Trail shoe review: the latest footwear for your off-road adventures

Adapted from our Trail Special Issue, here are 2023’s best new models and updates for trail running.

Puma Fast-Trac Nitro

Editor’s Pick: Best Value

Men’s: 255 g (9.0 oz.)
Women’s: 208 g (7.3 oz.)
Drop: 8 mm
Stack Height: 29 mm
Lug Depth: 4 mm
$160

Puma’s new all-terrain shoe is light, cushioned and grippy and will get you through any trail run or race with ease. It has a light, breathable upper with some protective overlays at the toe and on the sides, with an eye-catching contrasting thread used in the upper. There’s a stretchy heel loop at the back and the cushioning inside the collar extends deep into the Achilles area; the integrated eyestays ensure a secure lockdown, and the broad, flat laces won’t give you any trouble on the trails.

The Fast-Trac’s midsole incorporates two different types of cushioning: a layer of Nitro foam (supercritical TPE, well known for its energy return) embedded in a slice of ProFoamLite (EVA). The Pumagrip ATR outsole has closely-spaced lugs for great traction on a variety of terrain. This is a solidly reliable, very comfortable and well-priced daily trainer for the trails.

Merrell MTL Skyfire 2

Men’s: 195 g (7 oz.)
Drop: 6 mm
Stack Height: 25 mm
Lug Depth: 5 mm
$280

Built in the Merrell Test Lab (MTL), this is super lightweight, high-performance shoe for the serious mountain and trail runner. It has a FlexPlate that’s made of a fiberglass-reinforced polyamide and that’s designed to provide stability, protection and propulsion, sandwiched between two layers of the brand’s lightweight and responsive FloatPro foam. The Vibram Megarip outsole has widely spaced, but deep, lugs for maximum traction on mountain ascents in any conditions.

The fit is snugly comfortable, if slightly long, and the shoe is as light as gossamer, with an engineered mesh and TPU upper that’s practically translucent. It also has a very thin tongue and some padding inside the collar.
Buy Now

The North Face Vectiv Enduris 3

Men’s: 307 g (10.8 oz.)
Women’s: 257 g (9.0 oz.)
Drop: 6 mm
Stack Height: 31 mm
Lug Depth: 3.5 mm
$190

The Enduris is the most accessible and affordable shoe in the Vectiv line and has everything you want in a daily trainer for the trails: it’s reasonably light, well cushioned, durable and stable, with a protective 3D-printed upper, a plastic plate and a rockered sole. This is a shoe that’ll take you comfortably from gravel roads onto more technical terrain, in a variety of weather conditions. The 3.5-mm lugs are enough to lend reliable traction on wet or dry days (and are not too deep to be comfortable on short stretches of pavement).

Although women with narrow feet may find the shoe a little wide, most runners will find it comfortably snug, and the gussetted tongue contributes to a good lockdown. The rear split lends further stability to what is already a pretty stable ride on the trails.

This shoe is the go-to trainer of this issue’s cover model, TNF athlete Jazmine Lowther.

 

Brooks Divide 3

Men’s: 286 g (10.1 oz.)
Women’s: 255 g (9.0 oz.)
Drop: 8 mm
Stack Height: 20 mm
Lug Depth: 3 mm
$140

The Divide 3 is a very reasonably-priced shoe and a solid choice for those just getting into trail running. It fits true-to-size, and is comfortable to wear right out of the box, thanks to the brand’s cushy DNA Loft foam and forgiving design, with a well-padded heel collar and broad, stable outsole. This is a light shoe that offers a smooth ride, good stability and decent energy return. The relatively shallow lugs provide decent traction on all but very technical trails, and won’t feel uncomfortable if you have to cover some distance on the road on your way to the trails.

The shoe is very light and flexible, with a soft, yet protective upper, which means it won’t keep water out, but you won’t overheat in it, either. Side slits allow for quick drainage.

While there isn’t enough cushioning in the front of the shoe for long outings, this is the perfect shoe for beginner trail runners, hikers and walkers.

Mizuno Wave Mujin 9

Men’s: 340 g (12 oz.)
Women’s: 283 g (10 oz.)
Drop: 10 mm
Stack Height: 38 mm
Lug Depth: 5 mm
$195

Everything about this shoe says quality. The combination of Enerzy and U4icX midsole cushioning provide a balanced mix of comfort, energy return and durability, and the brand’s attention to detail in creating this shoe will please the most demanding trail runner. It has protective TPU support panels on the upper and an aggressively lugged Michelin Light Rubber outsole that’s designed to both shred and shed mud (reminiscent of a mountain bike tire, which Michelin also makes).

