We pick the top kicks for tackling off-road terrain.

(Image credit: RunRepeat)

Take your run off-road to a nearby fire road, rail trail, or singletrack to welcome the warmer weather. While there’s nothing wrong with pounding the pavement to mark the end of winter, escaping from traffic and smog can significantly enhance the mindfulness benefits of a daily run. Trail jogging not only helps you decompress, but the uneven terrain keeps your ankles and feet on their toes, strengthening them with each stride. Soft surfaces can also assist lower your chance of injury and enable you to run for longer periods of time without discomfort.

Naturally, you don’t want to start out poorly by wearing road shoes on a path that is muddy and rocky. Deeper treads known as lugs are a feature of purpose-built trail shoes that help you gain better traction on soft and uneven terrain. Better traction is also provided by softer outsole rubber, and overbuilt uppers shield your foot from shock and rolling ankles. To assist you in selecting the ideal trail running shoe for your upcoming off-road excursion, we’ve dispatched our army of wear testers.

The Best Trail Running Shoes

• Best Overall: Saucony Peregrine 14
• Best Value: Merrell Moab Flight
• Best Road-to-Trail Hybrid: Nike Pegasus Trail 4 GTX
• Best for Long Runs: Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3
• Best for Steep Climbs: Hoka Mafate Speed 4

(Image credit: irunfar)

1. Saucony Peregrine 14

Best Overall

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight	9.4 oz (M), 8.5 oz (W)
Drop	4 mm
Type	Trail

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

The most well-liked trail shoe from Saucony returns in 2024 with a new Pwrrun+ sockliner that cushions every step. The EVA-based Pwrrun midsole is back, providing a strong energy return so you don’t have to give up traction when going off-road. We discovered that the v14 improves on the Peregrine’s adaptability at extended ranges without compromising quickness or reactivity.

Along with more padding in the tongue and around the heel collar, the updated mesh upper design of the new style should help you achieve a snug fit at the ankle without feeling constricting. Although it weighs a few tenths of an ounce more, you won’t really notice the difference.

Though modest as these updates may seem, it is not a bad thing. We’ve long appreciated the Peregrine’s winning formula, which works equally well for protecting vert-chasers’ toes on rock-strewn singletrack as for novices’ first footsteps on muddy trails. Additionally, it has won numerous accolades from our crew over the years for its affordability and adaptability to a variety of surfaces, foot types, and distances.

The Peregrine 14 also comes in a “GTX” version with a waterproof Gore-Tex liner, which is perfect for keeping your feet dry when the skies open up on your trail journey if you want to run every day, rain or shine.

(Image credit: irunfar)

2. Merrell Moab Flight

Best Value

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight	9.9 oz (M), 8.1 oz (W)
Drop	10 mm
Type	Trail

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

The Merrell Moab has given rise to multiple iterations over the years, becoming the most well-liked and sold boot globally. A scaled-down version of the original Moab Flight, it offers trail runners a taste of the action in Moab. While maintaining part of the “fast hiker” feel, a taller drop and sturdy construction helps make the Flight more approachable for runners transitioning from high-offset road trainers like the Brooks Ghost or Asics Gel-Kayano.

Instead of using the original Moab’s dense EVA foam, Merrell’s innovative FloatPro midsole is used in the Flight. In order to provide additional protection underfoot, the material is thicker than a rock plate, making it feel lighter and softer. Although the ride is burlier as a result, the amount of cush per dollar is incredibly alluring. (On more difficult, technical trails, testers only sensed stones piercing through the softer midsole.)

(Image credit: RunRepeat)

3. Nike Pegasus Trail 4 GTX

Best Road-to-Trail Hybrid

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight	9.8 oz (M), 7.9 oz (W)
Drop	9.5 mm (M), 8.5 mm (W)
Type	Road and Trail

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

Even though the “GTX” designation denotes waterproofness up to the ankle, the material only extends to the top of the laces. Instead, the gaiter collar is made of elastic material, which is better for protecting against tiny particles and light drizzle. This structure does breathe easier, but it’s not ideal for deeper creek diving. None of the testers mentioned feeling their feet get damp and wet after going through potholes and small riverbeds and covering them with Gore-Tex.

It’s interesting to note that many runners choose the GTX model for purposes other than waterproofness. The rubber used in the shoe’s outsole is different from that of the non-GTX model. At last, Nike changed to a stickier rubber. One tester, who logged over 120 miles on the shoe, divided equally between road and trail surfaces, exclaimed, “The shoe performed wonderfully on all surfaces, especially the road.”

