The 10 Best Trail Running Shoes For Men
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in March of 2018. Shoes are the most important equipment for many athletic activities, none more so than trail running. This fun wilderness activity provides challenges like loose ground, water hazards, and tree roots, so it takes the right footwear in order to finish the race without injury. We've gathered the safest, most comfortable, and most durable options for letting men sprint through the woods. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Salomon Speedcross 4
2. Merrell Trail Glove 4
3. Salomon X Ultra 3
Editor's Notes
September 12, 2019:
We scrapped a couple Scarpa pairs because their long-term reviews indicated they weren't the most durable, and while we like La Sportiva's shoes quite a bit, there were availability and discontinuation concerns with one of their releases. Shoe companies, especially those making high-tech running shoes, tend to either improve or discontinue lines that have obvious issues. For that reason, it's important to consider the most modern options, as those will generally be the most refined and developed.
Some of these, like the La Sportiva Crossover and Salomon X Ultra, offer nearly as much ankle support as trainers. This is an advantage for many runners, but some people find the added structure limiting to their range of motion. On the other end of the spectrum are barefoot-style options like the Merrell Vapor Glove, New Balance Minimus, and Vibram Five Fingers. Depending on your build, these minimalist shoes can either solve your back and knee problems, or cause new ones -- it's important to remember that all shoes fit all people differently.
In between the two extremes are options like the Salomon Speedcross, Merrel Trail Glove, and La Sportiva Bushido II. We also like the Salomon Sense 7, as while they're quite expensive, they're great for full-time runners, thanks not only to their durability but also their bright red finish and fixed reflective tape. Finally, if you're on a budget, the Whitin pair we've highlighted will do just fine, though they may not hold up as well as some of the others.
4. Merrel Vapor Glove 4
5. Salomon S Lab Sense 7
6. Vibram FiveFingers
7. La Sportiva Bushido II
8. La Sportiva Crossover 2.0
9. New Balance Minimus
10. Whitin Minimalist
Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.