The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2025 (So Far!)

Get Out, Get Dirty

This is getting hard, y’all. Reviewing and ranking, albeit fun as heck, is not an easy task, especially as the industry seems to be doing a simultaneous implode/explode type of thing. Not only are our brands and options broadening exponentially, but every brand is concocting eerily similar recipes (on paper). If we only took the spec sheet for a ride, nearly every one would be virtually the same. Every brand has its own version of a lightweight engineered mesh, high-end foam, and dependable outsole.

It’s the nuances that speak out only when put on foot and on the trail. Thankfully, we have a super-experienced, well-rounded team to taste the notes and decipher what is going on in each pair.

This year has been exceptional in terms of quantity and quality. Midway through it, we have worn nearly 70 shoes, with many picking up positive reviews. It’s honestly hard to find a bad shoe these days.

So, these are the best trail shoes of ‘25 so far. We didn’t choose these based on category. We chose them based on overall Pigeon score and wearer testimony. This list could easily be longer, but we had to exercise a little self-control when it came down to it.

You’ll notice a lot of race-day options in the mix. It makes sense because those shoes typically have all of the premium ingredients that trickle down into other offerings.

Best Trail Running Shoes Right Now

We’ve been wowed by the quality and attention to detail that Arc’teryx pours into every garment they make. The Sylan Pro is the shoe manifestation of that sentiment. We loved pretty much everything about this shoe, from the ingredients to the overall ride. Even though it is slated as a “mountain” shoe, it is much more versatile than that claim.

Drawbacks? Sizing. Woof. Arc’teryx has kind of been all over the place with it. I went down a full size to find my optimal fit. Some may need to size down even more.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner. I don’t care that Talladega Nights is older and overquoted because this shoe is a winner on so many levels. La Sportiva absolutely nailed it with the Prodigio Pro. It is a moderately stacked premium racer… and doesn’t even have a plate. There’s a lot of high-end performance wrapped up into a lightweight package, which makes the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro such a versatile and dependable trail running shoe, racing or not.

Drawbacks? As a rule of thumb, go up a half size with any La Sportiva shoe you buy. It will sort out a lot of problems fit-wise.

Monster truck is the best way to describe the Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx. Its combination of high-stack and aggressive build allows runners to blaze over anything in their path without a care in the world. This is one of the shoes that can roll with pretty much any punch, whether it be gnarly conditions, long distances, etc. The Merrell MTL Adapt is a dependable workhorse that is, honestly, one of the better values out there when premium ingredients and longevity are considered.

Drawbacks? Historically, we have had issues with Merrell’s heel construction. It lacks a little bit of lockdown. Even though it was easier to mitigate this issue in the MTL Adapt, it wasn’t completely fixed yet.

Welcome to the trails, Mount to Coast! The T1 is their first go at a trail shoe. I’m surprised the ultra-centric brand took this long to debut it. With many similar features to their debut shoe in the R1, the T1 has a modest build that can go the distance. It features a luscious blended midsole foam, Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole, and a unique zonal fit system to accommodate a wide range of feet and trail running scenarios.

Drawbacks? The Mount to Coast T1 still has some fine-tuning to do with their overall fit for trail running. There’s nothing to be overly concerned about, though!

Pound for pound (or ounce for ounce), the Norda 005 may just be the best trail shoe ever made. This shoe is the future that marries the most premium materials with a lightweight construction. It is lower to the ground than most modern race day shoes, but the Arnitel TPEE midsole allows for a surprisingly plush and springy ride. The overall stature also allows for a functional sense of ground feel and natural stability. With ingredients like a Dyneema upper and the world’s first Vibram Megagrip Elite outsole, expect this racer to be worth every penny.

Drawbacks? Size up at least half a size from your typical. Some runners will simply want more underfoot than what the Norda 005 offers, but for those who don’t mind a balance ground feel, you’ll be more than fine.

Talk about versatility. The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4 wowed us with its ability to run anything from gravel roads to mountain passes, every day to long races. The Dream Foam midsole is a great platform that offers cushion and some energy return, while the Vectiv 3.0 composite stability plate promotes a touch more zing but mostly dynamic stability. The North Face has rolled out its lightweight and technical Dual Warp upper that is both optimally fitting and comfortable at the same time. This is my personal pick for a true one-shoe quiver.

Drawbacks? The Vectiv plate system has the potential to be your worst enemy. Since the plate sits right underneath the footbed, some runners have reported some pinching and irritation. This particular model didn’t give me any grief, but there are some North Face Vectiv models that do.

