We ask a lot of our trail running shoes. They have to be ready for all kinds of terrains, weathers and temperatures, while also giving us tip top support and stopping us from slipping up. They have to be amongst our best running shoes.

Of course, there is no one trail shoe that is perfect for all trail runners. So, we asked our expert testers which ones they’d recommend for all different types of trail running. Here’s what they said:

• • Best for everyday trail miles: HOKA Speedgoat 7
  • Best for comfort: KEEN Seek
  • Best value: adidas Terrex Agravic SL
  • Best for longer trail distances: New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9
  • Best for trail PBs: ASICS Metafuji Trail 2
  • Best for wide feet: ASICS Trabuco 14
  • Best for ground feel: INOV8 Trailfly v2

Keep reading for our guide to choosing the right trail running shoes, or scroll down for our in-depth reviews of each shoe.

How to choose the right trail running shoes

Trail running shoes usually come with a lot of technical info that can be tricky to understand make your shoe choice even harder. Here’s our guide of what to look for in a trail running shoe, and what all those terms mean.

Terrain

First of all, where will you be running and what will the ground be like? Trail running shoes are usually designed with a certain type of terrain in mind, whether that’s everyday woodland trails or technical rocky or steep runs. Work out where you’ll be doing most of your running, then read on.

Fit

Trail running shoes offer all the same options as road running shoes (width, heel-to-toe drop, etc). When in doubt, pick a trail shoe with similar specs to a road running shoe that you know fits you well. Your foot tends to move around more in trail running shoes due to the uneven terrain, so make sure that you don’t have too much extra room – you want to feel secure.

Laces

Trail running shoes often offer more in terms of laces. There are standard, tie-up laces, and these usually offer extra traction than their road running counterparts to keep your shoes on securely. Some brands, like Salomon, offer pull-tight laces, with a little section to tuck the spare length away. These can be really helpful in wet or muddy conditions, and can help you get the shoes on and off more easily – very helpful if they’re caked in mud!

Lugs

These are the thick spikes on the outsole of the shoe. They give you grip in muddy or wet conditions. When it comes to trail shoes, size maters!

Shorter lugs (2mm-4mm) will be best for the everyday trail runner. They offer a decent amount of grip, but are short enough that the shoe is still quite flexible and comfortable. They’re also usually better at handling on-road running, which is hard to avoid at the beginning and end of trail running routes.

Longer lugs (5mm+) are better suited to runners who will be tackling very muddy, steep or technical trails. The extra length offers much more grip, but can cause the shoe to become quite rigid, which can be uncomfortable on easier sections or on longer runs.

Carbon plates

Carbon plates started life in the race and road shoes category, but they’re now popping up in trail running shoes from bigger brands like HOKA and North Face. Just like in their road shoe counterparts, they offer extra propulsion. This sounds great, for sure, but it offers an extra challenge when trail running. If you’ve been trail running for a while, and you’re quite nimble on your feet, you’ll appreciate this extra bounce. If you’re a more beginner or cautious trail runner, the plates may give you a little bit too much of a pep in your step to place your foot correctly.

To waterproof or not waterproof?

This is an age-old question in trail running. The bottom line is, even the most waterproof of trainers aren’t going to protect you completely from the elements. Every pair has a big hole – where your foot goes in! That being said, waterproofing technology is improving all the time, and some of today’s trail running shoes offer really good protection.

Some trail runners swear by waterproof shoes, saying they prevent blisters from soggy socks and keep you light on your feet. Others reckon that waterproof shoes are less breathable and don’t drain water as well if it does get in. Ultimately, it comes down to personal choice.

Want to know more? Check out our guide on buying the right running shoes that has all the info you need to know.

The best trail running shoes for women

Best for everyday trail running: HOKA Speedgoat 7

HOKA Speedgoat 7 technical details

• Weight: 275g
• RRP: £145
• Drop: 6mm
• Lugs: 5mm
• Foam: Supercritical EVA
• Special tech: Vibram Megagrip

Pros:

• Great for lots of different terrains and speeds
• Lovely fit around heel and ankle
• Comfortable, natural fit
• Good in rain and mud without being clunky

Cons:

• Not the most cushioned – some runners may prefer more foam

What our testers said

“I’m obsessed with running in these shoes. In my experience, trail shoes often require some compromise and you have to decide what’s more important for the type of run you’re doing. Not with these Speedgoats.They’re great for mud and rain (handy, as it’s rained every day I’ve been testing them) due to incredible Vibram traction lugs.

