[Closed] Subjective question - What trail running shoes?

I wear Asics cos I know they fit me well, 4 pairs of fujitrabucos in various states lying in the shoe rack. Salomon were too narrow for me.

For a run that's 75% tarmac, I'd have my road shoes on though tbh.

Altra superior 4 is my favourite tight now. I think they've updated it with the 4.5 though.

Different from most though. It has a wide toe box and reasonably minimal sole. I believe they class it as a transitional {towards barefoot) shoe.

I forgot to mention that I use the wide fitting version of the Speedcross shoes.

You might like the altra then

Decathlon evadict MT2 are good, went from brooks cascadia 14. Cheaper but an improvement. Seem to be good so far, about 400km in and no issues. Brooks were starting to wear by that point. Brooks were good as well, just not as good! 8mm drop and not heavy.

Seem to be pretty spacious in the toe box too. Regretted not getting the wide fitting of the cascadia.

I’ve worn Inov8 trail shoes for years. But you have to avoid their race fit if you’ve got wide feet from memory as they tend to have a narrow toe box. They do a graphene sole too which supposedly is very hard wearing but I’ve not justified the extra cost yet as I’m not running anywhere near as much as I used to.

I tried Altra but while I liked the wide you're box, found they felt too minimal. Then found Topo Athletic which have nearly as wide toe box but snugger heel (good) and are a slightly more cushioned so feel more supportive than the Altra did. MTN Racer are great for muddy off-road, MT-3 are more of a hybrid for trail running, but are quite low on cushioning.

however, what trail running shoes would you recommend?

Ran in most brands over the years and my favourites by a country mile are Hoka. Running in the speeedgoats at the moment and so far the best of the bunch. Only raced on fells occasionally when I was competitive and ran in various brands including Inov8 when they started in 2001. Never thought they were comfortable (although very grippy) and they wore out very quickly. IMO people over over spec their shoes when they go off road and I have ran decent races in shoes such as pegasus which have a decent outersole and enough for most terrains plus they are comfotable all race and handy for harpack and and road sections etc.

Was going to say to avoid Salomon. Had some speedcross gtx and they fell apart under 100 miles.

They still functioned but stitching was failing and the goretex lasted <20 miles.

Trail running shoe that couldn't handle trails.

ASICS for me now.

Decathlon evadict MT2 are good, went from brooks cascadia 14. Cheaper but an improvement. Seem to be good so far, about 400km in and no issues.

I'm using Evadicts, too, and I'm pretty happy with them. I'm up to about 650km in them, the sole is fine but they are starting to lose a bit of their cushioning. I'm planning on getting another pair and relegating these ones to shorter local routes.

A timely thread for me. My Adidas Kanadias are finally starting to come apart, but I've had them since 2012 and I'm pretty sure they don't make them any more. If anyone happens across this thread who has used & liked them in the past can point me at something similar I'd be delighted.

Another vote for the Hoka Speedgoats that are also available in a wide fitting which sound right for you as the standard model is a little narrower than average. I've been a long term Saucony user and preferred their less padded shoes, but the Hoka's have converted me with the mix of really good cushioning and a fast feeling across a mix of terrains. On paper they'll probably be a bit heavier that similar shoes but they don't feel it when you're wearing them.

Another Decathlon evadict MT2 (well, the version before anyway). Very grippy, last well and not a slow shoe either. The negative is they're not light and they are narrow, though if you fit Salomon anyway you'd be fine I'd imagine.

Nike Pegasus Trail are good at being the gravel bike of the running shoe world. Very good on non-technical trails, perfectly OK on the roads but will leave you a little short if it gets really muddy.

Avoid Nike Terra Kiger's, the outsole, despite looking grippy, is absolutely terrible. Like running on ice.

last set were brooks cascadias. definitely a US centric, dry/dusty trail running shoe. not very suited to dartmoor bog.

currently using sportiva mutants which keep me upright far better and seem to be holding up well.

Avoid Nike Terra Kiger’s, the outsole, despite looking grippy, is absolutely terrible. Like running on ice.

