Trail running is an appealing proposition for most people, especially runners who have to dodge hordes of people on polluted city streets. What are the best trail running shoes on the market in 2020? If you want to enjoy all that the trails have to offer, however, you’ll need the best trail-running shoes – because trying to run on uneven, loose or muddy ground in your normal road shoes is a surefire recipe for a pratfall. Coachmag™ is a registered trade mark. If you plan to spend a good proportion of your time running on roads, or only intend to tackle very hard and rocky paths, then a lug depth of 3-4mm will be best – these are often described as road-to-trail shoes. Wet rocks get slippery fast, and you’ll be landing on uneven surfaces most of the time, so your shoe needs a sticky, lugged outsole to find grip even on the narrow edge of a rock, plus some protection for your feet from those jagged edges. Key specs – Best terrain: Road & light trails; Weight: 333g; Heel-to-toe drop: 10mm. Buy men’s from Arc’teryx | Buy women’s from Arc’teryx | £140. The Peak is also lightweight for a trail shoe at 260g (men’s), and On recommends it as a racer or for hill reps. If you’re heading for the hills for a hike, the first feature you might look for in walking boots is waterproofing, but most trail shoes are at most water-resistant. The Speedgoat also comes in a wider size, and there are two waterproof Gore-Tex versions, one of which has a high collar to help prevent water getting in over the top of the shoe. The slightly shallower lug works on wet Tarmac as well as it does on light trail.”, “Then we’ve got the Peregrine 7 which have a 6mm tread. Transitioning from tarmac is one of the best choices you could make, but make sure your shoes are up to it; Trail Running Magazine's Training Editor, Jack Hart, picks out the best road-to-trail shoes. Buy men’s from Inov-8 | Buy women’s from Inov-8 | £130. Lisa Jhung and Cory Smith. In the past we’ve found On’s trail shoes to be comfortable options for harder trails but lacking in grip when the going is softer, with the distinctive pod design on the outsole better at collecting mud rather than finding traction. This is one of the best performing trail shoes of the year and comes highly recommended. The LD without waterproofing is our pick for your ultradistance runs, because the Gore-Tex liner can make your foot hot and sweaty over long efforts. Hoka borrowed the name from Melzer for this line of popular long-distance racing shoes, and while you might not match the Speedgoat himself when it comes to your times on ultra events, you can at least use the same footwear. In trail spheres FKT stands for Fastest Known Time, which is what the record over a trail route is called. If you’re looking for a shoe to hare around muddy fields and forests, there is no better option out there. However, highly cushioned trail shoes do exist and could be a good pick if you’re contemplating an ultra-marathon, where you’ll want all the support you can get. “If you’re running downhill flat out, you want to make sure the heel is gripping as soon as it lands. These shoes are award winners and have been improved even more with a ‘G-Grip’ to aid traction and increase durability. “The main differences are the traction on the sole – trail running shoes have more and deeper lugs for a bigger surface area, which is designed to increase traction,” says Callaway. All the fun of trail running goes out the window when you’re slipping on mud or turn your ankle several miles from your car. However, to really enjoy these runs, you need the right kind of footwear. The outsole is also made of Inov-8’s graphene material, which is very durable and grips well, even when you hit sections of harder ground. Buy men’s from Adidas | Buy women’s from Adidas | £159.95. Cross country races tend to be exceptionally muddy affairs, as of course do obstacle course races. The 36 is much lighter than the new shoe anyway, so we’re sticking with it as our preferred pick until it’s discontinued. Key specs – Best terrain: All-rounder; Weight: 263g; Heel height: 30mm; Heel-to-toe drop: 4mm. Lite is a lightweight shoe with shallow lugs that we’ve found well suited to the UK summer, being comfortable for long runs that cover both roads and sun-hardened trails. There’s no such thing as the perfect running shoe. The lightweight shoe has a wide midsole and toe box to provide a stable platform for runs of any length on pretty much any surface, though the 5mm lugs are better at finding grip on hard ground than deep bogs. It’s a better racer as a result and while it’s not as stripped-back as the Inov-8 X-Talon G 210, it’s more durable and protective, making it superior for longer races and events where you’ll have a mix of terrains including deep mud. The latest Peregrine only has 4mm lugs, but we’ve still used it on muddy forest tracks as well as harder park trails – though it’s worth noting that if you’re hitting boggy ground more often than not there is also the Peregrine 10 ST, which has deeper lugs better suited for sloppy terrain. The 5mm lugs find grip even when you're moving at pace on slippery ground, and the material used is durable enough to use the Torrent 2 for your training runs on trails as well las your races. Buy men’s from Nike | Buy women’s from Nike | £114.95 (currently reduced to £80.47). That bright blue midsole coupled with the white upper might stand out more than we’d prefer, but the Catamount delivers the same excellent performance as the Hyperion Tempo and is a superb trail racer on hard and rocky tracks. Recommended for. Made with a mesh and TPU upper and airy mesh lining, these breathable trail shoes are going to keep feet cool and dry. The upper is a lightweight mesh that drains quickly so you’re not sloshing around all race after going through a couple of puddles. Buy men’s from Saucony | Buy women’s from Saucony | £110. One key measure of a trail shoe is the depth of the lugs on the sole, as that will determine which terrain it’s best suited to. Similarly on uphills, when you’re at steeper angle you get water run-off and patches where it’s particularly muddy.”. The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2020 Best Overall: Salomon Sense Ride 3 ($120) We were first introduced to the Sense Ride trail running in Chamonix. – we have a 3.5mm lug on the Koa TR which is designed for road-to-trail,” says Callaway. Underfoot is Inov-8’s META-PLATE, which protects your foot from sharp edges, and there are bumpers on the toe-box to protect the top of your foot as well. Best Wide-Fitting Trail Running Shoes. We've put at least 10 solid trail runs in these shoes, while also alternating them with other competitors, and find them to be one of the most fun shoes for running in daily. Picking the best running shoes for you can make an extraordinary difference. The upper of the shoe has also been updated to be more comfortable, moving with your foot to avoid sore spots while still locking it in place as you plough through the mud. Why I Love Trail Running: World Champion Ricky Lightfoot, The Best Trail-Running Spots For Londoners, The Best Trail Runners To Follow On Instagram, TomTom Adventurer Review: The GPS Sports Watch For Trail Runners, Hikers and Skiers, Best for cross-country and obstacle course races, The Beginner’s Guide To Cross-Country Running, Everything You Need To Know To Start Trail Running, The Best Protein Powders 2020 And What To Look For When Buying Protein Powder, A Four-Week Gym Routine To Get Big And Lean, Do This Leg Workout At Home To Strengthen Your Lower Body. Not only do the shoes have an outsole that manages to find grip on all kinds of surfaces, but both are also lightweight enough for short races while still offering a comfortable ride for long and easy trail runs.