That being said, they’re not as heavy and bulky as some of my other high-traction shoes.I’ve been able to take them on speedier runs thanks to a decent amount of bounce from that new ‘supercritical’ EVA foam, without compromising on comfort or stability. And whereas other road-to-trail shoes I’ve tried are lacking in some responsiveness, these have handled all terrains with ease.”

Want to know more? Read Kate’s full HOKA Speedgoat 7 review.

Best for comfort: KEEN Seek

KEEN Seek technical details

• RRP: £160
• Weight: 244g
• Drop: 6mm
• Stack: 39mm/33mm
• Lugs: 4mm
• Foam: QuantumFoamX

Pros:

• Wide toebox added comfort and stability
• All-day comfort
• Great on lots of terrains

Cons:

• Not the most weatherproof

What our testers said

“Even after just one run in these shoes, I couldn’t wait to put them on and head out again. KEEN promised me that these shoes would help me achieve HKTs – that’s Happiest Known Times – and they truly have. I’m not sure if it’s the wide toebox, the carefully constructed comfort or a combination of all the little thoughtful design details but I felt like I could run forever in these shoes.

They’ve expertly handled every terrain that I’ve thrown at them, from forest floor to wet grass slick with mud. They’re also surprisingly speedy. They’re not designed with super fast times in mind, but they’re lovely and lightweight with a decent amount of energy return from the foam.”

Want to know more? Read Kate’s full KEEN Seek review.

Best value: adidas Terrex Agravic SL

Adidas Terrex Agravic SL technical details

• RRP: £140
• Size: 3.5-9.5
• Weight: 241g
• Drop: 6mm
• Stack: 38mm/32mm
• Foam: Lightstrike Pro

Pros

• Comfortable for running and walking
• Good grip on a variety of trails
• Easy to run in and a good option for newer trail runners

Cons

• Not as fast or exciting as the Agravic Speed Ultra models
• 3.5-4mm lugs won’t be enough for really deep mud
• Quite a high stack if you prefer more ground feel on trails

What our testers said

“The Agravic SL is simply a really easy trail shoe to run in. There’s enough response from the LightstrikePro foam to stop it feeling flat, but it doesn’t have the more aggressive feel of the Agravic Speed Ultra shoes that inspired it. (Although it doesn’t have the £200 pricetag of that shoe either.)

For an everyday trail shoe, I think that works in its favour. I’ve worn it for regular trail runs as well as walking in the Welsh hills and it has felt comfortable and predictable across both.

Underneath, the Continental rubber outsole uses a combination of 3.5mm and 4mm lugs. I’ve found the grip reassuring on the terrain I’ve tested it on, and the wider platform adds to the feeling of stability. I’d still choose something with deeper lugs for properly muddy winter trails, but for the sort of mixed trails many of us run most of the year, there’s plenty of grip.”

If you want to know more, you can read Laura’s full adidas Terrex Agravic SL review.

Best for a trail marathon: New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9

New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 technical details

• RRP: £140
• Weight: 227g
• Drop: 4mm
• Stack height: 42/38mm
• Foam: Fresh Foam X
• Special features: Vibram Megagrip

Pros:

• Great for a range of tough terrains
• Super comfy

Cons:

• A little narrow in the toe box

What our testers said

“These shoes were way more comfortable than I thought they’d be, mostly due to that huge wedge of Fresh Foam. They feel supremely cushioned from the first step although, because of the depth of the foam, they’re also on the stiffer side. I personally love this in a trail shoe, as it makes me feel more protected overall – but worth bearing in mind if you prefer shoes that enable you to feel more at one with the surface you’re running on.

I also loved the outsole, as I found it very grippy and kept me upright. I took these on a couple of fairly dry 5Ks, and then immediately on to a big ol’ trail 20-miler, and they were fantastic. Where they had felt narrow on first try, I found that they moulded beautifully to my feet.

