The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2024

A balance of snap, cushion, traction, and fit, Nike’s Terra Kiger 9 ($150) stands head and shoulders above the field of shoes we laced into this year.

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.

Plush midsole, supportive upper, and a robust rocker, The North Face VECTIV Enduris 3 ($149) was our favorite cushioned shoe tested this year.

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.

We’ve seen a few brands introduce carbon plates to the running world. TNF’s VECTIV and Craft’s CTM Ultra come to mind. As you’d expect, these shoes provide spring and rigidity — and are meant to go fast.

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.

With a name like Salomon Ultra Glide 2 ($150), you’d guess these would be one smooth-striding pair of shoes. And you’d be right. Packing a significantly high (26mm-32mm) stack height with a higher-volume upper and responsive midsole, the Ultra Glide is at once luxurious and aggressive underfoot.

In early testing of the Ultra Glide 2, we ran several 3-mile “road to trail” routes around the Colorado front range. We looked at the shoe very critically at first. We tend to prefer responsive, moderately-cushioned shoes over “maximal” shoes for most of our runs. But the Ultra Glide 2 quickly won us over, performing much more responsively than we expected. On steep, rocky trails, the shoe really softens up sharp edges thanks to the thick Energy Foam midsole. But the shoe is in no way sluggish, giving good energy return, especially for a shoe with so much stack height.

The “reverse camber” profile (a term borrowed from the ski world) means the sole rolls over the ground like a rocking chair. You’ll notice that it feels pretty good if you heel strike, and helps with smooth rough downhill sections. It rolls through to a nice secure toe-off. We found it fairly easy to keep a mid-foot strike and toe off moving quickly over flat surfaces.

The traction is mid-tier. The 3.5 mm lugs are plenty to dig into most soils and a nice compromise. The outsole is only OK on wet rock, but otherwise gives good traction. The mid-length lugs also perform pretty well on pavement, making the Ultra Glide 2 a true multipurpose, road-to-trail shoe.

The shoe should really shine for those running medium to long trail runs well into ultramarathon distances. It’s light and comfortable and should keep the wearer moving steadily all day or more. On the downside, it’s not a very precise shoe. For those with lower-volume feet, or who want precise foot placements for technical terrain, this shouldn’t be a top choice.

But, if you’re running lots of miles or looking for a shoe for those long, slow-distance training days, this one is a comfort monster fit for the masses.

The godfather of “foot-shaped” running shoes, with a wider toebox and zero-drop platform, Altra has built a legion of followers through its unique design.

Out of the box, the Timp 4 ($160) are good-looking shoes. They’ve added some cushion and reduced the toebox volume. While some Altra purists may throw up their hands in blasphemy, we think it’s elevated Altra’s game, making it more approachable for most runners.

At the core of the Timp is the new EGO Max foam. Out of the box, we ran 13 miles on gravel road, sprinkled with single track. The ride was surprisingly smooth with some giddy-up in the tank when we needed it.

As one reviewer stated, “It rides like a Cadillac … Plush, comfortable, and compliant.” It doesn’t look flashy and it’s not built for performance. It’s a cushioned ride. An added bonus, the extra millimeters of stack also give it some extra underfoot protection on rougher terrain.

The upper is constructed from a durable woven mesh protected with a rubberized rand for extra durability. Light padding softens the minimal collar, heel, and tongue.

A fat pull tab helps you slip into the shoe with ease. With no structural overlays on the upper, these shoes can feel a little sloppy on technical terrain. The softer tread reinforces this.

The one factor we’re not unanimously sold on is the size. Some testers found the Timp ran small this year, while others found the stock size a perfect fit. This is a matter of foot shape and preference, but it’s worth noting.

Like most Altra models, it’s probably not a good choice for those with narrow feet. And while narrow for Altra, Timp 4 is a little wide for super-precise or technical terrain. But it’s a strong contender for anyone who wants zero drop or cushion in their queue.

Read our full review on the Timp 4.

To meet the growing interest in technical long-distance runs, La Sportiva released the Akasha II ($175), a cushioned shoe that inspires confident traction on rough terrain. Think technical, rocky, or rooted terrain that climbs up (and down) all day.

La Sportiva is known for its snug, sporty fit. Slip into the shoe, and you feel something different — room! For longer runs, the Akasha has more room in the toebox, cushioning, and a more judicious stack. The winning combination enables you to plow through rough trail for hours on end.

A robust cushion under the heels allows you to tap the brakes without jarring the chassis. The cushion tapers toward the toes and flexes under the metatarsals to bite down on the climbs. Out front, a stout rubber bumper deflects any zingers. This combination allows the shoe to run much lighter than it looks.

Mountain running requires the stars to align around comfort, durability, and protection. But its north star will always be stability. You can’t risk an ankle twist above the tree line.

