20 Best Trail Runners For Women (2023 Updated)

First, the positive: these are super cute compared to other versions of the Superior. Great color options, and I really like the overall look. Also, I believe these are true to size. Other reviews are saying these run small, but I wear an 8.

5 in every running and hiking shoe I own, and the 8. 5 fits me perfectly, as far as length is concerned. ( i think there may be confusion among customers because the sizing throughout the last few models has been really inconsistent.

The 4s ran super long). Now for the negative: I’ve been hiking in the Superior since version 2. 0, and I’m sad to say that these don’t have that sock- like, snug, flexible feel that the 2s, 4s, and 4.

5s had. They feel a bit clunky and clumsy, not what I expect from the Superior. Also, i am unable to tighten the laces all the way, because when I do, it causes pain across the top of my foot and numbness.

So, I can’t get that snug feel through the mid foot and my foot is kind of slipping around. I think the discomfort has to do with the way the side reinforcements ( that attach to the laces) do not extend at enough toward the center of the top of the foot.

There is a lot of pressure on top of my foot from the laces, and I would prefer each side of the lace to be closer together – more shoe across the top of my foot, less lace. These are a great looking shoe, and I really wish they had that “signature” superior feel.

I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next version!.

Disclaimer: I’m a minimalist running shoe kind of bloke, and I’m running short fast (as I can at any rate) steep runs on technical trails. This shoe’s bloody nigh on perfect. First off, it’s super light, this is a fast shoe.

I have wide feet and the toe box is just right: accommodating but not overly spacious. I love the padded, stitched-in tongue and the softness and pliability of the uppers. With the rear lace eyelet, your foot can be bound in perfectly, snug and secure; the heel box is very supportive too: I have zero fear of the shoe spinning around on my foot or being sucked off by thick mud.

The insole is pretty good too- typically I swap out insoles for superfeet (high arches) but after a few runs in these, I will probably stick with the insole as it comes. The sole is good, there’s feel for the terrain and adequate protection from root and rock, and most importantly the grip seems good on the deep descents.

I have a short distance (about 1/4 mile) of unpaved road on one of my routes, and the shoe’s fine with that but you wouldn’t want to wear these for any sort of road running, that’s not what they’re for! As a dedicated trail shoe, for short hard runs I think this is perfect.

Thank you Altra!.

I did not expect these shoes to be SO comfortable. I’ve had many a running shoe in my time and they have all been roughly about the same. When I put these on and stood up, I made a little noise… like ooh and ah combined with maybe a slight squeak at the end.

Somehow my feet feel a little like they’re floating in these and they feel like there’s tons of room for my toes to spread out even though the toebox doesn’t look any wider from the outside than any of my previous pairs.

I wondered if it was the insole so I put them in my old pair to test it out but nope, not near as comfortable. I have narrow feet and high arches and have had plantar fasciitis in the past (I think it’s gone now due to a year of extensive calf stretching, fingers crossed) and I was concerned that the lack of arch in these might bother my feet.

After several hikes/runs I can happily report no resurgence of plantar fasciitis pain or any other foot pain post-hike. Usually a 8. 5 narrow is my shoe size and I ordered a 9 (regular) in these and there is plenty of extra room for foot swelling during extended activity.

From the listing photos I thought the sidewalls/toe would be a little more structured/sturdy but it turned out to be pretty thin, flexible material which is fine for me, especially for summer, but just know you won’t have much protection in those areas.

I can’t speak to durability yet but if I have any issues in the next year I’ll report back. Highly recommend!.

I spend a lot of time in the out of doors doing UL backpacking and hiking. I also have a past professional life as an industrial product designer specializing in athletic footwear, especially shock attenuation.

Topo Athletic designs and builds great shoes. The Terraventure 3 hits all the right points. Wider forefoot for greater comfort and plenty of toe room. Great fit all the way “around” the arch area of the foot.

This is where foot control in the shoe takes place. Just the right sized heel pocket. As you tighten the laces, the shoe gradually envelops the “heel through arch area” with the control you want. Low stack height.

Greater stack height “can” offer more cushion, but the trade off is greater ease to roll an ankle due to the “stack height” off the ground, as we are all walking or running on uneven surfaces on a trail.

Midsole. We really need just enough cushion out of a midsole to not feel the sharper edges of rocks and debris underfoot, and a comfortable footbed that conforms to teh bottom of or foot, but it is also good to still maintain a sense of feel of the trail surface underfoot.

That informs our brain and tells our body how it needs to respond. The Terraventure 3 does a great job of this design balance, through the “last” form the shoe is built over, materials selected, and construction used.

Torsional Stability. The sign of a good active shoe or boot is good Torsional Stability. Grab the heel with one hand and the forefoot with the other hand and twist. This resistance is the Torsional Stability of a shoe.

It is like a spring being loaded under tension. This Torsional Stability supports your foot and ankle from rolling or twisting on sloping surfaces, or larger rocks and logs. Traditionally this has been very lacking in Altra footwear and others.

I have had four different pairs of Altra Lone Peaks over the years, and they all failed in this area of construction. Traction. Very few soles cover all the bases for maintaining great grip in all conditions.

It is a balancing act of lug design style and the rubber/polymer material hardness or softness. Some softer sole materials grip more on dry and wet surfaces, but the trade off is faster wear of the sole.

The Vibram MegaGrip is a good all-round sole material and design. Durability. Topo Athletic does a great strategic balance of the construction and materials used for a model and producing a lighter shoe than others.

Weight is a serious consideration for me, and it should be for you as well. Most adults have @ a 2′ stride when hiking. 2,640 steps in a mile. Wear shoes weighing just 2 extra ounces/foot, and you are lifting an extra 330 pounds in one mile x the number of miles you’re hiking.

Let that sink in a moment. We have to provide that energy. Who is going to be able to hike farther more comfortably? The one with the lighter shoe, but not at the sacrifice of poor support to our feet, traction, and durability.

My three year old Terraventure 2 pair still have a lot of miles left in them and they are still very comfortable and stable. No tears or separations in the materials either. Everything I have describe above is about “value”.

