Best Trail Running Shoes for Women of 2024

The HOKA Speedgoat 5s have turned many runners on to the benefits of maximum cushioning. Long-distance diehards and casual joggers alike are singing the praises of these ultimately comfy shoes, and they’ve quickly become a go-to for the CleverHiker team.

The ample cushioning makes the Speedgoats highly effective at protecting your feet on rocky terrain, reducing stress on your joints on hard-packed surfaces, and maintaining support over long distances. This is why many long-distance backpackers will use these as hiking shoes as well. We recently took the Speedgoats on a run in Arizona’s rocky Superstition Mountains, and our feet were still feeling fresh by the end of the day thanks to the cushy midsoles.

While the plush midsole makes the Speedgoats a common pick among ultrarunners who need all-day comfort, those who keep weekly mileage lower still have plenty to gain by choosing these shoes. The Vibram Megagrip outsole features deep, sticky lugs that excel on everything from loose dirt to granite slab. This versatile traction compound allows you to tackle a wide array of different trails with just this one pair of shoes. 

Of course no shoe is a one-size-fits-all, and the Speedgoats won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. The thick midsole means you lose out on a fair bit of ground feel, and runners who aren’t used to the stack height (31 millimeters at the heel) may find these shoes somewhat unstable on rocky or off-camber routes. Those looking for a similarly cushioned shoe with less height may prefer the less chunky HOKA Torrent 3s. Still, the soft upper of the Speedgoats does allow you to feel some connection to the terrain when moving quickly. 

The low weight of the Speedgoats adds to their all-day comfort, and they’re more durable than many others in their weight class. These versatile trail shoes are the perfect pick for runners wanting comfy footwear that’ll hold up to tough use.

If you’re looking for one shoe that can do it all, the Salomon Sense Ride 5 may be just what you need. From road to trail, these shoes have a well-balanced feature set that goes the distance.

When we took the Sense Rides for a run near Canyon Lake in Arizona, they transitioned flawlessly from the approach on Apache Trail road to the rocky  ascent up the Boulder Canyon Trail. These shoes have a good amount of cushioning that helps with shock absorption on pavement, as well as a stable design and sticky traction for variable terrain on trail. 

Salomon loyalists will likely notice that the Sense Rides feel a bit roomier than many other models from this brand. Most notably, the toe box feels more spacious and provides a good amount of room for your toes to spread, reducing the risk of jamming them into the front of the shoe while running downhill. We’re not saying these are wide-fit shoes, but the shape of the Sense Rides should work well for runners who aren’t on the ends of the narrow-wide spectrum.

The Sense Rides have a somewhat unique lacing system (what Salomon calls the Quicklace) that takes some getting used to, but we’ve grown to love it on our runs. This single-pull system makes it fairly easy and intuitive to get a locked-in fit across the midfoot which combines with the structure of the shoe to provide good stability. Once you’ve dialed in the fit you want, the Quicklace tucks neatly into a pocket on the tongue.

With a build that’s well-suited to road or trail, breathable mesh construction, and a very approachable price for the features, the Sense Rides are an exceptional budget-friendly option for runners who like to mix it up in their daily training.

The Altra Lone Peak 8s are a favorite among long-distance runners due to their low weight, grippy outsole, and roomy fit. Altra’s signature Footshape toe box allows your toes to spread naturally which provides confidence and stability over tricky terrain.

We’ve used the Lone Peaks for mountain running for many years, and the 8th iteration doesn’t disappoint. This model keeps all of our favorite updates from the Lone Peak 7 – a more locked-in midfoot, an improved traction pattern with more lugs, and a seamless upper design – but it swaps out the Air Mesh material for a more durable Ripstop mesh upper. The result is a lightweight pair of shoes that punches well above its weight class in terms of longevity.

Moderate cushioning and a not-too-stiff, not-too-soft rockplate provide good ground feel and responsiveness without leaving your feet vulnerable to getting beaten up by rocks and roots. And we find that the proprietary Altra EGO Foam in the midsole doesn’t flatten out after long days on trail.

If you’re considering the Lone Peaks but you’ve never tried zero-drop shoes before, you should buy them well in advance of any serious distance runs you  have planned. Zero-drop shoes aren’t for everyone, and they can be hard on the achilles for those who aren’t used to them. Going too hard too fast can result in painful tendon injuries, but give your body proper time to adjust and you may just find that the benefits of zero-drop are worth the effort. These shoes won’t force your foot out of your natural gait, they may help with balance since your heel and forefoot are at the same height, and they can strengthen the muscles in your feet and ankles.

Trail runners seeking a pair of shoes that strikes a good balance between sensitivity and foot protection may find the Lone Peaks to be a perfect match. If you’re a longtime zero-drop runner or you’ve been curious about trying this style of shoe, there’s no better model than the Lone Peaks.

We’ve been running in the Saucony Peregrines for many years now, and we love them for their exceptional comfort and aggressive traction. Whether it’s a rocky mountain route, a muddy forest trail, or a groomed trail in our favorite local park, the Peregrines bite into the terrain and provide a confident ride.

On a recent outing at Arizona’s Picacho Peak, we tested the stability and rock plate on a technical trail. While these aren’t the most cushioned shoes we’ve ever worn, the rock plate was sufficient to keep our feet from getting beaten up by all the rocks. As for stability, the upper starts off a bit stiff but becomes a little softer over time to offer a surprisingly locked-in feel for how light and minimal it is.

If you’ve been a longtime fan of the Peregrines like we have, you’ll be happy to know that the tongue has been greatly improved over the previous model. The newest Peregrine features a well-padded tongue with a gusseted design that does an excellent job of preventing debris from entering through the top of the shoe.

The mesh upper is woven tightly for a good blend of durability and breathability, and there are several reinforced areas that add to the longevity of this shoe. The fit of the sock liner is on the narrow side, but wide sizes are available if you need more wiggle room.

We recommend this shoe for those who frequently run on tricky terrain and require unwaveringly reliable traction. This versatile trail shoe comes in at a great price and will keep going for hundreds of miles.

The Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 trail runners are some of our favorites for long-mileage days (both running and hiking) because they’re lightweight, breathable, and highly cushioned. 

The design of the Ultraventures blends that of two of our other favorite running shoes. They have a secure heel cup and midfoot that opens up to a wider toe box allowing your toes to spread naturally – similar to the shape of the Altra Lone Peaks. And they have maximum underfoot cushioning that provides all-day comfort for long runs like the HOKA Speedgoats. So the Ultraventures give you the best traits of both shoes if you’re after a roomy runner with a cushy midsole.

The Vibram XS Trek rubber on the outsole of the Ultraventures is highly versatile and even excels on wet surfaces. Because of the excellent traction, we find ourselves choosing these shoes for a wide variety of trails – from skyrunning across granite-laden ridges to bounding through the last snow of the season on forest trails.

With a stack height of 35 millimeters at the heel, the Ultraventures isolate you from the ground more than most other trail running shoes. On the positive side, the tall stack height is mostly due to cushioning which protects your feet from roots and rocks. But this also means you’ll have a tougher time feeling out trail features, which doesn’t work so well for runners who prefer to have a more interactive relationship with the trail.

Still, we think most runners will see the cushy build as a plus, and the Ultraventures are great for those who need a lightweight shoe with a little extra wiggle room in the toe box.