Trail running allows us to lose ourselves in the environment while we sweat out the day’s worries or share joyful miles with friends. The best trail running shoes take us where we want to go with confidence and comfort. Our team is constantly researching, testing, and comparing new trail running shoe releases with the tried-and-true favorites. Our fleet of testers hit the dirt on rutty Santa Barbara bluffs, rocky Colorado peaks, sage-strewn Nebraska sandhills, soggy Virginia forest pathways, and more diverse terrains. After miles and miles (and miles) of trails, these are the trail shoes that have risen to the top.
Update October 2025: We’ve updated our “Best Trail Running Shoes All-Around” pick with the slightly modified Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide 1.5 and chosen new winners for “Best for Speedy Scrambles” and for “Best for Groomed Trails/Gravel.” We also added a “Best Run/Hike Shoe” category. We are continually testing and will be updating this list of best trail running shoes throughout the year as new models impress our testers and editors.