Trail running is awesome – and the shoes just keep getting better. Whether you dream of flying up technical mountain paths, cruising through the forest's soft ground, or just want a comfy shoe for gravel road adventures, there's now a model that fits your needs.
In this guide, we've gathered our picks for the best trail shoes in 2026 – divided into three categories: Fast, Technical, and Comfort. Here you'll find everything from super shoes with carbon plates to robust classics with solid grip and maximum stability. And yes, we've also considered those who just want lots of softness and comfort underfoot.
We've tested the shoes in various terrains and conditions – from muddy descents to dry gravel paths – to give you the best basis for choosing your next trail shoe. So lace up , and let's find your next favorite for nature adventures.
Best Shoes for Fast Trail Running
Usually, you save the best for last in an article, but we're starting right there – because the wildest running experiences are found in the forest. Fast running shoes can be divided into many categories, but here we focus on the lightning-fast models with plates. Shoes designed to take you far and fast – whether it's 5 km, 50 km, or a 100-mile run.
They might not be the best choice for very technical routes, but the combination of speed and comfort is hard to beat.
HOKA Tecton X 4
is HOKA's trail racer for long distances. The midsole of PEBA foam contains two parallel carbon plates that work independently underfoot, providing propulsion without locking the shoe into one movement. With 40 mm in the heel, it has enough cushioning for many hours and is still light enough for speed. The knitted collar keeps gravel out, and Vibram Megagrip Litebase with 4 mm lugs grips both wet rocks and loose forest floor.
Weight: Men (US 9): 266 g / Women (US 7.5): 228 g
Drop: 5 mm
adidas Terrex Agravic Speed
If you want a shoe with more support that can handle higher speeds and still provide extra stability, then
is a strong choice. The firm upper ensures a good grip on the foot, while the midsole combines speed with a more direct feel of the ground.
Looking for a fast shoe with extra stability and a dynamic running roll? Then adidas Terrex Agravic Speed is an obvious choice.
Weight: Men (US 9): 242 g / Women (US 8): 221 g
Drop: 8 mm
Nike ACG Ultrafly Trail
Last in the speed category, we find
. Nike has softened the original Ultrafly in the right places. The carbon plate still runs full length but is less stiff than before, noticeable when the trail gets technical – you control the shoe instead of the other way around.
The midsole is ZoomX, Nike's most energy-rich foam, and in the heel, it lies free without an enclosing edge, making the landing more forgiving. The upper is built to drain water, so a puddle or ford doesn't follow you for the rest of the trip. Underfoot is Vibram Megagrip, which holds onto wet surfaces deep into the journey.
It's a racer, but a racer that can go far. Want speed on technical routes with many direction changes? ACG Ultrafly Trail is strongly placed.
Weight: Unisex (US 9): 286 g
Drop: 8.5 mm
Read Lars' .
Best Shoes for Technical Terrain
Fast shoes with plates are fun, but sometimes you need something that offers better support and a more secure grip on the ground.
This is where technical trail shoes come in. Comfort takes a backseat to robustness and the ability to handle everything you throw at the shoe – steep climbs, sharp turns, and uneven terrain.
Saucony Peregrine 16
And we start with a true classic in technical trail running – a shoe that year after year delivers world-class stability and grip. We'll overlook version 10, which for many was too stiff and heavy.
fits the foot like a boa constrictor around its prey – you don't slip around, even when you throw yourself down the most technical descents. With an aggressive grip that handles almost anything, you get a shoe you can trust.
Heading to the mountains, or running on trails with sharp turns and steep descents? Saucony Peregrine 16 is a solid choice.
Weight: Men (US 9): 294 g / Women (US 7.5): 246 g
Drop: 4 mm
HOKA Speedgoat 7
Even though Speedgoat "only" reached version 7, it can undoubtedly be called a true classic. And there's been some changes from version 6 to 7!
