Comparing Trail Running Shoes for Men
Showing 20 products | Change
Awards | |||||
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Price | $190 List $189.95 at Backcountry | $195 List | $72.50 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $132.03 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $154.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Unbeatable fit, fantastic underfoot protection, doesn’t absorb much water, very stable | Ultralight, extremely durable, technical cushioning | Very protective, roomier fit than other models from La Sportiva | Unparalleled comfort, unrivaled traction, ample foot protection | Excellent descender, very comfortable, dense cushioning |
Cons | Expensive, hard to get on foot, must wear above the ankle height socks, hard to stuff laces into garage | Expensive, tight midfoot upper, longer break-in time | Heavily padded tongue results in sub-par breathability | Aggressive heel-to-toe drop, lack of stability | Higher stack, lacks sensitivity |
Bottom Line | The finest shoe for technical terrain that gives a feeling of confidence at speed | For those that desire the lightest shoe in technical terrain, there is nothing more comfortable or durable, perfect for racing or tempo efforts | This burly mountain runner is very protective and is an excellent choice for longer outings in rocky terrain | A legendary shoe that gets better by the year with minor tweaks to improve the performance of this specialty off-trail runner | For epic days in the mountains with lots of vertical gain and descending, there is no better shoe on the market for ripping down moderate hills |
Rating Categories | Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 | Nnormal Kjerag | La Sportiva Karacal | Salomon Speedcross 6 | HOKA Speedgoat 5 |
Foot Protection (25%) | |||||
Traction (20%) | |||||
Sensitivity (15%) | |||||
Stability (15%) | |||||
Comfort and Fit (15%) | |||||
Weight (10%) | |||||
Specs | Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 | Nnormal Kjerag | La Sportiva Karacal | Salomon Speedcross 6 | HOKA Speedgoat 5 |
Measured Weight (per shoe, size 10.5) | 10.64 oz | 8.05 oz | 10.58 oz | 11.08 oz | 10.76 oz |
Measured Lug Depth | 3.5 mm | 3 mm | 4 mm | 5.5 mm | 4 mm |
Sizes Available | 4 - 13 US | 4 - 13.5 US | 38 - 48.5 EU | 7 - 14 US | 7 - 15 US |
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 9 mm | 8 mm | 9 mm | 12 mm | 6 mm |
Measured Heel Stack Height | 31 mm | 25 mm | 32 mm | 33 mm | 35 mm |
Measured Forefoot Stack Height | 22 mm | 17 mm | 23 mm | 21 mm | 29 mm |
Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 8 mm | 6 mm | 7 mm | 10 mm | 4 mm |
Claimed Heel Stack Height | 29 mm | Not stated | 29 mm | 32 mm | Not stated |
Claimed Forefoot Stack Height | 21 mm | Not stated | 22 mm | 22 mm | Not stated |
Measured Outsole Length | 12.00 in | 12.13 in | 11.75 in | 12.31 in | 12.19 in |
Measured Outsole Width | 4.31 in | 4.42 in | 4.23 in | 4.25 in | 4.76 in |
Upper | Matryx Jacquard | Matryx Jacquard | Mesh | Synthetic mesh, ripstop, TPU | Recycled engineered mesh |
Midsole | Energy Save PU foam with Profeel Film rock protection | EExpure midsole | Compression-molded EVA/1.5 mm dual-density EVA | Salomon EnergyCell+ EVA | CMEVA |
Outsole | Salomon Contagrip MA | Vibram Litebase | La Sportiva FriXion AT 2.0 | Salomon Mud Contagrip | Vibram Megagrip rubber with Traction Lug |
Measured Outsole Hardness | 61 | 75 | 68 | 71 | 70 |
Rock Plate | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Heel Tab Type | None | None | None | None | Extended heel pull |
Wide Version Available | No | No | No | Yes | No |
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