The Most Exciting Trail Running Shoes of 2026: Our Picks & Previews

Trails to Grails

As I’m writing this, we at the Dirt Division are fresh off a frenzied week at The Running Event 2025 down in San Antonio, an industry trade show where brands from around the globe show up to preview their goods for the upcoming year. For two days straight, we– along with the other members of Believe in the Run– traversed the show floor, pulling entire workday shifts as we met with nearly 40 brands.

It wasn’t digging ditches, it wasn’t running Cocodona, but it was nevertheless exhausting. 

On the trail running side, The Dirt Division met with everyone we possibly could meet to see what’s coming in 2026. To be honest, it wasn’t a blow-your-hydration-pack-off kind of year, but it was an exciting one across the board. As we saw an array of new models, a couple of common themes arose.

The first one was booties. Lots of them. Different shapes. Different sizes too. No, we’re not talking about The Landing Strip outside of East Dillon, Texas. We’re still on shoes, so eyes up here. Last year, there were only two real booties to speak of among trail shoes. Now, there’s a bunch. Last year, we saw the rise of the enhanced technical upper. This year we will see, literally, the extension of that. The goal? Keep out debris and enhance comfort and stability. 

Then there’s the ongoing progression of foam technology. The playing field has been leveled over the past couple years, so next year will see more incremental improvements or slight tweaks for precision performance. 

Lastly, the gravel category is here to stay. Nearly every brand will sling a door-to-trail/gravel/hybrid/door-to-forest (DTF) shoe. Of course, the brands who intentionally leaned into it early on (e.g. Salomon and Craft) will lead the way with next generations.  

We saw a lot while we were in Texas, enough that we could quadruple this list if we had the time. And there are still plenty of models coming that we can’t share, but hopefully can soon. For now, here are just a few of our most anticipated shoes (in alphabetical order) in 2026.

The Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra is likely what folks think when “trail super shoe” jargon is thrown around. It has proven to be one of the highest performing and unique trail running experiences. Terrex seeks to maintain the one while improving the other. So, the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 will see incremental improvements where it matters most. 

Where does it matter most? Comfort. I was one of the many whose feet were tore up by the first versions upper and fit. Both are given attention in the newest model with strategic padding and structure through the heel and small details throughout the upper to be more accommodating and comfortable. That’s a huge start!

Like a toxic relationship, I was also one who would be the wellbeing of my feet aside just for the glorious underfoot concoction. This element was also altered in the Agravic Speed Ultra 2 via an updated Lightstrike Pro foam that was confirmed lighter, softer, and boasts higher energy return. Energy Rods remain the same as the first model. 

The Continental rubber outsole also received an update with larger and deeper lugs for obvious reasons.

With all three major areas of the shoe getting a little some-some, there’s no reason to not be excited about this update!

Adidas Terrex will release four trail beauties in 2026. Three of them are updates. And while version 2 of their ground-breaking racer is exciting, it is the Agravic TT that has the most gravity. Think of it as a technical terrain (hence TT) counterpart to the Agravic Speed Ultra 2. 

A combination of their newly tuned Lightstrike Pro foam (top layer) and Lightstrike Plus (bottom layer) sandwich a rock guard that looks like a pancaked version of the standard EnergyRods. Beneath all that is a wider platform and deeper Continental rubber lugs to add stability and grip. As far as underfoot dynamism, the Agravic TT is really meant to set itself apart from the Agravic Speed Ultra 2. 

Perhaps, most exciting is the attention given to the heel construction. True structure and padding create a locked-in fit that’s ready for anything. It looks and feels similar to that in the Agravic 4– another updated option from Adidas Terrex.

This year’s showing at TRE was the most robust lineup that we have seen in a while from Altra. The Experience Wild 3+ is a good example of what they have to offer. The 4 mm of drop will excite a bunch of runners, making it a more accessible shoe for the masses.

As with the Altra Lone Peak 9 series, consumers can choose if they want to upgrade to a premium Vibram outsole or not– hence the “plus” tagged to the name. Now with an updated foam and sleeker design than ever, the Experience Wild 3+ is a door-to-trail option that stands alone as a valuable asset to Altra’s running lineup and not just a bridge to zero-drop land. 

Other exciting shoes from the brand include a new Olympus 7 and the race ready Olympus 275 Hi-Lo. 

When zero drop and high stack meet some of the best materials in the industry, consider us intrigued! The Altra Olympus 275 Hi-Lo is the brand’s second attempt at an ultra oriented race day option. Hi-Lo is the recognition of the highs and lows of  trail endeavors. 