I highly recommend Topo Athletics and especially the Terraventures. Time and experience reflects their value.

Big fan of Topo footwear. Been hiking in the trailventure for a little over a year. Sandstone and desert in Utah, frozen trails and ice in NorCal. I wanted something a little more mild for everyday use on and off the trail, the trailventure 3 fit that need in more ways than anyone could ask for.

Simple, lightweight, comfortable toe box and quality build. I’m a sucker for orange and or course swapped out the green laces for matching orange laces, ascetics only of course, between the other topos I have worn, the terraventure is a perfect 50/50 on and off trail use.

They’re now my everyday footwear. Comfortable and practical satisfaction, breathable for warmer conditions. Topo continues to leave a footprint in the outdoor world for those looking to leave the real world behind.

Purchase at REI and have zero regrets with defects or returns. Love Topo footwear.

Altra says their shoes will typically last between 300-600 miles, which is a wide range, but it is accurate in my experience. After looking at the use I kept track of, I think I got between 400-450 miles on these so far, but they don’t have much longer left in them.

As I get ready for some longer trips this summer, I will likely be purchasing another pair of these to use due to how much I like them, while opting for other shoes for my typical 20-40 mile/week hiking activity.

It may seem “extra”, but these fulfill a pretty niche but important part of my footwear quiver. I switched to the mids after a rough ankle injury that made me look for a little more support than I usually used, and these offer great support, while also being flexible.

I appreciate that. I think some people may have issues with these because they use the typical convention for sizing up when purchasing other boots. Doing this may cause issues with seams and stress on the parts of the boots that flex the most.

With my experience of ~8 pairs of Altras, in a few styles, I have had the best experience buying them in my “true” size, meaning regardless of the size listed on the shoe, they aren’t the equivalent of a half-size larger, which is what I typically do with other brands.

I typically need a “wide” option for most footwear, and I think a lot of people may think these are a “wide” shoe because of the toebox. While they do work pretty well for me, I think some of my past experiences with them wearing out in the same spot they tend to wear out (outer foot, about an inch below my pinky toe) is because despite the toe box being so open, they aren’t wide in other spots like some boots/shoes are.

Still, I have enjoyed Lone Peaks while they lasted, and haven’t been dissatisfied with how much mileage I got out of them. One other thing to note is the zero amount of drop between toe and heel. It might not seem like a big deal, but you probably will feel it after a long day if you haven’t worn them before.

It may be worth taking things a little slower at first. When I first started, they felt fine on flat ground, but uphills were a bit tougher on my calves. I definitely felt the burn after some initial long hikes that I didn’t have issues with while wearing shoes with a typical drop! After a little bit of time, you will probably acclimate and be just fine.

I simply suggest keeping that in mind the first few times you wear them. One issue I had with this particular model was the tread starting to wear down pretty quickly on the rocky trails I usually go on.

By the time the tread was nearly gone, I had just started to get some holes in the outer fabric near the outer edge of my foot where it bends. Even with this, it was a drastic improvement in durability from previous years.

I think a large part of that was that I went for the “ALL-WTHR” version this time, which likely gets more durability from the liner. For this kind of boot, I did find the ventilation to be solid. I was pleasantly surprised by it, as someone who has feet that typically run hot.

I refused to try these on for a long time, as they do look a bit. ungainly, with that wide toe box. After spending 8+ months damaging my feet and knees with other shoes and boots, I finally gave in, and I could kick myself (actually, I can’t.

I’m not that flexible). The second I tried them on they felt like I was walking on air. All the negative reviews I’d read on them (how weird the loose toe box felt, how the lack of stability caused more ankle turns, how it would take a lot of effort to relearn how to walk with the zero-drop heel) – none of them were true for me.

That’s why it’s important to find out what your particular feet need, rather than what folks favorite shoes are. For me, I have a decent-sized bunion on one foot, and also poorly-healed broken toes on that same foot, then both knees are inflamed from hiking in shoes that were too inflexible.

I am MUCH steadier in these, not experiencing the pounding sensations in my feet, and had zero issues transitioning. The big toe box? I am addicted to the feeling!! There’s definitely a certain method one needs to tie their laces – I was tempted to go too tight, and they pain on top of my foot literally felt like I’d broken it.

So, that’s part of the learning curve. As far as traction – I’ve hiked appx 30 miles so far in them, and they are excellent on rock that some other shoes are slippery on. I mean, really good. I also ended up having them on (not my intention, but you know how it goes on the trails) for a number of water crossings.

The current was quite strong and flowed over rock, rather than loose rocks and sand, so I thought there was no way they’d fare well. My feet never slipped once. However, on any muddy surfaces, loose soil and/or leaves, this is where I have to slow down to a snail’s pace, because they have no ability to navigate them.

That’s understandable when you look at the lower profile treads, and it’s something I’m willing to sacrifice for the comfort that brings. I can see myself becoming an Altra loyalist for sure. They earned 4 instead of 5 stars due to the traction, and the feel of the top of the shoe when the laces are tightened.

Things that are not great: – Waterproof membrane failed in the same spot at both feet on the 4th day of use. I’ve sent a warranty request and will see if a replacement pair has the same problem. – Not particularly breathable – even at temperatures around 15 C I get very clammy feet (also in dry conditions), noticeably more than in previous boots with waterproof membranes.

– Aggressive seam along the entire height of the heel gave me blisters until I covered it with an anti-friction patch. – I have to tighten the laces dramatically to get a stable fit where the boots are not loose.

Things I like: – Fantastically light and nimble – Very comfortable – No other boot including those sold as wide fit gives my feet the same space as these. Things that take getting used to: – Given that they’re so light and thin they offer reduced support on rocky terrain compared to traditional boots.

Initially that’s unfamiliar but in 7 days of hiking I never felt unsafe or unsteady. I feel that the freedom of movement you gain makes up for the reduced stiffness. – There’s a strange rubber “lip” that protrudes about 5mm at the back of the sole.

