Best Trail Running Shoes

Best trail-running shoes for most feet

The Brooks Cascadia 4 (*Est. $100) earns excellent reviews from numerous sources, including an Editor's Choice award from Runner's World and a nod from Fitness magazine as the best trail-running shoe of the year. The editors at Runner's World find that the Brooks Cascadia 4 has good traction on a variety of trails, while the Hydroflow cushioning under the heel and forefoot provides enough support for short runs on the road. Editors at Fitness magazine applaud the asymmetrical laces and serious grip, and a wear-tester who runs 60 miles per week on trails praises the comfort, saying, "they truly feel like road shoes with killer traction." Ryan Stuart, gear guide for Canada-based Explore magazine, writes an extensive review of the Brooks Cascadia 4, calling it the "best sequel we've ever seen." Like Runner's World, Stuart finds that the traction and cushioning transition well from trail to road, although he finds the laces come untied too easily.

The Brooks Cascadia 4 is the first in the Cascadia series to feature the new eco-friendly BioMoGo midsole, which biodegrades up to 50 times faster than traditional EVA midsoles (according to the manufacturer, regular EVA midsoles take 1,000 years to biodegrade while BioMoGo midsoles degrade in 20 years). Reviewers uniformly praise the new midsole, agreeing that it has not compromised the comfort or durability of this popular trail running shoe. In a short review, National Geographic Adventure praises the BioMoGo midsole and the durable outsole, which is made from sand instead of petroleum. Overall, National Geographic Adventure finds that this trail runner offers a comfortable fit with just enough stability.

Testers for Running Times agree that the Brooks Cascadia 4 trail-running shoe, which comes in both men's and women's versions, provides great stability on the trail, due to medial and lateral posts that keep feet secure over unstable terrain. Running Times' testers praise this trail-running shoe for performing well on mud, packed dirt and even pavement.

The Asics Gel-Trabuco 11 WR (*Est. $90) comes in a close second behind the Brooks Cascadia 4 for the title of best trail-running shoe. Backpacker magazine gives it an Editor's Choice award, calling it the best trail-running shoe of the year. It is the favorite of Backpacker's testers, who evaluated multiple trail-running shoes during numerous trail runs and hikes in Arizona and New Mexico. They find the stability to be outstanding, thanks to an internal plastic shank and firm heel platform.

In a very brief review, Fitness magazine picks the Asics Gel-Trabuco 11 WR as one of the best shoes for off-road running, also commenting on the shoe's stability. Running Times finds it versatile for trail or road running and praises the enhanced gel cushioning under the heel and forefoot. Testers for Trail Runner generally like the shoe, but some thought the shoe was too stiff.

The Asics Gel-Trabuco 11 WR also receives glowing praise from over 30 consumers in reviews compiled by Buzzillions.com, with multiple reviewers confirming the stability of this trail-running shoe. The only negative feedback is from one owner who does not like the fit. The Asics Gel-Trabuco 11 WR comes in both men's and women's sizes. The waterproof version of this shoe, the Asics Gel-Trabuco 11 WP (*Est. $100), is also praised by consumers, but reviewers universally pan the color choice (paprika).

Like the Brooks Cascadia 4 and the Asics Gel-Trabuco 11 WR, the Adidas adiStar Revolt (*Est. $120) receives numerous accolades for awesome stability on the trail. Running Times calls the shoes "little mountain bikes for your feet," and Shape magazine picks the Adidas adiStar Revolt as the top trail-running shoe for rugged terrain, praising its performance and stability. It is available in men's and women's sizes.

Adidas uses Torsion System technology in this trail-running shoe, which claims to enhance stability by supporting the arch and allowing the heel and forefoot to move naturally. Traxion lugs, originally designed for football cleats, also enhance stability by securely gripping the ground. The South African edition of Men's Health, which picks the Adidas adiStar Revolt as one of its favorite trail-running shoes of the year, praises the shoe for offering "amazing stability." Men's Health does find that the Adidas adiStar Revolt is not as wide as other trail running shoes, deeming it a good fit for narrow-footed runners. Running Times agrees, recommending the adiStar Revolt as a good choice for those with narrow feet.

Runners with wider feet may appreciate the North Face Arnuva 50 Boa (*Est. $85), which runs large and wide, according to several reviewers. The North Face Arnuva 50 Boa isn't a new shoe --- it was introduced in 2006 -- but it is manufactured by North Face and still earning good reviews. The British edition of Men's Fitness singles out The North Face Arnuva 50 Boa as one its favorite trail-running shoes. They like the antimicrobial lining, which helps prevent sweaty shoes from developing a nasty odor, and praise the unique laces. The Boa lacing system uses a small dial to adjust the stainless-steel laces, which cinches the upper around the foot and provides a snug fit. A quick-release button allows for easy shoe removal. Reviewers like not having to worry about the laces loosening during a run, but while The North Face claims the laces are replaceable, they won't be as easy to replace as regular shoe laces.

Consumers also give The North Face Arnuva 50 Boa excellent reviews. Buzzillions.com compiles reviews from nearly 60 owners -- mainly from sites like OnlineShoes.com and Zappos.com -- who give this trail-running shoe an average of 4.6 stars. Overall, owners love the Boa lacing system, and find the shoes are comfortable and breathe well. However, since The North Face Arnuva 50 Boa isn't waterproof, some owners find that these shoes don't perform well in cold or wet weather and two reviewers mention that they could feel sharp rocks underfoot. Runner's World praises the "outstanding breathability" of this trail running shoe, recommending it for runners who train in hot weather. It's available in men's and women's versions.

The Vasque Momenta (*Est. $105) is another well-reviewed shoe designed exclusively for the trail. It receives an Editor's Choice award for speed from Women's Adventure and Shape magazine picks it as one of the top 13 shoes of the year. Testers find the shoe is lightweight (only 10.1 ounces) and fast, while still offering enough stability to take on the toughest trails. Runner's World believes this trail-running shoe is rugged and flexible, but cautions against using it for road running. Running Times agrees that the Momenta should stick to the trail, since testers find it didn't transition well to the road.

The Vasque Momenta is designed for women only, so it has a narrower heel and more flexibility than the men's version, the Vasque Celerator (*Est. $105). The Vasque Celerator is not as well reviewed as the Momenta, but Running Times provides some feedback on this men's trail running shoe. Testers like the well-ventilated uppers, but think the shoe could be a bit lighter. Like the Vasque Momenta, the Celerator is not designed for road running.

For those looking for a lightweight trail running shoe, the Inov-8 x-talon 212 (*Est. $100) may be a good choice. Winner of the Men's Journal Gear of the Year Award for trail running shoes, the Inov-8 x-talon 212 offers good stability and protection on the trail, even while weighing in at a mere 7.5 ounces. This trail runner also tops the list at Men's Fitness, earning praise for a lightweight ride and good traction from a sticky outsole.

The Inov-8 x-talon 212, which comes in unisex sizes, has minimal cushioning, so it is a better choice for cross-country and trail races than long trail runs. Reviewers say the mesh upper is highly breathable, but your feet will get wet if you splash through a puddle.