Like a tyre thread, there’s always going to be opposing opinions - Terra Kigers are amazing for me on fast rocky descents. First time out on a wet ridge descent got me a PB… I find them almost too grippy in a way; if you’re not descending at full chat and “braking”, they dig in an make a mess of your toenails! A good race day shoe on rock, not gnarly enough for UK fells.

I ditched inov8 a couple of years back (apart from a pair of X talons that get used occasionally in winter) because my toes burst through the upper, there’s no reinforcement there, and went over to Nike as the fit seemed similar.

Terra Kigers for fast tech loops, Pegasus if there’s much road or it’s bone dry, Wildhorse for all day Pyrenees type stuff (good for walking too)

Salomon Sense Ride 4

I was running in Speedcross 3s but only really saving them for the sloppiest stuff (or snow) as the tread isn't ideal for tarmac. Now using Hoka One One Speedgoats and just bought a replacement pair.

So much is down to personal choice though and it's difficult as an individual to spend trying to find the right thing.

Very much a personal thing. I'm currently using Inov-8 Terraultra G270s, they have a wide fitting that suits my feet and the graphene sole grips well and seems to be holding up reasonably well. Before them I was using Hokas as they also suit wide feet but the soles seem to be made out of cheese on every pair I've had, even the Vibram sole on Speedgoats. I quite fancy a pair of Inov-8 Trailflys which have a more padded sole than the Terraultras so may be more Hoka-like but the price is rather hard to justify at £170 a pair.

I want to love Inov8's after having a few pairs but the last 2 pairs I bought wore out astonishingly quickly, especially the uppers. The most recent pair I bought had the graphene sole and it seems to wear very well but again, the uppers just disintegrated after a few months. And Inov8 aren't cheap, I won't buy Inov8 again.

I'm a big fan of the Inov8 gear, particularly the X-Talon range. I had my old red X-Talon 190's for a long time and have only recently replaced them with some new old stock orange 190's (the last year they did them).

Bear in mind though that I like minimal padding and a more 'barefoot' feel, and if that's not your bag you probably won't like them!

I've given up on Inov8 too, the uppers wear out at the sides of the little toe / midfoot across loads of models with the mesh upper. X Talons and mudclaws don't suffer from this.

I've got some ancient Inov8s Roclites that I just loved and even ran a half-marathon in. Haven't been able to find an Inov8 replacement that works for me these days.

On the maximalist side, have tried Altra Olympus 4 and Hoka Speedgoat. The wide toebox on the Altras is awesome, but the heel pocket feels loose and like the shoe is constantly trying to fall off. It doesn't fall off but it feels like it will. The Speedgoat was brilliant. Doesn't look as wide a fitting but was comfortable and secure and seemed very low effort/impact to run in.

La Sportiva Mutants are brilliant if you want something that's like a Speedcross with a bit of cushioning, but way more grip in the wet particularly and the slightly extended ankle cuff keeps stones and gravel out more of the time. Mine seem to be indestructible as well, kind of a good halfway house between trail runners and full-on fell shoes.

I've used Hokas and find them a bit disconcerting on anything really rough. Just too high and with zero ground feel. Messy on techy descents. Inov-8 I like, but they always feel slightly delicate to me. The missus wears Brooks Cascada, but has toothier inov-8s for rougher terrain.

But yeah, as above, it's all quite personal and depends on your own preferences, foot shape and terrain choice, but where I am - Peak District - the Mutants are spot on.

ps: I generally find Salomon horribly slippy on wet rock, though otherwise okay, ymmv

I use Saucony Peregrine's. Very grippy and confidence inspiring.👌

Was going to say to avoid Salomon. Had some speedcross gtx and they fell apart under 100 miles.

They still functioned but stitching was failing and the goretex lasted <20 miles.

Exactly my experience too except also the laces ate through the loops as well - returned them and got my money back. Worked out they cost £1.40/km. Shame as liked the sole and fit.

Got a pair of Altra Lone peak now. Initially wasn't all that impressed as they felt very minimal, but after adapting got to say I really like them and proving durable. I don't think they'd be ideal if you run a lot on rocky trails (very flexy plus fairly suspect wet rock grip) but I have the Ochils out the back door so I'm more worried about grip in soft conditions and for that they're ideal.

inov8 for me. I've some Trailrocs for trail running which are great, and the new Parkclaw despite obvious jumping-on-the-bandwagon are pretty good: enough grip for light trail running, but much better on pavement than the Trailrocs.

