The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2024

Core to TK9’s comfort is the full-length React foam midsole. Prior iterations featured an Air pod unit in the forefoot, but this has been removed in this update to bring the runner closer to the ground. The result is a firmer cushion with a slight rocker that puts a spring in your step. The shoe wants to take flight with every stride.

The breathable revamped upper fits like a sock and minimizes debris buildup. There’s zero play in the shoe; the heel and tongue pads are engineered to lock the Kiger to the foot, connecting the runner to the trail. More porous than other uppers, Nike lines the toebox with an inner sock, which curbs the amount of sand and grit from spilling in. The bootie liner rides up over the toes, connecting to the tongue. This keeps the tongue pegged dead center over the foot.

Inside the shoe rides a segmented rock plate. While the shoe’s rocker is minimal, the stiff heel yields some flexibility as the plate segments towards the toes, allowing good mobility while climbing.

Per usual, the design team at Nike hits it out of the park. The TK9 sports gorgeous lines and is available in a variety of bright colorways. For those who like it tamer, the TK9 is also available in black and grey.

Equal beauty and brawn, the Kiger embodies the evolution of the modern trail shoe. It’s low to the ground, protective, springy, and shouts at you like a backseat driver urging you to step on it.

The TK9 has become our go-to trail shoe for quick lunch runs to long, Saturday miles. It’s the shoe we kept wanting to lace back into after testing the competition and it’s what we recommend to our friends looking for a great all-rounder for the trail.

In back-to-back testing against other trail shoes, the VECTIV Enduris 3 felt more cushioned. No laggy, doughy ride. The midsole feels both supportive and energetic. Helping propel you through the gait, the Enduris II has a TPU plate and an aggressive rocker. The combination keeps the feet protected and legs rolling with quick turnover.

Riding above the robust midsole is a breathable upper that snugs the heel and opens a touch in the toebox. It’s not aggressively wide (like an Altra), but cradles the foot with secure comfort.

The foot drops into the plush midsole and is stabilized with both lateral and medial postings that creep up the shoe’s sidewalls from the TPU plate. For a mileage shoe, the Enduris II has plenty of stability to minimize the odds of torquing an ankle.

While tailored for high miles, we feel the VECTIV Enduris 3 strikes a balance of comfort and stability with proper roll and rebound, making this a good all-arounder for many runners.

And you get a LOT of speed — this is a race car of a shoe. From its light materials to its wild aesthetic, every millimeter feels built for forward momentum on the trail.

That speed build starts at the upper. The stark white, Kevlar-enforced material is emblazed with a pink dash and a logo. The material is thin, breathable, and it feels gritty at a touch. It’s streamlined, precise, and unlike any other upper we’ve seen.

Underfoot, a web pattern of Vibram rubber gives traction via 25+ chevron lugs. The sole looks minimal but delivers a sure grip on rock and dirt. That sure grip leads to less hesitation and speedier traverses over sketchy terrain.

At under nine ounces for a men’s size 12, it’s incredibly light — this shoe won’t weigh you down. That low weight translates to more speed because it encourages a faster turnover and lessens fatigue over long distances. 

Who’s it for? This Merrell is not for the faint of heart. It can seem minimal and bare — you feel air through the upper. And with very little cushioning, the Skyfire 2 will be harsh for anyone accustomed to thick soles.

Despite its minimalism, we wouldn’t call it “barefoot-style.” A two-part foam midsole and a rock plate separate a runner from the ground. Its flex (lateral and torsional) is average, which is to say compared to the VJ or Xero shoes in this roundup the Merrell is stiff.

Our tester loved the Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx shoe for speed work and race days up to 10k. Buy it if you need a Ferrari-like shoe that excels on days when speed and efficiency are the paramount concerns.

HOKA Tecton X 2 ($225) entered the ultrafast field with its own carbon whip, designed to keep the turnover revving toward a PR. In our opinion, the Tecton X sets the current bar for carbon-plated shoes and is worthy of consideration.

Like all HOKAs, the cushion is top shelf, with a softer layer against the foot and a denser, responsive layer closer to the ground. Sandwiched between the foams are a pair of carbon plates that give you the stiffness and spring you’d expect from carbon while yielding lateral compliance to negotiate the changing terrain.