The thickly padded tongue has a pull tab (there is one on the heel also) and a pocket for stowing the laces; there is also some generous padding in the collar and a fairly rigid heel counter, to keep you locked in and stable on shifting ground.

The rock plate from earlier models has been removed; it may be that with all that cushioning, it is now redundant. If you’re training or racing in extreme terrain and weather, this shoe will serve you well.

Altra Lone Peak 7

Editor’s Pick: Best Update
Men’s: 314 g (11.0 oz.)
Women’s: 261 g (9.2 oz.)
Drop: 0 mm
Stack Height: 25 mm
Lug Depth: 4 mm
$190

The new Lone Peak’s upper is pared down over previous versions (though it’s actually a tad heavier than before). The drainage holes are gone, but excess water should still escape through the sides of the breathable upper. The gussetted tongue is a plus, especially in a trail shoe, and Altra’s Original Foot-Shaped Toebox (the widest of three toebox styles), which means lots of room for splay on downhills, plus it’s also available in Wide.

There is still just enough of Altra’s soft EGO (TPU) midsole cushioning to provide some spring on the trails, but little enough for those who like to feel the ground; the shoe is still super flexible.

The rock plate is still here, and there are fairly substantial overlays for protection around the toes and sides of the upper. There’s a new heel clip at the base of the heel; runners who worry about ankle stability may find the collar a bit low (though the brand makes a mid-height version also). The very grippy outsole has been updated with added claw-like lugs on the outside/lateral heel and the inside/medial toe. For those who like a zero-drop shoe and have no Achilles tendon issues, the Lone Peak 7 will make an excellent addition to your quiver this season.
Buy Now – Men’s
Buy Now – Women’s

Merrell Trail Glove 7

Men’s: 205 g (7.2 oz.)
Drop: 0 mm
Stack Height: 14 mm
Lug Depth: 2.5 mm
$155

This is a minimalist shoe for those who like the barefoot style, with a thin FloatPro foam midsole and a thickly padded upper that does not come up very high at the heel (by design). A single lace that’s been manipulated into loops and stitched in place to hold the laces, though a little odd, does successfully spread the load across the width of the foot, though we found it hard to tighten the laces adequately over the thickly padded tongue. The Vibram EcoStep outsole is not lugged in the traditional way of a trail shoe, but “patterned,” with a rubber toe guard and side wrapping for those who run mainly on hard-packed dirt or fine gravel trails. Lots of recycled materials in this shoe, which is also vegan-friendly.
Buy Now – Men’s
Buy Now – Women’s

Asics Trabuco Max 2

Men’s: 306 g (10.8 oz.)
Women’s: 270 g (9.5 oz.)
Drop: 5 mm
Stack Height: 43 mm (men’s), 42 mm (women’s)
Lug Depth: 4 mm
$210

The updated Trabuco Max, which will work just as well for the casual trail runner as for the committed ultrarunner, offers the most cushioning of any shoe in our lineup, bringing all the best elements of Asics’s road shoes, in terms of comfort and cushioning, to the trails. It has a thick midsole made of single-layer FF Blast Plus (super-light EVA/Olefin)—this is an update from the FF Blast in the original version, and the same bouncy foam used in the Novablast 3 and the new Gel-Nimbus 25 road shoes, of which we are big fans. The shoe has a wide, stable platform with a fair bit of material removed between the lugs (to make it lighter), a relatively low drop and a rocker design to facilitate easy heel-to-toe transitions on variable terrain (fire roads, hard-packed singletrack). The AsicsGrip outsole rubber provides solid traction even in wet conditions.

Some details: there are gaiter attachments on the upper, but the very puffy tongue of the previous version has been slimmed down a little, and you can still tuck the laces under the tab at the front of the tongue. It has some good protection around the toe and a gaiter attachment ring, but no rock plate. (There is a rock plate in the regular Trabuco, which has a lower stack, a higher drop and a little more flexibility.)
Buy Now

Nike Pegasus Trail 4 GTX

Men’s: 289 g (10.2 oz.)
Women’s: 227 g (8.0 oz.)
Drop: 9.5 mm (men’s), 8.5 mm (women’s)
Stack Height: 36 mm
Lug Depth: 5 mm
$210

This is a fairly significant update to the Peg Trail, and looks very different to previous models.

The waterproof Gore-Tex upper is roomier and more comfortable than the 3’s, with a slightly wider toe box; the fabric ankle collar (which the brand refers to as a gaiter) is new, feels comfortable (there is thick padding inside the collar below the gaiter) and will certainly help keep out debris. The shoe has a traditional lacing system, broad, flat laces and a lightly padded, gussetted tongue, all of which contribute to a nice, secure lockdown.

