Best trail running shoes 2019 – the best men’s and women’s trail running shoes – Runner’s World (UK)

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Bored of pounding the pavements? Get off the road this summer and give trail running a go. The mental and physical benefits of trail running are astounding, with researchers finding getting off the beaten track lowers anxiety, reduces your risk of injury and forces you to use more muscle groups.

Yet before heading away from the well-trodden path, it’s important to ensure you’re kitted out.

What to look for in a trail running or off-road shoe?

On a firm, well-groomed trail, you might be ok running in your normal training shoes, yet add mud, moisture, rocks and vegetation and things can get a little trickier. Here’s what to look for in a trail running shoe:

1. Look for a shoe with a low profile – the need for a thick layer of foam between your foot and the ground is negated when trail running, in fact, the lower the profile of the shoe, the more stable you’ll be on uneven ground.

2. Grip is everything – without a good grip, you can’t run with confidence.

3. There should be in-built protection – off-road running can be hard on your shoes, especially the upper. Look for rubber or nylon reinforcements around the toe box, heel counter and the bottom of the upper.

4. Look at the waterproof protection – water will often be a problem on Britain’s trails and when it comes to trail running trainers, there are two schools of thought: the waterproof shell, which works well when splashing through puddles, but does not allow water to escape from the shoe. The second approach is more of a sieve design, with focuses on the belief that keeping your feet watertight is impossible, and focuses on drainage rather than protection.

What are the best trail running shoes on the market in 2019?

1.VJ Xtrm

Trevor Raab

Price: £125

Never heard of VJ? It’s a Finnish company that has been around since1981 but doesn’t have a huge presence in the UK. However, one look at this shoe tells you what it’s made for: the yukkiest, muddiest trails you can find. VJ designed the XTRM to excel at mud runs and obstacle-course races, so it’s no surprise that the 6mm lugs are widely spaced, to shed mud as you move. The bad news is that this same design feature means it offers an exceptionally harsh ride on flat, hard ground. Our testers unanimously said the shoe felt too firm for any high-mileage runs. Contributing to the stiff ride – and, it must be acknowledged, impressive protection on technical terrain – is a full-length rock plate. The XTRM comes in unisex sizing, so slim-footed women may need to order a shoe one size smaller than their usual one.

2. Salomon Sense Ride 2

Price: £115

If you’re new to offroad running and want something a little less fierce than an all-out trail beast, this shoe will tick all the boxes. The fit and comfort are excellent, thanks to a snug but adaptive midfoot wrap, a stitch-free upper and an internal sleeve that gently hugs your foot in key areas. The outsole lugs are widely spaced, which means they will not trap any mud or debris, and they’re not too aggressive, so you can easily clock a few miles on the road going ‘door to trail’ in comfort – or if you are simply switching between asphalt and grass in your local park. The ‘Quicklace’ system was a huge hit with our testers, who simply pulled the Kevlar drawstring tight, secured it with a toggle and tucked the loose end inside a tongue pocket, to keep it out of the way. Even though the shoe isn’t waterproof, any water that gets in drains out easily and quickly.

3. La Sportiva Bushido 2

Trevor Raab

Price: £116.99

The ancient samurai were guided by a code of honour called Bushido; this aptly named warrior of a shoe is made for a sole v singletrack match-up. Are inforced TPU web shields the upper from trail debris and adds lightweight stability, while a compression-moulded EVA midsole is reassuringly firm from heel to rubber toecap. Two distinct treads add to the shoe’s armour, with toothy, multidirectional lugs at the centre and bevelled lugs that climb up and over the outsole’s rim. The combination bites into steep ascents, brakes hard on downhills and anchors against sideways slides. Our testers praised the Bushido’s burly traction and ruggedness, all in a surprisingly light package. The forefoot rock plated didn’t feel cumbersome – even after our ultrarunners hit mileage well in the double digits – and was nimble enough for more technical climbs.

4. Nike Air Zoom Wildhorse 5

Trevor Raab

Price: £104.95

Fans of horseracing love a reliable ‘mudder’: a horse with a knack for thriving on a wet and muddy course. True to its name, the Wildhorse 5 is what you want to reach for in sloppy, slippery conditions. Whether you consider yourself a proud stallion or a hardworking shire horse, no run is too rugged for this shoe. Water stays out, stones don’t penetrate the outsole and there’s just enough cushioning to save your calves on a day-long expedition. Testers raved about the lugs on dry ground, which protrude at different angles to give you maximum grip uphill, downhill and on the flat. The excellent tread pattern sheds mud without sacrificing traction and a Zoom Air pod under the heel softens your landing. For some testers, it was all they needed for hours on the trail; others wanted that responsive cushioning to extend to the forefoot.

5. Inov-8 Roclite G 290

Price: £120

Lake District-based brand Inov-8 has come up trumps yet again here. Like much of its range, this is a very well designed shoe. The G in the model name refers to graphene, a semi-metal that is one of the hardest materials on earth. It can be mixed with rubber, which Inov-8 now uses in its shoes for durability and traction on the trails. It certainly does the job: after 200 miles, the outsole barely looked like it had been used. Traction was supreme, giving us the confidence to descend at pace down a tricky Austrian alpine mountain, and it even performed well on wet rock, trail runners’ bête noire. The 4mm heel drop gave a racy feel for fast running but wasn’t so low-slung we couldn’t go long in the shoe. Comfort levels are superb and we barely felt the full-length protection plate. The only gripe was an excessively thick tongue, which affects how tightly you can tie the laces.

6. Scarpa Spin RS

Trevor Raab

Price: £140

Trail running can often be a bruising experience: wet boulders challenge your grip; pointy rocks tenderise your feet; and debris trips you up, sometimes deliberately. To survive (and enjoy) all that, we find the Scarpa Spin RS is an ideal companion. Its rubber outsole grabs the trail with chunky directional lugs we loved while running on slippery trails, and even snow, up in fell country. The Vibram Litebase tread is less than1mm thick (minus the lugs), which helps Scarpa keep the weight down. We liked the soft tongue, which wraps around the midfoot to help stabilise the foot inside the shoe, though some testers felt that the toebox was narrow. The Spin RS’s stiffness and modest cushioning make it less than ideal for casual trail runners looking for a shoe that also works well on roads, but it’s a great option for racers looking to run quickly over tricky terrain.

7. Saucony Peregrine ISO

Price: £110

The Peregrine has always had a place in our hearts for its deep lugs and maximum traction, coupled with an uncanny ability to transition to the road. The latest iteration is no different, but adds an ISOFit upper—Saucony’s winged midfoot system for lacing, which easily adapts to any foot. The shoe’s Everun midsole strikes a nice balance between just enough cushion and a connected ground feel.

8. Brooks Caldera 3

Price: £94.95

The latest version of Brooks’s popular Caldera trail shoe has a higher heel and forefoot height for more soft padding on technical trails. That said, it doesn’t sacrifice stiffness or weigh down your foot, providing maximum comfort at a light weight. The breathable mesh upper lets in water but drains and dries out quickly. And a new front gaiter attachment loop and lace keeper stop your laces from dragging or untying midrun.

9. New Balance Hierro V3 Fresh Foam

Price: £80.50

The Hierro can easily transition to pavement when necessary, thanks to its soft cushioning. A stretchy film wraps the upper to provide structure and protection while still allowing the foot to flex freely. A favorite feature among our testers was the knit around the ankle, which successfully keeps trail debris out. The sole is softer than that of the V2, but the shoe is a bit less flexible and heavier. Though our wear-testers noticed, they still gave it a high overall mark.