Laced down over to just above the toes, a Matryx upper hugs the foot, weaving in breathability and adjustable comfort for long days on the trail. A Vibram Megagrip outsole with an early-stage MetaRocker is studded with spaced 4mm lugs to shed mud without sacrificing traction.

As a whole, the Tecton X 2 has a pop that shouts speed.

Do you need a carbon shoe? Well, with the release of the Tecton X 2 — maybe! If you are a racer who’s been on the fence with carbon fiber plates, this is the shoe we’d recommend pulling the trigger on.

Nothing against carbon plating and nitrogen infused midsoles, but sometimes you just need to lace up and get on the trail, focusing on putting one foot in front of the next. And the Ultra Flows allow runners to do just that.

So what does $120 get you? Salomon bills the Ultra Flow as a road-to-trail capable shoe, a bit of a budget quiver killer. Our tester agreed on the dual performance. The Ultra Flow tackled red dirt and rock-laden trails of Sedona with no problem, yet performed well on the pavement approaches to each. A lot of this comes down to a combination of stiffness and cushion — some trail shoes are so hardwired for the technical rocky passes.

Great if you’re only on class 2 rocky scrambles, not great for hardpack or mud. The Salomon Ultra Flow has a higher stack (forefoot stack height: 26 mm, heel stack height: 32 mm) but not so much that you sacrifice trail feel. The 3.5 mm lugs are grippy but not overkill on smooth trail sections. It’s an impressive amount of performance packed into a shoe that still lets you afford groceries.

The point of these shoes is “connection” to the ground. As such, there is minimal protection or support. The toe-box is wide. The sole is so flexible you can roll it up.

It takes a particular runner to embrace this shoe. Luckily, our tester is among them. While it may take a bit of getting used to, the “barefoot” feel can be freeing after a few miles.

The shoe is light and minimally engineered compared to many models. There is no arch support, for example, and the heel has scant cushion. (There is a foam layer and 3.5mm outsole lugs, which do cushion the blow.)

Being “zero drop,” the shoe will feel flat to anyone used to traditional designs. Your gait will change in these shoes, with posture and foot-strike similar to what it’d be like without any shoes on at all.

Lace the Mesa Trail on, and you will have something near the quintessence of the “barefoot” trail running experience. The design is svelte, including welded TPU touches on the upper and a low-to-the-ground look.

Xero touts better balance, “proper” posture, and agility in the Xero Mesa Trail II and after copious testing, we can attest to that. Anyone committed to the minimal path should try the Mesa Trail for a ground-feel experience rare in the footwear space.

The brand has a pixie dust that is hard to define. In the La Sportiva Kaptiva ($165), the company touts a “perfect balance of protection, cushion, stability, and traction.”

We have to agree. Over two seasons, our tester put down more than 500 miles in these shoes. The Kaptiva has become his go-to shoe for ultra-endurance events like the USARA Nationals, where Team GearJunkie eked out a fourth-place finish in 2022.

What’s to love? For us, the fit and the feel of the shoe hit the sweet spot; it’s a minimal-influenced design but with enough substantiality to provide protection mile after mile on the harshest terrain.

A promise of “superior grip on any surface” was tested to the limit in the USARA Nationals. Our tester climbed an 11,000-foot mountain to get a checkpoint. Later, the race took him miles down a slippery river canyon that required wet feet and jumping for hours stone to stone. (He only slipped and fell once.)

The one downside that we found is that the shoe is a couple of ounces heavier than similar shoes. This makes it slower than a shoe like the Merrell Skyfire 2.

Now on his second pair, our tester can attest to the durability and performance of the La Sportiva Kaptiva. They are a solid choice for runners and endurance freaks seeking a robust, high-performance shoe for technical trails and any terrain beyond.

To back up the claim, the company put its NNormal Kjerag ($195) trail running shoes on 500 runners for a long-term test. The result was shoes that lasted for up to 800 miles of use before enough damage that they needed to be replaced.