The most significant improvement is the shoe’s outsole, which uses a tacky material called “mitten” rubber that gives it much better traction in wet conditions than in the past. The React (TPE) midsole is quite similar to previous versions and offers a nicely cushioned but still peppy ride. This shoe is excellent for dirt roads and non-technical (i.e., hard-packed) trails or road-to-trail, but you may need something more substantial for very rugged terrain.
Buy Now – Men’s
Buy Now – Women’s

Hoka Challenger ATR 7

Men’s: 252 g (8.9 oz.)
Women’s: 207 g (7.3 oz.)
Drop: 5 mm
Stack Height: 31 mm (men’s), 29 mm (women’s)
Lug Depth: 4 mm
$180

This new version of the Challenger (Hoka’s road-to-trail shoe) is quite different from the 6—it has 3 mm more cushioning, but is actually even lighter; the upper is slightly more breathable and incorporates more recycled content, with loads of padding in the collar and tongue; but besides the small toe cap, there is not much at all in the way of protective overlays. It has a deeper, flared heel pull, which protects the Achilles tendon (though it’s also a style thing, and it looks great). The midsole feels adequately stable and reasonably responsive on the trails.

We really like the heel counter, which keeps you locked and loaded. The outsole has also been redesigned to make it more comfortable for running on road sections between trails, with lugs limited to the forefoot and rearfoot, but it’s not a great shoe for muddy conditions. It is, however, excellent for non-technical trails and for run-commuting. It’s available in a wider width, for those who find some Hoka models too narrow.
Buy Now – Men’s
Buy Now – Women’s

Saucony Peregrine 13

Editor’s Pick: Best Daily Trainer
Men’s: 260 g (9.2 oz.)
Women’s: 230 g (8.1 oz.)
Drop: 4 mm
Stack Height: 28 mm
Lug Depth: 5 mm
$170

Advances in cushioning tech are resulting in various shoe updates getting lighter while their midsole stacks get higher, and the Saucony Peregrine is a good example. This shoe has long been a reliable and popular model for short or long efforts on technical trails. The midsole is PWRRUN (EVA), a light, durable material that’s been used in the Peregrine since the 10, and protective overlays on the redesigned knit upper (which also incorporates a similar windowscreen mesh seen in the brand’s new elite marathon racer). The relatively minimalist upper has a quite thin, gussetted tongue that doesn’t move around while you’re running; the prominent stability elements on the back of the heel from the 12 are no more.

The lug pattern on the PWRTRAC outsole is slightly different, but not radically so; it has a protective rock plate embedded in the midsole, a gaiter attachment and heel loop. A new orange-and-yellow colour is launching April 11.
Buy Now – Men’s
Buy Now – Women’s

Salomon Glide Max TR

Editor’s Pick: Best Road-to-Trail Shoe
Men’s: 283 g (10.0 oz.)
Women’s: 230 g (8.1 oz.)
Drop: 6 mm
Stack Height: 38 mm
Lug Depth: 3.5 mm
$210

This shoe is an adapted trail version of the Salomon Glide Max, introduced last year; it’s perfect for road runners venturing into the trails, who need and expect a shoe that delivers comfort and support over the long haul (and isn’t uncomfortable on the road leading to the trails).

The shoe has a thickly cushioned Energy Foam midsole and a rockered shape that makes for smooth, efficient comfort on trails. Unlike most of the brand’s racing shoes, it has a traditional lacing system in a thick but breathable mesh upper that has several protective and supportive overlays, both in the toe area and on the sides. There is no plate in this shoe—the emphasis is on comfortable mileage. The outsole is Salomon’s Contragrip rubber, with closely spaced lugs that work best on hard-packed trails, i.e., fairly non-technical terrain. There are grooves in the outsole that serve to both minimize weight and enhance durability.
Buy Now – Men’s
Buy Now – Women’s

The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro

Men’s: 287 g (10.1 oz.)
Women’s: 242 g (8.5 oz.)
Drop: 6 mm
Stack Height: 32 mm
Lug Depth: 3.5 mm
$300

This new racing shoe from TNF is the production model of the shoe Katie Schide wore when she won last year’s Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). It’s a high-performance racing shoe, with thick, lightweight, bouncy peba/EVA cushioning, a full-length, forked carbon-fibre plate for stability and propulsion on the trails and a rockered sole—like a high-performance road racing shoe, but designed for trails. It’s also quite different from the Flight Vectiv, introduced in 2021, which was the first trail shoe with a carbon-fibre plate. (The Summit Pro’s platform is wider, the stack is thicker and the TPU upper more breathable—too breathable for cooler conditions.) It also has textured, knobby laces that won’t come untied on the trail. The shoe also has carbon-fibre “wings” on either side of the forefoot that wrap the midsole for added stability.

