The Hoka EVO Mafate is a max cushion trail shoe with 34mm of cushion in the heel and 30mm of cushion in the forefoot. Although the midsole is plush, it maintains impressive stability and responsiveness on tough trails. For the outsole of the EVO Mafate, Hoka combines Vibram MegaGrip with a thoughtful lug pattern that will handle any trail conditions you’re likely to encounter.
Picking the right trail shoe is probably the most important gear decision you’ll need to make for a Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. In this post, I’m going to break down what to look for in a trail ready shoe, and then provide you with my top ten picks!
The John Muir Trail covers 211 miles through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in California. In this guide, I’ve put together everything you’ll need to plan your own hike, including tips on permits, gear, food, training, and logistics.
The Chilkoot Trail is a 33-mile trail that passes from Alaska into British Columbia. The path follows a natural corridor that was later the track of the Klondike Gold Rush. Hikers can see many artifacts that were left behind along the trail.
Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the most popular long distance hiking trails in Europe. The incredible thing about Tour du Mont Blanc is that you’ll hike through France, Italy, and Switzerland as you loop your way around the Mont Blanc Massif. The entire journey covers 170km (106m) and gains roughly 10,000m (33,000ft) of elevation. The Tour du Mont Blanc is the bucket list adventure of a lifetime, and I’ll be covering all of the details in this comprehensive guide.
The Altra Lone Peak 4.0 is a well cushioned zero-drop trail shoe that’s well suited for long days on the trail. For v4 of the Lone Peak, Altra has really secured the fit of the heel and midfoot. The toebox keeps the wide anatomical fit of all Altra shoes. The Lone Peak 4.0 also has a newly designed outsole with a stickier and more durable MaxTrac compound.
Salomon, La Sportiva, Altra, and Mammut are all releasing exciting new trail shoes for 2019. The well known and loved Speedcross, Bushido, and Superior are getting updates, and a few brand new models will be making their debut.
The Topo Athletic Runventure 2 is a lightweight 0-drop trail shoe that’s currently the most comfortable shoe I own. Built for all-day wear, the upper is airy and breathable with a seamless socklike neoprene heel collar. The responsive midsole has a 15mm stack height that provides just enough cushioning for longer days on the trail. For the outsole, Topo uses a low profile lug design that’s best suited for hard pack and less technical outings.
The Scarpa Spin is a lightweight, low-profile trail shoe with a sock-like fit and an aggressive Vibram Megagrip outsole. The responsive midsole is built on a nimble 4mm drop platform that keeps the feet protected with a high density EVA rock shield. I’ve been wearing the Scarpa Spin for the past few months, and will share my experience in this review.
The Levity 45L is a superlight backpacking and hiking backpack made by Osprey. My size medium comes in at a svelte 1lb 12oz (.8kg), and is really comfortable despite its minimal design. I’ve worn the Levity 45L for the 150-miles Camino Portuguese, and on numerous hiking and backpacking outings over the past few months and will share my experience in this review.