7 Best Trail Running Shoes For Women in 2023

Jovana Subic
Jovana Subic on
7 Best Trail Running Shoes For Women in 2023
We earn affiliate commissions at no extra cost to you when you buy through us. Why trust us

There are nearly 500 trail running shoes for women available on the market. Choosing the right pair is exhausting, to say the least.  

But don’t fret, we took our time testing and selecting the best trail runners for women from various brands. They also come from different categories. So whether you’re looking for a trail bruiser, a protective shoe, or a long-distance tank, you got the answers on this list.

How we test trail running shoes

We conduct a multitude of tests in all the trail running shoes in our arsenal. With our own shoe testing lab, we gather data on each shoe that helps to explain why they are the greatest. Even more, we also make sure to do the following: 

  • Get them with our own money to avoid bias
  • Run at least 30-50 miles in each shoe
  • Slice them open and see what’s inside
  • Measure each part of the shoe based on 30 different parameters
  • Calculate their CoreScore through gathering thousands of expert and user reviews

Best trail running shoes overall for women

Hoka Tecton X
92
Superb!

What makes it the best?

The Hoka Tecton X is Hoka's first carbon-plated trail running shoe. To justify the name, it just might have started a tectonic shift - that's how much it is loved by runners. It's positioned as a speed-ready, racing and training companion to the Hoka Speedgoat 5. Thanks to the dual-plated design, it shines at fast paces, especially the ultra ones. On top of this, it's a max-cushioned running shoe that keeps the feet protected without weighing them down.

Pros

  • 2 carbon plates: very propulsive ride
  • Insanely stable
  • Looks fast and runs fast
  • Lightweight
  • Very cushioned & responsive
  • Worth the investment
  • Room for feet swelling
  • Grippy
  • No break-in
  • Vegan materials used

Cons

  • Not for technical terrains
  • Might accumulate mud
  • Expensive
Full review of Hoka Tecton X

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Camellia - Blue Coral (1123162CBCRL)
Deep Teal/Water Garden (DTWGR)
Blue (SBDP)

Best trail running shoes with wide toebox for women

What makes it the best?

Trail runners, backpackers, and day hikers alike praised the 7th version of the Lone Peak - the do-it-all trail running shoe from Altra. People love how these shoes are versatile and comfy enough for casual trods in the mountains and taking on sharp turns on single-track descents. The lockdown and grip of these shoes let wearers take on the trail with confidence.

Pros

  • Very wide toebox
  • Protective midsole
  • Superb lockdown
  • Super grippy outsole
  • Excellent for fast runs in the mountains
  • Added heel cup provides stability
  • Super comfy
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Colorways might be a downer
  • A bit pricey
Full review of Altra Lone Peak 7

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Dark Purple (AL0A7R7G252)
Orange (AL0A7R7G880)
Light Gray (AL0A7R7G224)
Dark Red (AL0A7R7G668)
Tan (AL0A7R7G922)
Rosa (AL0A7R7G580)
Green (AL0A7R7G330)

Best lightweight trail running shoes for women

What makes it the best?

Most trail runners haven't been very KEEN on Adidas trail shoes. They seemed like an afterthought given that the brand's focus was admittedly on sneakers and soccer cleats. But then the Adidas Terrex Speed Ultra arrived. It performed so well out on the trails that many runners have chosen it as their go-to.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Nimble ride
  • Grippy outsole
  • Breathable
  • Dries quickly
  • Great lockdown
  • Reflective elements

Cons

  • Feels a touch minimalist
  • No heel pull loop
Full review of Adidas Terrex Speed Ultra

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Blue (FW2806)
Black (FW2830)
Black (GZ8920)
Green (GZ8921)
orange (HR1120)
Blue (HR1152)

Best women's trail running shoes for ultra

What makes it the best?

Plush comfort in a Salomon! It’s what the trail running community has been waiting for. The Ultra Glide is Salomon’s answer to Hoka’s reign over the cushioned trail shoe category and they nailed it. This shoe has a peppy, energetic ride, a soft, breathable upper, and a grippy, durable outsole. It’s worth a look at $140 and has a ton of great features. The only gripe I could conjure up is it’s a touch narrow if you have a wide foot.

