The trail shoe market is now as wide and varied as that for road running shoes
With exciting new models hitting the shelves this summer, we take a look at some of the latest options for your next off-road adventure.
ASICS – Fujispeed 4 – £160.00
Built with lightweight performance in mind, the Fujispeed is a fast, propulsive off-road shoe. With a dual layer of FF Blast+ midsole foam sandwiching a PEBAX plate, the shoe feels fast and energised with a comfortably cushioned ride.
The plate creates the familiar toe-spring of many carbon road racers, but here it also contributes to off-road stability, being optimised for the contours of off-road running.
3.5mm lugs provide sufficient traction for fast-paced running, and the upper, while light and breathable, features neatly padded sections to create a plush environment, and protective overlays add durability.
ASICS – Fuji Lite 6 – £125.00
With a more minimalist design, the Fuji Lite takes on a lower-to-the-ground, connected feel with aggressive lugs for traction.
The FF Blast+ midsole provides a soft yet highly responsive ride but sitting lower makes it perfect for those wanting more of a naturally balanced ground feel.
A deep 4mm lug provides excellent grip on a variety of surfaces, and with a lightweight breathable mesh upper, even in the wet, the shoe performs very well. It’s a light, fast model that can go anywhere with speed and grip.
Brooks – Cascadia 19 – £135.00
Taking the DNA Loftv3 nitrogen-infused foam and placing it in a go-anywhere model transforms trail running. The soft and responsive cushioning gives the new Cascadia road shoe comfort with trail shoe control.
The shoe feels lighter, softer and nimbler than before, adapting to the trails with ease and making every stride a joy. The upper is a light, breathable mesh with rubberised overlays for durability and protection, which again makes the shoe soft and flexible on the foot.
The outsole traction is perfect for a variety of surfaces you might encounter on the trails and rounds of this versatile off-roader.
Saucony – Xodus Ultra 4 – £150.00
Maxed out cushioning designed for those long-haul adventures, the Xodus Ultra offers a deep stack of PWRRUN PB, Saucony’s soft, bouncy midsole foam encased in PWRRUN for a stable yet responsive feel.
The Vibram MegaGrip outsole provides rugged traction for any surface and means the shoe can tackle the harshest terrain with ease and speed.
For such plush, responsive cushioning, the shoe feels incredibly stable thanks to its broader base and connected feel with the ground. The fit is close, hugging the foot and inspiring confidence on uneven terrain at any speed. For speed and comfort for longer distances, it’s a great option.
HOKA – Mafate 5 – £170.00
Built for long days on the trails, the Mafate has been the brand’s staple for off-road cushioning and protection. Here, the deep midsole is made up of a top layer of super-critical foam for a soft, energised ride atop a more stable CM-EVA base. With a broad geometry, the result is a very stable yet cushioned ride.
A reinforced MetaRocker provides both protection and the familiar forward propelling feel for a smooth ride on the trails.
The upper has a soft, stretchy vamp that allows the foot to naturally splay and again adds to stability and off-road adaptability. 5mm deep Vibram Megagrip lugs excel on any terrain, making this a great all-around off-roader for any season.
HOKA – Mafate X – £185.00
The X in the Mafate X name signifies that the shoe features a carbon plate. Here it is a trail-specific plate with a forked design to provide both stability and propulsion. Embedded within a deep stack of midsole, which uses a PEBA core set within a super-critical EVA to create a soft feel in a stable base.
The result is a fast-feeling shoe that offers ample protection for the longest races and training runs.
The Vibram Megagrip outsole rounds things off with deep, chunky lugs that are perfect for firmer trails where this shoe will be ideally suited. The shoe feels uber-protective and gives a confidence-inspiring ride that’s both stable and balanced, yet with an ability to turn up the speed in, should it be required.
Salomon – S/Lab Pulsar 4 – £200.00
A lightweight trail racer, the Pulsar is part of the brand’s S/Lab collection, their premium line-up of products built for the highest level of performance on the trails.
A dual foam midsole construction features the optiFOAM+, a material engineered specifically for a high level of energy return. The shoe is light and built for speed yet still manages to add a touch of stability thanks to the winged extensions of the midsole, which wrap up around the rearfoot, cradling it.
The strong and durable Matryx upper hugs the foot and, with the familiar Salomon drawstring fastener, adapts quickly and easily for a secure fit. At 3.5mm deep, the lugs aren’t aimed at muddy routes, but on dry tracks and trails, they excel when moving fast, biting the ground for versatile traction.
Merrell – MTL Adapt Matrix – £170.00
Feature-packed, this range-topping off-roader from Merrell offers cushioning and traction and is built for those covering ultra-marathon distances on the trails.
The FloatPro+ Foam midsole gives a soft, stable ride and echoes the construction of a few competitors this season with a soft core for responsive comfort, and firmer sidewalls for stability. This deep, broad construction proves to be very stable and provides endless cushioning that you’d be happy to spend extended periods on your feet in.
Able to tackle rough terrain, the Matryx upper uses Kevlar to create a single-layer upper that is lightweight, breathable and highly resistant to abrasion. A neat, padded collar makes it snug and comfortable, again vital for those ultra events.
With a ‘bullet-proof’ design and built, this really is a shoe built to go the distance.
Keen – Seek – £160.00
Perhaps better known for their outdoor and adventure gear, Keen brings us their first trail running shoe, with this model tested to offer massive durability. Testing company Heeluxe rated this model as being capable of covering over 900 thanks to its hard-wearing outsole lugs!
Cushioning comes from the QuantumFoam X midsole and offers a similarly durable feeling, yet ultra-responsive ride.
The fit is a more rounded shape in the toe box, which allows the foot to spread and create natural stability, as well as allowing for any swelling on those warm days and longer runs. It’s a durable, well-made model that provides a smooth and steady ride off-road.