Speedgoat 6 delivered a completely solid and reliable performance on technical passages, but it perhaps lacked that sparkling "wow" feeling from the 5. With the fun and playful element is truly back. The secret lies in the midsole, where HOKA has upgraded with a supercritical EVA foam. It makes the shoe noticeably softer and much more responsive.
Weight: Men (US 9): 284 g / Women (US 7.5): 230 g
Drop: 5 mm
Read Line's .
Nike ACG Zegama Trail
replaces Zegama 2, and Nike has turned up everything. The shoe is now the most robust model in the ACG series, built for really long days in the mountains.
Underfoot is a thick layer of ZoomX, surrounded by a rim of firmer Cushlon 3.0 foam. It's this combination that ensures you neither wobble on the high midsole nor miss out on return energy. Vibram Megagrip is back on the outsole with 5 mm lugs and a new pattern, and the upper has multilayer mesh with a built-in ankle gaiter to keep gravel and small stones out.
ACG Ultrafly Trail higher up in the article has the same stack height in the heel, but here there's no carbon plate. Instead, more padding under the forefoot and more stability from a firmer layer of Cushlon 3.0 under the ZoomX foam. Nike ACG Zegama Trail is the choice if your trips last hours rather than minutes, and comfort needs to last the whole way.
Weight: Men (US 9): 315 g / Women (US 7.5): 270 g
Drop: 4mm
Best shoes for soft days in the forest
Running on trails often feels softer than running on asphalt, so most trail running shoes are designed a bit firmer to provide a better feel of the ground. But some runners love lots of cushioning – or need it when the run starts on hard surfaces before hitting the forest.
In this category, you'll find shoes with a bit of extra comfort, functioning as a hybrid between road and trail.
New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9
is the ultimate all-round trail shoe from New Balance, designed to give you both comfort and off-road capabilities in one package.
The latest version features a dual-layer midsole, where the top layer of Fresh Foam X ensures soft comfort, while a firmer layer underneath provides stability. This makes the shoe versatile and ready for everything from gravel roads to steep descents and sharp turns – all with a Vibram Megagrip outsole as your best friend.
If you're looking for a shoe that can handle a bit of everything, New Balance Hierro v9 is hard to overlook.
Weight: Men (US 9): 310 g / Women (US 7.5): 234 g
Drop: 4 mm
ASICS Trabuco Max 5
is the ultimate "soft trail" shoe for those who love long runs in the forest. Here you get plenty of FFBlast+ foam underfoot, providing a soft, springy running experience – without losing connection to the ground. The outsole with ASICSGrip ensures solid traction, no matter what you try to run through. It's especially suitable for firm surfaces like gravel roads but surprises positively when the trails get a bit more technical – despite the high midsole.
Do you love running from home, through the forest, and all the way back again? Then ASICS Trabuco Max 5 is the perfect companion for your next adventures.
Weight: Men (US 9): 302 g / Women (US 7.5): 264 g
Drop: 5 mm
Read Lars' .
Altra Olympus 7
Last but not least, we have
– Altra's maximally cushioned trail shoe for long days. The new EGO MAX midsole is both lighter and softer than in Olympus 6, and the foam is evenly distributed in heel and forefoot thanks to the characteristic zero drop design. The wide, spacious upper allows toes to spread – a huge advantage for those with bunions or wide feet.
Underfoot sits Vibram Megagrip, which holds onto both wet and dry forest floors, and the upper has received reinforcements to last longer against rocks and roots. Dreaming of lots of cushioning but still want to run with a natural stride? Then Altra Olympus 7 is the obvious choice – especially if you need extra room for your foot.
Weight: Men (US 9): 325 g / Women (US 7.5): 274 g
Drop: 0 mm (zero drop)
Get ready for the forest
Shoes are only half the package when the season gets wet and cold. A pair of keep fingers going on early morning runs, and one of our takes the edge off wind and rain when the forest opens up. Need to bring fluids, keys, and energy on the run, we have , where you'll find hydration vests and running backpacks.
