Trail shoes
52shoes
From 18 brands, for ground that changes under your feet. That makes them harder to compare than road shoes.
1 / 5
ATHLO+
1 / 5
2 / 5
3 / 5
4 / 5
5 / 5
See the full guide
Trail Running Shoes Compared
Kit for your next run
See all →1 / 5200 g to 323 g
Built for
different ground
different ground
Trail shoes vary more than road shoes do, because the surfaces vary more.
2 / 5Lightest · 200 g
NNormal
Kjerag
Kjerag
Maker's use: lightweight technical trail racer.
Weight200 g
Stack23.5 / 17.5 mm
Drop6 mm
FoamEExpure
3 / 5Heaviest · 323 g
Altra
Olympus 6
Olympus 6
Maker's use: zero-drop max-cushion trail.
Weight323 g
Stack33 / 33 mm
Drop0 mm
FoamAltra EGO MAX
Lug depth and rubber decide grip on wet roots and mud, and makers publish those inconsistently.
4 / 5Narrowed it down?
Now let someone
watch you run
watch you run
A spec table can narrow the shelf, but it cannot watch you run. The gait analysis comes with a shoe recommendation.
Book a gait analysis5 / 5Swapping the pavement for MacRitchie's boardwalk-and-dirt loops, or planning something rockier abroad? Trail shoes are built for ground that changes under your feet, and that makes them harder to compare than road shoes.
Here are 52 trail shoes from 18 brands in the ATHLO+ Shoe Lab, lightest first, compared on the figures their makers publish.
The Weight Range: Built for Different Ground
Trail shoes vary more than road shoes do, because they are built for surfaces that vary more. Weight here runs from 200 g to 323 g:
- The Light End: Built for runnable paths.
- The Heavy End: Built for terrain that punishes a thin upper.
The Outsole: What This Table Cannot Show You
Lug depth and rubber compound decide how a shoe behaves on wet roots and mud, and makers publish those inconsistently. Read the tread as well as the numbers.
The Full Comparison
- Lightest200 gNNormal Kjerag
- Median278 gacross 52 shoes with a published weight
- Heaviest323 gAltra Olympus 6
- 200–220 g2
- 220–240 g2
- 240–260 g6
- 260–280 g16
- 280–300 g15
- 300–320 g10
- 320–340 g1
52 of 52 have a published weight. Lightest 200 g, heaviest 323 g.
| Shoe | Weight | Stack (heel/fore) | Drop | Foam | Plate | Year | Maker's stated use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NNormal Kjerag | 200 g | 23.5 / 17.5 mm | 6 mm | EExpure | None | 2023 | Lightweight technical trail racer |
| Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 3 | 215 g | 21 / 15 mm | 6 mm | Energy Foam | None | 2024 | Ultralight short trail racer |
| Salomon S/Lab Genesis | 235 g | 25 / 19 mm | 6 mm | Energy Foam | None | 2024 | Technical trail racer |
| Teva Trailpeak | 235 g | 30.5 / 24.5 mm | 6 mm | HYPER-COMF+ (supercritical aTPU) | None | 2026 | Lightweight daily trail trainer |
| Hoka Zinal 2 | 241 g | 30 / 25 mm | 5 mm | Supercritical EVA | None | 2024 | Fast, low-profile trail racer |
| Mount to Coast H1 | 242 g | 35 / 29 mm | 6 mm | CircleCELL | None | 2025 | Road-to-trail shoe for gravel and light trails |
| Asics Blazeblast | 252 g | 43 / 35 mm | 8 mm | FF Blast Max | None | 2026 | Road-to-trail crossover, 2.5mm lugs |
| Asics Fuji Lite 5 | 255 g | 25 / 20 mm | 5 mm | FF Blast | None | 2024 | Light, natural-ride trail |
| Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed | 258 g | 28 / 22 mm | 6 mm | Lightstrike Pro | None | 2024 | Fast, nimble trail racer |
| Brooks Catamount 3 | 258 g | 32 / 26 mm | 6 mm | DNA Flash v2 | Nylon | 2024 | Fast trail / ultra racer |
| Hoka Rocket X Trail | 261 g | — | 6 mm | Aliphatic TPU (dual-layer) | Carbon | 2025 | Carbon-plated racer for gravel and non-technical trail |
| Salomon S/Lab Genesis 2 | 264 g | 31 / 25 mm | 6 mm | — | None | 2026 | Low-stack mountain racer, 4.5mm contaGRIP lugs |
| The North Face Offtrail Ultra | 264 g | 29 / 23 mm | 6 mm | DreamBound (dual-density TPU/EVA) | None | 2026 | Shoe for technical, rough mountain terrain |
| Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra | 265 g | 33 / 27 mm | 6 mm | Lightstrike Pro | Rods | 2023 | Ultra-distance trail racer |
| Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 | 265 g | — | 8 mm | Lightstrike Pro | Rods | 2025 | High-stack ultra racer for runnable trails |
| NNormal Tomir 2.0 | 265 g | 31.5 / 25.5 mm | 6 mm | EExpure | None | 2024 | Cushioned all-round trail |
| Hoka Tecton X 3 | 266 g | 40 / 35 mm | 5 mm | PEBA | Carbon | 2025 | Carbon trail / ultra racer |
| Nike ACG Ultrafly Trail | 267 g | 37 / 28.5 mm | 8.5 mm | ZoomX | Carbon | 2026 | Plated trail racer, Vibram Lightbase |
| Hoka Challenger 7 | 269 g | 34 / 29 mm | 5 mm | CMEVA | None | 2024 | Door-to-trail all-rounder |
| Saucony Peregrine 16 | 269 g | 32 / 28 mm | 4 mm | PWRRUN | None | 2026 | Technical trail, full Vibram Megagrip |
| Hoka Tecton X 2 | 271 g | 40 / 35 mm | 5 mm | PEBA | Carbon | 2023 | Carbon trail / ultra racer |
| Hoka Speedgoat 6 | 274 g | 40 / 35 mm | 5 mm | CMEVA | None | 2024 | Technical trail + ultra |
| Hoka Speedgoat 7 | 275 g | 37 / 32 mm | 5 mm | Supercritical EVA | None | 2026 | All-mountain trail with Vibram Megagrip |
| Mount to Coast M1 | 275 g | — | 4 mm | JETCELL (supercritical ATPU) | None | 2026 | High-cushion mountain and ultra-distance shoe |
| Altra Experience Wild 3+ | 278 g | 33 / 29 mm | 4 mm | Altra EGO P35 | None | 2026 | Roomy-toe door-to-trail; 4mm drop, not zero |
| Saucony Peregrine 14 | 278 g | 28.5 / 24.5 mm | 4 mm | PWRRUN | None | 2024 | Aggressive grip, all trail |
| Salomon Genesis | 280 g | 33 / 27 mm | 6 mm | EnergyCell | None | 2024 | Versatile all-mountain trail |
| La Sportiva Prodigio | 284 g | 33 / 27 mm | 6 mm | XFlow Speed | None | 2024 | Cushioned all-day trail |
| Nike Ultrafly | 284 g | 39 / 31 mm | 8 mm | ZoomX | Carbon | 2023 | Carbon-plated trail racer |
| Altra Mont Blanc Carbon | 286 g | 30 / 30 mm | 0 mm | Altra EGO PRO | Carbon | 2024 | Zero-drop carbon trail racer |
| Nike Zegama 2 | 286 g | 43 / 38 mm | 5 mm | ReactX | None | 2024 | Cushioned mountain trail |
| New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trail | 289 g | 33 / 29 mm | 4 mm | FuelCell | Carbon | 2023 | Plated trail / ultra racer |
| New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 | 292 g | 42 / 38 mm | 4 mm | Fresh Foam X (dual) | None | 2025 | Cushioned trail with Vibram Megagrip |
| New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8 | 295 g | 35 / 27 mm | 8 mm | Fresh Foam X | None | 2023 | Cushioned all-round trail |
| On Cloudultra 2 | 295 g | 31 / 25 mm | 6 mm | Helion | None | 2023 | Long-haul cushioned trail |
| Salomon Thundercross | 295 g | 33 / 27 mm | 6 mm | EnergyFoam | None | 2024 | Soft-ground aggressive grip |
| Saucony Endorphin Rift | 295 g | 36 / 30 mm | 6 mm | PWRRUN PB | None | 2024 | Cushioned trail trainer |
| Saucony Xodus Ultra 3 | 295 g | 38 / 32 mm | 6 mm | PWRRUN PB | None | 2024 | Cushioned ultra trail |
| Scott Kinabalu 3 | 295 g | 31 / 23 mm | 8 mm | Kinetic Light | None | 2024 | All-round trail trainer |
| Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 | 295 g | 35 / 30 mm | 5 mm | ZipFoam | None | 2024 | Roomy cushioned ultra trail |
| Hoka Mafate Speed 4 | 298 g | 43 / 40 mm | 3 mm | PEBA + EVA | None | 2024 | Cushioned ultra trail |
| Asics Gel-Sonoma 8 | 300 g | — | 8 mm | AmpliFoam Plus | None | 2025 | Entry-level trail shoe |
| Asics Gel-Trabuco 12 | 300 g | 38 / 30 mm | 8 mm | FF Blast+ | None | 2024 | Rugged all-round trail |
| Nike Pegasus Trail 5 | 300 g | 37 / 28 mm | 9 mm | ReactX | None | 2024 | Door-to-trail all-rounder |
| Brooks Cascadia 18 | 303 g | 32 / 26 mm | 6 mm | DNA Loft v2 | None | 2024 | Stable rugged trail |
| Mizuno Wave Daichi 8 | 305 g | 35 / 26 mm | 9 mm | Enerzy | None | 2024 | All-round cushioned trail |
| Brooks Cascadia 20 | 306 g | 38 / 32 mm | 6 mm | DNA Flash v2 | None | 2026 | Daily shoe for mixed trails |
