Top-Rated Men’s Trail Running Shoes

Active Junky’s out to turn your running into a mind-blowing connection with the natural world.  And that starts with footwear built to combine agility, stability and all-day comfort.  These three picks further extend our insights on leading brands and current models for your consideration.

La Sportiva Akasha:  High-speed wandering

Image by Peter Reese

La Sportiva Akasha Starting at: $106.93 Veer left to vault a fallen log.  Dodge right to skim across 20 yards of gully-washed talus.  Akasha’s there for the ride to navigate it all – including signposted trails.  Testers felt the love from La Sportiva’s dual-injection, shock-absorbing midsole in a shoe that never lagged during accelerations.  Stack is on-the-money for longer miles by most runners, measuring 26mm at the heel and 20mm with a well-executed 6mm drop.  Despite the brand’s label of 11.35oz Akasha as a “wide fit” model, average feet won’t go swimming in the shoe thanks to the snug heel cup and smart flat lace system.  Heel-to-toe is how this one rolls with Trail Rocker Outsole Technology but Active Junky enjoyed sprinting obstacles with minimal ground contact as well. More like the Stealth rubber found on competitive footwear, the FriXion outsole gripped admirably to push higher and descend more quickly.

Tester Comments: “Akasha got pushed more than many of our test models, thanks to a spontaneous 2-mile bolt up the backside of Ogden, Utah’s Snowbasin ski resort.  From wind-blown fir sprigs littering the trail to rock, mud and late-season crusted snow, it all succumbed to the shoe’s indomitable spirit.  Oh, and the outsole’s imprint – that looks like the breast insignia on Captain Kirk’s Star Trek uniform – leaves a quizzical look on the faces of the (many) runners you’ll pass.”

Best For: Two- to three-season running in punishing terrain, relaxing recovery sessions on moderate trails

Pearl Izumi Trail N3 Ultra Runner: Relaxed rigor

Image by Peter Reese

Pearl Izumi Trail N3 Ultra Runner Out of the box, unquestionably the easiest running model for average to slightly-narrow feet.  Active Junky’s tester took the under-11oz N3 to task on the prescribed course despite recovering from a slight groin pull and knee twist (after all, paying tribute to Prince comes at a cost).  This shoe tracks straight, true and musters enough outsole lugging to prevail even in 2”-4” mud.  Neutral runners (as in, N) will fly down packed dirt and gravel flats to groove their way through narrow defiles.  Pearl Izumi knows when to hit the brakes and the gas with a 1:1 Energy Foam rim and core midsole (cushion) along with their season-new carbon rubber outsole (traction). There are plenty of reasons long-distance, backcountry runners favor Pearl Izumi including the right-sized forefoot rock plate and all-day seamless upper found in N3.  

Tester Comments: “No calf tension.  Quads relaxed.  Miles go by, the sun shines a little brighter and injury recovery isn’t compromised.  The minimal toe cap is plenty enough and the tongue construction is luscious (I can say that, can’t I?).  As a former citizen triathlete, N3 works to get to and from the trail by road.  Once there, no energy is wasted.”

Best For: Neutral runners, both recreational and competitive striders looking for a single pair to train as well as race

Scarpa Proton: Bighorn chaser

Image by Peter Reese

Scarpa Proton $92.88 - $98.52 High and dry is where this one lives.  Testers started our course at 6,000ft and climbed higher as Proton’s molecules handled climbing and descending well across a variety of surfaces.  Not favored for wetter trail conditions, the shoe displayed admirable traction but the outsole took a full 600 yards to clear after muddy sections.  Lace them tightly as there’s enough flex in the upper’s mesh to prevent undue pressure.  The heel cage Scarpa touts is real and spells control on twisting, turning trails.  Toe box volume is right-sized to stay comfortable without getting sloppy in a shoe nudging slightly over 12oz.  Know that the Vibram Genesis sole (backed by an EVA midsole) is capable but offers little in the way of energy return in a shoe best worn by more seasoned runners.

Tester Comments: “Proton takes some adaptation as feet feel the deep-lugged outsole, making it more challenging to separate trail conditions from the shoe itself.  An aftermarket insole may help dampen the sensation but pushes the weight to the heavier side. The heel cage allows wear of anything from a light tab sock to a beefier merino quarter. Once again, Scarpa quality is evident in this specialized model.”

Best For: Skilled mountain runners and avid hikers looking for mileage across broken, rocky and unknown alpine trail conditions