Rob Slade hits the hills and puts six pairs of trail running shoes through their paces.
Trail running is a great way to explore our natural environment, whether in the hills, mountains or woods, and the right kit can help you enjoy your time outdoors all the more. A decent pair of trail running shoes is a worthwhile investment, and to help you find the right fit, we’ve put six pairs of trail running shoes to the test.
While your everyday running shoes may be suitable for hard-packed trails, you’ll want specific trail running shoes for additional support on muddy, steep and wet tracks. Trail running shoes offer various levels of grip and lug depths to help with more challenging terrain, and there are also features such as toe-protection and the shoe’s drop to consider too. For more information, jump to our short buyer’s guide on how to choose trail running shoes.
So whether you’re new to trail running, or in need of some fresh kit, read Rob Slade’s review below of the best trail running shoes available to buy, for a comfortable off-road ride.
Best trail running shoes at a glance:
- Best for mountain terrain: La Sportiva Mutant (
£124.99£79.99) - Best traction: Inov-8 TrailFly Ultra G 280 (£145.00)
- Merrell Agility Peak 5: Merrell Agility Peak 5 (£99.00)
For more of our outdoor footwear reviews, check out the best walking shoes.
Reviews edited by Rachel Howatson
Best trail running shoes
La Sportiva Mutant
Best for mountain terrain
Buy for men from SportsShoes (£124.99 £79.99)
Buy for women from SportsShoes (£124.99 £79.99)
- RRP: £155
- Outsole: FriXion White ultra grippy
- Lug depth: 6.5mm
- Drop: 10mm
While La Sportiva’s Mutant trail running shoe is not the lightest or most rapid, it’s a dependable shoe with excellent grip. Well-suited to rough terrain, you’ll find this design is capable on rocky, scree-like tracks, partly due to the significant support around the ankle and underfoot.
As for design, the bright colours and jazzy patterns are sure to help you stand out in the hills, plus we were impressed with the lacing which can be tweaked for optimum fit.
Pros: Top-class traction, lots of support, good protection
Cons: On the heavy side, not all that propulsive
Salomon Thundercross
Best all-rounder
Buy for men from SportsShoes (£139.99 £104.99)
Buy for women from Alpinetrek (£139.95 £104.96)
- RRP: £140
- Outsole: Rubber Contragrip
- Lug depth: 5mm
- Drop: 4mm
The Thundercross offers a typical Salomon design, featuring a mesh upper, aggressive outsole and Quicklace system.
The design felt nimble on test (a size 11 weighs just 324g), although there’s not a huge amount of bounce. The 5mm multi-directional lugs handle soft terrain very well, and there’s a reasonable amount of support and cushioning.
We’d say the Thundercross fits true to size, and should work for a range of foot types. Overall, this is a decent all-rounder that delivers decent traction and support.
Pros: Comfortable, stable, good traction
Cons: Lacing system may not suit everyone, not the most protective
Inov-8 TrailFly Ultra G 280
Best traction
- RRP: £145
- Outsole: Graphene-infused rubber
- Lug depth: 4mm
- Drop: 8mm
If you’re looking for a versatile trail running shoe, the TrailFly Ultra G 280 is likely to serve you well. On test, this shoe offered stability and grip in abundance, and performed particularly well on soft ground and slippery mud. We were pleased with the level of support too, making this shoe a solid all-rounder for varied terrain.
As it’s the brand’s most cushioned shoe, don’t expect the most responsive of designs, however you’re covered for comfort.
Pros: Stable, comfortable, grippy, supportive
Cons: Not the lightest, nor most propulsive
Nike Pegasus Trail 4
Best for dry or hard-packed trails
- RRP: £129.95
- Outsole: Rubber
- Lug depth: 4mm
- Drop: 10mm
There’s no denying it, the Nike Pegasus Trail 4 is a good-looking trail running shoe.
On test we found the design to be relatively nimble and responsive, and while the midsole has a spongy nature, you can still feel the terrain underneath.
As for traction, the lug patterns aren’t particularly aggressive, so you’ll be fine on hard-packed trails, but you may struggle in mud.
Overall, a lightweight, breathable trail running shoe well-suited to short-to-medium runs.
