The Best Men's Trail Running Shoes

Why can’t you just wear your regular running shoes on the trail? You can, of course, but trail running shoes provide additional protection for your feet from rocks, roots, sticks, and other trail hazards. Trail running shoes also provide enough stability to keep your feet planted in the shoes as you negotiate tricky terrain, but without too much rigidity. You need to feel light and nimble when you’re running on trails, and you also need to feel the trail itself underfoot (imagine trying to run in hiking boots). In general, trail runners are more rugged and a bit heavier than regular running shoes, also known as road runners. If you enjoy hiking and have wondered what it might be like to run your favorite hiking trails, this review is also for you. Trail running shoes are lighter than boots or hiking shoes—they’re designed for running where you’ve been walking, but you can also hike in them. In fact, long-distance thru-hikers often opt for trail running shoes to navigate routes like the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. However, that doesn’t mean trail running models are ideal hiking shoes for everyone. If you’re hiking fast and light, trail runners may serve you well—but if you’re carrying weight, you’ll almost certainly appreciate the greater support that hiking shoes and hiking boots provide by way of denser cushioning and more-rugged outsoles.