The Best 2023 Trail Shoes From The Running Event
GearJunkie scored the latest and (soon-to-be) greatest in running shoes this month. Here are our editor’s favorites for trail runners in 2023.
Every year over the last week in November, hundreds of running specialty store owners, media, professional athletes, and running enthusiasts descend upon Austin, Texas, to get a sneak peek at yet-to-be-released products.
I was on-site to meet with each brand and get a first-hand look at what’s coming in 2023. After learning about every shoe coming for the upcoming year, here are the ones the GearJunkie editors and I are most excited to test.
2023 Trail Shoe Trends
Last year, I wrote that carbon fiber running shoes were the overarching trend across road running shoes, and this year followed suit in trail shoes.
Instead of single full-length plates seen in road shoes, designers are using forked plates often ¾-length in trail shoes. This gives the shoe some flexibility laterally, so it’s not tipsy-topsy in rocky terrain.
In terms of materials, PEBAX dominates in midsoles. PEBAX is lighter and more responsive than traditional EVA or TPU, allowing brands to increase cushioning levels without sacrificing weight.
The unfortunate side effect of PEBAX is it’s also more expensive.
I also saw brands talk about their trail shoe lineup in line with the terrain it’s best suited for. There’s no better example of this than the boutique brand, SpeedLand, which only creates shoes for specific regions such as Portland and Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County, Calif.
I heard many brands say their trail shoes were, “ideal for the Western States or UTMB.” This approach will make it easier for some consumers to buy a trail shoe best suited to the type of trails they run.
Lastly, I witnessed the running and hiking worlds becoming more intertwined. The Running Event had a dedicated outdoor section at the trade show for the first time.
Hoka and Altra already make some of the best hiking boots on the market, but Saucony will also jump into the hiking boot game by introducing the Ultra Ridge GTX hiking boots.
The Best Trail Shoes at The Running Event 2023
Nike ZoomX Ultrafly
There’s been a lot of talk about when Nike would replicate the success of its fastest carbon fiber road shoes, the ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2, on the trails.
Finally, the wait will end in the summer of 2023 with the introduction of the Nike ZoomX Ultrafly. I’ve been testing the Ultrafly for 4 months now, and it’s pretty remarkable.
I’m not sure it can claim the same efficiency gains as the Vaporfly NEXT% 2, but the Nike rep I spoke with says that athletes feel their legs receive abuse over long distances, such as in the Western States last year.
It features a ¾-length forked plate sandwiched in ZoomX midsole, wrapped in a textile film to protect the fragile foam. This also adds a little stability on the sidewalls to contain the soft midsole foam.
Specs
- Launch date: Summer 2023
- Weight: 288g (men); Unknown (women)
- Stack height: 36mm/26mm (men); 33mm/24 (women)
- Price: TBD
Brooks Catamount 2
As Brooks’ lightest, fastest, and most agile trail shoe, the Catamount was a huge hit when it first launched. For the second iteration, the goal was to improve propulsion and make running uphill easier.
To accomplish this, Brooks added a forked PEBAX plate, which it calls Sky Vault, in the middle of the DNA Flash midsole (the same midsole as the original Catamount).
Beneath the midsole, Brooks didn’t change anything. It still uses the same TrailTack outsole. The upper gets a significant update with TPEE mesh — a TPU derivative that’s highly durable and abrasion-resistant on the outside, but soft and comfortable on the inside.
I’ve been testing the new Catamount 2 for a month, and Brooks perfectly hit the fast and agile trail shoe mark. The newly added PEBAX plate adds enough stiffness and protection to the forefoot while allowing enough flexion to get up on your toes.
Specs
- Price: $170
- Launch date: Winter 2023
- Weight: 9.7 oz. (men); 8.6 oz. (women)
- Drop: 6mm
Lowa ATR Collection
As I mentioned in the 2023 trail running shoe trends, we’re seeing hiking and trail running become more intertwined, and this is the perfect example.
