Reviews You Can Rely On

Comparing Trail Running Shoes for Men

Showing 20 products | Change
 
Awards Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award  Top Pick Award Top Pick Award 
Price $190 List
$189.95 at Backcountry
$195 List$77.50 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers
$128.99 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
$154.95 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers
Overall Score Sort Icon
80
80
76
75
75
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Pros Unbeatable fit, fantastic underfoot protection, doesn’t absorb much water, very stableUltralight, extremely durable, technical cushioningVery protective, roomier fit than other models from La SportivaUnparalleled comfort, unrivaled traction, ample foot protectionExcellent descender, very comfortable, dense cushioning
Cons Expensive, hard to get on foot, must wear above the ankle height socks, hard to stuff laces into garageExpensive, tight midfoot upper, longer break-in timeHeavily padded tongue results in sub-par breathabilityAggressive heel-to-toe drop, lack of stabilityHigher stack, lacks sensitivity
Bottom Line The finest shoe for technical terrain that gives a feeling of confidence at speedFor those that desire the lightest shoe in technical terrain, there is nothing more comfortable or durable, perfect for racing or tempo effortsThis burly mountain runner is very protective and is an excellent choice for longer outings in rocky terrainA legendary shoe that gets better by the year with minor tweaks to improve the performance of this specialty off-trail runnerFor 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%)
9.0
7.0
9.0
7.0
8.0
Traction (20%)
7.5
7.5
9.0
10.0
8.0
Sensitivity (15%)
6.0
8.0
5.0
7.0
6.0
Stability (15%)
9.0
8.5
7.0
5.0
7.0
Comfort and Fit (15%)
9.0
8.5
7.0
9.0
9.0
Weight (10%)
6.4
10.0
6.5
5.8
6.2
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