members-only post Sep 04, 2026 13 min read

Best trail racing shoes of 2026: 18 tested picks, skyrunning to ultra

The 17 best trail racing shoes of 2026, tested on real mountains. Skyrunning, vertical kilometer, and ultra distance picks that earn race day.

How I chose the best trail racing shoes

When it comes to finding the best racing shoes for trail running events, I approach every new release with a critical eye and a commitment to honest, no-nonsense reviews.

Updated September 2026: the new Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 joins the ultra list as the max-stack pick for runnable courses, and the Agravic Speed 2 holds #1 in skyrunning.

Every trail shoe featured in this roundup has been thoroughly tested by myself, on real trails, in all kinds of weather, and over various types of terrain that each of these racing shoes should be able to handle.

I like to push running shoes to the edge, to see where their breaking point is.

This hands-on approach helps me cut through marketing noise and figure out which shoes actually deliver on their promises.

I stay independent and objective, and every review you watch on my Youtube Channel or read right here on this blog reflects my real-world experience. I want to help you find the trail shoe that fits your needs, not just the one that’s trending.

If you purchase gear through links in this article, I may earn a small affiliate commission. For my training tools, exclusive content, newsletter, and more perks become a member, (it's free!). -Alastair ✌🏼

Trail racing shoes are premium trail running shoes specifically designed for getting the most out of your race day.

That's not to say you can't also wear them for training runs too - they're also great for speed or hill interval training.

This category is probably the most complex so I will be recommending a mixture of my top picks for the various categories of trail racing.

This includes technical, fast trail racing (like Skyrunning, for example), middle of the pack 10KM to ultra distance trail racing, ultra running at high intensity, and vertical kilometer racing.

Best Lightweight trail racing shoes for fast, technical racing [Skyrunning]

These types of trail running shoes are typically very lightweight, highly breathable, have a low stack height for better ground feel and control, and will have super sticky outsole traction with aggressive lugs.

This combination of features, produces a responsive ride that allows you navigate technical terrain, and steep inclines / declines like a true god or goddess.

4. HOKA Zinal 2

Price: $160 at Dick's Sporting Goods

Weight: 7.1 oz (201g) | Drop: 5mm | Fit: True to size, medium width

3. The North Face VECTIV Sky 2

Price: $200 at REI / Sportsshoes (For UK Readers)

Weight: 8.4 oz (238g) | Drop: 6mm | Fit: True to size, medium width

2. Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 MATRYX

Price: $160 at merrell.com / REI / Sportsshoes (For UK Readers)

Weight: 8.9 oz (252g) | Drop: 4mm (Low) | Fit: True to size, medium width

For Vertical Kilometer racing, I recommend checking out the MTL Skyfire 2 - which is a more stripped down version of this for the ultimate in lightweight (but more minimal) speedy hill climbing.

1. Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed 2

Price: $165 at adidas.com

Weight: 8.4 oz (238g) | Drop: 8mm (35mm heel / 27mm forefoot) | Fit: True to size on a snug, low-volume race last

The lightest Agravic yet takes the top spot in this category because it delivers exactly what skyrunning-style racing demands: a nimble, lively, plateless ride with real ground feel, and grip you can trust almost everywhere.

The dual-layer midsole pairs soft, high-rebound Lightstrike Pro underneath with a firmer Lightstrike layer on top, and with no plate in the way the shoe stays naturally flexible for precise foot placement on technical ground, while the moderate rocker keeps transitions smooth at high cadence.

The Continental outsole with 3-4mm multi-directional lugs bites confidently on dry hardpack, rock, loose gravel, and most wet conditions, and the semi-transparent mono mesh upper with its slingshot-style rear hold gives me zero heel movement on steep descents.

Best Ultra Running Shoes

These typically have a more rugged, durable and well padded upper, a balanced midsole that provides cushioning underfoot, and a good level of response (and sometimes a rocker geometry) for an efficient running experience over long distances.