| Altra Lone Peak 8 | 309 g | 25 / 25 mm | 0 mm | Altra EGO | None | 2024 | Zero-drop, roomy toe box trail |
| La Sportiva Bushido III | 310 g | 25 / 19 mm | 6 mm | EVA / TPU | None | 2024 | Technical mountain grip |
| Salomon Speedcross 6 | 310 g | 30 / 20 mm | 10 mm | EnergyCell+ | None | 2023 | Soft / muddy technical trail |
| Topo Athletic Traverse 2 | 317 g | 30 / 25 mm | 5 mm | ZipFoam | None | 2026 | Roomy hiking and trail shoe with a forefoot rock plate |
| Altra Olympus 6 | 323 g | 33 / 33 mm | 0 mm | Altra EGO MAX | None | 2024 | Zero-drop max-cushion trail |
How to Read the Numbers
- Weight: The figure that changes how a shoe feels most obviously, but it is quoted at one sample size — usually a men's US9. Your pair will weigh more or less.
- Stack: The foam under your heel and under your forefoot.
- Drop: The heel-to-toe difference between those two. It changes where the load sits, not how much of it there is.
- Plate: What is embedded in the midsole. Carbon is the stiffest and the most common in racing shoes, while nylon, Pebax and rods are progressively more forgiving. “None” is not a lesser shoe, just a different one.
- Foam: The maker's own name for the midsole compound, reproduced as published. The names are marketing, but the behaviour is not — PEBA-based foams are generally lighter and more resilient than EVA-based ones.
Compare Any of These Side by Side
Want to see how your shortlist compares? The ATHLO+ Shoe Lab stacks any two to four of them against each other on the same specs. ATHLO+ does not sell running shoes, but you will find the rest of your kit in Running.
Find Your Fit with FORGED by ReFormd on ATHLO+
A spec table can narrow the shelf, but it cannot watch you run. FORGED by ReFormd's 3D running gait analysis, which you can book on ATHLO+, comes with a shoe recommendation.
Book 3D Running Gait Analysis with FORGED by ReFormd on ATHLO+ →
Ready to decode drop, stack and foam before you hit the trails? Read our running shoe specs explainer next.
More Shoe Lab Comparisons
- Carbon Plate Racing Shoes Compared — 64 shoes
- Daily Trainer Running Shoes Compared — 62 shoes
- Stability Running Shoes Compared — 33 shoes
- Max Cushion Running Shoes Compared — 41 shoes
- Super Trainers Compared — 45 shoes
Where these numbers come from
Every figure on this page is the manufacturer's published specification, compiled in the ATHLO+ Shoe Lab, which is powered by iRUN Singapore. These are specifications, not our own test results — we have not run in every shoe listed, and nothing here is ranked or recommended. Stack heights and weights are quoted at the manufacturer's sample size and will vary with your own size. Where a maker publishes no figure, the cell reads “—”.
— Book with our partners
Book a running assessment
— Gear up
Shop all→Kit for your next run
$84.90
$109.00
$42.00
$19.00
Shoe Lab partner
iRUN Singapore
The Shoe Lab is built with iRUN Singapore, whose specialists fit runners day in, day out. The specs here are compiled with them — and the shoes are in their stores if you want to put a pair on before you decide.
Find a store— The lab
More from the Shoe Lab
By brand
Asics33Race · Daily · Stability
Hoka31Max cushion · Daily · Trail
Nike27Race · Daily · Super trainer
Saucony26Race · Daily · Trail
Adidas24Race · Daily · Super trainer
Brooks24Daily · Stability · Trail
On22Daily · Race · Trail
New Balance21Race · Daily · Super trainer
Puma17Race · Daily · Super trainer
Mizuno15Super trainer · Race · Max cushion
Everyone else65Altra · Salomon · Topo Athletic · 17 more
By category
Carbon plate racers64Stiff plate, thick foam. Built for one hard effort.
Daily trainers62The shoes most of your week happens in.
Super trainers45Racing foam and a plate, durable enough to train in.
Trail52Grip and protection for anything that isn't tarmac.
Max cushion41Defined by one number: how much foam is under the heel.
Stability33Geometry and firmer foam to limit how far the foot rolls in.