The snow has vanished and your go-to ski-touring terrain has officially yielded back your beloved running paradise. Daylight is extending its reach and wildflowers are lighting up the meadows. Spring in full bloom, and that means it’s time to unchain yourself from the dreadmill and take the road less traveled. To ensure you’ve got a pair of trail kicks that are ready and willing to keep you scrambling with confidence and sticking those muddy landings, we list our favorite trail runners for spring/summer 2018.
adidas Outdoors Terrex Agravic GTX
From rain-soaked forest loops to rocky alpine trails, adidas Terrex Agravic GTX Trail Running Shoe delivers sure-footed dexterity and tenacious grip across widely varying trail surfaces. Even better, these trail kicks give your off road endeavors an added boost courtesy of adidas’ BOOST™ cushioning technology for high-intensity, technical trail running. BOOST technology arguably provides more energy return than any other cushioning material in the industry – that means less fatigue, more miles, and more days training.
Designed with high-intensity, technical trails in mind, the Agravic has an aggressive Continental rubber sole with a tread pattern cribbed from mountain bike tires. A cushy layer of EVA protects against the rocks and logs you’ll encounter out on your run, while a waterproof GORE-TEX® membrane keeps feet nice and dry. Speed laces lock in fast and easy and work as a perfect complement the Terrex Boost’s need for speed.
adidasoutdoors.com; MSRP $160
Altra Running King MT 1.5
Altra is dedicated to mountain sport progression, you’re dedicated to stalking singletrack. Coincidence? Nope. The updated Altra King MT 1.5 (available in men’s and women’s) is ready to elevate your trail running experience. The 2018 iteration features a new upper with reinforced mesh and enhanced drainage features at the toes and medial midfoot. The FootLock strap has been moved medially and lower down the arch for increased comfort, and the neoprene inside the heel is softer and more secure.
There’s a lot to love about this shoe, but our heart rides with the Altra Egomidsole. The highly response EGOmidsole attenuates shock and provides an enhanced, energetic feel underfoot to prevent foot fatigue and promote swift transitions that keep you cruising, rather than falling flat. Featuring 6mm lugs, the grippy Vibram outsole craves gnarly mountain terrain, and offers optimal lateral breaking to keep you steady on the downhill. As an added bonus, the King 1.5 features Altra’s 4 point GaiterTrap. This innovative hook-and-loop tab secures gaiters (sold separately) to your trail shoe protecting your socks from saturation associated with puddles and precipitation. Trust us when we say you’re going to love these mountain kicks.
Altrarunning.com; MSRP $140
Under Armour Horizon RTT
Every now and then, the countless scree fields, muddy ravines, and rooty high knees try their darndest to get the best of you—so fight back with the Horizon RTT. With an upper coated in a polyurethane skin, and reinforced welded synthetic material in critical areas for increased durability, Mother Nature’s rough and rugged side will never prevent you from getting in a quality trail run.
The Horizon RTT features a 7mm drop design with a full-length EVA and Under Armour’s Charged Cushioning heel insert for proper shock absorbency and long-term comfort. Breathability is aided by small triangular cuts in the polyurethane upper, and while the overall construction makes these trail kicks the warmest runners on our list, the design makes them ideally suited for damp runs on mucky days – or just uber aggressive run days. No matter what terrain is underfoot, the straight forward lug design is durable, dependable and kept our trail team upright and going strong mile after mile.
Note: Runners may need to size up half size.
Underarmour.com; MSRP $109.99
Hoka One One Challenger ATR 4
Looking to breeze through the mountains like the morning mist? This lightweight max trail runner is for you. The new Challenger ATR 4 (available in men’s and women’s) maintains its top-end comfort forward design that’s ready for tackling long miles over packed terrain. That iconic smooth Hoka ride comes courtesy of the traditional over-sized EVA midsole (stack height of 31mm heel – 26mm forefoot) and early stage Meta-Rocker.
To keep your hard-working feet from overheating, the ATR 4 sports a dual-layer mesh that balances support, durability, and breathability. An extended toe-cap coverage offer added durability, which is great since you’ll be charging over roots, rocks, and all kinds of ruckus. Underfoot, the lugs have been arranged closer together towards the heel for a smoother, more consistent ride. A wider spread in the forefoot to help with grip on the trail and in wet conditions.
Hokaoneone.com; MSRP $130
Saucony Peregrine 8
With the eighth iteration of this model, Saucony has fine tuned this popular trail option into a beauty of a shoe with a beast of an appetite for gnarly trail. At the crossroads between a lightweight fit, unencumbered dexterity, and heavy-duty protection, the Saucony Peregrine 8 ensures the devoted trail runner (whether man or woman) gets the best of all worlds.
An open breathable mesh upper manages moisture to keep you dry and comfortable when the conditions are quite the contrary while enhanced mudguards at the toe and heel offer added protection. The PowerTrac outsole features 6mm lugs which not only corner beautifully, but conquer everything from technical terrain to grassy knolls. New for 2018 is the addition of Saucony’s PowerFoam midsole which creates a cushioned and response ride that lets you glide over rough ground. While the brand removed the embedded rock plate in this iteration of the Peregrine, the revised outsole/midsole unit ensures plenty of underfoot protection, while you get the added benefit of increased flexibility. With an impressive combination of protection, traction, cushioning and flexibility, this shoe holds its own.
saucony.com; MSRP: $120
Vasque Trailbender II
Vasque footwear has been crushing the trail since 1964 and the Trailbender II is no exception to the rule. Designed to provide comfort and support whether you’re gaining two thousand feet of elevation or enjoying the trials and tribulations on hardpack desert trails, the Trailbender II (available in men’s and women’s) is the most heavily-cushioned shoe in Vasque’s 2018 spring line-up.
Vasque endowed the Trailbender II with a five-millimeter drop to encourage a natural, repeatable foot roll to decrease fatigue and increase efficiency. And because big miles days require big comfort, Vasque hooks you up with a near seamless upper, a flat lacing system that eliminates hotspots over the instep, and a high rebound performance footbed that provides anatomical support and impressive energy return. Whether you’re powering up dusty trails or down loose and dusty descents, you’ll quickly garner an appreciation for the segmented Micro Plus rubber outsole. The tiny cloverleaf grips independently conform to trail irregularities while multi-directional 3mm lugs lock into terrain.
Vasque.com; MSRP $129.99
inov-8 TrailTalon 290
If tough trails and steep switchbacks are your cup of tea, then look no further than inov-8’s TrailTalon 290 to ensure support, traction, and adaptive comfort as you hoof it over miles of relentless terrain. To be honest, your run routine might not be enough to satisfy the insatiable appetite these shoes have.
When you head out to let these beasts feed, multi-directional 4mm lugs comprised of three sticky rubber compounds ensure an unrelenting grip, excellent stability and the quick release of any debris. And because the foot swells and splays over the course of long daunting miles, the TrailTalon features next generation ADAPTERFIT technology, which sees the fit of the shoe adapt as the foot changes on longer distance runs. For added protection, a new rubber toe bumper protects your little piggies no matter where the trail leads. Through it all, a new and improved lightweight, breathable upper material not only delivers a better fit but keeps things breezy on those hot May days.
inov-8.com; MSRP $125