I don’t understand its purpose. It increases the footprint – and required step width – but after a while you adapt your motion to account for that. Overall I like the concept of these a lot and would like to give 4 stars, but certain details and especially the waterproofing are not at the level of quality that’s required.

these have a nice slightly elevated heel which works for me as I hyperextend my legs and this alleviates that pressure. they are SO cute and super bouncy. I have the one with the pink heel as an accent which surprises me how much I love the shock of color.

I wore them on a treadmill to try them out, and they were great, but plan to use this for hiking as I was looking for a lightweight hiking shoes. Hopefully they will hold up! True to size, I’m a size 5 and they fit perfect as most Nike’s do, for me.

I wanted footwear for walking on trails/hiking in warmer weather (instead of Timberlands) wearing my and am happy with these! They give good grip on rooted and/or hilly trails. I can also wear them like “normal” sneakers.

My feet are a bit narrow and these worked for me. My toes have plenty of room. They are a bit difficult to put on, I have to pull the loop on the back, but it is getting easier to do every time I wear them.

I tried several pairs of trail shoes until I settled on these!.

I finally realized I needed a pair of trail running shoes to run better on that type of terrain instead of my regular running/gym shoes. WOW, what a difference! My feet are so comfy in these shoes and they just make me happy looking at them.

So bright and cute! My feet are better protected running over rocks and roots in the ground now. They also fit true to size compared to all my other Nike shoes. Also, BACKCOUNTRY IS THE BEST! My order arrived lightning fast.

Couldn’t be happier! I originally ordered Altra’s but they were a little too big and the next size down was not available (that order also arrived SO FAST) so I had to find a different shoe in my size and was beyond excited when this order arrived just as quickly! Thanks Backcountry! :).

First off, THANK YOU Merrell for offering wide widths. I don’t know if people are just ok with jamming their feet into unnaturally shaped shoes or if I just have wider feet than most. But, I need wide shoes comparable to what’s being sold by these big companies.

Starting to see a lot of natural style splay shoes being offered but they’re still few and far between. These Novas are simple and get the job done. They have solid tread that work on pavement and trails.

I’ve taken them on 3 mile sidewalk runs by the house and also up elevation on loose trails. The one thing I wasn’t crazy about is the height of the platform. If you have weaker ankles or tend to roll ankles on trails or sharp turns, you might want to brace up.

These soles feel a couple mm too high for an ideal trail running shoe but they’re still right up there with every other high end trail shoe I’ve tried (Hoka, Topo, Altras), but these have the edge due to their accurate size and generous width.

Will likely buy the ankle high version and also try out some proper hiking shoes in wide.

I wanted these when they first came out, but by the time I was ready to order, they had sold out. This year, they came back, and they were on sale! I have worn Moabs for over 20 years and they have been great, but lately my instep has hurt.

Maybe I needed new shoe liners? These came, and I wore them all day the first time, and my feet did not hurt at all. I had to get used to the bouncy soles, but once I did, I really appreciated how well they sheltered my feet from the asphalt and cement when I took my daily walk.

Plus, they are gorgeous! I took them on a trip, and only packed slippers as a second pair of shoes. I wore these shoes every day, and they coordinated with every outfit! The soles are an added spark.

Sometimes I lift my foot higher to show off the colors on the sole on purpose. I got lots of complements on these shoes. My feet are happy, and I am happy. I ordered another pair for everyday walking.

These soles are so much better than Moab soles, which pick up gravel and rocks. These do not have the small areas that capture rocks and debris from a surface. No more using a large nail to clear out the crevices after a walk.

There are no small crevices!.

“I REALLY want to like these shoes,” I think to myself as I spend the second night in an Icelandic hotel room thankful for the complimentary hair dryer while I sit on the bathroom floor blow drying the life back into these shoes.

My Salomon hiking boots are heavy and the waterproofing was potentially compromised from multiple stream crossings so I thought I’d purchase a smaller lightweight versatile waterproof trail running shoe for my Iceland and Europe trip because my friends have converted to hiking in trail runners and it’s something I’ve considered for hot weather anyway.

I tried them on at REI and loved everything about the fit. They had wide toe room, were very supportive, and didn’t hurt my feet when running around Ladybird Lake during the Texas drought. However, within 30 minutes into a rainy, muddy hike the waterproofing over the top of my left foot failed.

It definitely wasn’t from rain paints dripping into my shoes, which I wouldn’t have faulted the shoe for. It was like the very dorsal middle aspect of the toes where only sky water touches. My feet were soaked by the end of it as my right foot eventually became compromised too.

Disappointed, I dried the shoes and tried again the next day thinking it was probably my fault/user error. When waterfall viewing at Seljalandsfoss, just getting the spray on me soaked through to my feet.

The tread was at least very good though. I tried no socks but ended up with blisters on my heel. Now I’m not even halfway through my trip and wishing I could have a do-over. The inside of the shoe says waterproof eVent waterproofing and REI calls them waterproof, but the Altra website says “weather resistant”.

I feel like I’ve been duped. These will be going back to REI upon my return. I would consider purchasing Altras for running in dry weather only but I’m pretty bitter right now. Going to stick with Salomon.

I wanted to love these shoes. They were recommended by a friend who is an avid thru hiker. While they are extremely comfortable for wide feet (go an entire size up as many reviews say this brand runs small in general), I was disappointed in the shoe for several reasons.

First off, the shoes are not waterproof. They don’t let water in immediately, which makes you think that they are. But a half hour or so after a water crossing, the water soaks through and your shoes are wet and the insulation keeps them that way.

Secondly, the sole on the shoe is extremely slippery on both wet and gravel-covered surfaces. I have never felt scared of rock hopping across water or going down steep surfaces covered in scree in other hiking boots.

These shoes had me in fear of a serious injury in both cases. And lastly, the zero drop break-in period is much too long for me. I wore the shoes on progressive 3-mile, 5-mile, and 10-mile hikes over the course of a few weeks before taking them on a low-grade 20-mile backpacking trip.

The day after the trip, I did another 10-mile day hike and felt like the bones in one of my feet were bruised or broken. I was limping around Big Sur and in pain for months afterward. At one point I was worried that my foot wouldn’t heal in time to be able to go on any of the serious summer backpacking trips I had booked (thankfully the pain subsided after three months).

