The Best Trail Racing Shoes, Right Now

Premium trail running shoes designed for getting the most out of your race day; including vertical kilometers, skyraces, ultramarathons.

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.

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.

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Learn more about my review process.

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.

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Affiliate Disclaimer: 'Alastair Running' is reader-supported, if you purchase through links on this site, I may earn a small affiliate commission - thank you for your support! -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.

3. HOKA Zinal 2

Price: $160 at Dick's Sporting Goods / Sportsshoes (For UK Readers)

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

2. 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

1. 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.

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 😆.