If you’re looking for light and fast, the North Face Vectiv Sky 2 is one of the leading options out there. It throws all of its best materials into one lower-to-the-ground option that’s ready for speed. The combination of Dream Foam midsole and Vectiv 3.0 carbon plate made for an uber-lightweight, zippy ride. The lightweight Dual-warp upper and aggressive 5 mm Surface Ctrl lugs added further confidence. The recipe made even the most technical trails fun and flighty.

Drawbacks? Like the Enduris 4, the carbon forefoot wings may bite. It really seems to be a 50/50 chance of getting irritated.

“Super shoe” is a loose term in the trail running world. The On Cloudultra Pro is a statement on that clause. Efficiency is its superpower. Sure, it has a super foam midsole, trail-specific Speedboard, Cloudtec, engineered upper, and Mission Grip outsole, but it is the harmony between the parts that makes this shoe special.

Don’t be surprised that the Cloudultra Pro is not the most responsive, cushioned, or aggressive shoe. However, it is likely one of (or is) the most efficient shoes out there, and that matters tremendously the longer you go.

Drawbacks? Though there’s not much to dislike about the On Cloudultra Pro, some nuances with fit may include sizing and a unique heel collar.

Fast is fun. And we had a lot of fun reviewing the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail. It is based on their successful road-racing model, but it is certainly not a 1-for-1 with a grippier outsole attached. This is a much more trail-tuned option.. It truly does feel zippy, well-cushioned, and surprisingly stable for a neutral, plated trail shoe. Best case scenario for the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail would be a healthy mix of smooth and moderate terrain (even road segments) where you can lengthen the stride and fly.

Drawbacks? The heel collar can cause some irritation, even with crew-length socks.

Salomon continues its pursuit of creating plateless racers, and it’s really working for them. With an Optifoam/Optifoam+ midsole, the S/Lab Pulsar range gains more energy return, stability, and protection in a lightweight package. Sure, it does gain weight over its predecessors, but it also gains range. This shoe will work well for moderate to technical races in the “middle distance” range. It is designed to run fast over 10ish-50 miles (20-80k). I would say that’s a fairly good estimate for a moderately stacked high-quality shoe like this.

Drawbacks? Durability. My Optifoam midsole did take a beating on more technical terrain, even to the point where chunks were pulled right out of it.

In a hot new resurgence, Saucony’s Xodus Ultra 4 is a new shoe to the room with focused updates that up its performance to a familiar level. We loved that the Xodus Ultra 4 has a lively, cushioned, and yet stable ride because of its rim-and-core midsole formulation. This is also a shoe where the fit sets the tone for versatility. The addition of Vibram Megagrip and a more durable engineered mesh upper allows for confidence on even the most adventurous miles.

Drawbacks? Weight is always one of those give-and-take factors. The Xodus Ultra 4 is not crazy heavy, but it is up there with some of the heavier models in the weight class.

Like the Saucony Xodus Ultra 4, the Topo Athletic MTN Racer 4 is back, baby! The major draw to this shoe will be the anatomically wider forefoot. It’s simply comfortable and boosts performance because of it. In classic Topo Athletic fashion, it has a fitted midfoot and heel for enhancing foot security. Overall fit, along with a medium-density airy midsole and aggressive Vibram Megagrip outsole, makes the Topo Athletic MTN Racer 4 a viable option for any terrain.

Drawbacks? With so many crazy proficient outsole materials and designs, this Topo Athletic traditional Vibram Megagrip design is, perhaps, starting to feel a little outdated. I wasn’t as satisfied with its performance as its competitors/peers.

Welcome to the max-stack-chat Topo Athletic! The Vista is one of those shoes that I’ve waited for. Because of Topo Athletic’s low-drop and foot-shaped philosophies, I’ve always thought they could pull together a crowd-pleasing maximum cushion option. The Vista is it. This is a true behemoth with a ton of cushion, lots of wiggle room, and a ride that can roll comfortably on a variety of terrain.

Drawbacks? Some may find the upper too roomy. Also, the uber soft midsole may cause some concern on more off-camber terrain.

VJ may be a brand you have never heard of, but they have become more popular in obstacle course racing crowds for their durability and grip. Those two attributes certainly follow the VJ Ultra 3 as well. Even better, this high-stack shoe has a wide range of optimal trail scenarios because of its technical fit and zesty Superfoamance midsole. This is a truly cushioned, energetic, and stable ride that can go just about anywhere comfortably.

Drawbacks? As with many of its trail-running options, the VJ Ultra 3 has a tough skin. The materials used are a little rougher because of their focus on durability. Those issues were fairly quickly solved, though.