We didn’t put that many miles on the Kjerags. But after around 75 miles of testing, the white shoes, though a bit dirtier, feel like new. The company sells the Kjerag as a distance shoe capable of ultra-endurance courses up to 100 miles.

Its midsole is touted to promote stability and energy return, and they indeed feel supportive and alive underfoot on the run. The upper is a clean jacquard with Kevlar-coated yarn. Pull the shoe on, and it feels snug with arch support and a thin tongue.

Despite the support, the shoes are light – our test pair of men’s size 12 weighed in at a feathery 8.6 oz. per shoe. The tread on the Vibram outsole is on the more minimal side. For dry singletrack and regular trails, the lugs function perfectly. However, they are less effective in mud and wet terrain.

Overall though, the NNormal Kjerag ranks among the best shoes we’ve tested, thanks to its feel and durability. 

A few mm lower stack than Salomon’s Ultra Glide, the 6 mm drop rides over a dual-density midsole: the softer Energy Surge, and underlying firmer (and more protective) Energy Blade TPU plate. The combination takes the edge off the underlying terrain, and adds spring to the gait.

The ride is firmer than the Ultra Glide but feels more stable underfoot. It’s more trail-worthy than the Ultra Glide and generation of advancement over the Sense Ride.

Protecting the upper, the breathable mesh is overlayed with TPU mountain motif. A light smear of rand protects the toes. The shoe wraps around the back of the foot with a pliable, amply padded heel cup and closes with Salomon’s quick lace system.

There’s a lot of material up top. While adding negligible weight, you do notice the drop in breathability. During our testing, this shoe ran warmer than others with less-engineered uppers. Tied with the hard-ish midsole cushion, the Pulsar performs better at slower, longer runs or as an everyday trainer.

There are more lively options for faster, technical trails. But for runners new to the trail, the Pulsar Trail provides that plush ride a lot of us were looking for in the Sense Ride but more stability than the Ultra Glide. Given its price between the two, the Pulsar is positioned as Salomon’s best do-it-all trail shoe.

The Sparks are unusual shoes, from their eye-popping orange motif to their outrageous flex in the sole. Hold them in the hand and they bend and fold to what seems impossible given their stout, supportive look.

It’s that combo of grip plus flex that makes VJ shoes popular with people who run over varied terrain. Obstacle course athletes, orienteers, and fell runners in England need grip while moving over chaotic terrain, up grass slopes, over rocks, through mud, and side-hilling on slanted ground.

The aforementioned “best grip”? It comes from the lugs, which spike mud on this model with 5mm of depth.

But it’s not just the tread; a secret to staying gripped on the earth is remaining in full contact with the ground, and that comes from the shoe’s ability to flex. Your foot shapes to the ground with each step, and the lugs bite in for traction and grip.

They work on flat terrain, too. Our tester enjoyed the Sparks as all-around trail runners with a precise fit and 5mm of drop.

VJ calls the VJ Spark a “fast attack shoe,” meaning it’ll blaze to action in a race or on a training day focused on footwork and speed. Try them out if you need, as the company positions, “confidence in your step and speed in your stride.”

In our test period, the Spark did indeed live up to those expectations. Our tester loved the precise nature of this shoe; it fit him like a glove and melded to the terrain underfoot as he ran. The style takes hints from classic “fell running” shoe designs, meaning it’s naturally flexible on the foot and has big lugs that bite the ground for amazing grip

As the name hints, this model is built for “sky running.” That is the Euro-centric genre of trail racing where steep ascents, peaks, rugged terrain, scree, talus, and killer descents are common.

In our tests, we ran mostly lower elevations, but we formed an opinion on the shoe on dirt trails and rougher, rockier terrain.

The shoe is a cousin to the Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx — both are made-for-racing speed demons. And it has the same outsole type (the Vibram Litebase) as the NNormal Kjerag.

But the Sky DNA is its own beast. It is the most aggressive footwear in this roundup, including a precise fit, minimal drop, solid grip, and a low-to-the-ground build that’s unforgiving to a lazy stride.

This is an advanced shoe. We found that it trades comfort for an aggressive design focused on pure speed, winning races, or conquering an FKT.

It cinches on the foot with what Dynafit calls an “intelligent double-speed lace.” We didn’t love the system, as tucking in the ends is a hassle — the tiny pocket to stow the string needs more space.

