The 8 Best Hoka Trail Running Shoes, According to Ultramarathon Runners | Well+Good

Dimensions: 5–11 (F); 7–14 (M) | To colour: 2 | Features: Double carbon plate, gaiter-style ankle collar

Every Hoka athlete I spoke to was a fan of the new Tecton X 3, and most wore them on race day.You can take them out of the box and start running, forget about blisters or discomfort,” says the Swiss runner Judith Wijderwho eventually finished second in the UTMB OCC (Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc Orsières-Champex-Chamonix). “It gives me an extra boost of speed, but still has enough cushioning for long distances.”

The secret sauce in these shoes is the dual parallel carbon plates under each side of the foot, which can react individually to a rock or root you step on without disrupting your entire gait. “They bounce back really well; I feel like I’m jumping uphill when I run in them,” the runner adds Emily Schmitz from Wisconsin. At the same time, the outsole grips your feet securely, even on slippery rock faces, and the gaiter-like collar around the ankle keeps rocks and debris out. Before taking fifth place with the Tecton in the CCC, Athlete Heather Jacksonoriginally from New Hampshire, told me, “They are the perfect combination for me to be able to trust my feet and have all day comfort, even when running longer distances.”

Dimensions: 5–12 (F); 7–15 (M) | To colour: 6 | Features: Non-slip outsole, Goretex upper

The soft Speedgoat is beloved by ultrarunners. Many switch to it in the second half of a long race, when their tired feet are screaming. (Wyder even compares it to a couch.) But Ingram also recommends it for beginning trail runners, as it’s an exceptionally versatile shoe that performs well on a variety of terrain.

Adam PetermanThe Speedgoat, who took third in the 101-kilometer UTMB CCC (Courmayeur – Champex – Chamonix), says he loves them on rocky, technical trails. That’s no surprise: Hoka claims the placement of the super-grippy 5mm lugs was inspired by the hooves of mountain goats. But thanks to the Speedgoat’s ample cushioning and a rocker bottom that propels every stride forward, it’s also just plain comfortable.“It’s my favorite all-around shoe for training days,” says Peterman.

Dimensions: 5–11 (F); 7–15 (M) | To colour: 2 | Features: 5 mm studs made of highly wear-resistant rubber

When a California athlete Helen Mino Faukner If she’s going to run on a flowing singletrack that’s not very technical, she’ll reach for her Torrents.They have a slightly lower stack height than some other Hokas and less cushioning, so I don’t feel every rock I step on, but I do get more ground feel,” she says. While it’s still far from a barefoot shoe, her feet stay more connected to the terrain than in sneakers with more foam in the midsole.

Dimensions: 5–11 (F); 7–14 (M) | To colour: 2 | Features: Gaiter-like collar around the ankle

Hungarian runner Eszter Csillag loves lacing up the speedy Zinals for more aggressive runs. “They’re light and responsive,” she says, noting that they weigh just 6.7 ounces and have an impressively quick ride. Mino Faukner also loves them for super technical trail runs, especially since the short collar around the ankle is handy for to keep out dirt. “And the shoes have a really good grip and do well in the snow, which I like,” she says. Because they have a little less cushioning, Mino Faukner says she saves them for “shorter” runs, by which she means anything under 20 miles.

Dimensions: 5–11 (F), 7–14 (M) | To colour: 9 | Features: Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5mm studs

Peterman says he loves the Mafates for training in Montana’s winters. “They have really good traction, even in the snow,” he says. With less foam, you sit closer to the ground and get a firmer ride. Csillag adds that they can sometimes feel a little hard underfoot, but the excellent traction convinces her to take them out on runs where she needs to be super sure of her feet.

Dimensions: 5–12 (F); 7–15 (M) | To colour: 7 | Features: Waterproof Goretex upper

When Peterman’s run takes him over winter roads, he reaches for the Challenger. It reminds him of the light, muted Hoka Clifton that’s long been a favorite of many runners. “It’s like the Clifton on a trail tread pattern,” he says. Despite having enough foam to support every landing, this shoe weighs just 7.7 ounces. The best part: The Challenger is designed to be versatile enough to running on both roads and trailswith a special stud pattern on the outsole for different types of terrain.

Dimensions: 5–12 (F); 7–15 (M) | To colour: 3 | Features: Carbon plate

When the trail is smooth and polished enough, Peterman likes to take an easy run in the super-soft Skyward X, which has a springy carbon plate. The only minor downside is that all that cushioning creates a lot of shoe underfoot. “The sheer stack height,” says Peterman. “It goes a long way.” Some runners find it hard to connect to the ground on tricky terrain, but Peterman says for casual miles, it’s hard to beat.

Dimensions: 5–11 (F); 7–14 (M) | To colour: 2 | Features: Pebax plate

Csillag trains mainly on gravel paths at home, so she opts for the Mach X when she wants to push the pace, even though it’s not technically a trail shoe. “It has really good feedback from the ground, especially for faster workouts,” she says. “I “I do a lot of flat, speed-threshold training where it helps not to have too much traction. But once you hit the trails, you want traction.” But on gravel roads or paved dirt, the Pebax plate in the Mach X propels every stride forward with satisfying velocity.