For extra stability, the Akasha has a solid heel cup that holds the foot in place. And the entire upper is heavily guarded by a lightweight structural TPU. The entire shoe elevates confidence on erratic terrain.

The shoe feels less responsive than others on the list. But in the end, the Akasha isn’t designed for speed on flat trails. It’s the shoe you reach for when the trail starts to throw speed-shedding obstacles in your way. And through that lens, the Akasha is arguably the faster shoe.

Shortly after we posted our last buyer guide, highlighting Salomon’s Ultra Glide, we got our hands on the Pulsar Trail ($140). Billed as Salomon’s mid-range trail runner, the Pulsar has plenty of firm cushion underfoot but brings more stability to the trail. The result is a Salomon shoe better positioned for pure trail.

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.

A little softer, a little lower, and with more traction, Topo Athletic’s MTN Racer 3 ($150) is a worthy alternative to the max cushion movement and is a good choice for runners looking for comfort on more technical terrain or shorter runs.

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.

Firmer, lower, and a few dollars cheaper than the Tecton X, HOKA’s Zinal 2 ($160) is the Tecton’s trimmed-down sibling. This shoe boasts solid traction, generous energy return, and a cozy stretch-knit collar. With its lower lug height (compared to others on this list), the Zinal 2 is our go-to for quick door-to-trail runs.

The light, breathable engineered mesh upper and stretch-knit collar replaces 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 features 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).

The Peregrine 13 ($140) is another nice update to the iconic line of fast, precise trail running shoes. For this iteration, Saucony gives runners a small 4 mm heel-to-toe offset and a relatively low stack height of 28/24.

This puts it right in our wheelhouse for fast, precise, technical trails, where the Peregrine 13 feels right at home.

We’ve been testing the Peregrine for about three months and it’s high on our list of go-to shoes, especially for runs that promise to mix fun with a little spice. In early-season testing, we ran 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 5mm lugs. Climbing through the mixed rock and icy conditions, we found a nice flow and gained altitude quickly.

On the descent, the Peregrine 13 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 13 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.

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 Peregrine lives up to its speedy name. It’ll be high on our shoe rack for days when speed and spice are on the docket.

There are two kinds of trail runners: nimble runners who dance through rocky terrain, and those who plow down the trail, letting the shoe suck up the bumps.

With a massive 28 mm of firm cushion underfoot, the 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 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.

The Catamount 2 ($170) is Brooks’ cushion shoe for uptempo trail runs. Utilizing Brooks DNA flash foam, its pedigree reminds us a lot of its road shoe line. With sexy good looks, the sleek design is flawlessly constructed and wears fantastic out of the box.

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 3.5mm multidirectional lugs.

The Cat 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, it works both as a trainer and a racer.

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.

Chances are, you have seen more of On’s shoes on coffee runs than actual runs. Incredibly popular with the athleisure crowd, On Running has proved that its shoes don’t just look good, they run well. On’s running team has quietly picked up podiums across the UTMB series, all while decked out in the Swiss brand’s gear. Our top pick from On for the trail is their Cloudultra 2 ($180), newly updated in 2023.

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.

Every family has a favorite. Toeing across finish lines of years, the Speedgoat 5 ($155) is Hoka’s beloved classic.

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 2023. 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.

Another update to the legendary Lone Peak ($150) adds even more fame to this cherished classic. An absolute staple in the long-distance hiking and trail running communities, the Lone Peak is the pioneer of Altra’s brand and defines its unique style.

The new Lone Peak 7 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.

The upper has evolved a bit in this new iteration. It is now entirely stitch-free with no-sew TPU overlays, giving it a sleek and streamlined look and feel. This not only adds style points. It also increases the shoe’s durability, as it eliminates potential failure points along the seams. We haven’t been able to fully test this update’s durability compared to previous models, but they do seem to be more bomb-proof than before.

The Lone Peak 7 includes new 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.

The Altra EGO technology of the midsole claims to add a little more responsiveness to each step, and we definitely noticed a difference compared to pre-Lone Peak 6 models. Something about it feels like a cushier, yet still responsive ride, and we’re fans of how well it carries over technical 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 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 give you more of a connection with the ground you’re moving over, and help prevent blisters with plenty of room in the toebox.

Check out our full review of the Lone Peak 7 for more info.

Salmon’s Sense Ride 5 ($140) is perhaps the ideal all-terrain shoe. We found this shoe to be among the most versatile on this list. Our tester consistently chose to pack these shoes when luggage space was tight and he planned on tackling both road and trail in one trip. We found they double as a one-size-fits-all solution for day-long hikes, quick trail KOM attempts, and even as a backup on bikepacking trips.

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 features more aggressive 5 mm 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.