Top 5 Best Trail Running Shoes of 2024

With their state-of-the-art materials, creative designs, and ingenious combinations of foams, plates, textiles, outsole rubbers, and lug patterns, today’s trail-running shoes are more sophisticated than ever. This combination creates shoes that perform better than before on a variety of terrains.

An excellent pair of trail shoes offers enough comfort and traction to blend in with the background when running. To improve performance and protection while remaining out of the water, all of the models that made our list combined the best features from the past with cutting-edge designs and contemporary materials.

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Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best Trail Running Shoes of 2024

1.Saucony Xodus Ultra 3

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

We looked at functionality for the widest variety of runners while selecting a “Best All-Around” trail shoe. Although the Saucony Xodus Ultra 3 may have been designed with ultrarunners in mind, we were impressed by how well it combined comfort, traction, and responsiveness throughout a variety of terrains, distances, and runner abilities.

We compare the Saucony Xodus 3 to a superhero cape because of its incredibly sensitive cushioning and amazing traction, which seemed to enhance the skills of trail runners of all skill levels. A tester who used the shoe on both wet and dry trails in the field claimed, “I was feeling like a slug on one of my runs, but the shoes felt so good I just went after it and was able to really move with some speed.”Colorado foothills and high country. Other testers described the updated Xodus as “easy to run in” and “very springy, responsive” with a “bounce that helped propel me forward.” One tester described their runs as “effortless” when moving across rolling terrain in Northern California.

We didn’t feel connected to the trails because there isn’t much cush. In order to maintain our balance even on off-camber terrain, the responsive foam let us to respond to uneven ground beneath our feet and worked in tandem with improved stability from a wider platform including reinforced sidewalls. Underfoot, the cape-like effect was enhanced in various situations using four-millimeter lugs composed of Saucony’s own sticky rubber. One tester said, “I was able to land on wet roots and move the way I wanted to.” Another person commented, “I felt strong in this shoe,” and a third claimed the Xodus Ultra 3 “provided exceptional downhill cushioning without feeling unstable.”

Closed (but breathable) mesh fits “like a hug,” protects the top of the foot, and keeps debris out.said one. One minor complaint was that the stretchy laces, while adding comfort on mild trails, made it hard to cinch the fit tight enough for narrow-footed runners to feel secure on highly technical terrain.

This is a great all-around trail shoe that runs smoothly on gravel while excelling on rocky, rooty, sloppy trails as well. We picked the Xodus Ultra 3 as the best all-around for its ability to turn mortals into speedsters on technical terrain for just —and because we can’t think of a trail we wouldn’t want to run in it, or a runner we wouldn’t recommend it for.

2.Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The ease with which faster paces felt in this shoe astounded every Agravic Speed Ultra tester. According to a masters tester, “I consistently ran about 30 seconds faster per mile while running in these shoes than what the effort felt like.” To make a shoe that performs on the unpredictable trail, Adidas designers expertly modified the components of a road super shoe to get a similar, effort-reducing, propulsive effect.

The key components underfoot are an integrated, trail-specific “plate” and a TPEE-based midsole that is gas-infused and bouncy but not overly soft. Adidas employs semi-flexible rods that respond independently to changes in the terrain in place of a solid, stiff plate. The four prongs are made of PEBA, a strong plastic that is frequently used in track spike plates.in the forefoot and two in the heel are splayed wider and closer to the edges than those in Adidas’s road shoes, to enhance stability. One tester said the resulting ride “provided a lively pop without being tippy on variable surfaces or prescribing a set, rigid roll.”

A tight midfoot waist expands to a roomy, flared forefoot, offering an agile and solid stance, while deep-sculpted side walls encircle a beveled heel, ensuring smooth and secure landings. What one tester called “a balanced ride that makes it easy to stay forward on my feet and drive backward with each stride, creating a quick, powerful push-off” is provided by the aggressively rockered geometry from heel to toe.

Adidas uses the same reliable, gripping Continental rubber that is used in the majority of the brand’s running shoes for the outsole. Variable 2.5- to 3-millimeter lugs provide surefooted, stress-free traction in this trail-specific variant. The upper is maintained to a minimum for weight reduction, as one might anticipate in a top-tier racing shoe. Composed of a breathable, fast-drying, non-stretch woven material, we found it offered a secure, snug lockdown while providing a touch of abrasion protection.

Given the tall stack height, testers had to cautiously check their foot placements through technical rocky terrain. But wherever the terrain smoothed out and allowed for full strides, the Agravic Speed Ultra came alive and delivered a ride that testers said felt like flying. If you’ve been holding out for a plated trail racing shoe that gets almost everything right, the wait is over.