But once on, the thin web of laces keeps you secure over miles of rough terrain. Its toe box is generous, allowing foot bones to spread a bit for control on speedy descents.

In the end, the Dynafit Sky DNA is a quiver shoe for race days, specifically in the mountains. Athletes and dedicated alpine runners should take a close look at the Sky DNA if grip, speed, and protection on alpine terrain are the operative words.

With versatility extending beyond its mountain namesake, the MTN Racer 3 hits the sweet spot between a cushioned ride and traction, making it a great all-rounder choice for trail runners.

Our testers praised the fit and feel of the MTN Racer. Falling in line with other Topo models, the toebox is generous but not sloppy, snugging the midfoot securely without causing friction spots around the toes. The foot is locked into the plush 33 mm cushion that feels soft underfoot without compromising a lot of rebound.

The heel is secured with a seamlessly padded counter. A touch of posting runs forward off the heel counter along the midsole, and the shoe rides low — dropping from 33 to 28 mm — seating you closer to the ground for more confidence and control on off-camber, technical trails.

While the first iteration was dinged for breathability, the Racer 3 sports a TPU-reinforced mesh upper that strikes a balance between durability and breathability, making it a worthy update.

Mesh debris wings center the thin tongue and keep the tongue tacked down the dead center with the help of a pair of ingenious lace loops. A D-ring sits over the toes and the heel counter has receptacles to attach gaiters.

We did find the laces can bind over the top of the foot. Topo threads the shoe through the topmost eyelet from the factory. There’s a second — higher and more forward-sitting — eyelet that knocks that pressure point down a bit. But in general, while there’s a toebox, the shoe still feels low volume over the midfoot.

There are faster and lighter shoes with better traction on the list. But for those who want a do-it-all stalwart daily driver, with a bend toward technical, we highly recommend looking at the MTN Racer 3.

The light, breathable engineered mesh upper and stretch-knit collar replace the tongue found on the shoe’s previous iteration. This upper pleasantly hugs the foot and provides exceptional comfort. It also keeps the foot connected with the shoe, allowing wearers to speed through terrain with precision. While we appreciate these “sock-like” silhouettes — they are admittedly not for everyone.

Out front, the shoe is minimally protected with a pliable toe rand and narrow bumper. Compared to the previous version, it has a slightly higher stack height, an inch boost in heel-toe drop, and a more responsive EVA midsole to provide greater energy return in each stride.

The new model also shaves 0.5 ounces from the original Zinal, and feels feathery light as you cruise over mild singletrack or rolling backroads. It’s purpose-built for speed over durability. Still, after clocking significant miles in the shoes, there’s plenty of life left in our pair.

Flip the shoe over and you’ll notice the rubber tread is dispersed under the ball of the foot and heel. The previous Zinal had rubberized foam spread under the arch and midfoot between two platforms of Vibram plates — which has thankfully been altered in the update. While the midfoot is still devoid of tread, the Vibram Megagrip (hands down our favorite outsole) extends the entire length of the foot, and now has numerous, deeper lugs (now 5mm).

These shoes still serve as a great road-to-trail option, but they definitely have a more aggressive, trail-ready design than their predecessor. The lugs are tightly packed and occasionally struggle to shed mud.

The Zinal 2s are an ideal choice for runs that start at the front door and loop the local trail. They run effortlessly, feel smooth on the tarmac, and are easy, fun shoes for days when you struggle to fit it all in.

Read our in-depth full review of the Hoka Zinal (previous iteration).

This addresses some concerns about the 13’s durability while keeping us right in our wheelhouse for fast, precise, technical trails, where the Peregrine 14 feels right at home.

In the past, we’ve tested the Peregrine through the iconic Apex Park, including the Enchanted Forest, through some mixed snowy and rocky conditions, including sections of glare ice (not recommended). We were blown away by the excellent traction of Peregrine’s PWRTRAC rubber outsole with 5 mm lugs. Climbing through the mixed rock and icy conditions, we found a nice flow and gained altitude quickly.