Pros: Nice ride, stylish, breathable
Cons: May be too flexible for some, not much protection
Merrell Agility Peak 5
Best for balance
- RRP: £140
- Lug depth: 5mm
- Midsole: EVA foam paired with a rock plate
- Drop: 6mm
Merrell’s award-winning Agility Peak 5 is a popular choice, and for good reason. A welcomed blend of comfort, support and traction makes this trail running shoe an excellent choice.
We were impressed with the smaller details too, including a heel loop to help you get the shoes on or off and the integrated tongue which prevents small stones from making their way in.
Pros: Well balanced, great traction, stable ride
Cons: Limited ground feel
ON Cloudvista
Best for experienced trail runners
- RRP: £140
- Lug depth: 2-3mm
- Midsole: Helion superfoam with CloudTec
- Drop: 9mm
The first thing you’ll notice about ON’s Cloudvista trail running shoes is how thin and light the mesh upper is, resulting in great breathability. For hard-packed trails, or grass, you’ll find this stylish shoe is up to the challenge, and you’re guaranteed a nippy ride.
There’s a 9mm drop, but the shoe feels more minimalist, and as this is not the most supportive of models, we’d recommend this design to experienced trail runners with muscles accustomed to the demanding nature of rough terrain. Either that or those happy to avoid more challenging tracks.
Pros: Look great, breathable, nimble feel
Cons: More comfort on offer elsewhere, shallow lugs
Check out the best walking boots for more of our expert reviews.
How to choose trail running shoes
It’s important to find a trail running shoe that’s well-suited to your preferred terrain and distance. Consider the following features:
Grip
For muddy and steep terrain, a trail running shoe with an aggressive outsole and decent traction is best. A trail running shoe’s outsole is lined with lugs — the rubber indentations of various depths and sizes. If you run on rough, or technical, terrain, opt for a deeper lug depth, generally 5mm or over. A shallower lug depth is more appropriate for hard-packed trails.
Protection
Running on uneven and rocky terrain means you’ll want additional protection to help avoid injury. To prevent the dreaded toe stub, look out for trail running shoes with a bumper along the front of the design. Trail running shoes with more of a road shoe aesthetic may not offer the protection required when you’re making your way through scree and loose rocks.
Look out for a more solid overlay too. This is the material that covers the top of your shoe. With a more sturdy construction, comes additional protection. While thin mesh is perhaps more breathable, you can feel exposed to the elements.
Heel drop
A shoe’s drop refers to the distance between the heel and the toe. The shoe drops in our test feature range from 4mm to 10mm. If you prefer to feel the terrain you’re running on, a lower drop is more suitable, plus this can help with stability as you’re lower to the ground.
If you’re a heel striker when running, you may benefit from a higher drop, thanks to the additional cushioning.
Is it OK to use trail running shoes on road?
Only for occasional use and short distances really. To get the most out of your performance, and to keep your new kit in the best condition, we’d recommend keeping your trail running shoes for off-road terrain.
As trail running shoes are often designed for softer, muddier ground, you could damage the outsole when pounding the pavements. You may also find a trail running shoe feels heavier on the road, as we’re used to more lightweight designs when running on tarmac.
You can go down the hybrid trail/road running shoe route if you want to find a balance to suit varied terrain.
How should trail running shoes fit?
Finding that perfect fit can really help up your game whilst on the trails, and it’s also important for the safety aspect too. Stability and comfort is key whilst navigating uneven terrain.
Finding a trail running shoe with enough room to splay your toes naturally can help with stability, and makes for a more comfortable ride in general. As with all running shoes, finding a fit with adequate arch support is important to prevent fatigue on long runs. A secure heel fit is another thing to consider, as you’ll want to ensure your feet are firmly in place when running on uneven ground.
A secure-fitting trail running shoe which allows you to get close, whilst still feeling comfortable, is what we’d recommend. Sizing of course varies from brand to brand, so trying before buying is a must.
How long should trail running shoes last?
As a general rule, it’s said your trail running shoes should last between 300 to 500 miles, but of course this will depend on frequency of use, and your preferred terrain. You’ll likely wear your shoes out more quickly on particularly rough ground.
Sticking to soft trails rather than hard pavements will help increase the lifespan of your trail running shoes, as well as properly cleaning your shoes after a muddy expedition, can also help your shoes last for longer.
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