Trail Shoes



photos by Peter Baker Studios

Do you run on trails?
No matter where you live or what kind of running you do, chances are you probably log some miles on something other than concrete or pavement once in a while. When it comes to buying shoes, the real question is, what kind of trails do you run? While road running shoes are typically classified by the level of cushioning and stability they offer, trail runners are best viewed based on the type of trails you run and how you run on them. We’ve broken this review’s shoes into two categories: mountain runners geared toward technical trails and crossover shoes that work well on a variety of trails, gravel roads and concrete. It’s not an absolute demarcation because the ultimate variable is your running style. The more technical the trail, the more nimble you need to be and the more agility you’ll need from your shoes.


ASICS Gel-Trail Attack 6 Garmont Bolt
adidas adiStar Raven Inov-8 Oroc 340
adidas Response Trail 16 La Sportiva Raptor
Brooks Cascadia 5 Montrail Rockridge
Columbia Ravenous Trail Pearl Izumi SyncroFuel XC
Merrell CTR Cruise Scarpa Pursuit
New Balance 876 Tecnica Tarantula/Black Widow
Salomon XT Wings 2
The North Face Single-Track
Minimalism on the Trails Vasque Transistor FS

Wild Things: Hubbles

Trail shoes from outer space May 2010

Spring 2010 Trail Shoe Guide

Trail shoes for all kinds of runners June 2010

Trail Shoe: Inov-8 Oroc 340

Provides gritty purchase on everything from smooth hard rocks to wet fallen logs June 2010

Trail Shoe: Vasque Transistor FS

Nimble, fairly lightweight, easy-flexing and only moderately cushioned June 2010

Trail Shoe: The North Face Single-Track

Surprisingly sublime ... and versatile June 2010

Trail Shoe: Tecnica Traantula/Black Widow

Has the sensation of a bottom profile turned up at the toe box and heel June 2010

Trail Shoe: Scarpa Pursuit

Amenable to a wide variety of trails June 2010

Trail Shoe: Pearl Izumi syncroFuel XC

The missing link in Pearl Izumi’s trail shoe line June 2010

Trail Shoe: Montrail Rockridge

Fairly nimble on technical mountain trails June 2010

Trail Shoe: La Sportiva Raptor

Aggressive, protective and stable June 2010

Trail Shoe: Garmont Bolt

A huge hit as a technical speedster June 2010

Trail Shoe: Merrell CTR Cruise

Surprisingly agile June 2010

Trail Shoe: adidas adiStar Raven

A combination of a classic fell running shoe and a road running shoe June 2010

Trail Shoe: Salomon XC Wings 2

A super-stable mountain runner June 2010

Trail Shoe: New Balance 876

A solid, substantial trainer for runner who needs motion-control June 2010

Trail Shoe: Columbia Ravenous Trail

Unstable and sloppy or craggy routes June 2010

Trail Shoe: Brooks Cascadia 5

Does a lot of things well without getting in the way June 2010

Trail Shoe: adidas Response Trail 16

One of the softest and most flexible we tested June 2010

Trail Shoe: ASICS Gel-Trail Attack 6

Lighter and more peppy than earlier versions June 2010

Trail Shoe: Saucony ProGrid Razor

A running galosh December 2009

Trail Shoe: Salomon S-Lab 2

Fast and smooth on any surface December 2009

Trail Shoe: Saucony ProGrid Guide 2

The perfect shoe for tame trails December 2009

Trail Shoe: Puma Complete Vectana WTR

Surprisingly responsive December 2009

Trail Shoe: Patagonia Tsali

Patagonia's first legitimate running shoe December 2009

Trail Shoe: The North Face Boulder Canyon

A good off-road shoe for a relatively low price December 2009

Trail Shoe: New Balance 910

Good motion control shoe for sloppy conditions December 2009

Trail Shoe: Montrail Mountain Masochist GTX

Great for long runs on rocky trails December 2009

Trail Shoe: Mizuno Wave Cabrakan

Protection + flexibility December 2009

Trail Shoe: ASICS Gel-Trabuco 12 WR

Comfortable out of the box and well cushioned December 2009

Trail Shoe: adidas AdiZero XT

Low-profile, lightweight and responsive December 2009
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