They were consistently comfortable underfoot, and I’m going to trust them for a trail marathon later on this month as well. New favourite trail shoes unlocked. If you’re after shoes you can take on technical runs that have a mass of foam underfoot, then they’re worth every penny.”

Want more info? Check out Esther’s full New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 review.

Best for trail PBs: ASICS Metafuji Trail 2

ASICS Metafuji Trail 2 technical details

• RRP: £220
• Weight: 255g
• Drop: 5mm
• Stack: 41.5mm / 36.6mm
• Foam: FF LEAP & FF BLAST PLUS
• Special technology: X-shaped full-length carbon plate
• Sizes: 2.5 to 12

Pros:

• Comfortable shoe
• Great grip
• Lovely boost from the carbon plate

Cons:

• Expensive
• Lugs may not be enough for very muddy runs

What our testers said

“The grip on these been particularly impressive. I’ve been running on very dry and dusty trails durig the drought in the UK, as well as short sections of path, and the ASICSGRIP outsole has held really well. I’ve also worn these while running with my dog, who can pull pretty hard when he’s on the lead. That’s given the grip an extra test and I’ve felt reassuringly planted when he’s suddenly pulled me in another direction because he wants to sniff a bush.

The new X-shaped carbon plate is designed to help with propulsion on climbs while still allowing control on descents. There’s plenty of bounce from the foam too, which makes it a comfortable, lively trail shoe that feels good when you pick up the pace.

The improved stability is probably the biggest difference for me. The previous shoe could feel a little precarious when the trail became more technical, whereas I feel more confident in this version when the ground isn’t completely even.”

Want to know more? Read Laura’s full ASICS Metafuji Trail 2 review. 

Best for wide feet: ASICS Trabuco 14

ASICS Trabuco 14 technical details

• RRP:£140
• Weight: 249g
• Drop: 8mm
• Lugs: 4mm
• Stack height: 35/27mm
• Foam: FFBlast Max Tech ASICSGRIP
• Outsole: rubber

Pros:

• Great improvements to the width and fit
• Lovely foam upgrade makes for a bouncy midsole
• Light and airy – ideal for summer

Cons:

• Fit doesn’t hug foot as much as some runners may want

What our testers said

“Firstly, the bells and whistles: the padded heel and plush tongue are good and I appreciated the long laces and little diagonal tuck strap. Now, the nuts and bolts. ASICS has added more bounce and comfort to this shoe while keeping the feel responsive by changing the foam type to FFBlast Max.

The result is a triumphant midsole which is bouncy rather than saggy. Coupled with the light weight of the shoe, it’s really springy to run in.

I tested these during the still-muddy time of year and found the traction to be great. I also like the way the sole feels on the ground, when running over knobbly stones. It kind of bends this way and that, instead of trying to overpower the terrain. The upper is light and airy so I’ll also be reaching for these during the summer months.”

Want to know more? Read Rachel’s full ASICS Trabuco 14 review.

Best for ground feel: INOV8 Trailfly v2

INOV8 Trailfly v2 technical details

• RRP: £130
• Sizes: 3-8.5, wide fit available
• Stack: 18mm / 12mm
• Drop: 6mm
• Foam: POWERFLOW PRO
• Lugs: 4mm
• Special tech: G-GRIP graphene-infused rubber for slip resistance and durability

Pros:

• Great price
• Versatile
• Great underfoot feel and movement

Cons:

• Not all runners will like the ‘natural fit’

What our testers said

“I’ve found them to be excellent for this summer’s trail running. Through the dry months, the ground has been hard packed and potentially skiddy. These have seen me right on many gravel and hard mud trails. INOV8 shoes allow for natural foot movement that builds strength in your foot over time. I can’t categorically say that my feet have got stronger yet, but I’m getting more passionate about things like that as I age, so am happy to go with it.

In terms of stack height, it’s mid-range. Again, that’s perfect for me. They offer more comfort than the Trailfly Speed over longer distances, but still a pleasing amount of ground feel and agility. Talking of agility, that’s where I feel the most difference from v1. INOV8 has removed the rock plate which has made the shoe much more flexible – which I love! I’m sorry (not sorry) that I’ve only tested these on dry ground over the long hot summer months. But I’m confident the 4mm lugs will do the job when the rains finally come.”

Want to know more? Read Rachel’s full INOV8 Trailfly v2 review