On the descent, the Peregrine 14 offers a lot of fun and security with a precise package. The lower volume upper and relatively narrow design makes tricky rock sections a breeze. The lively midsole and small heel-to-toe drop puts the runner in the driver’s seat for sporty descents.

But with a fun, sporty, firm ride, the Peregrine 14 comes with a downside. On any runs over about 8 to 10 miles, we noticed friction, or downright blisters, between our front toes. The precise, narrow design is just too thin for our feet to splay. Our tester found the redesigned upper helps mitigate this effect, but doesn’t solve it.

While this is fine on short runs, we personally wouldn’t make this shoe our long-distance racer. It might be our choice for an upcoming 20K because it’s fast and confidence-inspiring, but we know our feet will pay. Those aiming for ultra distances should probably steer away unless they have fairly narrow, low-volume feet.

But if you want a precise shoe for short, fast, technical trail runs, the Saucony Peregrine 14 lives up to its speedy name. It’ll be high on our shoe rack for days when speed and spice are on the docket.

With a massive 28 mm of firm cushion underfoot, the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR ($169) trends toward the latter. The foot drops into a fat cushion, providing both lateral stability and protection from sharp underlying rocks without any extra plastic stays or rock guards.

The shoe derives its Golden Gate moniker from the truss-like TPU exoskeleton, weaving a pattern of structural support across the breathable mesh upper. But it’s also a nod to the ATR’s adaptability to tackle trails that dart off the pavement and into urban parks. SCARPA built this shoe for the street to trail runner.

Most notable on the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR is the secure fit. The neoprene bootie cuff wraps snugly around the ankle and under the laces like a sock. It sucks the shoe around the foot but also does a good job of preventing pebbles and debris from slipping into the shoe. The fit is so snug, in fact, you could probably pull the laces and run in it like a slipper.

Unfortunately, we found that the slipper fit is a touch narrow compared to others. We recommend sizing up or trying these on before you buy.

Brooks protects the shoe from the trail with overlays that cradle the upper and runs a rock plate through the midsole to protect the feet from rough terrain. The nitrogen-infused midsole adds rebound and cushion over a full rubber outsole studded with 3.5 mm multidirectional lugs.

The Brooks Catamount 3 is a very fast shoe and a good choice for road runners looking for speed on gravel or tamer trails. Tipping just over 9 ounces per shoe, it works both as a trainer and a racer. Our tester found that this shoe wanted to go fast, making a difference on level ground and slight downhills where trail runners can pick up the pace. Steep ascents? Not so much.

Rock plate aside, given its slim lug profile, we feel the shoe falls short on the technical, preventing it from leveling up to the best in the field.

Core to the shoe is On’s Helion foam. It’s engineered to provide rigid cushioning underfoot and flexibility in the toes. This rigidity provides good rock protection and a structural rocker. On the brand’s original Couldsurfers, our tester found this the foam could feel harsh underfoot, but the new generation balances out this rigidity with both a softer foam and more cushion to absorb impact.

Also, new to this version’s construction is a TPU speedboard, which purportedly loads the shoe with energy every time the foot lands. While our tester didn’t feel a noticeable spring in his step, he did notice the redesigned outsole. The new grip touts an updated stud layout that results in 50% more ground contact than its predecessor’s already luggy grip.

For feet that swell over the miles, On has integrated a nifty FlipRelease adjustment knob on the laces over the toebox. When untoggled, the release adds a few millimeters of space over the top of the foot. Our tester found this incredibly helpful, not just for long runs; but also for cool downs.

We’ve found that, across the line of On shoes, the brand’s collar feels stiff. The Cloudultra 2 is different. While we wouldn’t go as far as calling its collar pliable, the brand has reengineered the collar and heightened the heel padding, which helps mitigate the previous version’s stiffness.

The bootie construction makes the shoe a struggle to get into, but once you’re in, the knit portion locks around the foot and remains very breathable. This makes the Cloudultra ideal for hot, dry trail runs where dust and debris can often kick into the shoe.

On simply hasn’t slapped a new name and colors on a slightly tweaked shoe. The Cloudultra 2 directly addresses (and solves) issues we had with its predecessor, resulting in a shoe that stays comfortable and fast over long days on the trail. And of course, the Cloudultra 2 still looks great après run.

