Best Trail Runners for Hiking

What actually makes a trail runner work for hiking

A trail runner is built to be worn for miles at speed, which means less structure than a boot everywhere: a flexible forefoot, a lower or no ankle collar, and a lighter, more cushioned midsole. What separates a trail runner that holds up on a real hike from one built purely for racing is a rock plate under the forefoot, deep, widely spaced lugs for loose dirt and scree, and a wide-width option if you need one - all published specs, not marketing language. See our pillar guide to boots vs. trail runners for how to decide between the two categories in the first place.

How we ranked these for hiking, not racing

We used our light-footwear weighting: problem fit at 30%, weight and fit range at 20% each, support at 15% and durability at 15%. Weight counts for more here than on a boot roundup because these shoes are worn by the mile; problem fit rewards a rock plate and real trail lugs over a shoe built mainly for packed dirt and pavement.

Fit notes for trail runners

Feet swell over a long day, more so in a trail runner's thinner upper than in a boot, so many hikers size a trail runner a half size over their street shoe. A thin liner sock under your usual hiking sock reduces the extra rubbing that comes with the softer upper. If debris getting inside the low-cut collar is a problem on your trails, pair these with hiking gaiters sized for a trail runner rather than a boot. Merrell also builds a Wide option across other trail lines beyond the Agility Peak, including the Moab (Merrell Wide Width), worth checking if none of the widths above fit.

If you're deciding between the two most technical picks here, we've compared the Altra Lone Peak and the HOKA Speedgoat head to head.

Who should skip trail runners for hiking

A trail runner asks your ankles and your pack straps to do work a boot's cuff and stiffer sole would otherwise do. If you're carrying real backpacking weight, see trail runners built for backpacking or step up to a backpacking boot instead. If you have a history of rolled ankles on rocky, exposed terrain, the research on cuff height and stability is covered in do hiking boots prevent ankle sprains.

Two narrower cuts of this same field are worth knowing about: best trail runners for men ranks on the published men's width letters, and best trail runners for beginners ranks on how forgiving each shoe is for a first pair. If the shoes will also be your daily footwear, read are trail runners good for everyday use first - the outsole compound decides it. And Brooks Cascadia 20 vs HOKA Speedgoat 7 settles the two picks most people end up choosing between.

If you would rather learn the method than take a shortlist, how to choose trail running shoes works through lug depth, outsole compound, stack, drop and width in the order that matters - and how should trail running shoes fit? covers the sizing, because the best-specced shoe in the wrong size is the wrong shoe.