I would not recommend these shoes for anything other than low-impact, dry hikes fewer than 10 miles–and only if you have extremely wide feet and can’t find another comfortable fit.

I’ve tried a lot of shoes to find something that has enough cushion without being squishy, good grip, and enough rock protection that I can bomb downhills without worrying about every step causing a bruise to my foot if I land on a rock.

Well, I ran a 50k in these 3 days ago and had zero foot pain (outside of some muscles being sore but that’s not a shoe thing) during or after the race. The upper is too good as I live in Texas and I think it will be too hot for about 6 months out of the year, but it’s comfortable otherwise and indestructible.

Super comfortable shoe. I’m about 100 miles into mine and they’re still in great shape despite the rocky conditions I’ve used them in consistently. I placed 8th in the 50k in these and the lack of pain in my feet and lower legs was part of the reason why! Thank you!.

The MAXx – perfect fit for my normal D feet, light, well made, good materials. Fatigue free walking and running without breaking in period. I like the amount of firmness, I don’t think about the shoes while I wear them – they are like an extension of my body.

They just function very well. Good protection. Not too warm, quick drying and strong material, they seem very durable. Excellent grip. I use also the XTREM2 when I need a more close to the ground feel and even more grip off trails.

Very happy with my purchase.

My usage for these are technical FKTs in the Northeast United States. It’s true the grip is fantastic. So is the rock guard protection and the cushioning means these can go the distance. On the other hand, I never could get the fit to not make feet numb (too tight) or not be too loose and sloppy despite playing with every sock and lace combination I knew of.

I noticed the shoe tongue issue some report about it sliding around. They are also a relatively narrow last and the foot sits high in the shoe, which combined with great grip, makes them unstable and can lead to ankle sprains from shearing, as I have found out! I feel this shoe is trying to be an ultra shoe but clinging to OCR features that hold it back.

If VJ could take away some of the upper material it would make the shoe lighter and not so locked-in with zero room for the foot to expand over long distances. If the foot could sit lower in the shoe this would make the shoe more stable.

I gave this a 4/5 stars because the top of the shoe and tongue bites into my midfoot. I tried lacing it several ways (see Topo’s lacing suggestions on their website), which helped, but I still had the issue and the shoe bothered me constantly.

And, lacing the shoe too loosely negates the lateral support and my foot moved around inside the shoe. I should mention that I have had trouble with other models/brands biting into my foot, so this is probably a “me” problem and not a shoe problem.

This shoe is slightly heavier than some other models but it is a workhorse. I tried this shoe hiking, and on a very hard trail that had everything – wet clay, mud, rock scrambling, loose rocky terrain, steep hills, etc.

It performed like a champ. It was sticky on the rocks, even with wet clay on the bottom. The mud/clay on the bottom would shed off quickly. I ran in temps 50-70 degrees and didn’t have a problem with the warmth of the shoe.

I usually am not a fan of Topo color schemes, but the Sage color was nice. I ordered my usual shoe size for Topo shoes and it fit perfectly. Side note: I own Dirty Girl Gaiters which do not use the Topo gaiter system, so for my Topo shoes I attach with velcro to the back of the shoe and it works perfectly.

I’ve been trying to find the perfect trail runner for so long. At this point I’ve tried on almost ten different pair, and read more reviews than I can count. Topo’s Pursuit is ALMOST the perfect shoe.

It’s exactly what I was looking for. Vibram MG sole gives great traction. Plenty of room up front for toes to splay. Locked in heel. Plenty of cushion. Then came the paradoxical pun: the Achilles’ heel, which actually had nothing to do with the heel.

The arch on this shoe is actually quite high. After speaking with someone about it, they said that’s pretty typical of Topo shoes. I imagine when they say they have a “locked in midfoot”, they’re talking about the really high arch.

This was a no-go for me. I tried putting them on and walking around the house: After 10-15 minutes, the arch was uncomfortable. I tried to run on a treadmill, and after about 5 minutes it was painful.

I’d say try them on, and wear them for at least 15 minutes. They MIGHT work for you. If you have a high arch, look no further, these are the perfect trail shoes for you. If you have a low or medium arch (mine’s pretty close to average), try them, but do so with caution.

I’ve been wearing FiveFingers shoes since 2014. I’ve worn many models over the years, from slip-on KSO versions to the insulated Trek Ascent. For the past 4-5 years or so I have been mostly wearing Trek Ascent models.

When attempting to buy new Trek Ascents, I was dismayed to learn they were no longer sold. I purchased both the V-Alpha and the V-Trail 2. 0; although, I was concerned about the V-Trail 2. 0 because the reviews seemed kind of low, especially compared to the V-Alpha.

Except for the KSO slip-on models I have owned, I always wear wool Injinji toe socks with my FiveFingers. So some of the negative reviews of the V-Trail 2. 0 seemed they might not apply to me cause the complaints seemed isolated to barefoot wear.

I first tried on the V-Alpha and was highly impressed. But it was no contest once I tried on the V-Trail 2. 0; it was the shoe for me. I have been wearing the V-Trail 2. 0 daily since July 2022. I take daily walks from 1-2 hours covering trails, grass, gravel, and cement.

And the V-Trail 2. 0 is amazing! The shoe offers fantastic ground feel yet my feet are well protected from sharp rocks and pointy gravel. Many times while wearing Trek Ascents I would pull my foot up in Ouch! due to stepping on a pointing stone.

Not with the V-Trail 2. 0! I walk over pointy rocks lining railroad tracks with no problem whatsoever, something I couldn’t do easily with Trek Ascents. Also, the V-Trail 2. 0 is a very ankle stabilizing shoe.

I find it excellent for preventing turned ankles and also for preventing stubbed toes. Trails I walk often have protruding roots and embedded rocks sticking up from ground. This shoe handles these potential hazards better than any other shoe I’ve worn.

The shoe is very open feeling in the toes allowing full expansion of the foot with great ground feel. There is more excellence I could speak to but this review is limiting me from writing more. I can’t recommend this shoe highly enough!.

These shoes are no where near the quality of the Spidiron Elite MRs. I would kill to have another pair of those. Why oh why did Vibrant replace them with this complete trash. I’ve been a loyal customer for years but I can’t wear these shoes.

