We’ve been running in the Saucony Peregrines for many years now, and we love them for their exceptional comfort and aggressive traction. Whether it’s a rocky mountain route, a muddy forest trail, or a groomed trail in our favorite local park, the Peregrines bite into the terrain and provide stability and confidence. The newest iteration of the Peregrines features a durable top layer over the bootie. This gives you the same sock-like comfort as previous models, but the upper is more rugged overall. The Peregrine 13s are our top pick for demanding trail runs where reliable traction is key.

HOKAs are known for their exceptional comfort and support, and the Speedgoat 5 is the best trail shoe in the lineup. The most standout feature of these shoes is the ultra-cushy midsole that absorbs impact well and keeps your feet comfortable all day. This above average cushioning makes the Speedgoats great for pretty much any type of terrain, but they’re especially effective at reducing stress on your joints on hard-packed surfaces. With an excellent balance of weight, durability, and comfort, the Speedgoats are an ideal running shoe that will work for many different foot shapes.

The Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 trail runners are some of our favorites for long days on the trail, because they’re lightweight, breathable, and flexible. The shape of the Ultraventures is similar to the Altra Lone Peaks, with a secure heel cup and midfoot opening up to a wider toe box. Both shoes work well for many different foot shapes, but we give the slight edge to the Ultraventures because they’re more cushioned and flexible. Overall, we think the Ultraventures are great for runners who need a lightweight shoe with a little extra wiggle room in the toe box and a build that will keep you stable over all sorts of terrain.

Altra Lone Peaks have long been the flagship shoe of long-distance hikers and trail runners due to their low weight, grippy outsole, and roomy fit. The 7th iteration of the LPs got another big makeover – a narrower midfoot helps keep the shoe more secure, a seamless upper increases longevity, and modern colorways make these shoes stand out against the crowd. Despite the new upper design, these shoes are infamously not the most durable footwear around, so you’ll have to decide if minimal weight and a natural shape beat out long-term durability on your list of needs. Personally, we’re loving the newest iteration of the Lone Peaks, and recommend them for anyone looking for a comfortable lightweight running shoe with a natural feel.

The ultralight Altra Superior 6s are some of the most comfortable running shoes we’ve ever worn thanks to the sock-like knit upper and the roomy toe box. The included removable rock plates (they add about 2 oz.) offer the option of extra protection underfoot, or they can be used to make the soles feel a bit more firm. The horizontal lugs on the sole are perfect for biting into trails with a lot of incline, but they tend to slip a bit on wet rock and concrete. For this reason, we mostly use these shoes for runs on well worn trails without too many obstacles. Overall, the Superiors are great for those who want a super comfy lightweight shoe with a minimalist look and feel.

The inov-8 TrailFly G 270 V2 trail running shoes are built tough for ultramarathoners and long-distance runners who will really put them through their paces. The unique G-grip lugs, which are a mix of ultra-tough graphene material and rubber, are soft enough to grip tightly on rock, yet hard enough that they won’t wear down as quickly as other ultra-grippy traction compounds. While the uppers are a bit stiffer than many other trail runners on our list, the secure fit they provide and the zero-drop design make the TrailFly very stable for running over uneven terrain. Overall, the TrailFlies strike a near-perfect balance of weight, durability, and comfort, and we highly recommend them for seasoned runners who need a reliable shoe for covering long distances.

If you’re looking for one shoe that can do it all, the Salomon Sense Ride 5 may be just what you need. There’s a good amount of cushioning for road running when you need the extra shock absorption, and the flexibility and traction makes the Sense Rides exceptionally responsive over variable terrain when running on trails. While they’re great for so many occasions, we prefer the Sense Rides for longer mountain runs since the cushioning and stout uppers provide a good balance of support and durability for rough trails.

The La Sportiva Bushido II is a burly shoe with awesome traction for tackling technical mountain trails. One of the Bushido’s greatest assets is its durability – the mesh zones are reinforced with a ripstop overlay, and they feature a stout rubber toe cap to protect against rocks. The soles and the lugs on the Bushidos are a bit stiff, so they’re not ideal for runners who prefer a cushioned ride. But this design means that the soles won’t wear down as quickly as those made with a mix of hard and soft rubber on the outsole. Overall, we find the low stack height and solid traction to be particularly confidence inspiring in the mountains.

The Brooks Cascadias have been a go-to for runners for many years due to their cushy feel and solid all-around performance. We like the Cascadias for runs when having a ton of support is key, but we find the tight weave on the upper to be a little more stuffy than some others for warm conditions. That said, the Cascadias are excellent all-arounders and they function very well in most categories. The Cascadias are a tried-and-true design for runners who prefer a simple and reliable running shoe.

If you’re the type that frequently tackles tricky terrain with lots of mud or sand, the Salomon Speedcross 6 may be your new best friend. This shoe has deep lugs that provide awesome traction in mud, sand, snow, and other soft surfaces. Versatility is where the Speedcross falls a little short for us – the tall stack height and aggressive build can be overkill for groomed trails and uneven mountain terrain. That said, you can’t go wrong with the Speedcross if you’re looking for a specialist shoe for soft terrain.

The ultra-minimalist Merrell Trail Glove 7 is a barefoot-style running shoe with a fit that hugs the profile of your foot. What makes these shoes unique is their minimal, yet supportive design. They have some of the most aggressive arch support of any trail runners we used, which is rare in an ultralight shoe. This level of support will not appeal to everyone, but it’s a welcome innovation for those who’ve wanted to try the barefoot running style but prefer some extra molding in the footbed. We recommend the minimalist Trail Gloves for runners who like to feel really connected to the terrain as they run.