Some other pluses: the gussetted tongue, the support around the back of the heel and the widely spaced lugs. Minuses: the extreme rocker makes it uncomfortable for walking, and we found the toebox skimpy (but that will vary from user to user).
Buy Now

Arc’teryx Vertex

Unisex: 310 g (11.0 oz.)
Drop: 8 mm
Stack Height: 25 mm
Lug Depth: 4 mm
$200

Developed with input from Canadian trail runner and mountaineer Eric Carter, this very cool-looking performance alpine running shoe is for running, racing and scrambling in the mountains. The bootie construction with socklike ankle gaiter keeps debris from getting into your shoe—a plus when you’re trying to make time on the trail, though the supportive part of the upper is very low around the ankle. The upper is single-layer polyester recycled mesh, with several protective features, including a compressed EVA anti-abrasion wrap in the forefoot and a toe cap. It has a traditional lacing system that extends quite far into the front of the shoe, and some support at the back of the heel.

The EVA/polyolefin blend midsole will appeal to runners who like a firm ride, and the shoe also has a protective TPU rock plate. The Vibram Megagrip outsole features decent-sized lugs for superior traction in all conditions, but try to avoid pavement, which makes the shoe feel like you’re running in soccer cleats. The fit is slightly long.

On Cloudultra

Men’s: 295 g
Women’s: 245 g
Drop: 8 mm
Stack Height: 29 mm
$220

This shoe’s perforated mesh upper, which has protective rubber around the toe and along the sides, fits snugly and true-to-size; there is no separate tongue, which makes the shoe a little harder to put on (it could do with a heel loop), but also means you get a secure, supportive lockdown that won’t give you any issues on the trail. The clever new Flip Release tool at the front of the laces is designed to give your toes more wiggle room when your feet swell during a long race, without having to stop and loosen the entire lacing system—this could be a boon for ultrarunners.

The Helion midsole has a double layer of “clouds,” but those who’ve worn On know they appeal most to folks who like a firm ride. The outsole provides excellent grip on a variety of terrain.
Buy Now – Men’s
Buy Now – Women’s

Nike ZoomX Zegama

Men’s: 318 g (11 oz.)
Women’s: 266 g (9.4 oz.)
Drop: 4 mm
Stack Height: 37 mm
Lug Height: 6.5 mm
$210

This new trail shoe from Nike is built for fast running on dry, relatively non-technical terrain; it has the brand’s light, responsive ZoomX foam in the midsole (the material used in the Vaporfly and Alphafly road racing shoes), though there’s no propulsion plate—so the feeling really isn’t comparable, though it more than delivers on comfort and responsiveness (and there’s no rock plate, either). The platform is wide and stable and the midsole is higher and cushier than in previous Nike trail shoes. It fits comfortably and true-to-size when you first put it on.

Protective “skins” around the front of the shoe help preserve the upper’s durability (as well as your feet). It has a similar fabric collar “gaiter” to the Pegasus Trail 4.

The shoe is great in dry conditions, but disappointing in rain or mud.
Buy Now – Men’s
Buy Now – Women’s

New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail v3

Editor’s Pick: Most Sustainable Shoe
Men’s: 320 g (11.2 oz.)
Women’s: 260 g (9.1 oz.)
Drop: 4 mm
Stack Height: 34 mm
Lug Depth: 6 mm
$190

NB is really pushing the environmental angle with this update to the Fresh Foam X More Trail, and rightly so, with a focus on using materials and modifying construction methods to reduce waste.

The midsole, which incorporates bio-recycled EVA, is the same as in the road version of the shoe (which is in its fourth iteration), with the plush Fresh Foam X midsole under the foot, blended with a layer of firmer foam between your foot and the road.

The wide, stable Vibram outsole is made of Eco-Step EVO, which incorporates about 30 per cent recycled content, and the shoe even re-purposes scrap materials in key areas, such as the protective overlays. The outsole lugs are large and deep, with tiny “prongs” on the rear of the lugs (which the brand refers to as “micro traction lugs”) for enhanced traction on loose surfaces, and a split at the rear for stability.

The breathable engineered mesh upper has a padded, gussetted tongue, protective overlays at the toe and on the sides, a padded collar with heel loop and an external heel counter. This is a great shoe for long trail runs, and it handles more technical terrain just fine.
Buy Now – Men’s
Buy Now – Women’s

This story originally appeared in the Trail Special 2023 of Canadian Running