They leave my feet MANGLED after only 5 miles. GARBAGE. No amount of breaking in has fixed it. Sadly I haven’t been able to wear five finger shoes since they discontinued the Spidiron – the best shoes EVER made.

Hope this a one time fumble and not a new direction. If it is a new direction, the direction they are heading is out of business. Complete fail. Zero stars. Angry customer. Come on guys I’ve been waiting forever for you to release a new model and get shoes made for real feet back on the market.

Oh well. RIP Five fingers.

I got that e-mail notification from Vibram to review my recent purchase and was so full of expectation because of the previous version that I answered before I tried this 2. 0 version. After, I came here to see other people thoughts, and with so much negativity I got afraid that I’d made a mistake, even with the discount on the purchase.

Now I’m here to reinforce that this shoes are awesome – It’s almost like you have 2 pairs of hands, 1 grabbing ground! Many people are saying the size number isn’t right – that this version is shorter!? – I compared the two and didn’t see the diference in my case (I’m a regular 40) – Maybe because the 2.

0 is more resistant they feel (at beggining) tighter – then after some good jumps the self adaptive lug goes to place with no signs of blisters or injured feef. I haven’t washed mine yet but i bet they will become softer with time.

Anyway, it’s one of the things i complained about the previous version – that they are too soft, but they resisted without any holes and I had some kicking rocks accidents or steping on thorns. OUTX!! – With this 2.

0 I already made that experience with thorns, rocks & muddy/wet terrain – you hardly feel any of those. The only drawbak is that this rubber band protecting your fingers, if exposed directry to the sun, will become very hot! Just wet it and you’ll be fine.

For me it’s a mission accomplished, anytime anywhere!.

I left a review having first bought these shoes a few months ago and said I’d leave another long term review as those were lacking at the time. The first major caveat with this review is that out of the 200+ks I’ve done in these shoes, only about 50 have actually been running.

That’s principally because all the talk of “wider toe box” is fine but for my mildly wide feet the midfoot is simply too narrow, this combined with the harshness of the overlays means blisters. I cannot run more than 6 miles in these shoes before blisters appear just back from the ball of my feet on the instep.

After this happening a few times I lost patience, bought another pair by a different brand and thought I would break these in with some low impact dog walks, in the hope that they would ease and I could enjoy the lightness and bouncy ride.

So after over 200k of walks + runs later these are my findings: – Upper; has just about softened up so a 6 miler is now more comfortable but still stiff, on the plus side the upper would likely last for 1000 miles, it’s that intact still.

The overlays are great for fending off early morning due on walks but are still a real issue for me working in tandem with the tight midfoot to cause blisters. – Quick lace; I still love this system, lockdown is great, no heel slip at all.

I’ve even enjoyed using the shoes as slip ons with the system untightened for ultra comfy quick outings. – Lace garage; it’s not hard to work this out but after time it does become frustrating that with a tight lockdown you are spending a minute or two simply trying to get the toggle into it.

It’s just unnecessary faff when you’re keen to get out the door. The right one’s stitching also frayed and came loose after 2 uses. – Heel counter material; the material on the inside of the ankle and heel isn’t great, it started bobbling and gathering material from my socks after the 3rd run and now looks like it’s a veteran of many years of action, a side effect of this is it’s now a bit coarse when wearing thin socks (which I need to do due to the fit) – Midsole; no issues here for me, still really fun to run in, light, bouncy, comfortable, but I have only actually run 50ish k.

– Outsole; here is another real frustration, I am just about getting the upper to a tolerable place and yet the outsole is noticeable worn already, where I strike with the outside of my foot I reckon ive got another 50 miles before the tread is completely gone, that really isnt good enough.

So there it is, 200k of frustration as this shoe has great potential and is really fun to run in, until it starts shredding my feet. I really want to use it more but it’s only ever going to be a sparing quick and short runner and vastly over qualified summer dog walker I’m afraid.

I took these out of the box, and ran 100kms in a mountain race. I did not plan to do this, but due to low stock in my local stores I had to drive last minute to another city to try on a pair. I had planned on running a quick 5 mile the night before just to see how they felt, but alas, with race prep taking longer then expected I opted to go to bed early to get a good night of sleep.

These shoes were amazing! comfy and stable with a generous toe box. I found the cuff a little bit high and stiff, I had a just a tiny bit of irritations on my ankles, however a break in period would have addressed this.

I walked away from my race with 1 minor blister (on my toe that almost always blisters on a run over 50km). I literally opened up the box, put on these shoes, and toed the line. The best part is that these still look in alright shape.

I stubbed my toes a bunch on some fast descents and you can hardly tell, my previous shoes would have torn right open upon contact with some of those sharp rocks. I would never recommend racing in shoes without break in, this was not a deliberate choice, but simply an inconvenient necessity.

These were not the fastest shoes, I normally would opt for something a little bit more stiff and propulsive, however running in a shoe for the first time in that kind of distance, those are not the most important qualities.

for the intended purpose, I was overall very impressed with the ultra glides. a no nonsense shoes that has great ground feel, ultra comfy, drains water easily, and very stable, even on steep and fast descents.

Thanks Salomon.

Liked a lot when I put it on. Performed well at first with good, middle of the pack cushion. Not too much like the Hoka Speedgoat , and not too stiff like a Saucony Perigrine. Unfortunately the build quality isn’t quite there.

The blue over white rubber started peeling like a cheap shoe after my 4th trail run. After about 10 runs (typically 10k) the midsole foam started getting beat down and was not nearly as soft as the start.

Also since there is no rock plate I started feeling everything more than I wanted to. This coincided with the lugs at the forefoot wearing down to almost nothing. That is where I lost all confidence in grip and found myself slipping a lot on gravel and smooth, large, dry rocks.

The large amount of overlay on the upper also tended to pucker and stayed that way at the flex zone (ugly). Last negative is when you crank down the lace system, you can no longer cram the excessive lacing into the “garage”because your tight laces are right on top of the opening, so you are left to tuck the end under the lace at the toe.

