I Have Run Hundreds of Miles in My Favorite Pairs of Trail Running Shoes

In case you’re not familiar with Adidas’s Boa lacing system, that’s the first thing we need to talk about. Boa uses a rotating dial on the side that tightens slender, durable wire laced back and forth across the shoe, tightening the entire thing evenly around the foot. This means you don’t have to tug at the laces at each eyelet, nor do you lose tension as you make your knots and bows. I’ve never worn a pair of trail runners that is so easy to slip on and secure or easy to loosen and remove. Even without the lacing system, they’d still be among my favorites for being lightweight, breathable, and made using ecofriendly “NoDye” materials.

I own three different pairs of Columbia Sportswear trailrunning shoes. The great thing about the Montrail Variant X.S.R.s is that, strictly speaking, they’re not trail running shoes, but hybrids specifically designed for runs that include hard surfaces like cement and asphalt, and the varied terrain of a trail or off-road run. The tread pattern on the sole is grippy enough on mud, rocks, moss, wet grass, and more, but the lugs aren’t so aggressive as to feel like I’m running on pegs when I’m on the road or sidewalk. The generous cushioning underfoot is also well-suited to road and trail, easily managing the repetitive hard strikes that come with concrete and absorbing the sporadic but often jarring strikes from rubble on the trail.

Any good trail run covers a decent amount of ground, but most trail runs don’t go for miles and miles. When theydobecome super-long-distance jaunts (we’re talking ten miles and longer), then you should consider having a pair of North Face Ultra Endurance shoes on your feet. These shoes offer two things in surplus: cushioning and protection. Their reinforced toe and heel plates protect your feet from hard impacts, while thick Vibram soles absorb abuse and provide traction. The OrthoLite footbed and EVA midsole areergonomicand cushioned, keeping your feet feeling good, even as you log mile after mile after mile out there.

Certainly, when it comes to fashion appeal, the Salomon Speedcross 4 trail runners score pretty low marks. These are, how do I put it, kind of funny-looking shoes. But I’ve never slipped an inch off trail wearing them. The things have such an outsize aggressive tread pattern that you almost can’t wear them on pavement or even on a packed, graded trail. But on untended forest floor, mud, loose scree, wild grass, or even snow, they give you grip to spare.

At just 7.4 ounces per shoe, these add very little to your gear weight. The soft, flexible design of the upper canpack downnearly flat against the sole, and it keeps your foot comfortable, supported, and protected on all sorts of terrain. While the New Balance Minimus 10v1 trail runners offer significantly less protection against toe-stub injury than others on this list, and a fair amount less defense against pain from repeated hard-heel strikes, they are nonetheless a great choice for someone who wants good performance from amazingly lightweight trail running shoes.

“The Salomon Speedcross 4 WP version has quickly become my go-to shoe for all things outdoors. It provides excellent traction and comfort in everything from short day hikes to ultramarathons. The fit, like in the previous incarnation, the Speedcross 3, runs a tad narrow for me. I wear a nine in most other trailer runners, but take a 9.5 in this model. However, this hasn’t been an issue because the Salomon lace system seemingly never needs readjustment. The bottom tread is definitely an improvement over previous models. The spikes seem more aggressively placed and deeper, too. The longevity of the Speedcross tread is relatively short compared to competitors’ trail runners, but the grip is unparalleled. I run three to four days a week on mixed terrain, and I replace the shoes every few months. Overall, this is a five-star-worthy trail running/hiking shoe that is worth every dollar spent on them!”

“I’ve been through two pairs of these. They seem to be good for 400 miles before they need to be replaced. I’ve been very happy with them, as a heavier runner, because they’ve proven to be durable and comfortable. They can stand up to my 160-plus-pound weight, even on varied terrain, without causing my feet to ache. I’ve only gotten to half-marathon distances, but the shoes are not what’s holding me back from longer runs. The shoes have been beneficial. And they’re actually waterproof. I’ve run through snow and puddles without my feet getting wet. I’ll continue replacing spent pairs of Xodus 6 with new ones unless I ever have a reason not to.”

“Merrell cost a bit more than some other brands, but I’ve always found the quality of their products to be outstanding. The Grassbow Air Trail Running Shoe gives superior support in the arch, adequate room in the toe box, and great cushioning in the sole and heel. My feet feel properly aligned and well-protected — these are great shoes for a trail walk or run. The rubber toe guard is adequately strong to give good protection, and the soles give excellent traction on slippery surfaces. Grassbows are primarily warm- or dry-weather shoes, as the uppers are mesh, which gives nice ventilation in those conditions. It took one day of wearing for the shoes to get the comfortable, broken-in feeling. Highly recommended!”

“Saucony is the best fit for my foot, so it’s my go-to brand but … I fit Salomon, Brooks, Asics as well. Been running for decades, and I am almost exclusively a trail runner now from hard-pack limestone to dry, wet, muddy, rocky off-camber single track, snow, ice, and every combination thereof. I don’t hit that much boulder or slick rock terrain. I have run Salomon S-Lab shoes as well and like them, but without question these shoes are the most comfortable and stable trail shoes I have used to date. Excellent in soft mud, but you don’t seem to compromise anything beyond wear when on firmer, drier terrain or blacktop. But then who the hell wants to run on blacktop? I like them so much that I bought a few extra pairs because, for some reason, shoe companies are still not smart enough to keep making a great product beyond one model cycle, and I see 7 owners wishing they had 6s. These are, no doubt, ugly shoes, but then that kinda makes them good looking all dirted up on the trail.”

“PLEASANTLY SURPRISED! I mean this seriously! Well, I’m an avid trail runner … I always run with myNike Terra Kiger 3(four pairs later), so I decided to try something different. New Balance was the last on my options of brands to choose from, because of my experience of them having an absolutely itty-bitty toe box and absolute notorious narrow fit. Anyway, I told a friend that I was on the hunt for new trail runners, and he suggested I try these bad boys. Oh, boy, let me tell you how happy I was! I bought two more pairs, the grays and the yellows, just for my stock. I usually do 10 to 15 miles, and I always runsock-free, and it was absolutely comfortable. I am usually a 10D in regular, normal human shoes, but because I am super flat-footed, 10 4E in these shoes are my perfect fit.”

“I bought these after I crewed for a friend that ran 80 miles of his 100-mile mountain race in these shoes. After I bought them, I went for a bunch of runs and hikes through the White Mountains in the fall. Lots of snow and slush, but these held up great. I’ve also used them for flat trail runs. The sole is a bit softer than the Superiors, but the extra cushion makes these a very comfy ride on the trails. I’ve run for stretches on pavement as well, and they aren’t as great, but definitely acceptable.”