It takes the base of their tried and true Olympus model and enhances performance via a Matryx upper, sock-like collar and tongue, and Vibram Megagrip outsole. Since we are talking about Altra, a foot-shaped toebox is a given. This time around, the updated Ego Max midsole is lighter, more energetic, and more cushioned, checking all the boxes we’re looking for.

This particular version supported a top-10 finish at UTMB this past year! So, performance has already been assured. 

Say hello to Brooks’ new ultra race day option. Let’s start off by saying that we don’t need to speculate on the Cascadia Elite’s performance, which has already been proven in our own experience (we were lucky enough to receive an early sample of the shoe).

The Brooks Cascadia Elite pulled together some of the best ingredients on earth and combined them into an entirely functional and performance enhancing package. We’re talking about DNA Gold (100% PEBA) midsole, Matryx upper, Vibram Megagrip Elite outsole, and a unique horseshoe-shaped plate. One can imagine how this plays out in an endurance event. Spoiler: It’s fantastic.

Check out our full review of the Brooks Cascadia Elite, but wait for its release in March.

Forest Hill aid station at mile 66 of Western States is when I noticed it first. In the heat of the day, as Craft athlete Ida Nilson received sponge baths and reloads of fuel, my gaze went straight to her feet. It was clearly a Craft prototype… I mean, the word itself was printed across the upper. It looked very promising from the gravel-centric brand, an early glimpse of the Kype Gravel Pro.

Well, that shoe is coming to market sooner than we anticipated. It’s a little more complex than simply throwing a more aggressive outsole on their road super shoe, but that was the original concept. Either way, it’s a lightweight shoe that boasts a high energy combo of their XX and PX foams, meaning we get a shoe that’s a bit more suited for light trail scenarios as opposed to roads.  

While the road version utilizes a carbon plate, the Kype Gravel Pro sports a Kevlar plate as well as a specific Vittoria gravel racing outsole designed for the demands of life on the trail.  As far as race day options go, this is one of the most anticipated shoes of 2026, for sure!

This will be released near UTMB time next year.

Inov8 has a history of making specific tools for the fells district of northwest England. As they’ve ebbed and flowed as a brand, their most recent offerings in the Traifly series have targeted trail running in a more general sense. Their new Trailfly Pro is their answer to a trail racing shoe. 

As I listened to Johnny give the rundown on the shoe, two others popped into my head based on the specs – the Norda 005 and the La Sportive Prodigio Pro. Those are our two top trail shoes of 2025. If Inov8 has truly made an amalgamation of the two, this could be one of the best trail running experiences in a long time! 

We also had an opportunity to see this shoe in its infancy. A TPEE midsole caught my attention immediately. Of course, Inov8’s Graphene Grip outsole is also a premium material. The upper construction is well thought out. Seriously, this might be my most anticipated shoe of 2026. 

If you haven’t heard of Kiprun, it’s a good time to become familiar with the brand. They are the performance running arm of Decathlon, the largest sporting goods retailer in the world. Kiprun already has a strong foothold in the Eastern Hemisphere, something they’ll attempt to replicate in the US market for 2026.

Over the course of the next year, they’ll release a handful of models across road and trail, but of course we are concerned with dirt. Their first trail launch in the US will be the Kipsummit Max. As it sounds, this is their max-cush, trail ready offering. As we have seen with other successful trail shoes, the Kiprun Kipsummit Max combines a Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole, modern supercritical blended foam, and a durable engineered mesh upper– all for $150. 

For what it’s worth, initial sensations give me a more stable Nike Zegama vibe which retails for 20 bucks more. While new brands are not always what we need, it’s brands like Kiprun that will continue to push others forward.

This will be La Sportiva’s first update to any of the models in the Prodigio line. The original Prodigio was one of our favorites for technical and all-around trail running; you know, one of those do-it-all trail shoes. 

The new Prodigio 2 will gain a retooled supercritical EVA midsole for a slightly softer feel and more dynamic experience. This will give runners an experience similar to that of their top dog, the Prodigio Pro. Slight tweaks to the upper seek to do the same, including a wider fit. 

There are many brands that try to hit updates out of the park. I’m actually looking forward to the La Sportiva Prodigio 2 because of the subtle but meaningful adjustments.

Merrell continues to fly under the radar in the trail running space despite very quality trail running offerings. What’s it going to take for more folks to get them on their feet? Maybe it’s taking the design of this carbon-plated racing shoe and transferring it over to the Agility Peak 6, a mainstay of the Merrell family.

The Merrell MTL SpeedArc Peak borrows inspiration from one of their hikers– high-end materials and proven performance from their MTL line helps create one of the most unique racers on the market. The dual density midsole consists of an updated Floatpro foam on the bottom with a blended PEBA foam closest to the foot. 