3.Hoka Tecton X 3

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

We’ve liked every version of Hoka’s Tecton X, and this third edition is the greatest yet. In 2022, we named the inaugural model Gear of the Year. The Tecton X 3 has two carbon fiber plates within each shoe that are parallel to one another and can move independently, just like the original two. Instead of tilting the foot, as we have experienced with certain trail shoes that use a single huge plate, this allows the shoe to change over rocks and roots. In order to increase the shoe’s stability over technical terrain, the Tecton X 3’s two plates are a little bigger than those in version 2, and they have a winged design underneath the heel.

A softer layer of PEBA foam is one of the other improvements.right under the foot and above the plate, which testers said improves the joint-comforting cushion during lengthy, rough runs. For a tactile ground sensation, the foam layer at the bottom stays firmly responsive.

Then there is the distinctive upper. Although several testers were dubious about the shoe’s integrated gaiter, it turned out to be both extremely comfortable and successful. “The gaiter is stretchy and adds to the overall comfort and techy feel,” said a tester who was concerned that the material around her ankle would irritate her. Each tester was pleased with how the integrated gaiter prevented debris from getting into the shoes without causing discomfort or using unsightly clips. The high-strength synthetic yarns used to make the Matryx upper were sufficiently flexible to allow for effortless on-and-offs and foot movement.while also doing a great job holding feet in place over wild terrain. Its also highly breathable: “I ran straight through a river, and the shoe dried out very quickly,” said a Boulder, Colorado-based tester.

4.Brooks Cascadia 18

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

We put a lot of strain on our shoes as trail runners. The midsole, outsole, and top eventually deteriorate from the constant miles on rock and mud. For many years, the Brooks Cascadia line has been a reliable, multipurpose trail shoe that is designed to continue to operate for miles on end.

One tester said, “The Cascadia is meant for distance and rugged protection,” pointing to its stable platform and robust construction. For those who prefer a steady, protected ride with a hint of comfort, we discovered that the EVA midsole runs on the harder end of the spectrum underfoot. It is “far from being a speed demon,” according to one tester, weighing 11.1 ounces for males and 9.9 ounces for women. He described it as a “trail stallion built for longer, cozy runs.” Still, another tester noted, “The ride is more agile and light-footed than previous Cascadias, and surprising for a shoe this rugged.”

The outsole features Brooks’ proprietary rubber with 4.5 mm lugs, which testers praised for its grip on dirt and rocky terrain. However, one tester who wore them in Chamonix noted that the lug depth was too shallow to grip in snow and deep mud. Integrated into the midsole is a flexible rock plate that adds to the shoe’s ruggedness while adding a touch of stability.

The one knock that caused some issues for a few of our testers was the low volume and narrow toe box. “It’s not unbearable by any means, but it’s not ideal either,” noted one tester, especially if your feet are going to swell. If you’re between sizes or prefer extra room, we recommend sizing up a half size.

5.Asics Fujilite 5

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Asics Fujilite 5 evokes the simplicity of vintage, low-profile, lightweight trail runners that feel like extensions of your feet, but without the high-tech features present in many of today’s rapid trail shoes. It’s one of those shoes that feels amazing as soon as I put my foot in it. And it gets even better after it’s laced up,” one tester remarked.

Instead of being springy, the EVA-blend foam’s low weight and low profile provide speed and agility. It feels tactile, linked, and somewhat responsive underfoot. According to one tester, the ride is “stable and secure enough to take risks and push the pace on trails,” as well as “fast and responsive.”

The only warning is that the woven top, which seems like that of a road shoe, didn’t offer the type of security we’d hope for through technical terrain. It did a great job of comfortably securing the foot on smooth surfaces, but once we needed to tip-toe through off-camber rock fields, we wanted more ankle stability.

Still, priced at, the Fujilite 5 is an incredible value with impressive versatility. Outside burly mountain running, we felt comfortable in this shoe on every trail. “It’s rare for a trail shoe to feel fast and also feel like you could run all day in them,” said one tester.

How to Choose a Trail-Running Shoe

When shopping for a trail shoe, start by thinking about the kinds of trails you frequently run on: do you prefer gentle dirt walks or do you take on rough, rocky terrain? While certain trail shoes are specialized and perform well in one or the other, others can manage both well. While shoes with deeper, more aggressive outsoles are best suited for steep, muddy, or rocky routes, shoes with smaller lugs perform better on smoother, sturdier terrain. A lighter, more minimalist shoe is probably what you’ll want if you like to feel the trail and dance around rocks and roots. However, if you’d rather let the shoe roll over terrain differences, providing protection and cushioning while you’re asleep, you should seek for a shoe with a larger midsole.