Verdict
The Best 5Reviewed by Mike Hun·May 20, 2026

Best Trail Running Shoes

Top 5 trail running shoes reviewed and ranked.

Quick answer

Hoka Speedgoat 7 is our top pick for trail running shoes — an averaged 4.8/5 across 1 published review at about $160. Runner-up: Salomon Speedcross 6 (~$145).

At a glance

Tap any product for the full review
(1 source)
$160Best for: trail runners wanting one shoe for varied terrain
$160 · Check Price on Amazon
(1 source)
$145Best for: runners on mud, snow, or loose-soil trails
$145 · Check Price on Amazon
(1 source)
$140Best for: runners doing long all-day trail miles
$140 · Check Price on Amazon
(1 source)
$150Best for: runners who train in zero-drop or want wider toe box
$150 · Check Price on Amazon
(1 source)
$140Best for: runners doing faster trail efforts and tempo
$140 · Check Price on Amazon
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The full ranking

How we rank →
Hoka Speedgoat 7
#1 · Top Score
Best for: trail runners wanting one shoe for varied terrain
Hoka Speedgoat 7
from 1 source$160

The Speedgoat 7 is the best-overall pick — Hoka's flagship trail shoe with supercritical EVA foam.

Strengths
  • Supercritical EVA foam — super responsive
  • Vibram Megagrip outsole
Watch-outs
  • Higher stack than minimalist runners prefer
  • Newer foam less long-term data
Salomon Speedcross 6
#2
Best for: runners on mud, snow, or loose-soil trails
Salomon Speedcross 6
from 1 source$145

The Speedcross 6 is the soft-terrain pick — Salomon's flagship for mud, snow, and loose soil.

Strengths
  • Mud Contagrip outsole with deep arrow-shaped lugs
  • Bombproof upper
Watch-outs
  • Aggressive lugs feel awkward on hard-pack
  • Heavier than Speedgoat
Brooks Cascadia 19
#3
Best for: runners doing long all-day trail miles
Brooks Cascadia 19
from 1 source$140

The Cascadia 19 is the all-day pick — Brooks' stable trail shoe with moderate drop for varied runners.

Strengths
  • Moderate 6-8mm drop — works for wide range of runners
  • Brooks DNA Loft v3 midsole
Watch-outs
  • Less lug depth than Speedcross
  • Heavier
Altra Lone Peak 9
#4
Best for: runners who train in zero-drop or want wider toe box
Altra Lone Peak 9
from 1 source$150

The Lone Peak 9 is the zero-drop pick — Altra's iconic trail shoe with natural foot positioning.

Strengths
  • Zero-drop platform
  • FootShape toe box — wide forefoot
Watch-outs
  • Zero-drop takes adjustment from heeled runners
  • Wider toe box harder to fit narrow feet
Saucony Peregrine 14
#5
Best for: runners doing faster trail efforts and tempo
Saucony Peregrine 14
from 1 source$140

The Peregrine 14 is the lightweight pick — Saucony's nimble trail shoe for mixed terrain.

Strengths
  • PWRTRAC outsole for mixed-terrain traction
  • Lighter than Speedgoat
Watch-outs
  • Less cushion than Speedgoat
  • Newer revision of legacy line

Spec comparison

5 products
SpecHoka Speedgoat 7Salomon Speedcross 6Brooks Cascadia 19Altra Lone Peak 9Saucony Peregrine 14
Drop4mm10mm6-8mm0mm4mm
OutsoleVibram MegagripMud ContagripPWRTRAC
MidsoleSupercritical EVADNA Loft v3QuanticPWRRUN
BrandHokaSalomonBrooksAltraSaucony

Frequently asked questions

What is the best trail running shoe?
Hoka Speedgoat 7 is our top pick for trail running shoes, with an averaged rating of 4.8/5 from 1 published reviews. The Speedgoat 7 is the best-overall pick — Hoka's flagship trail shoe with supercritical EVA foam.
Is there a cheaper alternative worth considering?
Brooks Cascadia 19 (around $140) rates 4.6/5 in our analysis. The Cascadia 19 is the all-day pick — Brooks' stable trail shoe with moderate drop for varied runners.
How does Verdict rank these products?
Every rating on Verdict is the numerical average of scores published by independent review sites, YouTube reviewers, and Reddit buyer reports. No editor adjusts the order — the ranking is whatever the source data produces. See our methodology page for the full process.
When was this guide last updated?
This guide was last re-checked in May 2026. We re-run our research pipeline for each category on a rolling basis so prices and rankings reflect current market reality.

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