Sandwiched between them is a 3/4-length forked carbon plate that, in conjunction with specific flex grooves, brings dynamic propulsion and stability to the equation. Let’s not forget that this will be the third shoe to sport Vibram Megagrip Elite outsole and it will have a premium Matryx upper. 

All the best materials are here to make the Merrell MTL SpeedArc Peak an incredible addition to the trail racing scene.

All eyes should be on Mount to Coast. They’ve captured the hearts and feet of road and trail runners over the last couple of years. That circle of influence will only grow with what’s coming down the pipeline. 

One new model will debut on the trail side. The M1 boasts another new TPU-based foam that’s derived from the same material as a new car’s paint finish. First a CircleCell foam made of bio-waste and now this?! The foam is said to be very durable (obviously) and serve up higher energy return than standard PEBA. Insert wide-eyed emoji.

This is one of the many reasons we’ve seen such growth from Mount to Coast. Since the Mount to Coast M1 is meant for longer, more technical outings, a wider platform, more generous fitting upper, same zonal fit system, and deeper Vibram Megagrip lugs are called upon too. There’s no reason to think that this model won’t be a hit. 

Of course, we at Believe in the Run are also wildly excited about the release of the BITR H1 that combines the base of the popular H1 with design inspiration from BITR’s founder, Thomas Neuberger. The result is beautiful both on and off the trail. 

It is surreal, but, Mount to Coast also had the BITR H1 one on the floor as well. It combines the original look of their award winning H1 and long-time desired design from Believe in the Run’s founder, Thomas Neuberger. 

The main differences come in the upper where an integrated knit bootie is utilized to enhance fit, defend against debris, and let’s be honest, looks freakin’ sick. It’s a nod to Thomas’s love of the Nike Lunarepic Flyknit.

Mount to Coast’s CircleCell midsole and subtle Versagrip outsole remain the same, providing hybrid versatility. Our reviewers commented that this is the best performing combination out of a hybrid shoe, giving true confidence on anything from pavement to light trail. 

The addition of the newly designed upper will only further the versatility of the original H1. 

Honestly, the rise of gravel/hybrid/door-to-trail shoes is welcomed with open arms by the Dirt Division, especially if this is the type of attention given to them. 

Nike knows how to make a splash. Nike is swinging hard for the fences as they go-in on the heritage ACG sub-brand, and both of their key trail models are getting massive glow ups.  Consider it Nike’s assurance that they are committing to the trail running space for the long term.

The Nike ACG Zegama 3 will boost performance with increased stack (38mm heel to 30mm forefoot) of a tuned Zoom X midsole (and more of it), adjusted technical engineered mesh upper, and another season with Vibram Megagrip on the outsole. 

Enhanced fit is the focus on this iteration, which is a necessary improvement. Honestly, it’s still hard to beat the underfoot feel. Now, a bathtub construction will allow runners to sit into the luscious ZoomX core, with added support via the sidewalls and Cushlon carrier. 

Like some of the other updates, I am most excited about the incremental enhancements in the Nike ACG Zegama 3.

We have seen this shoe for years… literally. It’s finally here and is an update to a fan favorite. The Nike ACG Ultrafly 2 is, essentially, the Vaporfly for the trail. All of the right ingredients are here to give a lively underfoot feel, long distance support, and, ultimately, confidence. 

A dual-density Zoom X midsole with a carbon Flyplate sets the tone. It really is one of the most performative and fun combinations on the market. A steeper drop than typically seen on the trails helps assist with the intentional forward movement. A Vibram Megagrip Litebase rubber with 3.5 mm lugs occupies the underside while the upper seeks balance with structure and highly technical engineered mesh. This shoe is mostly meant for the less technical trails but seems to have the build to go far. 

Small details are what tend to set Nike apart. Examples of those in the ACG Ultrafly 2 are the mesh wrapped forefoot to protect the midsole while adding structure, a unique plate design for propulsion and stability, and even a focus on “right weight” as opposed to just “lightweight” construction. 

Nike ACG is sure to bring the heat in 2026.

The goal of the Nnormal Cadi is to fill the gaps. While Nnormal’s staple shoes like the Kjerag 2 and Tomir 2 are more technically oriented, the Cadi exists as a comfortable door-to-trail option. When I say door-to-trail option, in this case it means all trail, including some gravel or pavement as needed. 

This will be their highest stack and most cushioned option yet. Nnormal will utilize a similar, but softer, supercritical EVA foam to achieve this. A more relaxed fit and engineered upper will allow more runners to feel comfortable in Nnormal’s shoes.

