Best Trail Running Shoes (2023): Hiking, Barefoot, and More

1 year ago 36
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For Road and Trail Time

Inov-8 Parkclaw G280

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The Best Barefoot Shoe

Xero Shoes Z-Trail

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Trail running has been growing in popularity for years, with a boom during the pandemic seen on trails all over the world. Trail running shoes are also a lighter, more affordable, and more versatile alternative to traditional hiking boots. Everyone's feet and running practices are different, so it's hard to recommend one shoe that works for all. But you can find something great among our favorites.

Don't see anything you like? Check out our other guides, including the Best Running Gear, the Best Rain Jackets and Hiking Gear 101.

Updated June 2023: We've overhauled this trail running shoe guide, removing older picks and adding new models from Hoka, Saucony, Adidas, and more.

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  • Photograph: Hoka

    Best Overall

    Hoka Speedgoat 5

    Hoka has really stepped up its trail shoe game recently. The Mafate Speed, Zinal, double carbon plate-packing Tecton X 2, and hybrid Challenger 7 have all been standout additions to the Hoka family, but it’s the Speedgoat 5 that’s the true goat here.

    This is a trail shoe with which you can roll through mixed terrain, keeping it roomy at the toes and available in regular and wide fits to make sure it’s well suited for long-distance outings. It’s noticeably lighter than the previous Speedgoat model, and weight has also been cut from the CMEVA midsole, which still offers a satisfying level of cushioning. With Hoka’s late-stage Meta-Rocker, this does a fine job of getting you up on your toes when you want to pick up the pace. The Vibram outsole is tough and built to take a serious pounding, with 5-millimeter lugs to grip strong on hard and soft ground. Take it easy or speed things up on even more challenging terrain and the Speedgoat 5 is one trail shoe you won’t be disappointed to have on your feet.

  • Photograph: Saucony

    For the Mud

    Saucony Peregrine 13

    The Saucony Peregrine 13 shines when it’s time to stay nimble on softer ground. Grab the ST version and Saucony adds deeper lugs to its easy-to-clean PWRTRAC outsole. This grips strongly on varied terrain and makes it even better for digging into mud and wetter off-road surfaces.

    Saucony continues to use the combination of its PWWRUN midsole and PWWRUN+ sock liner as it did on the Peregrine 12—this makes for an enjoyable and bouncy shoe to hit the trails. Saucony does offer some moderate protective elements too mainly served up by a rock plate and an ankle gaiter that does keep trail debris at bay. It’s a bit of a narrow fit here so that’s something to keep in mind, but if you can get the fit to work for you, the Peregrine 13 brings comfort, grip and a good ride that makes it well-built for going long in softer terrain.

  • Photograph: Inov

    For Road and Trail Time

    Inov-8 Parkclaw G280

    If you don’t live close to your trails, you need something that will get you to them and back again. The Inov-8 Parkclaw G280 is a shoe that delivers when you need to mix up the running terrain.

    Inov-8 likes to innovate, so the G280 uses a graphene-enhanced outsole and 4-mm lugs that sound like they’d feel harsh on roads and sidewalks but can transition between flat and rockier surfaces effortlessly. That’s helped by a midsole foam packed with more graphene and a bouncy Boomerang footbed that gives the Parkclaw a memorable, bouncy ride. It’s best suited to less technical trail routes and has a level of cushioning that means it can handle extended time on your feet. Plus, the Parkclaw doesn’t feel out of its depth when you want to run a bit quicker.

    ★ An All-Purpose Alternative: The Nike Pegasus Trail 4 ($175). like the Parkclaw G280, is made for a mixture of road running and trails and offers a lighter, great-fitting mesh upper, a stable and smooth ride, and an outsole that’s best suited for harder trails, all wrapped up in an attractive array of colorways that Nike so typically delivers.

  • Photograph: Xero

    The Best Barefoot Shoe

    Xero Shoes Z-Trail

    These are my colleague Scott Gilbertson's favorite shoes. (Check out more of his barefoot picks here.) They're light, flexible, and barely feel like shoes at all. It would not occur to me to use this as a running shoe, but I see a lot of people on the trails here in Portland, Oregon, doing just that.—Adrienne So

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