which are small, strategically placed protrusions that work like little fingers to provide better grip on uneven and soft surfaces.
ADVERTISEMENT
Trail shoes also tend to be built with burlier materials in the upper than road shoes for support and durability—if you take your road-racing flats up a 14er, don’t be surprised if they, and your feet, don’t survive the journey. To protect your feet from the rocky, rougher terrain of trails, many trail shoes feature a rock plate in the midsole, and some offer more plentiful cushioning than you’ll find in road shoes.
The trimmed-down Timp 2 is an update to an Altra favorite. The Timp 2 feels flexible and trail-ready right out of the box, with just enough cushioning for steep trails and jeep roads alike. Canted lugs under the metatarsals provide a claw-like grip on a variety of surfaces from packed-dirt roads to soggy and rocky trails.
Gridded grooves in the midsole allow the foot to flex naturally for an efficient and comfortable stride. This model is perfect for a 50K, but ultra-ultrarunners may prefer a bit more cushion for the long haul. Testers noted this model ran narrower through the heel as compared with other Altras, but still offers the roomy toebox that zero-drop devotees love.
Buy the men’s version here. Women’s Here.
The Salomon Sense Ride 3s are a stellar update that goes well beyond a face-lift. A decoupled sole that mimics the natural bends in feet allows for natural flexion still providing cushion and a rock plate for protection. These shoes feel speedy and sticky right out of the box, with a debris-proof upper and quick-lace closure that won’t stays tight over the miles.
ADVERTISEMENT
The new Sense Ride’s feel sporty and ready to roll for speed and shorter distances, but may fit a bit snug as your feet swell over long miles. The shoes were light with just enough grip for technical terrain and tough surfaces, though testers felt the shoe ran a bit narrow.
Buy the men’s version here. Women’s Here.
The outsole has 3mm multi-directional lugs which function as a great brake system on descents. A mid-foot rockguard protects your foot on uneven and rocky terrain. The outsole is nimble enough for tough runs on rubbly and loose terrain. Check out this shoe for ultra-distance training and racing all summer long.
Buy the men’s version here. Women’s Here. HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat 4HOKA’s newest Speedgoat update is a go-to for distance junkies. The next-level cushioning provides a comfortable ride for miles and miles, and an improved outsole gives better grip than ever. The Speedgoat 4’s lugs are deeper and terraced [?] for better traction through the heel. Hoka shaved some weight off the midsole, and though this was the heaviest shoe we tested, it doesn’t feel it.The new more-breathable-mesh, slightly widened upper fits up to medium-width feet well, and for those craving even more room up front, the shoe is available in wider sizes. The fit was comfy and testers found the shoe durable, making it perfect for testing your limits over distance. For all of its floaty cushion, the shoe has a stiff midsole, which some testers say added to its stability.Buy the men’s version here. Women’s Here.Altra Olympus 4
With a whopping heel stack height of 33 millimeters, Altra’s Olympus 4 gives the HOKA Speedgoat 4 (32mm heel stack height) a run for its cushioning money. The fit and feel are surprisingly light and nimble for the shoe’s overall height, and testers liked the natural running roll of the shoe.
Changes from the version 3.0 include a more durable upper material and slightly reduced stack height, as well as improved grip in varied terrain. Some testers felt the shoe lacked stability on gnarly steep sidehills. The Vibram Megagrip outsole gripped well on a variety of surfaces. If you’re looking for a max-cushion pillowy ride, this beast should be on your short list.
Buy the men’s version here. Women’s Here.
This sleek, and eye-catching shoe is performance-oriented, with a Boa® Fit System that lets you dial in a precision fit for your run. New Balance Fresh Foam is light and springy, a surprisingly plush combo that’s ready to rock the uphills, and is forgiving on the descents. A Vibram MegaGrip outside provides durable traction in almost any conditions. I’ve tested these shoes on desert single track and more technical mountain terrain, and their grip is consistently solid, even on looser descents. I’d recommend these for trails that aren’t exceedingly technical, but that do require some performance from your lugs.
ADVERTISEMENT
The shallow lugs aren’t great for super steep scrambles, but shed mud easily, which makes the great for variable weather conditions. The lace’s positioning enables the pressure to be evenly distributed throughout the instep, thanks to three wide straps across the top of the shoe. This helps get rid of any pressure points on top of the foot. Heads up that this shoe runs a tad on the small size, try going up at least half a size. I’d recommend this shoe for any technical trail adventurer looking for a precision tool for single track exploring or desert rambling.
Buy the men’s version here. Women’s Here.
They don’t feel overbuilt or sloppy, and are ready to roll for techy, or even scrambly adventure runs. Impact lugs make for efficient breaking on the descents, and a rock guard in the midsole helps protect the feet. The Kaptivas run a bit more on the minimal side of things, and are a better choice for a runner looking for speed over protection.
The Kaptivas have a powerful transition and toe-off that feels athletic and natural. Like many of La Sportivas models, they run a bit on the short and narrow side of things. These are great kicks for summer runs on packed trail and in the alpine – and even come in a winterized edition for particularly wet and icy runs.
Buy the men’s version here. Women’s Here.
In the flash color scheme we received, these babies looked almost too sporty and clean to take on our local red-dirt trails to test out. But we did. With an overall foot-hugging and low-profile-forefoot fit and relatively small drop, the Terra Kiger offers great trail feel and agility. A relatively firm midsole and cushioned heel, though, provide adequate stability and protection.
The moderately aggressive outsole lugs in the forefoot and heel areas gripped well on a variety of surfaces, and the forefoot offers plenty of forefoot splay. If you’re looking for a fast-and-light yet stable shoe, the Terra Kiger 6 is worth a look.
Buy the men’s version here. Women’s Here.
On’s Cloudventure 2.0 is a marvel of Swiss engineering. It feels like the Mercedes Benz of trail shoes, with plenty of support and cushion without sacrificing speed. The Cloudventures handle surprisingly well on off-camber trail, and provide more stability on uneven surfaces than their appearance leads one to believe.
ADVERTISEMENT
The build of the shoe leads to a snappy toe off and strong uphill propulsion, and feels equally stable and ready to rip on steeper descents. This is a great shoe for tearing up a trail race that has a few more rocks and roots than just buttery single-track.
On’s signature pods do feel a bit heavier as compared to EVA-based cushioning, but the shoe carries so well on the foot that the extra weight felt negligible. The upper too may be a bit overbuilt for a speed shoe, but it hugs the foot nicely and is crazy durable. The only drawback was weight from a bit of over-engineering, but that’s easily negated by the shoe’s durability and comfort on the foot.
Buy the men’s version here. Women’s Here.