Bavarian company Lowa, a leader in outdoor boots and shoes, has entered the trail running shoe market with the launch of three trail shoes. The brand said it best in its marketing:
“The line is composed of three distinct silhouettes: CITUX, designed for fast trail running; the AMPLUX, for runners that want to go further and faster; and the FORTUX, for longer distances, priced between $160 and $175, the line will be available at specialty retailers starting June 2023.”
I’ve tested Lowa’s approach shoes, and if these three trail shoes are anything like Lowa’s other footwear, you can expect they’ll be highly crafted with outstanding attention to detail.
No further details from Lowa just yet, but GearJunkie will have specs and pricing as soon as they’re available.
SCARPA Spin ST
Over the past 2 years, SCARPA has taken a step forward in its trail running category. For 2023, it looks to expand its trail lineup with the addition of a soft-surface grippy trail shoe called the Spin ST.
Going up against the Salomon Speedcross, the Spin St features a Vibram Fixion ST outsole with massive 7mm lugs. SCARPA uses a Sock-Fit LW System in the upper that uses a “stretch material combined with a minimal, stretch tongue that wraps both sides of the instep.”
I haven’t tested this one on the trails, but I got to try it on at the show, and it fits like a glove. It’s lightweight, low-profile, and feels like it would grip the ground like glue.
Specs
- Price: $179
- Launch date: Fall 2023
- Weight: 9.5 oz.
- Drop: 4 mm
Salomon Thundercross
It may surprise most that Salomon’s top-selling trail shoe is the Speedcross. While it’s a great shoe, it’s got a very limited use case.
The large lugs do wonders for traction, but on the firm ground can feel like a 4×4. Enter the all-new Thundercross.
The Salomon rep I spoke with called it a “Sense Ride for soft ground.” It features the same midsole as the Sense Ride, which is Energy Foam, but has toothy 5mm Chevron lugs similar to the SpeedCross.
Other key differences are a more rockered shape and a 4mm drop verse 8 mm on the Sense Ride.
Specs
- Price: $140
- Launch date: Fall 2023
- Weight: 9.8 oz. (unisex)
- Drop: 4 mm
Salomon Ultra Glide 2
If you’re a Salomon fan, you may be familiar with the first Ultra Glide that launched last year. It was designed with the American trail runner in mind and became a massive success in the U.S. market.
Not much has changed from the original. It still comes in as Salomon’s most cushioned trail shoe (32mm/26mm), but the brand added TPU to the toe cap for better protection and changed the shape of it ever so slightly.
Specs
- Price: $140
- Launch date: Spring 2023
- Weight: 9 oz. (unisex)
- Drop: 6 mm
Merrell Skyfire 2
Better known for hiking shoes, Merrell has invested heavily in trail running. The Skyfire franchise is Merrell’s fast, racey trail shoe.
The original was good but not great. The second version blows the first version out of the water. I’ve been testing it for a few months, and it’s a phenomenal, super-lightweight, minimally cushioned trail racing shoe.
Coming in at 7 ounces, it’s one of the lightest trail shoes on the market. It has a fiberglass plate for forward propulsion sandwiched between a dual-density midsole that’s stiffer in the heel for technical descents, and softer in the forefoot.
Underfoot it has a grippy 5mm lugged Vibram outsole. It’s not a cushioned shoe by any means, but this is one of the best for short trail races such as VKs and sky races.
Specs
- Price: $190
- Launch date: TBD
- Weight: 7 oz.
- Drop: Spring 2023
La Sportiva Jackal 2
The first Jackal was my favorite La Sportiva trail shoe. Relative to other La Sportiva running shoes, it felt the most cushioned and responsive, attributes most American consumers look for in a trail shoe.
The big story for the Jackal 2 is it loses nearly an ounce in weight thanks to a redesigned upper. First, the heel counter gets much softer because, according to a La Sportiva rep, the shoe had issues with rubbing on the original.
La Sportiva also uses an all-new mesh upper that’s lighter and more breathable. It also comes in a BOA lace with debris ankle wrap.
