7 Best Trail Running Shoes For Men in 2022

The Salomon Sense Ride 4 screams trail-ready, and there’s not one thing about it that we don’t like. If you’re planning to have an enjoyable and confidence-inspiring run on the trails, this bruiser won’t let you down. 

It’s heavy-duty and it can take the abuse from the harsh and difficult terrains. With its 31.7% stiffer midsole, and 6.7HC tougher outsole, it will take you miles before you can even put a dent to it. 

On steep ascents and long distances, the Sense Ride is a no-brainer. It has so much grip with its 3.5mm lugs, surefooted isn’t even enough to describe our experience. 

Unlike other trail shoes, the Salomon Sense Ride packs a lot of bounce. Cruising through the rough outdoors wasn’t just easy. It was also fun. 

Despite its clunky weight at 10.5 oz, this trail beast didn’t let us down, literally. Because of its spring, it felt nimble. 

Protection and comfort are also taken up a notch with the Salomon Sense Ride 4’s upper. It’s generously padded, you don’t have to worry about stubbed toes and poking from sharp trail elements. Even better, it hugs the feet with plushness, it’s the epitome of premium.

The Nike Pegasus Trail 2 GTX is a trail shoe that REALLY impressed us. It kept our feet dry all throughout the wet conditions we ran! It's made for training runs so don't expect anything fast. Instead, expect a superbly bouncy and comfortable shoe that will mute out all the rocks and roots underfoot. Even better, in areas of grip and durability, this shoe will wow you!

The Salomon Speedcross 5 is hands down the king of grip. With its insanely grippy outsole, we have dubbed it the “cleats version” of trail shoes. 

It has 4mm lugs, while other trail shoes generally have 3.2mm lugs. It digs deep into the ground, there’s very little to no chance of tripping over rugged and uneven terrains in the Speedcross. 

Stability is also amped up by the shoe’s glove-like wrap. And the laces make it a ton easier to maintain a locked-in fit. They’re a breeze to cinch down, and they stay locked throughout the run. 

It’s not a waterproof shoe, but the Salomon Speedcross does an excellent job of keeping the feet dry. From creek-crossing splashes to snow, no water penetrated into the shoe. 

If you want to tackle the great outdoors with confidence, there’s nothing more trail-ready than the Speedcross 5 from Salomon.

There’s not one thing about the Altra Olympus 4.0 that we don’t love. And as an ultra running shoe, it delivers with flying colors. 

The Altra Olympus is designed to excel at high-mileage runs. And in 100-mile races, this is our top go-to. 

If there’s one thing about it that we can’t move past, it’s the maxed-out cushion that provides unmatched protection and comfort on the trails. It mutes out the harshness underfoot and effectively absorbs all the impact. 

Like a true Altra, its toe box is an exemplar of roomy, which is always good news to ultra runners. With the ample space up front, you don’t have to worry about restrained motions when your feet start to swell. 

Sealing the deal, the Vibram outsole has a claw-like grip. On rocky, muddy, and loose surfaces, our strides remained anchored and steady. And if it’s durability you’re after, this outsole is THE definition of sturdy. 

The Altra Olympus 4.0 has endurance written all over it. And if you want to compete in your next ultra with comfort and protection in mind, then don’t write off this trail runner.

From door to trail, nothing beats the Caldera 5 as a commuter shoe. 

It’s not overbearing on paved roads. And when it’s time to tackle the trails, it has a reliable grip. 

The Caldera 5 is a soft and lively shoe. It’s very cushy and it has a spring-like bounce, making our strides come to life. 

Visually, it’s big and brawny. And that’s exactly how it runs. It’s very sturdy, it still doesn’t have any signs of wear and tear from the upper down to the outsole. 

Lockdown is also an easy 10/10. The Caldera has a gusseted tongue that makes foot entry convenient. Even more, it steps up the shoe’s security, preventing excessive rolling.

All of these come at a hefty 10.5 oz. But if you’re looking for the best road-to-trail transition shoe, there’s nothing better than the Brooks Caldera 5.

For a shoe that does so much, the Brooks Divide 2 costs so little. For only $100, it has the makings of an expensive trail shoe. 

If there’s one thing about the Divide that wowed us it’s the shoe’s versatile traction. From the pavement to the great outdoors, it bit through everything. 

On the road, it wasn’t too aggressive. On the trail, it delivered a slip-free ride. 

What’s more is it mimics the comfort of a road shoe. It has a very cushy midsole, our strides were pain-free from the first mile down to the last. We didn’t even need recovery after! 

There’s also the gusseted tongue that we love so much. Sliding our feet into the shoe was fast and easy, and it also upped the lockdown. It wrapped snugly, not once did we experience wobbling. 

For the wide-footed runners out there, this shoe will make your feet happy. It has sufficient volume and width up front, you won’t feel constricted. 

All the mentioned features aside, the Brooks Divide 2 is also loaded with a rock plate. So if you want protection on a budget, don’t pass up on this one.

The Salomon XT-6 has been a hugely popular shoe for nearly a decade both for its looks and its ability to take you anyway on a trail. With heaps of protection, insane grip, and a responsive, speedy ride the XT-6 is still a relevant trail shoe to help you explore the less beaten trails. It’s a shoe that’s sure to leave you confident traversing steep gradients, or comfy at the end of a long hike.