(Image credit: irunfar)

4. Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3

Best for Long Runs

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight	10.1 oz (M), 8.2 oz (W)
Drop	5 mm
Type	Trail

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

This isn’t a racing shoe meant for quick laps. One of our wear testers said of the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3, “This is the long-haul shoe.” One of our wear testers said that ultrarunners should use shoes like the Ultraventure because of their big toeboxes. Compared to the previous version, the gripping Vibram rubber outsole is lighter and more segmented. The shoe’s 3.5mm lugs are wider and shorter, making it suitable for both trails and highways.

Another tester commented, “The Vibram outsole is not like a cleat, but it’s sticky enough for rocky trails.” The elevated stack height—Topo added 5mm to the heel and forefoot—acts as a cushion on rough terrain even though the shoe lacks a rock plate. A new, lighter, and more responsive Zipfoam material makes up the thicker midsole than the previous version. (Topo’s Ultraventure Pro model uses the same springy material.) The platform was also enlarged for stability.

(Image credit: irunfar)

5. Hoka Mafate Speed 4

Best for Steep Climbs

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight	10.4 oz (M), 8.4 oz (W)
Drop	4 mm
Type	Trail

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

Although the Speedgoat is perhaps the most well-liked trail shoe made by Hoka, we believe the recently updated Mafate Speed 4 is currently a better option, particularly if your trails call for comfort and adaptability. We used the shoe to sprint up and down Whiteface Mountain, so we could see this for ourselves.

Our race day choice, the Mafate, took on the Olympic ski slope in Adirondack Park, New York, with a plethora of trail alternatives. When I had to sprint back down 4,000 vertical feet in just 3.4 miles, the cushioning protected my body, and it had more than enough bite on black diamond ski trails to enable me fight my way uphill.

In order to improve the Mafate Speed 4 over its predecessors, Hoka implemented several significant changes, one of which was the addition of a new two-layer foam configuration. When you run on hard-packed ground, the Profly+ midsole places a lightweight, bouncy foam closer to your foot, increasing comfort and giving the shoe a more lively sensation. The bottom layer shields your foot from large boulders by being sturdy and solid enough to crush over them.

The sneaker continues to shine even in muddy or steep terrain. There’s extra rubber beneath the foot and an updated outsole. With three different layers on each lug, you have an incredible quantity of sharp edges to grab onto the ground. In addition, the sole is lighter and thinner thanks to Litebase, which maintains traction without sacrificing durability.

Q+A With Our Experts

What makes a great trail shoe?

In general, you want to see thicker and softer outsole rubber than you see on a road shoe, though this will vary on the trails and the runner. If your paths have jagged pebbles and stones, the midsole should have a rock plate—a plastic plate implanted in the foam—even though it might be composed of a comparable substance.

Fit and protection are crucial for the upper since you don’t want to break a toe from unintentionally kicking a boulder or roll your ankle as the shoe revolves around your foot. Trail shoes have TPU overlays at the toe box and midfoot to stiffen the uppers and ward off such calamities.

Do I need my trail shoe to be waterproof?

To keep you dry on damp trails, some trail shoes feature lining made of Gore-Tex or a comparable waterproof material. At first appearance, that seems like a significant advantage, but in practice, things are a little more nuanced.

Wearing waterproof running shoes has advantages and disadvantages. The benefit of jogging through a downpour is that your feet will stay dry longer, helping you prevent blisters and wet feet.

However, even the most water-resistant trail shoes will ultimately become saturated during a deluge, and once they are wet, they don’t tend to drain as effectively. Additionally, moisture-tight waterproof membranes that block out moisture will also block out moisture, preventing perspiration vapour from escaping your shoes.

Your running socks are essential for managing moisture regardless of your method: Synthetic materials that are thin and dry more quickly retain less water, so your feet will feel lighter overall.

What is shoe “drop?”

Should you have previously perused Runner’s World shoe guidelines, you could have observed that we consistently emphasise the “drop” of each shoe we suggest. The difference in the quantity of material under your heel and forefoot is known as the heel-toe offset, or drop. A shoe with a 10mm drop, for instance, might contain 15mm of rubber and foam beneath the forefoot and 25mm of foam beneath the heel.

Although your feet might accommodate a range of drop values, shoes with lower drops demand greater ankle and foot flexibility. If you choose a zero-drop shoe for the trails but are used to a 10mm drop shoe for the road, be prepared for your lower legs to exert more effort until your feet adjust. When your ankles and feet are stronger and more flexible, it can pay off in the long run, but don’t rush the adjustment process.