They also have fantastic outsole traction and some level of stability, you can think of these as all-mountain trail running shoes, but with more midsole cushioning and comfort to make running ultramarathons that little less painful 😆.

14. On Cloudultra 3

Price: $190 at On

Weight: 10.1 oz (286g) | Drop: 6mm | Fit: True to size with a narrow midfoot

13. Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx

Price: $180 at Merrell.com / £170 at Sportsshoes.com (For UK Readers)

Weight: 11.2oz (318g) | Drop: 6mm (Stack of 36mm/30mm)| Fit: True to size, with a roomy forefoot

12. ASICS GEL-Trabuco 13

Price: $145 at REI / Sportsshoes.com (For UK readers)

Weight: 10oz (283g) | Drop: 8mm (34mm heel / 26mm forefoot) | Fit: True to size, medium width

11. Arc'teryx Sylan 2

Price: $220 at REI

Weight: 9.6 oz / 272 g | Drop: 6mm (medium) | Fit: True to size, medium width

10. La Sportiva Prodigio Pro

Price: $195 at REI / Sportsshoes (For UK Readers)

Weight: 9.1oz (258g) | Drop: 6mm (Medium) | Fit: Runs small—size up half a size.

9. Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide

Price: $250 at Salomon.com / Sportsshoes (My favorite UK online running store)

Weight: 10.6oz (301g) | Drop: 6mm | Fit: True to size with a medium width

8. The North Face Summit Series VECTIV Pro 3

Price: $290 at Zappos

Weight: 10.7 oz / 303 g | Drop: 6mm (medium) | Fit: True to size, narrow-medium width

7. Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2

Price: $225 at adidas.com

Weight: 9.7 oz (275g) | Drop: 8mm (43mm heel / 35mm forefoot) | Fit: True to size, race-snug on a last that narrows hard under the heel and midfoot

This is the max-stack ultra racer of the Agravic family, and on the right course it's a joy: dual-layer Lightstrike Pro with Energy Rods and an aggressive rocker produce a cushioned, bouncy ride that keeps giving deep into long efforts, with a fast, snappy feel on runnable climbs. The thin mono-mesh upper also makes it one of the best hot-weather race options here.

The reason it sits mid-list rather than higher is the chassis: the narrow heel and midfoot make it inherently unstable on uneven, off-camber, or broken ground, so it earns its place for mid and forefoot strikers racing flow, fireroad, and compact ultra courses, not technical mountain racing.

Shop Now at Adidas

If your course breaks up, the S/Lab Genesis 2 above is the security pick, and if you want the Agravic formula with more precision, the Agravic Speed 2 tops the skyrunning section of this guide.

6. Salomon S/Lab Genesis 2

Price: $200 at Salomon.com

The original S/Lab Genesis carried me through Speedgoat by UTMB, and this refined version delivers the same precise, confidence-building technical control with more pop from its new dual-density optiFOAM², better long-haul durability, and revised 4.5mm lugs that specifically target wet rock, the one weakness I flagged on the first version.

The Matryx Micro upper with its integrated gaiter keeps the lockdown and debris protection that make this shoe so trustworthy on descents, and it remains my benchmark for maximum security on genuinely technical race courses.

Weight: 9.3 oz (264g) | Drop: 6mm (31mm heel / 25mm forefoot) | Fit: True to size, precise narrow-medium midfoot

Wider feet should look at the standard Genesis 2 instead; but my Salomon Genesis 2 vs S/Lab Genesis 2 comparison covers that decision in five minutes.

5. On Cloudultra Pro

Price: $260 at On.com

Weight: 9.5oz (269g) | Drop: 6mm | Fit: True to size, medium width

4. Salomon Ultra Glide 4

Price: $160 at Salomon.com

Weight: 9.7oz (275g) | Drop: 6mm (medium) | Fit: True to size, medium width

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Alastair Dixon — Hi, I’m Alastair; long-time runner, shoe and gear reviewer, and storyteller. This blog is my space to share it all, I hope you enjoy the quality content. Peace ✌🏼