Pros

  • Durable
  • Breathable
  • Grippy
  • Great lockdown
  • Plush and comfortable
  • Great lacing system
  • Protective overlays
  • Energetic ride
  • Cushioned

Cons

  • Tight midfoot for wider feet
  • No reflective details
Full review of Salomon Ultra Glide

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Blue / Grey (L415539)
Quail/Yellow Iris/Fiery Red (L417278)
Purple (L415987)
Orange (L415792)
Blau Yucca Pearl Blue Charlock (L415540)
Multi (L414308)
Black/Alloy/Goji Berry (L414305)

Best women's trail running shoes for mud

What makes it the best?

As one of the longest-running trail series, it’s safe to say the Peregrine is among the first shoes runners think about when going offroad. It can handle nearly anything you throw at it thanks to its tried-and-true comfort, agility, and traction. But what truly puts the v13 above its predecessors is its thicker slab of midsole foam—making it even more capable for easy days, long slow miles, and the occasional race through punishing terrains.

Pros

  • Cushioned and protective midsole
  • Better for longer efforts than the v12
  • A good trail racing option
  • Great traction whether on ice, snow, gravel, and dirt
  • Mud just falls off the outsole
  • Comfy and airy upper
  • Performance-oriented fit
  • No heel slippage
  • Smooth and natural-feeling ride

Cons

  • Debris tends to get in
  • Not as fast as other speedwork trail shoes
  • Too-firm midsole
Full review of Saucony Peregrine 13

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Arroyo (S1083835)
Beige (S1083885)
Berry/Mineral (S1083816)
Green (S1083825)
Night/Fossil (S1083815)
Finesse Black (S1083891)

Best women's trail running shoes for long distance

What makes it the best?

The React Pegasus Trail 4 is one of the top road-to-trail options from Nike. Cushiony and responsive on the roads yet grippy and stable on the trails, the shoe makes a perfect hybrid. It also remains surprisingly light given all the features packed into it. Experienced runners are happy that it feels a lot like the original Pegasus Trail 36 but with an enhanced grip.

Pros

  • Efficient road-to-trail
  • Well-cushioned
  • Stable ride
  • Excellent, secure fit
  • Very breathable
  • Great traction
  • Unexpectedly light
  • Reasonably priced

Cons

  • Not for muddy areas
  • Not for wide feet
  • Could be more stylish
Full review of Nike React Pegasus Trail 4

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Orange (DJ6159800)
Orange (DJ6159801)
Pink (DJ6159600)
Black (DJ6158004)
Purple (DJ6159500)
gold (DJ6158700)
Black (DJ6158001)
White (FD0876100)
More colors

Best women's trail running shoes with plush cushioning

Hoka Speedgoat 5
89
Great!

What makes it the best?

The Speedgoat 5 from Hoka remains your reliable and great-value do-everything trail shoe. But if you want to bring the best out of it, fast runs on very technical terrains can do the trick. On top of this, it ticks all the boxes of an excellent trail shoe. It's insanely grippy, durable, and supportive; conquering the great outdoors is an easy feat. Overall, take the Hoka Speedgoat 5 if you want to go fast and far.

Pros

  • Super grippy
  • Springy ride
  • Stable platform
  • Extra durable
  • High impact protection
  • Lightweight
  • Breathable
  • Secure fit
  • Excellent heel hold

Cons

  • Not for wide feet
  • Flared collar is not for everyone (style-wise)
Full review of Hoka Speedgoat 5

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Deep Lake/Ceramic (DLCR)
Bellwether Blue/Cyclamen (BBCY)
Stone Blue/Dark Citron (SBDCT)
Coastal Shade/Green Glow (CSGG)
Blue Coral/Camellia (BCCML)
Blue Graphite Evening Primrose (BGEPM)
Festival Fuchsia/Camellia (FFCM)
Impala/Flame (1123157IFLM)
More colors

Comparison of the 7 best trail running shoes for women

+ + Add a product
+ + Add a product
+ + Add a product
+ + Add a product
+ + Add a product
+ + Add a product
+ + Add a product
+ + Add a product
Best
CoreScore
Users rating
Experts
Best price
Ranking
Popularity
# of colorways
Author
Jovana Subic
Jovana Subic

Whether it's a vertical kilometre or an ultra, climbing in the Alps or exploring local mountains, Jovana uses every opportunity to trade walls and concrete for forests and trails. She logs at least 10h/week on trails, with no off-season, and 4x more on research on running and running shoes. With a background in physics and engineering management, she prefers her running spiced with data.