Not ideal and the large loops would catch on brush. The positives were: Excellent lockdown Excellent initial comfort Excellent initial traction The negatives: Build quality not premium for price point Poor longevity A bit warm in warmer climates with all the upper overlays (but good protection) Poor lacing execution I’m betting this shoe will be amazing next generation if Solomon see’s the faults and listens to the customers.

I am a big fan of zero drop shoes—I have used Alt…s for the past several years for hiking, walking, running, and traveling internationally. I needed a new versatile shoe for all those activities and Alt.

s have progressively been narrowing their toe box so I thought I’d give Xero shoes a go. After taking the online survey about which shoe is right for you and speaking extensively about sizing and usage with the extremely helpful Xero shoe rep.

I settled on the men’s Mesa trail shoe in size 7. 5 in Forest. I typically wear a women’s size 9 in an athletic or hiking shoe. I have a borderline wide foot and I walk around barefoot indoors. 1) I was hesitant about ordering the men’s size but so glad I did as it gave a little extra room for my wide foot.

2) The forest color is great! More like a greenish grey neutral which helps to blend with any outfit. 3) Super light and packable which is such a great bonus for international travel or long difficult hikes.

4) I hate to tie everyday shoes. I prefer slip ons. However, I was pleasantly surprised that I can tie these and I can slip them on and off as everyday shoes, as well as, athletic or trail shoes. Wore them throughout our recent trip to Ecuador and the Amazon.

5) They dry super quick! 6) Despite slipping them on and off without tying and untying; they stay tied! Former athletic shoes would untie unless I double knotted them and that was with tying them and untying them after every use.

7) I did not have to get used to the feel of a barefoot shoe on trails or even city side walks or build up my foot muscles. However, that’s probably from a lifetime of walking indoors and on beaches barefoot.

8) Even though these are technically trail running shoes, they are extremely versatile- great for airport travel, walking on pavement, hiking the jungle, and for trails. 9) Seem to be molding to my feet! Now for the deduction: 1) you can’t return these after you’ve worn them and I feel the only way you know if you’ve gotten the correct size is to be able to wear them a bit.

2) My big toe hits the rubber reinforcement at the top and comes close to the top of the shoe even though I purposely ordered the half size up of what I normally wear. On the Xero site there is advice about this specific issue and I have seen other reviews talking about this.

In a normal athletic shoe this would be a big no no as on a long run or arduous hike you could lose a toe nail. However, I haven’t found that to be the case with these—it just feels weird. Xero shoes even says that it is a different fit and that your big toe up against the top is normal but order another size up if that suits.

3) I have found that these shoes mold to my feet which is awesome but I still think the toe box could be a tad bigger for everyone’s feet to spread naturally—not just a wide foot. This seems to be an issue across the athletic shoe industry lately.

Overall, I love these and will definitely be buying another pair!.

While I love xero shoes products, I think I have had unfortunate results with getting quality items. I love my mesa trails, they fit great, they feel great, and they’re so comfy. I never wear shoes without socks, but I find myself slipping these on without socks pretty frequently.

But I have had bad luck with the craftsmanship of Xerox’s products. I bought a pair of z-trails, and the rubber grips on the bottom of the soles started coming of after just a few months, and the layers of the sole started separating.

They sent me a new pair and their warranty is great, but it’s frustrating. My new pair is starting to peel just a little bit already as well. When I got my mesa trails, one of the Huarache straps attached to the shoelace broke off after only a few days, while I was adjusting the laces.

And I wasn’t pulling hard at all. Again, Xeros warranty is great and they have agreed to send me a new pair, but it’s very frustrating. I don’t want a new pair, and have to wait for the process and the emails and then wait for the shipment.

I want the pair I bought to work and last. Durability and longevity is very important to me, and I want to wear a product without fear that it is going to fail or fall apart. Xero shoes states that their products are quality and meant to last, but that hasn’t been the case for me, which is why I give them 3 stars.

If I could do 3 1/2 I would. Hopefully I have just had bad luck.

Nothing is perfect because we all have our likes and not all of us like the same. Overall the shoe is performing great with 20 miles and one event was 11 miles. Hard terrain, lots of roots, rock, sand, and dry dry dirt.

108 f degrees real feel was 113 f. 5000 elevation (climbing). Lots of long downhill and lots of long uphill. Plenty of fast straight aways. No water in sight on course other than sweaty legs so shoes did get soaked by body sweat and stayed wet however did not bother me and did not effect shoe performance.

Great conditions for testing the shoe. I am happy with the shoe. Really did not feel the impact during the runs so compare to other trail shoes where I felt I just finished slapping my bare foot against a rock for 12 hours these shoes really left my feet with the smallest amount of sense that I had ran for 2 hours on a hard surface trail (basically concrete) because so dry.

I don’t like the laces but I never do because I like laces the are stretchy and don’t put pressure on the upper foot which is why I wish they would make all running shoes with BOA dials since these dials remove all pressure points and are super easy to release if foot swells too much or you need a little extra firmness for locking in the foot.

Add BOA dials and this is the shoe. It’s fast up, down and straight. Almost no impact. Weight is light enough. I feel everyone should try the shoe because the shoe is great. Pros scale 1 to 10 and 10 is best Traction 9 Stability 8.

5 Downhill 8. 7 Uphill 8. 7 Comfort 9 Con Scale 1 to 10 and 1 being worst Shoe lace 1 Upper 9.

Love my new trail shoes! I haven’t had my Endorphin Edge very long but already tested out steep uphills & steeper downhills, with leaf litter, with rocks & roots and these shoes are all that I wanted them to be.

I’ve only done dry/slightly damp trails so far, not wet, but the lugs and outsole are very similar to my old peregrines. (Peregrines had excellent grip but I found they weren’t comfortable for longer runs.

) Happy to see that the Edge has a good classic saucony width like the old models. I didn’t have to wait for wide width to become available. There’s enough room for toes to splay. Also like the toe box height.

No black toes on the downhills. Yay! And no weird stress points or rubbing or blistering yet. What else? Oh, excellent lockdown. Thankfully, the outsole is not as squishy as the endorphin speed 2 (which I have for road running).

