Fall’s best shoes for the trails

From the September/October issue of Canadian Running (on newsstands now), here’s a selection of the best new models and updates for trail running this fall.

NNORMAL Tomir 2.0

Category Trail
Unisex 288 g (10.2 oz.)
Offset/Drop 8 mm
Stack Height 33 mm/25 mm
Lug Depth 5 mm
$230

The Tomir, NNormal’s long-run or ultra shoe, has received a significant update, with improvements to the midsole cushioning material, rocker shape and platform width, as well as the outsole traction. The changes are designed to promote greater comfort, performance and durability—a tall order, and it succeeds in most (but not all) areas.

The midsole now has the same light, cushy, supercritical foam that’s in the Kjerag performance racer, and there is an additional 2 mm, while the shoe is almost exactly the same weight as before. The upper is mostly unchanged, with some enhancements to the tongue, laces and toe bumper. The footbed is soft and comfortable to step into, and the plush cushioning still lets you feel the ground well. The outsole’s Traction Lug tech provides a sticky grip on hard or soft terrain, and the beefed-up stitching around the perimeter of the shoe will undoubtedly extend its life.

Our tester noticed some discomfort from the upper at the base of the toes, but liked the springy cushioning under the heel. The shoe will appeal most to runners with narrower feet.

ARC’TERYX Sylan

Category Trail
Unisex 292 g (10.0 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 28.6 mm/22.6 mm
Lug Depth 6 mm
$240

The Sylan is the first serious, technical trail shoe from Arc’teryx that doesn’t look like it’s intended for climbers running between crags. It has a seriously protective upper and a practically indestructible midsole and outsole designed for mountain-running performance.

The shoe is very protective, yet still reasonably light, with a somewhat stiff EVA-and-polyolefin midsole that offers good ground feel, though admittedly the high stack takes a bit of getting used to. There’s a significant amount of rubber encircling the shoe, as well as in the Vibram Megagrip outsole. The abrasion-resistant upper has a very comfortable knit collar that keeps debris out and that’s fully integrated into the tongue and heel tab. The outsole lugs provide unbeatable traction for steep, technical ascents and descents.

Our only complaint is that the shoe fits very long; our tester went down half a size, and it was still too big.

A Gore-Tex version is also available.

UNDER ARMOUR Infinite Pro Trail

Category Trail
Unisex 323 g (11.4 oz.)
Offset/Drop 8 mm
Stack Height 25 mm/17 mm
Lug Depth 4.5 mm
$175

This new entry-level trail shoe from Under Armour is similar to the Infinite Pro (reviewed in the March & April 2024 issue), but with some notable differences. As in the road shoe, the midsole is mainly HOVR (EVA) with a layer of HOVR+ (beaded TPU) that’s a little deeper under the ball of the foot. The upper is a breathable engineered mesh, with a thickly padded tongue and heel collar, a fairly rigid heel and a ghillie-style lacing system to help you crank the lockdown.

This is a pretty heavy shoe and will appeal most to heavier runners who are just getting into trail running and those folks will also appreciate the very reasonable price.

THE NORTH FACE Summit Offtrail TR

Category Trail
Unisex 355 g (12.5 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 18 mm/12 mm
Lug Depth 7 mm
$270

The new Summit Offtrail TR from The North Face is a highly protective shoe intended for long ultras or FKTs (fastest known times) on muddy terrain. It has an upper made of the brand’s very strong proprietary Matryx material, reinforced with Kevlar (this upper material is also used in the brand’s Vectiv series). The Boa fastener lets you dial in a customized fit (literally), and it’s easily adjustable on the fly. The stretchy, protective integrated gaiter hugs the ankle, keeping debris out. There is a rock plate under the forefoot and a sturdy toe cap. The midsole is low-profile high-rebound EVA, but this is not a cushy shoe; it’s an agressively lugged slogger for difficult runs in sloppy weather, and in this, it’s quite successful.

HOKA Speedgoat 6

Category Trail
Men’s 278 g (9.8 oz.)
Women’s 232 g (8.2 oz.)
Offset/Drop 5 mm
Stack Height 40 mm/35 mm (men’s), 38 mm/33 mm (women’s)
Lug Depth 5 mm
$190

The latest Speedgoat (Hoka’s super popular trail workhorse) has a number of updates, mostly in the upper and midsole. The new, more durable woven material used in the upper might last longer before your toes poke through, but it seems to have made the shoe fit smaller and narrower, and it’s a good deal less breathable—a noticeable drawback in warm weather (but possibly useful during stream crossings, or on snowy trails). The more thickly padded, gussetted tongue is a welcome improvement.

The stack height has been jacked up by 7 mm, and the midsole cushioning is both very responsive and longer-lasting than before, yet the shoe is no heavier—and the price is holding steady, too. An updated lug arrangement on the Vibram Megagrip outsole is designed for better traction for descending on loose terrain. The shoe performs well on all types of terrain and doesn’t feel ungainly on the flats, despite the massive stack. Overall, a decent update.

ALTRA Olympus 6

Category Trail
Men’s 345 g (12.2 oz.)
Women’s 289 g (10.2 oz.)
Offset/Drop 0 mm
Stack Height 33 mm/33 mm
$210

Altra’s max-cushioned Olympus trail cruiser has received an update. This shoe is designed for long, not overly technical trails and for long runs where you want to go at an easy pace and be comfortable for hours. After the Lone Peak, it’s the brand’s most popular model for trails.

This update still has the compression-moulded EVA midsole. It’s slightly more flexible than the 5, which makes it a little more nimble on the trails, with excellent ground feel. The brand has also simplified the cosmetic appearance of the upper and midsole.

It’s been given a new, more durable upper, and the fit of the heel has been re-engineered, with a new piece that folds into the upper for a fit that can accommodate a wider variety of foot shapes and minimizes rubbing.

The Vibram Megagrip outsole has an updated lug pattern, with the “fingers” toward the front being connected, so they don’t wear off as easily (some runners reported issues with this in the previous version).

For the full review, pick up the September/October 2024 issue of Canadian Running (on newsstands now).