Over the years I have never been at all brand loyal when it comes to my running shoes. That counts for trail shoes or road shoes.
As a result I have different brands and models of shoes that I would pick depending on trail surface and distance.
If you keep your shoe selection to the range that I have here it will save you from the multitude of mistakes that I have made over the years.
Soft Soil and Muddy Trails
I find that the larger lugs on the soles of the Speedcross by Solomon (available on Amazon) works the best on soft soil and muddy trails.
The aggressive but spaced lug pattern has phenomenal grip on soft trails without getting clogged up.
Bear in mind that the lugs of the Speedcross (available on Amazon) are fairly soft in order to maintain comfort over areas of trail that are less soft underfoot. These shoes were never designed for running on asphalt.
The only negative reviews that I have seen come from runners who used the Speedcross (available on Amazon) almost exclusively on asphalt with the complaint that the asphalt caused the soft rubber lugs to wear down.
Dry Sandy and Rocky Trails
The best performing shoe that I have found for sandy and rocky trails is the Speedgoat by Hoka One One (available on Amazon).
The Speedgoat (available on Amazon) has shorter lugs set into a closely spaced tread pattern. These shoes sport the durable Vibram soles (wikipedia) using the same rubber compound made famous on top end mountaineering boots dating back to the first ascent of K2.
Like all Hoka One One shoes, the toe area feels a bit tight when the shoes are new, but they soon stretch to your foot shape. For me the sensation of tightness was gone after the first 10 miles, and after that they were great.
The standard fit has your toes right at the front of the toe box so I would suggest that you get a half size larger than you would normally. The (W) wide fit Hoka One One shoes have a wider toe box and if you can find a pair of those, snap them up because they sell out quickly.
I live in a dry climate with fairly hard pack trails covered in a thin layer of loose sand and small stones. The tread pattern of the Speedgoat (available on Amazon) combined with cushioning that is kind on my knees makes this my go-to daily trail shoe.
Ultra Distance Trail Running on Mixed Trail Types
For me foot comfort is the most important aspect of consideration when running ultra distances.
That is why I use the Lone Peak by Altra (available on Amazon) with the wider toe box when going ultra distances. I also find that once retired from active service as a running shoe, Lone Peaks (available on Amazon) make superb hiking shoes.
If you have never used zero-drop shoes before, please remember to transition to zero-drop shoes gradually to avoid injury.
The wide toe box synonymous of all Altra Shoes makes them super comfortable all day running and hiking shoes.
One unique feature of the Lone Peak (available on Amazon) range of shoes that I never knew that I needed is the metal ring at the front of the lacing area and the velcro Gaiter Trap on the back of the heel. This enables me to attach my Altra Trail Gaiters (available on Amazon) quickly and easily.
Sizing wise, the Lone Peak 4.0 (available on Amazon), pictured below, fits true to size in the same way as the Lone Peak 3.0 (available on Amazon) did before. By comparison the Lone Peak 3.5 (available on Amazon) fits slightly small so you will need to order a half size larger.
Trail and Road Combination
When I am traveling and am not sure if I will be able to get onto any trails for my daily run, I pack a combination shoe rather taking up valuable packing space with my trail shoes and my road shoes.
This is where the Stinson by Hoka One One (available on Amazon) come into their own. The lugs under the sole are smaller and more densely packed enabling running on paved road without any hot spots under your feet.
Like all Hoka One One (available on Amazon) shoes the Stinson sizes a little small so select half a size larger than you otherwise would.
The Stinson 4 (available on Amazon) has one massive improvement over earlier models in my opinion. Hoka have widened the toe box of the Stinson 4 (available on Amazon). This makes the shoe much more comfortable over longer runs.
Road Running
There was a time when I ran in minimalist racing flats on the road. However, I needed a shoe that would mimic the type of sensory feedback I get from a softer trail surface.
I have no regrets about choosing the Bondi by Hoka One One (available on Amazon) as my road shoe. As thick as the soles look, they are super light. I set three 10km personal records in the first two weeks of owning them.
My current pair is the Bondi 5 (available on Amazon). I use them for distances up to half marathon only. This is due to not getting a half size larger than my normal shoe size as I do with all my other Hoka (available on Amazon) shoes. I did this to test how the size error would impact my running. The answer is not at all for up to two hours. After that my feet tend to swell in the heat and I get discomfort.
My next pair of road shoes will be the Bondi 6 (available on Amazon) and I will be sure to get a half size larger than my normal shoe size, the same as what I do with all my Hoka trail shoes.
If you’re looking for good quality trail running gear, I have other pages like this one recommending my favorite head torches, hydration systems, and other trail running gear and accessories on the recommended gear page of this site. It’s all the battle-tested gear that I love.