Specs
- Price: Unknown
- Launch date: Spring 2023
- Weight: 9.7 oz. (men); 8.6 oz. (women)
- Drop: 7 mm
Craft Pure Trail
I’ve been a fan of Craft since it made a push in the U.S. running shoe market. If Craft isn’t on your radar, it should be. Its midsole is one of the most responsive midsoles I’ve tested. I named the Craft PRO Enduro Distance Gear Junkie’s best road shoe.
I haven’t found the same success on the trail side, but after seeing the Pure Trail and NordLite, I’m pretty confident that will change. The Pure Trail uses a supercritical EVA Foam midsole with a rock plate, TPU mesh upper, and proprietary lugged rubber traction outsole.
It is designed for technical trail and mountain running.
- Price: $179
- Launch: Summer 2023
- Weight: 10.9 oz.
- Drop: 6mm
Craft NordLite
Following in the same family as the Pure Trail, the NordLite is more suited to nontechnical smooth trail running or as a road-to-trail shoe.
It offers the same supercritical EVA Foam midsole as the Pure Trail, but with a higher stack height and less aggressive lugs.
The Craft rep I spoke with said David Laney had 600 to 700 miles logged without noticing any reduction in the rebound.
Final specs and availability have yet to be announced.
Topo Mountain Racer 3
This is Topo’s go-to shoe for anyone looking to run quickly over technical terrain. The Topo rep I spoke with said not much is changing regarding fit.
You’ll still get the same roomy toebox locked in mid-foot and rearfoot as the Mountain Racer 2. One piece of feedback they heard from customers was a desire for more underfoot protection. So instead of a rock plate, the brand added 3 mm of additional stack height, bringing it to 33 mm in the heel and 28 mm in the forefoot.
You’ll also see a new iteration of Topo’s Zip midsole foam that’s lighter, softer, and more energy foam. The new foam allowed Topo to increase the stack height without adding too much additional weight.
Specs
- Price: $150
- Launch date: June 2023
- Weight: Unknown
- Drop: 5 mm
North Face Summit VECTIV Pro
The North Face is rebranding its Flight VECTIV line of shoes into what’s now called Summit VECTIV. The highlights of this change are two new trail shoes.
The Summit VECTIV Pro is a high stack height, cushioned performance shoe. This was the shoe on the foot of Katie Scheid, who won the UTMB.
It has a new proprietary midsole compound, a blended PEBAX, and a high rebound EVA. I’ve tested the Summit VECTIV Pro, and the midsole is noticeably more cushioned and responsive than the previous midsole used in the Flight VECTIV. Sandwiched in the midsole is a full-length carbon fiber plate forked both in the forefoot and heel sandwich.
Specs
- Price: $220
- Launch date: January 2023
- Weight: 10 oz.
- Drop: 6 mm
Saucony Ultra Ridge GTX
Saucony made a big push into the trail running market a few seasons back. Now it is expanding its outdoor presence with its first-ever hiking boot.
I got to try the Ultra Ridge GTX, and it feels like a trail shoe in the chassis of a hiking boot. It’s lightweight and highly mobile, and you’re not getting a heavy, clunky, and hard-to-move boot.
The upper is all waterproof, GORE-TEX durable mesh with lightweight film protection. The midsole is the PowerRun PB foam, the same as seen in Saucony trail shoes, and uses PoweTrak outsole with 4.5mm lugs.
Specs
- Price: $190
- Launch date: Fall 2023
- Weight: 12.6 oz. (men); 11 oz. (women)
- Drop: 6 mm
Altra Lone Peak 7 Mid Leather
Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include at least a picture of the Altra Lone Peak 7 Mid leather.
These caught my attention as one of the more stylish boots that would work in an urban setting and out in the wild. In fact, the Altra rep mentioned the gang at GQ went wild over these. They launch in January, but no further details were immediately available.
The Running Event Recap: Best Shoes for 2022
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