For the fourth year running, I have compiled a list of the trail running and lightweight hiking shoes I’m looking forward to most. Like previous years, Salomon, La Sportiva, and Altra make the list. There are also some newcomers. Here are 25 of the most exciting trail running and lightweight hiking shoes of 2018!
The TX3 is an approach shoe from La Sportiva that rides like a trail runner, yet provides the protection of a light hiker. With a breathable polyester mesh upper, a stable injected EVA midsole, and a super sticky Vibram MegaGrip outsole, there is a lot to love about the TX3.
The Salming Trail 5 is a lightweight trail shoe with a 5mm drop, a breathable 3-layer upper, and an amazing Vibram Mega-Grip outsole. The Trail 5 is built on an anatomical last that provides a very comfortable fit for long days on the trail.
The Salomon X Ultra has been updated to version 3 for 2017. Building on the success of the X Ultra 2, Salomon has made a few minor improvements to the upper that make for a much better fitting hiking shoe. The midsole and outsole go largely unchanged, which will come as good news to most of us that wore the X Ultra 2.
The Joe Nimble trailToes are minimalist trail shoes built on a zero drop platform with a protective and secure fitting upper. I’ve been testing the Joe Nimble trailToes over the past few weeks, and will share my thoughts in this review.
The La Sportiva Wildcat is a trail shoe that’s well tuned for hiking, trail running, and backpacking. The Wildcat combines a sticky and versatile outsole with a well cushioned midsole for a solid base that will handle a wide variety of trail conditions. The breathable nylon mesh upper offers good protection without inhibiting breathability too much.
The Sense Ride is a new trail shoe from Salomon that’s being marketed as a “quiver killer”. To put this claim to the test, I brought the Sense Ride along for a two week trip to Iceland as my only footwear option. I’ve also taken the Sense Ride out for a few hikes in my local mountains. I don’t think the Sense Ride will replace ALL of the shoes on my shoe rack anytime soon, but so far they’ve done a great job at tackling a wide range of trails and conditions.
The La Sportiva Bushido is an aggressively built shoe that’s equipped to handle the toughest of trails. The low-volume upper allows for very precise foot placement with zero slop or movement. The 6mm drop midsole is stable and handles very well with a heavy pack. The FriXion Red outsole provides phenomenal traction on a wide variety of surfaces, and although the outsole pattern isn’t the most aggressive, it provides more than adequate grip when things get sloppy. Â
The Wildhorse 4 is a trail shoe from Nike offering loads of comfort, protection, and performance. At just over 13oz (12.5 US), the Wildhorse 4 manages to stay light for the amount of trail protection it offers. Built on an 8mm drop platform and having a last with a wide toebox, this shoe has a stable ride, and is one of the only non-zero drop offerings with enough splay room upfront. For the Wildhorse 4, my standard size 12.5 fit true to size.
The Salomon Sense Pro Max is a max-cushion trail shoe from Salomon that comes in at 12.8oz (12.5) and has a 6mm drop. With 33mm of midsole stack height in the heel and 27mm in the forefoot, the Sense Pro Max provides a lot of underfoot protection. Unlike the softer max-cushion offerings from Hoka and Altra, the Sense Pro Max feels pretty firm and responsive on the trail.