We test-ran the newest crop of trail shoes to find the most durable, comfortable, aggressive models for taking on low-key towpaths, rocky singletrack, or muddy obstacle courses. To find your best fit, check out the Runner's World Shoe Finder . The North Face Ultra CardiacVersatile comfort for all but the gnarliest trails. A layer of foam in the midsole provides neutral cushioning that flexes well over uneven terrain, while a plastic cradle around the back of the shoe cups your heel.Great cushioning and exceptional traction set this light and flexible shoe apart for the runner who wants to dance over the trail. A simple, foot-wrapping upper and wide base of support provide a comfortable and stable ride.Exceptional stability and rugged durability have defined the Cascadia for a decade. This version has a better-fitting upper, which combines more pliable materials with a plastic midfoot saddle that comfortably wraps the foot and stabilizes it on variable terrain.Testers felt it did best on the road, citing minimal traction and a high, firm heel that felt shaky on rough terrain, but worked well for tame paths and mixed surface runs.

Some of the most aggressive tread you'll find gives this shoe superior traction. The light, low midsole and nylon-fiber rock plate also boosted confidence on tough terrain.A new plastic frame in the midsole improved stability and poke-through protection. cheap irish dancing shoes ukTesters found the shoe comfortable and supportive, with excellent traction.nike trainers for saleIt's a lightweight, low-profile shoe with a stable platform and full-length rock plate that doesn't let anything through. walking shoes for castsEven the upper is rugged.best new balance running shoe neutral New Balance Leadville 1210v2good walking shoes for france

For this version, our lab measured improved cushioning in the forefoot, and testers praised how well the upper's overlays support the foot.The FujiRunnegade is made for one purpose: going fast on rough terrain. best nike shoes to sell on ebayA booty-and-ankle-collar construction keeps debris out, and the closed-mesh upper sheds mud on the run. Hoka One One Challenger ATRA curious thing happened when we tested this shoe: While our Shoe Lab results found the thick midsole nearly impossible to bend (scoring 1 on a scale of 1 to 100), testers perceived it as the most flexible in this guide, due to the pronounced forefoot rocker in the thick, cushioned sole. Skechers GOrun Ultra 2This ultracushioned shoe has a bouncier feel than other shoes in the maximal category, which is noticeable when you roll off the high arch and onto the ball of your foot.The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2015 Best Trail Running Shoes Picking the top running shoe is like picking the best rock-and-roll band—there’s no right answer.

(Except in the case of the Exile-era Stones.) There are options for the wide and the narrow of feet, for minimalist fans and thick-sole pounders, for mountain speedsters and fire-road plodders—and every runner in between. But while we can’t point to a single shoe that everyone will love, we can tell you which will best match your needs. Testers put each shoe through its paces, and we tallied the results. The closest we got to a consensus? La Sportiva’s Mutant, which so excelled in its mountain-racy niche that it earned the top spot. The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2015 La Sportiva Mutant OK, so the Mutant is a narrow-footed-runner’s shoe with little time for funky foot shapes. But to those who fit into this toothy slipper, it is a thing of beauty. Read the full Gear of the Year review. The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2015 Adidas Outdoor Terrex Boost Best For: Hammering technical trails. The Test: This shoe ($160) is a screamer in challenging terrain—quick on the turnover, extremely confident on fast corners, and dependable in chunky turf.

The thin layer of foam in the midsole offers the perfect balance of sharp-rock smothering and a responsive, close-to-the-ground feel. The big, broad lugs bit well in muck and gravel but didn’t feel gummy or slick on flat granite. Wide-footed runners might chafe at the overlays, which wrap directly over the metatarsal bones, while those with narrow feet will be cranking hard on the laces. The Verdict: It’d be Gear of the Year if not for the slightest slippage on downhills. The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2015 Montrail FluidFlex ST Best For: Long mountain runs. The Test: It’s a tall order to improve on one of the best shoes of last year—the FluidFlex II—but Montrail pulled it off with the ST ($95). While keeping the versatility of an all-terrain, technical shoe, the ST bolsters the upper with abrasion-resistant overlays and more padding, and it adds a new foam rock guard and a stouter midsole. The result is a more substantial shoe that’s just as happy bombing singletrack as it is churning out miles on hardpack.

The ride is forgiving, but only a few testers complained about sluggishness. The Verdict: As close as it gets to a quiver-of-one trail runner. The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2015 New Balance 101 Best For: Minimalists and extremely efficient runners. The Test: The 101 ($90) was one of the iconic early-minimalist-era shoes, and the re-release is true to the original formula: low to the ground, extremely flexible, featherweight, and fun. Mercifully, there’s now a protective rock plate and enough foam in the forefoot and tail to soften landings. The structureless heel is comfy but feels a bit sloshy on steep uphills and descents. The midfoot is nicely locked down on hairpin turns, though traction on tight corners suffers from the low, widely spaced lugs. Note: these run half a size short. The Verdict: One zippy slipper. The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2015 ASICS Gel-FujiAttack 4 Best For: Flat terrain and road-to-trail missions. The Test: With its smooth rolling feel and large outsole surface area, the FujiAttack ($110) performed best when loosely laced, chugging along in the flats.

But while it’s infused with road-shoe DNA, the rock plate gives the FujiAttack the chops to venture into technical terrain, and a thick midsole has enough support and stability to handle bigger and heavier landers. One bummer: the round laces untied frequently, bit into the top of testers’ feet, and didn’t deliver a secure fit on steep downhills. The Verdict: If this were a car, it’d be a minivan with all-terrain tires. The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2015 The North Face Ultra Cardiac Best For: Flats, rolling hills, and long fitness runs. The Test: If comfort cruising is what you want, the Ultra Cardiac ($110) should be high on your list. Its soft, foamy midsole and low-profile Vibram lugs lend it an easy-rolling gait suited to all-afternoon scenic meanders in moderate terrain, although its agility and responsiveness are still fairly good. There’s certainly enough midfoot security for tricky descents, but some testers noted a wee bit more slippage than the snuggest shoe here allows, and a few sharp rocks poked through the thick foam.