Out on uneven trails, I prefer a more rigid feel of the ground which gives me more control. The outsole is not super squishy but it’s also not hard. It’s a comfortable medium with excellent energy return.

I really enjoyed my runs. You gotta try it out for yourself. Everyone has different feet and needs, but I’ve always loved the classic saucony fit. These did not disappoint. One last thing, I got mucho love on the ocean/loam colorway from other folks on the trail :).

So firstly I just wanted to compliment Start Fitness and how quickly I received my trainers, bang on as ever! I have given the trainers 4 out of 5 stars as my first outing in them was very uncomfortable.

I ran 15 miles across the South Downs and the grip was terrible, I looked liked Bambi on ice at times and the weather was dry. I’m hoping that the grip gets a little better once I scrub them in a bit more because during that first run I had little confidence.

The right trainer also caused some blistering on the outside of my right heel so again I hope this is not going to be an ongoing issue? Due to the stack height I had a couple of moments where I nearly rolled my ankles, thankfully I made it home without any injury.

Thanks to the Powerrun PB midsole the ride was comfortable and I will be using them again for my next trail run shortly, I just hope I don’t have any further issues otherwise they’ll be getting sold on ebay and replaced with something like the Hoka Tecton X.

Overall I would recommend them but just take it easy while on the trails to begin with.

I’m really skeptical about buying any shoes, but especially athletic shoes sight unseen. I have a pretty wide toe box and these fit like a glove. I’m between an 8. 5/9 and I went with a 9 in these. I wanted something lightweight that can dry quickly and has good traction for an upcoming trip to Costa Rica.

These are exactly that shoe. The mesh on top is somewhat see-through which allows them to breathe. Super lightweight. They are also DOPE. I wore them to PT today and at least 4 people in the gym told me how amazing they look.

I agree. I. Am. Obsessed.

I bought these as light weight trail shoes for the drier spring and summer conditions. They wouldn’t be suitable for the heavy mud in winter but for the drier trails are perfect. They look great and clean off easily.

They are light but feel quite supportive particularly through the sole which has a good amount of grip. I used them for a 22km trail race last weekend. It had rained heavily after dry conditions so there was some mud and the surface was slippery.

They gave excellent grip and were really comfortable.

I went with adidas because I love the fit in my regular running shoes. These fit perfect! I wore them to walk Portuguese Camino. I trained in them for a few weeks prior. I purchased March 2022 and my final use was the last weekend in June 2022.

I put close to 400 miles on them before the world cracked. This is truly the first pair of shoes I’ve loved enough to wear out!.

They feel slippery inside; when I walk/exercise, the fabric used towards the front of sneaker make it feel like my foot is slipping around inside. Kind of irritating when doing burpees etc. When I tighten the laces it’s touchy to get it not too tight/too loose, laces are slippery too and don’t stay tied.

Not what I was expecting from Merrell. Looks like I’m sticking to Keen and other brands that stay solid in their design. My last pair of Merrells were great. I never really leave reviews but. just wanted to share if it helps anyone.

The reviews on the website are good so maybe it’s just me. I’m on a budget and now have to wear these things out before buying new so I’ll be slipping around for a few months so that’s not great.

I never leave reviews (positive or negative). However, I couldn’t resist. These shoes are SO GOOD! They just work. Great balance of lightweight, breathability, comfort, support, and style. I needed something with more support for walking, running, hiking, daily wear, workout, etc.

without being a bulky boot. These shoes work excellent in each scenario! I’ve had these about a month and have logged lots of miles but long term durability is yet to be determined, but seems promising.

The only thing I’d change would be to add more color combos, as this will be the first shoe I buy multiples of. Well done Merrell!.

I bought these about two months ago per the suggestion of my spouse who swears by Merrell but was skeptical because I wear a size 11W and couldn’t find any to try on in any stores. The fit was good enough, but ultimately these have caused foot, ankle and shin pain while wearing them for morning walks.

I bought additional insoles as I do for all my footwear but they did not help. I can’t even walk a mile in them without having foot and ankle pain. I’ve never had this issue with other higher end athletic footwear, which is unfortunate as I had it on good recommendation these shoes are good.

I think these are great quality. I don’t like how they feel for walking around town, but they feel amazing on the trails. That said, while these were great to take on an 8 mile mountain hike, but when I took them on a 15 mile trail run the other day, it did not go as well.

I got a fairly large blister on the inside portion of my left foot, near the front of my arch, and I could tell that I was rubbing up against it hard, especially for the last 3 miles of my run. It was also happening on my left foot, but a bit less-so.

I still finished out the run and set some PRs, but my feet were burning afterward and I could tell I had a pretty bad blister forming. As someone that owns a lot of Allbirds, I’ve usually just had Tree/Wool Runners for casual use and never had this issue in them, but putting them on since getting that blister, I noticed that the blistered part of my foot was rubbing up against the side of the shoe noticeably.

It seems that this is just kinda an intrinsic part of the Allbirds fit. I haven’t noticed that pressure/rubbing when wearing shoes from other brands I own when putting them on with this blister. I’m someone that normally just wears the standard shoe fit–not narrow or wide or anything, so I was surprised to have this issue.

So I guess what I’m saying is, I love the shoe, and I’m really disappointed that apparently my feet are slightly too wide for them? I could still return them, but I think I’m going to keep them to fill the “going for a hike but not like, over 10 miles, and not expecting for it to be wet” niche in my closet and get another brand’s shoes for more serious hiking/trail running.

If your feet are a bit narrower, these will probably work better for you than they do for me, in which case I would highly recommend these. If your feet are wide, I don’t think these are for you. Outside that, the only negative I could say is that as much as I love the “Natural Black (Bouyant Orange Sole)” color combo I got, the Halloween color combo really does lose its luster once they get all dusted up on the trail, and it’s probably not worth trying to dust them off between hikes/runs.

i like them a lot for everyday wearing, walking, and light running. I took a little time getting used to them. they just fit differently. very light upper. there’s no tongue, its just like a slide in that already fits snug.

there are still laces to pull everything tighter, which i do when i run, otherwise i leave ’em untied and never have a problem walking around in “loose shoes”. while running, it gives good comfortt. not great.

i ended up buying a premium innersole on another site and that gives my feet all the extra comfort i need. The very light upper, which acts like a sock, gives decent support. I think the fact that the sole is very wide is more where the support comes from than anything in the top sides of the sole.

