The best trail running shoes are the ones that you can just slip on day after day and hit the trails knowing your feet are in good… hands? Sure. Let’s go with that. But the best trail running shoes also should help keep your feet dry and comfortable without compromising your hike by being too bulky or heavy.
And that’s why you need to take a look at these, all of which are designed to keep you going light on your feet on the trails while still giving you the support you need, which is what makes them truly the best trail running shoes around.
ASICS Gel-Venture 6
A rear foot gel cushioning system keeps you moving, while the removable sock-liners allow you to customize to your needs, all of which is great for comfort and support, but it also helps to know that these shoes are made of high abrasion rubber, which means that you can run in them day after day without worrying about them falling apart on you. That probably helps to explain why these are Amazon’s number one best seller in trail runners.
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Salomon Xa Pro 3D Trail Runner
From its origins in the wild trails of the French Alps comes Salomon’s Trail Runner, which uses a 3d chassis to stabilize and support your feet. And that is really just a fancy way of saying they use foam to keep everything where it needs to be without sacrificing mobility, which helps you run better. That’s just basic science, friendos.
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Merrell Trail Glove 4 Runner
Touted as Amazon’s number one new release in trail runners, get it while it’s hot. And what makes it hot is the Vibram TC5 outsole, which offers plenty of protection on those dark trails. You’ll wear out before these shoes do.
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WHITIN Minimalist Trail Runner
Even the best trail runners still can feel a little too bulky, but these runners are designed to feel like you’re running barefoot without sacrificing, you know, your feet. They let your toes spread and relax without feeling like your feet are being strangled. These are really ideal trail runners for all of us who dig the barefoot life without having to worry about pesky things like rocks and dirt and raccoons or whatever the hell is running out there with you.
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Saucony Excursion TR12
A mesh support system locks your foot in place, and the rubber sole will give you all the traction you need during your run. Good on the inside and good on the outside. Does it really need to be any more complicated than that? Just slip ‘em on and go.
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Altra Timp 1.5 Trail Running Shoe
A soft midsole gives you added comfort and flexibility while the outsole is designed to grip and then float over whatever obstacles might get in your way during your run because no one wants to worry about their run being ruined by a nasty little rock or treacherous tree root. It’s a war out there, make sure your feet are ready for the fight.
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Altra Escalante Racer
These limited-edition shoes are lightweight and flexible and give you that zero drop heel which means that your heel and ball of your foot are on the same level. That might sound like a small thing, but it’s important when you’re running day after day. You want your feet to feel as natural as possible without sacrificing support and getting everything aligned correctly is a big part of that, and that’s what these shoes do for you.
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Brooks Men’s Ghost 11
Lightweight and smooth, these shoes know you don’t even want to feel like you’re wearing them. Everything is designed here with that in mind without sacrificing things like arch support. You want your trail runners to feel like they’re running with you, fluid and breathable, and that’s exactly what you get here.
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Nike Air Max Torch 4 Running Shoe
Nike gets into the trail running game with these shoes, which offer durable cushioning with a support system that will keep you from turning an ankle. The breathable mesh ensures that you won’t get the dreaded swamp-foot, and the carbon fiber outsole gives you the durability and traction that you need to keep you running on all thrusters.
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adidas Ultraboost 19 Running Shoe
Adidas jumps in with these shoes which use motion weave technology that lets the shoes stretch while still supporting your feet and reduces pressure points to keep you flying on the trails. These are the sort of shoes that work with you while you’re running and will ensure that no matter how hard or how fast you go that they’ll not only keep up with you but help transfer your own expended energy into added support. Is it science? Is it magic? Maybe best to just appreciate that someone is taking care of your feet.
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adidas outdoor Terrex Swift R2 GTX
Featuring the support and breathability of any good trail runner, what these shoes add are a Gore-Tex membrane, which let them hold up to wet weather or any little streams you might find yourself running into. A dry foot is a happy foot, or at least a foot that won’t break out in blisters. Do feet have feelings?
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Reebok ZigWild TR 5.0
These shoes work to enhance cushioning and provide ideal energy dispersal to make sure that you feel like your feet aren’t getting abducted by various swamp creatures or seedier Kardashians or whatever slimy things lurk in the dark. But seriously, this is just a really, really good trail runner, designed for max comfort and support and for holding up to whatever wild trails you might find. It’s that spirit of exploration which keeps us moving forward, and its shoes like these that let us do it in comfort and style.
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The BroBible team writes about gear that we think you want. Occasionally, we write about items that are a part of one of our affiliate partnerships and we will get a percentage of the revenue from sales.