With a new outsole, midsole, and upper, nearly every component of the Speedgoat has been improved for better traction, better fit, and lighter weight than the previous model. Reswizzled from the sole up, the newest update doesn’t disappoint.

Updates include a bolstered heel collar, more comfortable features, and what feels like a more responsive midsole with what Hoka calls a “late-stage meta-rocker.”

The lightweight midsole — the same midsole formula from the evo Speedgoat — is everything you could want in a trail shoe: lightweight, supportive, and responsive. This midsole is bouncy and comfortable for running on all forms of terrain.

The soles are fitted with Vibram Megagrip and 5mm lugs, somehow providing even more traction than previous iterations. Our reviewers lauded its ability to tackle varying, loose, and rocky terrain.

Somehow Hoka pulled all this off while shaving an ounce off of the Speedgoat 4.

While the Speedgoats let you push the pace, their durability and comfort over the long haul make them a good value. Legions of long-distance hikers have picked up on this. The Speedgoat 5 was one of the most popular shoes for thru-hiking in 2022. One of our testers walked over 5,000 miles in the Speedgoats last year, eking out about 700 miles a pair.

If you aren’t used to shoes with a higher stack, runners may want to experiment with a different model first. The stack can be tippy on technical trails. But as a mega-comfortable performer over challenging terrain, it’s hard to find a better ride out there.

The new Lone Peak 8 still gives us that spacious, zero-drop experience we’ve grown to love, and we were grateful they didn’t change too much from previous models. It boasts the most room in any toebox you’re likely to find, and the foot-shaped last gives it an organic feel, allowing your toes to splay out naturally while hiking long miles. The update also comes with a wide version, for those who really need it.

For the 8, the team pulled a three-point turn and reintroduced ripstop into the upper. The 7 had debuted a newly designed upper featuring a more traditional mesh plus overlays. This new mesh ripstop combo harkens back to the 6 and increases the debris resistance and durability of the shoe.

They also added ghillie lacing, essentially a brogue-style tab, to the lacing system, which gives an optional pull-through. That translates to more lacing options, though our tester didn’t find it made a huge difference. If your feet fit other Altras, the Lone Peak 8s will fit you. If they don’t, an extra lacing option doesn’t change that.

The Lone Peak 8 still uses MaxTrac rubber in the outsole, allowing for better grip on wet rock and trail. They also feature a redesigned lug pattern with additional lugs for improved traction over sludgy terrain.

With the widest toebox on the list, the foot-shaped last gives it an organic feel, allowing your toes to splay naturally while running. The only complaint we can think of comes from others’ reviews of the wide version, as we only tried the regular width. From what we hear, the wide version is too wide and feels quite sloppy and unstable even for those who generally go with a 2E width.

All in all, the Lone Peak 8 remains a top pick for diehard trail runners looking for a reliable shoe with a natural feel. The wide toebox and zero-drop profile take a little getting used to. But over time, they give you more of a connection with the ground you’re moving over and help prevent blisters with plenty of room in the toebox.

But this isn’t a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none situation. The Sense Ride 5 excels on both flat, loops-style trails and rocky, steep scrambles. The Quicklace system prevents loose laces and allows for easy adjustment on the fly. Moderate cushioning from the brand’s energy foam midsole protects the foot while still allowing you to feel and adapt to the terrain under your sole. And the 3.5 mm lugs were grippy without bogging us down on gentler terrain.

Our two biggest issues with the Sense Ride were its debris retention and the potential downsides of the Quicklace system. The Sense Ride lacks an inner gaiter, so debris tends to build up within the shoe over long runs.

In those cases, our tester preferred Salomon’s new Thundercross ($140), which is slightly more cushioned than the Sense Ride and has more aggressive 5mm lugs and an integrated, ¾ gaiter to cover the tongue and keep the socks clean. Our tester didn’t have a problem with the Speedlock system, but it’s been known to cause issues for runners with wide feet.

Overall this is a solid, consistently capable trail runner. If you’re looking to pick up just one shoe for all terrains and adventures, the Salomon Sense Ride 5 is our pick.