9 Best Trail Running Shoes of 2026

The Peregrine 16 ranks first because it covers both halves of our angle at the lowest price on the list. Saucony fits a full-coverage Vibram Megagrip outsole, which it says grips on dry, wet, rocky and loose surfaces, with 4 mm lugs underneath. The PWRRUN midsole sits at 32 mm under the heel and 28 mm under the forefoot, a 4 mm offset, and Saucony says this version has more foam than before for long days on uneven ground. It still weighs a listed 9.5 oz, which makes it one of the lighter shoes here. The mesh upper is built to resist abrasion, the toe has added protection and the shoe takes a gaiter. Saucony sells Wide and GTX versions on the same page. The limits are clear: the lugs are shallower than the 5 mm on the Merrell shoes, the stack is moderate rather than max cushioned, and Saucony does not list a rock plate. Runners who want deeper foam for ultra distances should look at the Xodus Ultra 4.

The Ultraventure 5 is the cushioning pick for runners who do not want a tall, narrow shoe. Topo kept the 35 mm heel and 30 mm forefoot stack of earlier versions and retuned the ZipFoam midsole, which it describes as plush and responsive. The drop is a low 5 mm and Topo rates the cushion as high with a neutral feel. Underneath is a Vibram XS Trek outsole, which Topo built for trail, gravel and road, so it suits runners who start from the door and link paved and dirt sections. The upper has Topo's roomy toe box and a new universal gaiter system, and the shoe comes in standard and wide widths in sizes 7 to 15. The tradeoffs are grip and protection: XS Trek is not as sticky on wet rock as the Megagrip shoes here, and Topo lists no rock plate. At 10.7 oz in a men's 9 it is a little heavier than the Peregrine 16, but it costs only $5 more.

The MTN Racer 4 takes the Topo fit onto rougher ground. Topo pairs a 33 mm heel and 28 mm forefoot platform with a Vibram Megagrip outsole, the same rubber used on most of the grippiest shoes on this list, and describes the shoe as built for race day and daily training on technical trails. The midsole compound is Topo's own, which it says is springier than EVA and keeps its rebound longer. A new FKT insole uses closed cell beaded foam so the shoe drains faster after water crossings, and an improved gaiter attachment works with Topo's Switchback Gaiter. Topo rates cushioning as high with a responsive feel and a 5 mm drop. The listed weight is 10.4 oz in a men's 9. Like the Ultraventure, it has a roomy toe box and wide sizes. Topo lists no rock plate and does not publish lug depth, so runners on very sharp scree may prefer the Merrell Agility Peak 6.

The Agility Peak 6 is the most protective shoe on this list. Merrell lists a 38 mm heel and 30 mm forefoot stack of FloatPro foam, the tallest here, and adds a forefoot rock plate that it says shields against erratic terrain. The Vibram Megagrip outsole now uses Traction Lug tech on every lug, and the lugs are 5 mm deep, which Merrell says helps them grip and shed debris. FlexConnect grooves run the full length of the midsole to keep the shoe stable over long distances, and a bellows tongue keeps grit out. Merrell rates it for rugged trails with heavy debris and frequent direction changes. It weighs 10.12 oz per shoe and comes in medium and wide widths. The 8 mm drop suits heel strikers but is high for runners used to low-drop Altra or Topo shoes, and at $160 it costs $10 more than the Peregrine 16.

The Xodus Ultra 4 is what Saucony sells to runners who want more foam than the Peregrine. Saucony puts it in its max cushioning category and stacks 36 mm under the heel and 30 mm under the forefoot, a 6 mm offset. The midsole places soft, bouncy PWRRUN PB directly underfoot and frames it with firmer PWRRUN for durability and protection, a design that aims to keep a soft shoe stable on uneven ground. A full-coverage Vibram Megagrip outsole with 4 mm lugs handles grip, and Saucony describes the shoe as built for long-haul adventures. The listed weight is 10.9 oz, which is light for this much cushion. A GTX version is sold on the same page. The costs are price and lug depth: at $170 it is $20 more than the Peregrine 16, and its 4 mm lugs are less aggressive than the 5 mm lugs on the Merrell shoes. The page we checked offered only a medium width.

The Lone Peak 9+ suits a specific runner: one who wants a flat, zero-drop platform and as much toe room as possible. Altra lists a 0 mm heel to toe drop and a 25 mm stack, which it classes as mid cushion, so it feels closer to the ground than the Topo, Saucony and Merrell shoes. The 9+ moves to a Vibram Megagrip outsole for grip on wet and dry surfaces, and a lighter Altra EGO midsole. The Original FootShape fit is Altra's roomiest, with space for toes and through the midfoot. A StoneGuard sits underfoot for protection on rocks and debris, and the GaiterTrap tab lets a gaiter attach without straps. The upper is a no-sew ripstop mesh made from recycled polyester for durability. At 11.55 oz it is one of the heavier shoes here, and the moderate cushioning makes it less suited to runners who want plush foam. Altra also sells a GTX version for $180 and the older Lone Peak 9 for $145.

The ACG Pegasus Trail is the easiest shoe on this list for a road runner to start with. Nike describes it as a trail shoe with the responsiveness you know from the road, and this edition has more ReactX foam and a taller stack than before for a responsive, stable feel. The outsole uses Nike's All Terrain Compound, which Nike says gives more traction than earlier versions on wet and technical ground. Nike also widened the forefoot and toe box for comfort on climbs and descents and for stability on technical trails. It weighs about 10.8 oz in a men's 10 and has an 8 mm drop, close to many road trainers. A GORE-TEX version costs $175. The weak point for our angle is grip: it is the only shoe here without a Vibram outsole, and Nike does not list lug depth or stack height. For muddy or steep trails, the Peregrine 16 costs $5 less and has Megagrip.

The ACG Zegama Trail is Nike's answer for runners who want deep cushioning off-road. Nike's updated midsole puts more ZoomX foam directly underfoot, its lightest and most energetic cushioning, and adds a layer of Cushlon 3.0 for impact protection and stability on uneven ground. For grip it uses a Vibram Megagrip outsole with Traction Lug technology, which sets it apart from the Pegasus Trail and its Nike rubber. Nike widened the forefoot and toe box so feet can splay on tough terrain, and an improved stretchy ankle cuff keeps debris out. The drop is 4 mm and the weight is about 11.9 oz in a men's 10. A GORE-TEX version sells for $200. The drawbacks are price and data: at $180 it costs $30 more than the Peregrine 16, and Nike does not publish stack height or lug depth, so it is hard to compare cushioning directly with the Topo and Saucony shoes.

The MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx is a race shoe, and it ranks last here only because our angle asks for cushioning as well as grip. On grip it is one of the strongest shoes on the list: Merrell fits a Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5 mm lugs and rates it for rugged trails with heavy debris and frequent changes of speed and direction. It is also the lightest shoe here at 8.29 oz per shoe. The upper is a single layer of Matryx fabric that combines Kevlar and high-tenacity polyamide threads, which Merrell says breathes better, stretches less and resists abrasion. FloatPro foam and an ETPU footbed provide the cushioning, but the stack is only 23.5 mm at the heel and 19.5 mm at the forefoot, with a 4 mm drop. Merrell says its athletes have raced it on major trail podiums. At $170, runners who want comfort over long training miles get more foam for less from the Agility Peak 6.