Our 6 Favorite Pairs of Trail Running Shoes
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Trail running has been growing in popularity for years, with a boom during the pandemic seen on trails all over the world. Trail running shoes are also a lighter, more affordable, and more versatile alternative to traditional hiking boots. Everyone's feet and running practices are different, so it's hard to recommend one shoe that works for all. But you can find something great among our favorites.
Don't see anything you like? Check out our other guides, including the Best Running Gear, the Best Rain Jackets and Hiking Gear 101.
Updated June 2023: We've overhauled this trail running shoe guide, removing older picks and adding new models from Hoka, Saucony, Adidas, and more.
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Best Overall
Hoka has really stepped up its trail shoe game recently. The Mafate Speed, Zinal, double carbon plate-packing Tecton X 2, and hybrid Challenger 7 have all been standout additions to the Hoka family, but it’s the Speedgoat 5 that’s the true goat here.
This is a trail shoe with which you can roll through mixed terrain, keeping it roomy at the toes and available in regular and wide fits to make sure it’s well suited for long-distance outings. It’s noticeably lighter than the previous Speedgoat model, and weight has also been cut from the CMEVA midsole, which still offers a satisfying level of cushioning. With Hoka’s late-stage Meta-Rocker, this does a fine job of getting you up on your toes when you want to pick up the pace. The Vibram outsole is tough and built to take a serious pounding, with 5-millimeter lugs to grip strong on hard and soft ground. Take it easy or speed things up on even more challenging terrain and the Speedgoat 5 is one trail shoe you won’t be disappointed to have on your feet.
For the Mud
The Saucony Peregrine 13 shines when it’s time to stay nimble on softer ground. Grab the ST version and Saucony adds deeper lugs to its easy-to-clean PWRTRAC outsole. This grips strongly on varied terrain and makes it even better for digging into mud and wetter off-road surfaces.
Saucony continues to use the combination of its PWWRUN midsole and PWWRUN+ sock liner as it did on the Peregrine 12—this makes for an enjoyable and bouncy shoe to hit the trails. Saucony does offer some moderate protective elements too mainly served up by a rock plate and an ankle gaiter that does keep trail debris at bay. It’s a bit of a narrow fit here so that’s something to keep in mind, but if you can get the fit to work for you, the Peregrine 13 brings comfort, grip and a good ride that makes it well-built for going long in softer terrain.
For Road and Trail Time
If you don’t live close to your trails, you need something that will get you to them and back again. The Inov-8 Parkclaw G280 is a shoe that delivers when you need to mix up the running terrain.
Inov-8 likes to innovate, so the G280 uses a graphene-enhanced outsole and 4-mm lugs that sound like they’d feel harsh on roads and sidewalks but can transition between flat and rockier surfaces effortlessly. That’s helped by a midsole foam packed with more graphene and a bouncy Boomerang footbed that gives the Parkclaw a memorable, bouncy ride. It’s best suited to less technical trail routes and has a level of cushioning that means it can handle extended time on your feet. Plus, the Parkclaw doesn’t feel out of its depth when you want to run a bit quicker.
★ An All-Purpose Alternative: The Nike Pegasus Trail 4 ($175). like the Parkclaw G280, is made for a mixture of road running and trails and offers a lighter, great-fitting mesh upper, a stable and smooth ride, and an outsole that’s best suited for harder trails, all wrapped up in an attractive array of colorways that Nike so typically delivers.
The Best Barefoot Shoe
These are my colleague Scott Gilbertson's favorite shoes. (Check out more of his barefoot picks here.) They're light, flexible, and barely feel like shoes at all. It would not occur to me to use this as a running shoe, but I see a lot of people on the trails here in Portland, Oregon, doing just that.—Adrienne So
For Speedy Off-Road Runs
Terrex is Adidas’ outdoor and adventure line, and it has started to put out some really impressive trail shoes if you want something to go fast in. The Terrex Speed Ultra is light in trail shoe terms (240 grams) and has a super-grippy Continental Rubber outsole that can handle a mixture of road and off-road time. The ride is pleasingly nimble and energetic thanks to a combination of Adidas’ Boost and Lightstrike cushioning systems that combine to offer bounce and a level of responsiveness that promotes that quicker feeling underfoot.
The thin mesh upper keeps feet securely locked in place, and abrasion-resistant elements make sure it’s not getting ripped and battered when you’re hurtling through more challenging and technical trails. If you’ve got a long, light trail in front of you, and you need something that’s geared toward running at your fastest, this is where the Ultra wants to be your best friend.
Wide and Roomy
If you’ve got narrow feet, then you’re spoiled for choice for good-fitting running shoes. Not everyone has the same luxury, and that’s why shoes like the Altra Lone Peak 7 are a big deal for those who need a little extra room to spread out in.
Altra doesn’t offer additional width options, but it does make sure its mesh upper is noticeably roomier up front, at the toes, which is ideal when you start to up your distance in them. That wider base also makes it well-built for tackling ascents, with the zero drop keeping you well connected to the ground. Altra’s MaxTrac outsole handles light to moderate trails best, but if you’re looking for something to coast in that grips strong and is nice and spacious and runs lighter than it looks, the Lone Peak 7 certainly fits the bill.
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