Trail running shoe recs

[Stickerbush]

I'm looking at Altra lone peak 3.0, brooks cascadia, New Balance Leadvilles, Hoka One, Merril etc. Wanting to use for training hikes any recommendations on brands?

[Houndhunter]

Brooks is a great brand for a trail running shoe, I'd look at Scarpa too if what your wanting is a true trail running shoe. I don't run trail's but very happy with my Asics but I stick to pavement or a treadmill.


Edit: So I was curious if Asics made trail running shoes and it turns out they do. I've never worn that style before but I highly recommend this brand as they are a very quality running shoe but not overly priced like the two brands I mentioned above can be sometimes 

[brianb231]

I have Salomon Speed Cross 3's and they are very comfortable. Was wanting to try the Under Armour Fat Tires as well.

[HardCorpsHuntr]

I have Salomon Speed Cross 3's and they are very comfortable. Was wanting to try the Under Armour Fat Tires as well.

  I have two pairs, one with waterproof the other without.

[Duckslayer89]

Pearl Izumi Trail N2. Couldn't imagine a shoe being more comfortable and fast

[uplandhunter870]

Soloman Mission XR, loved those shoes. they are are pavement to trail hybrid. i ran them until they literally fell apart. they are an older model so id bet they are pretty cheap on amazon now.

current shoe is Soloman X-Scream 3D, another great shoe it is more of a pavement shoe but i have taken it on some well groomed trails in dry conditions and its done fine.

[branches]

For day hiking I have had good luck with the Salomon Speed Cross 4. One of my kids are using them for cross country and trail running and like them.

[rosscrazyelk]

I have friends who work for Brooks and have been fortunate enough to get some Cascadia. I like them alot

[swanny]

Pearl Izumi Trail N2. Couldn't imagine a shoe being more comfortable and fast

It's to bad Pearl Izumi stopped making running shoes, they were for sure a sleeper company with a great platform both trail and road.

I've had two pair of Asics trail shoes, both blew holes in the toes within 50 miles. Brooks, Pearl Izumi, and Salomon have been the go to but a lot of people LOVE the Altra brand for trail shoes. If you are truly planning to just hike with a heavy pack, I'd get a more true trail hiking shoe. I've found that regular trail running shoes get destroyed pretty fast once I start carrying more then 25lbs in a pack. Their materials just are not made to handle the off camber hiking or the stress of a heavy load.

[Doublelunger]

Everyone's feet are different so just because one person had good luck with a shoe wont guarantee that you will too.  If your not going to be doing a ton of miles you can probably get away with a lot. If your pouring the miles on then I suggest going to a legit running store and having someone look at your foot and stride. They can help you pick the right shoe.  Once you find a shoe that works for you without injury never change it. I've been through 20+ pair of Brooks Adrenaline. Their adrenaline gtx are a good trail running shoe as well.

[JKEEN33]

I have bought New Balance for years because they carry wide shoes. The last 3 pair I bought were garbage. Thought I would try Brooks because they also have a wide line. Went to their site and went through their line of questions about arch, step, toe in or out etc. End result is a shoe that feels better than any shoe I have had in a long time. These are a road running shoe, so can't say much about a trail shoe, but I'm pretty impressed so far.

[Stickerbush]

Pearl Izumi Trail N2. Couldn't imagine a shoe being more comfortable and fast

It's to bad Pearl Izumi stopped making running shoes, they were for sure a sleeper company with a great platform both trail and road.

I've had two pair of Asics trail shoes, both blew holes in the toes within 50 miles. Brooks, Pearl Izumi, and Salomon have been the go to but a lot of people LOVE the Altra brand for trail shoes. If you are truly planning to just hike with a heavy pack, I'd get a more true trail hiking shoe. I've found that regular trail running shoes get destroyed pretty fast once I start carrying more then 25lbs in a pack. Their materials just are not made to handle the off camber hiking or the stress of a heavy load.

They would be for training day hikes and ultralight multi day. Thinking of doing the wonderland trail so pack weight would be minimal

[Shawn Ryan]

I run in Hoka One One's for distance because of the excess cushion. I've hiked in them and found them comfortable for that as well. I use La Sportiva wild cats for obstacle training and running. Not enough footbed to backpack in for me. Met many PCT thru-hikers in light shoes, including Brooks and La Sportiva.

[jackelope]

Everyone's feet are different so just because one person had good luck with a shoe wont guarantee that you will too.  If your not going to be doing a ton of miles you can probably get away with a lot. If your pouring the miles on then I suggest going to a legit running store and having someone look at your foot and stride. They can help you pick the right shoe.  Once you find a shoe that works for you without injury never change it. I've been through 20+ pair of Brooks Adrenaline. Their adrenaline gtx are a good trail running shoe as well.

Great post. Different shoes for different types of feet. And proper sizing is tough too. Go to an actual running store and have someone determine the right style shoe for your foot and then pick a shoe. If you have a low arch and you pick a shoe designed for a high arch, you're not doing yourself any favors.

[JakeLand]

I've got wide feet and scarpas are my favorite for speed hiking especially in rocky boulder areas

[Stickerbush]

I tried on some Brooks cascadia today, they fit pretty good. Might get my feet arch checked out though

[blackpowderhunter]

heel toe drop is drastically different on many of the shoes that have been mentioned.
i have to run a low heel toe drop in my shoes, and need a wider toe box than most.  because of this i try to stick with saucony for both road running and trail.
my trail running/hiking shoes are the saucony peregrine 6's.
as it's been said..you need to go to the store and try on at least 5-6 pairs of shoes.
also a place with a good return policy is huge here as they could be fine in the store, get home, walk outside one time and you're like "oh crap..."

[swanny]

If you are in Seattle, head to Seven Hills Running Shop in Magnolia. They know their stuff, and if you are up for a run they do a 6-7mile group run on Wednesday nights, takes about an hour or so. A lot of times they'll have various brands in for demo shoes on those runs also.

[KevinClimbs]

If you are in Seattle, head to Seven Hills Running Shop in Magnolia. They know their stuff, and if you are up for a run they do a 6-7mile group run on Wednesday nights, takes about an hour or so. A lot of times they'll have various brands in for demo shoes on those runs also.

  Shoes are pretty unique from person to person so I defiantly recommend trying a them on at a reputable running shoe store. My personal favorite is the original La Sportiva Crosslite but they quit making that shoe

[Stickerbush]

Fyi Brooks has a big sale at canyon park jr high in Bothell. Picked up 2 pair of cascadias for 100.

Feel pretty good so far but I still think I'll make a trip to a shoe store to get fitted