Best trail running shoes
Most trail shoe reviews are written for dry, rocky, American trail. British trail is a different problem. For a good part of the year it is mud, wet grass, wet rock and puddles you cannot see the bottom of, and the shoe that wins on a dry alpine path is not the shoe you want in a Yorkshire field in February.
Two things matter more here than anywhere else. Lug depth, which is how deep the studs on the outsole are, because anything under about 4mm will slide on wet mud. And rubber compound, because soft sticky rubber, Vibram Megagrip being the common one, holds onto wet rock in a way that harder compounds do not.
Waterproofing is the one people get wrong. A waterproof shoe keeps water out until it comes in over the top, and then keeps it in. For British winter, most experienced trail runners skip the membrane and accept wet feet, because a draining shoe dries out while you run.
The shortlist
These are the shoes the Shoe Finder quiz returns when you answer it as someone in this situation. Same database, same scoring, nothing added by hand. Answer it yourself and you will get a list shaped around your own feet, weight and budget rather than an average.
Nike ACG Zegama GORE-TEX
£174.99 · Trail · 350g · 4mm drop · 36mm stack
Waterproof, with 5mm Vibram lugs and a roomy toebox. A 350g tank, so nothing fast.
- Built for off road, with grip for mud and loose ground
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
Adidas Runfalcon 6 ATR
£49.99 · Trail · 300g · 10mm drop
Road to trail at fifty pounds. Shallow lugs, so keep it to dry paths rather than proper mud.
- Built for off road, with grip for mud and loose ground
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
Altra Olympus 275 HiLo
£174.99 · Trail · 298g · 0mm drop · 33mm stack
Still zero drop despite the name, so ease into it. Cushioned, grippy and built for long days.
- Built for off road, with grip for mud and loose ground
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
Topo Athletic Vista
£154.99 · Trail · 315g · 5mm drop · 38mm stack · wide fitting
Soft foam on a wide, stable base with Megagrip and 3.7mm lugs. Too heavy at 315g for quick running.
- Built for off road, with grip for mud and loose ground
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
Asics Trabuco Max 5
£159.99 · Trail · 298g · 5mm drop · 40mm stack
Billed as max cushioned but the ride is firm. Deep lugs and plenty of stack for long trails.
- Built for off road, with grip for mud and loose ground
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
Hoka Stinson 8
£159.99 · Trail · 315g · 5mm drop · 42mm stack
Huge cushioning and light guidance for road to trail. At 315g, not one for technical ground.
- Built for off road, with grip for mud and loose ground
- Picked for comfortable everyday running
Saucony Ride TR3
£139.99 · Trail · 286g · 8mm drop · 39mm stack
Trail version of a familiar road trainer, with 3.5mm lugs. One width only, so fit matters.
- Built for off road, with grip for mud and loose ground
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
Adidas Terrex Agravic GORE-TEX 2
£139.99 · Trail · 320g · 8mm drop · 32mm stack
Waterproof and grippy for wet British winters. Keeps your feet dry on soggy paths.
- Built for off road, with grip for mud and loose ground
- Matches the balanced feel you asked for
How this list was put together
Every shoe in our database is scored against a set of rules, and this page shows the top eight for this particular need. The rules are written down in full on the how it works page, including which ones rule a shoe out completely. Nothing on this page is ordered by commission, and the prices are RRP, so shop around because they are very often discounted.
This is a starting point rather than a fitting. Where you can, try shoes on, and if you are running through pain see a physio rather than buying your way out of it.
Common questions
Do I need waterproof trail shoes?
Usually not. Water comes in over the collar the first time you misjudge a puddle, and a membrane then stops it draining out. Waterproof versions make more sense for cold, wet walking than for running.
Can I use trail shoes on the road?
For short stretches connecting trails, yes. For any real distance on pavement the lugs wear down quickly and the ride feels harsh. If your runs are genuinely half and half, a door to trail shoe with shallower lugs is the better buy.
What lug depth do I need for mud?
Around 5mm and above for proper mud, and 6mm or more for fell running and cross country. Anything shallower is a hard packed trail shoe, which is fine for towpaths and dry summer trail and useless in a wet field.
Get a list for your feet, not an average one
The shortlist above assumes a fairly typical runner. The shoe finder asks about your width, how your ankles roll, your weight, where you run, your budget and any recurring niggles, then gives you three shoes and tells you why each one made it. It takes about a minute and there is no email or sign up.