Durability is integral to Nnormal’s sustainability clause. A lighter Matryx upper, Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole, and the EVA midsole are all chosen for their lasting performance. Runners should expect this one to go the distance and then some. 

Ask and you shall receive! The Norda 055 is the shoe for those who wanted more out of their lightweight racer, the ground breaking Norda 005 (our runner up for 2025 shoe of the year). 

There are a lot of similarities between the 055 and the 005, including the high-rebound, high-cushion, high-resiliency Arnitel midsole (pure TPEE), Vibram Megagrip Elite outsole, and the indestructible Dyneema upper.

Simply put, the main differences will be a whole lot more of each ingredient . The Arnitel midsole will gain 5 mm of stack overall (love it!). Deep 5 mm lugs will provide a more aggressive dig-in power (yes!).! A restructured heel with an integrated sock-like bootie will assure a more secure fit (heck yeah!). 

This is the second year in a row that Norda may have just stolen the show on the trail running and style front.

There’s a couple big moves that come with this all-new trail model from On. For starters, the On Cloudsoma is the first shoe that doesn’t have CloudTec holes in the midsole. It’s a one-piece injected slab of Helion HF foam (found in the Cloudultra Pro and Cloudultra 3). A new type of Cloudtec is utilized to engage your foot’s receptors and allow for a more rooted running experience. In this sense, this is the brand’s first “natural” running shoe too. 

How does it work? The midsole has segmented “pods” of foam that engage with both the ground and foot to allow a more natural sense of movement and better feel for the trail. More details are brought into the “natural” feel equation like a softer knit upper, minimal stitching, and footbed that mirrors the midsole/outsole. 

I am intrigued by this design because of its “natural” running claims, without being completely footshaped nor right on the ground.

I’ve been really surprised to see so many runners wearing the Salomon Genesis over the last couple of years. It makes sense, I guess– quality build, adaptable construction, and a good price. That’s really a winning recipe, and Salomon is updating their base level workhorse for even more trail readiness this time around.

An updated aggressive outsole will set the stage. Lug size, shape, and pattern are altered to be all-trails ready. The same can be said for the closer to skin fit – still with Matryx – and the improved supercritical midsole foam. Contrary to popular trends, this model actually decreases the stack from the previous version, seeking better ground connection. 

A big story is the Active Chassis. It will play more of a role in the overall experience, providing light guidance to trail runners. 

Overall, the Salomon Genesis 2 is more comparable to the S/Lab Genesis than ever before. Salomon fans of past and present should really be excited for this update because it will have lasting effects throughout the broader Genesis family.

The kings of custom in the trail running world are back with more commissions (i.e. athlete editions) and new models. This will be a huge year for them. There are two super exciting things about Speedland. One is a shoe and the other is an idea. 

First, the Speedland RX:LDVL is a trailed-up version of their road super shoe. The RX platform boasts a lot of promise for ultra trail racing. It has a more streamlined silhouette and a character-filled ATPU external midsole. Compared to the road counterpart, this RX:LDVL’s will have more structure added durability for the trails. 

This version will also have two adjustment points for fit – an upper power strap and lower Boa dial. This allows for a lighter and more straightforward design of the strategic fit system, while still maintaining an optimal fit. A new, sleeker outsole will lose the customization capabilities, but it is fine tuned for the race day scenario. 

Secondly, I have to commend Speedland for their initial idea coming to life (potentially). Speedland has had multiple commissions based on five silhouettes. A custom shop would allow runners to choose their silhouette, drop-in midsole option, pick a plate/plates, and decide on their appropriate outsole. While customizing the aesthetics of a shoe isn’t a new idea, fine-tuning performance aspects really hasn’t been made possible. Here’s to hoping the Speedpland team can bring this idea to life!

The North Face has had our number for several years now. In our opinion, there have been very few misses amidst an ever-growing family of shoes. It appears that their track record will grow stronger with another brand new model in 2026. The Offtrail Ultra joins a line of technically-oriented shoes that’s ready for any adventure.

While the first models to debut in this line were extremely aggressive, this Offtrail Ultra looks much more runnable.  Tons of details were poured into this rugged terrain shoe. Like the rest of the Offtrail line, a burly full-coverage Surface Ctrl outsole with a “scrambling zone” will ensure grip on darn near anything. The silhouette reminded us of the Infinite 3 except with an integrated bootie. Underfoot, a new Dreambound foam is employed to retain a unique running sensation but adds more durability and protection into the mix. This is The North Face’s first shoe with a dual-density foam, but one that’s integrated together without using glue (similar to what Brooks has done with DNA Tuned).

On the opposite end, they also showed us the updates to the Altamesa 500v2 and Altamesa 300v2, which are equally exciting.