The best ultra trail running shoes can be hard to find. We have to think about weight, durability, comfort, traction, fit, stability, protection, sensitivity, price, etc.
Every ultra trail runner might care more about different things.
This list is meant to provide the best option for every type of trail runner.
S/LAB ULTRA 3
The overall winner, the perfect balance
610 g | 21.5 oz – drop: 8 mm
Let’s start with one of the very best overall trail running shoes ever made, the S/lab ultra.
The truth is, that for most ultra trail runners, this shoe will be a great match.
The S/lab is simply a great overall options, that will fit most runners because it simply checks so many boxes. It’s comfortable, protective, stable and has a great fit.
The only downside is that it’s not the lightest option available, and it’s also a pretty expensive shoe.
That said, ultra trail running is a pretty extreme sport and finding a suitable shoe on a very tight budget will be hard. However, there are still cheaper options on this list.
Also, it’s not the most sensitive option, but it’s also not terribly insensitive.
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Very protective
- Great fit
- very stable
Cons
- Expensive
- Not the lightest option
Note that these shoes are unisex.
In case you are interested, these shoes can be found on Amazon: S/LAB ultra 3
La Sportiva Karacal
Very protective
573 g | 20.2 oz – drop: 7 mm
La sportiva Karacal is the shoe to go for if you care a lot about having a protective shoe.
Considering how protective these shoes are, they are remarkably lightweight.
Another great thing about the karacal is the traction. There are few solid ultra trail running shoes that have better traction than this one.
The shoes are heavily cushioned and perform decent when it comes to comfort and stability.
These shoes are not very sensitive.
Overall get a bit more traction and protection (but it’s a close call as the S/Lab is also very protective), but you end up with a shoe that has slightly lower overall quality than the S/lab Ultra 3.
Pros
- Very protective
- Great traction
Cons
- Not very sensitive
In case you are interested, these shoes can be found on Amazon: La Sportiva Men’s Karacal
Salomon Sense Ride 4
Comfortable, well cushioned
587 g | 20.7 oz – drop: 8 mm
Another great ultra trail running shoe from Salomon, the Sense Ride 4.
It’s cheaper and lighter than the Salomon S/lab 3, but it isn’t as stable and protective.
Also, these shoes are better for runners who are looking for a sensitive running shoe.
The best thing about these shoes it that they don’t perform bad at anything.
However, they also don’t really excel at anything.
Still, it’s definitely a solid option, especially considering the price.
Pros
- Well cushioned
- Good overall
- Not very expensive
Cons
- Doesn’t excel at anything
In case you are interested, these shoes can be found on Amazon:
Hoka Torrent 2
Very light
519 g | 18.3 oz – drop 5 mm
We have arrived at the Hoka Torrent 2, the shoe for ultra trail runners who care most about the weight of the shoe.
While there are definitely lighter alternatives out there. I don’t find them really suitable for ultra trail running. Making the Hoka Torrent 2 the lightest option on the list (at the time of writing).
On top of being lightweight, the shoe is also very supportive and comfortable. It’s even pretty protective.
It’s another shoe that isn’t very sensitive, so don’t expect the best “trail feeling”.
Also, it does seem like the heel pocket has a bit of a loose fit.
The durability of these shoes might be a bit worse than other options on the list, especially on very technical terrain.
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Comfortable
Cons
- Loose heel pocket fit
- Not very sensitive
In case you are interested, these shoes can be found on Amazon for women: Hoka Women’s Torrent 2
Or on REI for men: Hoka Men’s Torrent 2
Brooks Cascadia 16
Supportive
638 g | 22.5 oz – drop 8 mm
The brooks Cascadia 16 are great overall trail runners, very suitable for long distances. All shoes on this list a durable options (unless otherwise stated). However, the Brooks Cascadia 16 are probably the kings/queens of durability. Not an unimportant factor to consider in ultra trail running.
Except for durability, they mostly excel at being supportive. It’s a stiff shoe, that is protective, stable and provides plenty of traction. On the other hand, don’t expect too much trail feel, the shoes are not very sensitive.
We can also not ignore the fact that these are the heaviest shoes on the list (at the time of writing). However, the difference isn’t huge.
Pros
- Very supportive
- Very durable
Cons
- Loose heel pocket fit
- Pretty heavy
In case you are interested, these shoes can be found on Amazon:
Saucony Peregrine
Budget option
553 g | 19.5 oz – drop: 4 mm
In general, I would recommend against budget options when doing an extreme sport like ultra trail running.
However, I can understand that some people are still looking for this, and the saucony peregrine actually makes a pretty decent options.
These shoes are pretty durable for a trail running shoe. On top of that, they are really lightweight and breathable considering the price.
Other great aspects of the Peregrine is that they are very comfortable and have great traction.
So, it’s a great shoe, and it’s pretty budget-friendly. However, there are also a couple of things that are not that great.
The shoe isn’t very sensitive, it’s not very protective, and it’s not very stable. That said, it doesn’t perform terrible on these aspects, just not good either.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
- Great traction
Cons
- Not very protective
- Not very stable
- Not very sensitive
Note that there are many versions of the Saucony Peregrine, if you care about budget, it might be worth it to take a look at some older versions. Some of these are also very good and they might be even cheaper. And as always, you might get lucky and spot a promotion.
Prices are constantly changing online. However, with some effort you should be able to get a great budget-friendly trail running shoe when searching for the Saucony Peregrine.
In case you are interested, these shoes can be found on amazon:
Conclusion
The best ultra trail running shoes, must have all the qualities of a regular trail running shoes. However, they may not have any drawbacks when running a very long distance.
Also, durability becomes an even more important factor when we are talking about “ultra” trail running.
If you do decide to go for a cheaper alternative, feel free to check out my article about the best cheap trail running shoes.
I hope this was helpful, please reach out to me if you have any questions, remarks or suggestions.