Best All-Around Trail Shoe
Peregrines have graced the feet of trail runners for years. Saucony recently released an updated 13th iteration, continuing the model’s reputation for dependable performance in the dirt.
Best Minimalist Trail Shoe
Spend some time browsing trail-running subreddits, and it won’t take long before you start seeing people talking up the Mesa Trail. It’s a well-regarded shoe among the minimalist running crowd, and Xero recently updated the shoe for improved performance.
Best Affordable Trail Shoe
The Garoé is a bargain pick that includes some top-shelf features, most notably New Balance’s plush Fresh Foam cushioning and an upper with lots of overlays for protection and durability. It’s designed for a comfortable ride, and the lugged AT Tread outsole should create dependable traction for jaunts on mellow trails.
Best Cushioning
If you prefer a well-cushioned running shoe, the Asics Trabuco Max is a good model to consider. This shoe features a thick slice of the brand’s FlyteFoam Blast+ foam, a soft, highly responsive material that’s also used in the NovaBlast training shoe.
Best Cushioned Shoe for Technical Trails
Another much-loved model among trail runners, Hoka’s Speedgoat is a capable pick for challenging terrain, but it offers more cushioning than the Salomon and Inov-8 shoes above.