This is fine for everyday walking and light running, but i would not be using these for trail running, personally speaking. I would want something with more control and support topsides. Overall for what i use them for, everyday walking and light running (less than 5 miles) these perform better than expected.

I am very happy with my purchase and will buy a second pair to alternate out. Plus, they have cool color combinations that are very different from today’s “pastel running shoes” from all the other top running shoe brands.

I was in the market for some new shoes and decided on the trail runners so I could wear them for day to day use, but also take them hiking in the summer when it’s a little hot to wear boots. They definitely have some of the best grip I’ve seen, the soles are great.

I also like the sock-like elastic opening, but it does tend to open a gap on the side during a stride. Things I’m not a huge fan of- the laces are really, really short. I struggle to tie them without one or both sides getting pulled through the knot, and a friend who also has Allbirds has the same problem.

They also seem to run a little small, even after going up half a size, my toe hits the end of the shoe sometimes. Lastly, the inner fabric on the heel has started balling up and pilling, which is strange for a shoe that’s seen light use for barely a month.

Overall I think they’re a great idea and I really appreciate Allbirds’ commitment to being carbon-offset, but the product could use a few more refinements. (Unrelated to the product itself but I also hoped these would help with some chronic foot pain- even with orthotic insoles, my feet almost always hurt in these shoes).

After a favorite shoe by another brand was “revamped” beyond recognition, I was looking for a trail running shoe for hiking, every day use, and travel that had good ventilation and a soft upper toe box, medium cushion a 4-8mm drop.

These fit the bill, seem well made, and I like the style, enormous Merrill branding aside. However, after wearing them for a few days, I began to get knee pain for the first time in my life. This could be because I’m wearing them largely on concrete, and they have extremely large lugs, but I’ve been wearing trail runners for my everyday shoes for a decade and have never had this problem.

I switched back to my older shoes, and the knee pain decreased almost entirely within a week. After a couple of weeks off I gave them one more try and the knee pain returned in a day, so it is definitely the shoe for me.

Unfortunately these will be a very expensive thrift shop donation.

The Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 is an amazing mountain running shoe. It is currently my go-to shoe for adventures in the Rocky Mountains. Merrell has achieved balance between comfort as a longer distance running shoe, outsole grip in all conditions, overall durability and lateral stability in variable mountainous terrain.

Overall, I am most impressed by the lateral stability achieved by Merrell. While most trail running shoes are going high stack and big drop, the MTL Long Sky 2 keeps the heel stack lower, contributing to a very secure, predictable and STABLE ride.

One area for improvement would be adding a sock-like collar to keep debris like sand and rocks out of the shoes.

After running through two pairs of the original Long Sky shoe, my expectations were high for the 2nd version. Kudos to Merrell, LS2 meets and exceeds the performance of the original version. These shoes are light for the support you get underfoot, have excellent traction from Vibram, and I appreciate the added gaiter attachment points.

I’m about 200 miles into my current pair and so far no noticeable points of excessive wear+tear. If I had to be critical, I wish there was a little more padding in back for my achilles, but it hasn’t been a problem so far, just something I would change if I could.

Great shoe, eager to see how many miles I can get out of them.

First off— I’m grateful that I purchased these from REI and they maintain their generous return policy. I bought these shoes for when I travel and want shoes I can hike and run in. That don’t look clunky and hideous.

These shoes fit the bill— comfortable, supportive, sleek, and great grip. However I have only worn these shoes maybe 10 times and the upper on my big toe joint on BOTH feet just completely ripped open while I was on the trail today.

I didn’t brush them against anything and it was pretty much a dirt pack fire road. Very disappointed in the quality of this shoe. My other pair from On only lasted 6 months too before the upper wore out.

Maybe it’s more of a fashion sneaker?.

When I received these I put them on and instantly said no. I usually wear Cloud Flow and needed something for walking and hiking in the snow. These started off stiff and uncomfortable. I ended up wearing them in the house for a few hours and they got much better.

These are obviously heavier and stiffer than my other ON shoes, but are supposed to be. If I have a complaint, it’s the thin laces. If you’re buying for fashion, get a different style. For function, these work well.

As always, I wear an 8 in everything and all my ON’s are an 8. 5.

I’ve bought two pairs now of the On Cloudventure shoes, and I love them both. Great traction, spread my weight across my feet wonderfully, comfortable for 12+ hr days on my feet, and no break-in period.

Also they are lightweight and feel very high quality. Can’t recommend these shoes enough. They’re like wearing boots with really good grip support, but with the lightweight and comfort of sneakers. They run a little small, I had to buy half a size up from my normal size.

My feet are about average to narrow and no issues there.

Horrible. I’ve been buying and happily wearing Asics forever in size 11. 5. I got the Frequent Trail in 11. 5 and it is too big. I put it on not expecting any problems and started running a trail and quickly noticed how way-too-big the shoes are.

I can’t return them because they are worn. I am very unhappy with the purchase. Don’t buy Asics on line. You gotta try them on to make sure they fit.

I do a lot of walking on a steep hill near my house and wore down the tread on my tennis shoes quickly. I am hoping these can take the miles. I don’t think their designed for asphalt but I also need to walk in different areas so they should be great for an all over walking shoe.

First couple time I wore them I had some discomfort. I laced them looser and now they seem to be fine. They look great and I hope I have found a new walking shoe! I am normally a 8. 5 or 9 in major brands.

I ordered a 9 in these and they fit great.

I walked 2+ miles in these shoes for the first time last night. I felt like they were very sturdy and supportive. I knew I was taking a chance going for a long walk in brand new shoes but these did not disappoint.

No rubbing or discomfort whatsoever! I definitely could have kept on walking. I love ASICS and was thrilled to find them at such a good price on zulily. For size reference, these are very true. I always wear a 9 in sandals and tennis shoes and the 9 was perfect in these.