If anyone wants Mudclaws (the old yellow ones) then I've a pair of lightly used size 11s for sale...

I've been ok with speedcross durability, I've still got a pair that are several years old ut I don't often run in them.

Trail running covers many things - what do you do - dirt roads, farm tracks? Lots in the woods? Fells? Bif miles , little miles?

Having said that Pegasus trail are very good all rounders unless you like playing in mudbaths. Bit of drop, bit of cushioning, neutral enough...

Pieface
I’ve given up on Inov8 too, the uppers wear out at the sides of the little toe / midfoot across loads of models with the mesh upper

Yep, I like Inov-8 fit but had this exact issue with many models.

Latest inov-8 I bought (and am still using) was the X-talon Ultra 260 which have a better design - the side protection on the mesh wrapping around to cover the little toe area, however they're still breaking apart at the same spot.

Bought VJ MAXx based on reviews, but not as comfortable (too narrow) and not as grippy in the slop.

Would love to find an Inov-8 replacement that is as grippy, comfortable, but is longer lasting especially the uppers.

Edit - To add, I run all year round but it's the autumn/winter when the mud trails have turned to soup when the shoes really need to perform.

Would love to find an Inov-8 replacement that is as grippy, comfortable, but is longer lasting especially the uppers.

the sportiva mutants I have are nowhere near as low profile as the inov-8's, my gazelle like running neighbour described them as a tanks. i'm 85kg and he's probably 50kg so i think I need a set of tanks.

400km in and they are showing barely any wear.

Find your local well regarded running shop. If you're in or near Sheffield then Accelerate give good advice.

I've always got on well with Scott trail shoes.

the sportiva mutants I have are nowhere near as low profile as the inov-8’s, my gazelle like running neighbour described them as a tanks. i’m 85kg and he’s probably 50kg so i think I need a set of tanks.

400km in and they are showing barely any wear.

Thanks Jam-bo, sounds promising. I'd always ignored La Sportiva as being a narrow design based on past research. But sounds like these can accommodate wide feet, though reports the Mutants run small and to go up half a size?

Wear size 9 in Inov-8 so may try out EU43.5 in the LS.

Yeah. Think I went up from a 9 to 9.5

Update: I ordered a pair of Hoka Speedgoats based on the replies above, which arrived yesterday morning. What a difference, what a shoe! Initially a bit sceptical as they didnt feel glove like which the Salomons do as soon as I put them on. However, after using them they feel much softer underfoot, much more forgiving and they seem to mould to the terrain better. The sole feels like its angled forward too which helps you fall into the stride if that makes sense (is that a thing?) and they are much less draggy on the pavements. Overall better in every aspect than the Salomons - I hope they last the test of time.

I wanted Speedgoats after reading a lot of reviews but couldn't find them anywhere at the time so opted for Hoka Mafate Speed 3 instead. They have been amazing round Woburn and the surrounding area. Never an issue with grip but so much easier on tarmac sections than the New Balance I had previously. I was a New Balance fan boy (and still am for road) but may well try Hoka when my road shoes die.

Realised I hadn’t made any recommendations based on my reply - also realised I’d forgotten about a pair of New Balance shoes I’d got to. In terms of the NB, OK in the dry on smooth trail, useless otherwise - they look good, so casual use mainly. Gave up on Inov8 yonks ago - they just fall apart. Scott RC2 are good - grippy enough for rougher tracks and mountain trails, but with some cushioning for rocky descents without a huge stack height/instability. Much prefer a Hoka Mafete over Speedgoats - better cushioning, wider toe box and more secure/stronger upper. Really depends on what types of trails you’re running - smooth, manmade trails you can get away with a well cushioned shoe with a waffle-type sole. When you get into mountains tracks and more technical trails then you want a more secure upper, more aggressive sole and less cushioning for stability.

Varying Inov-8 for me, I prefer their close fit, especially when it’s daft wet and sloppy out, only others I’ve had recently are Nike Wildhorse which have been great in dry and slightly damp trails. Haven’t got on with Salomon the insoles seem to give me hotspots under the arch.