- Low profile
- High traction soles this includes specialized "sticky" rubber for rock running and scrambling. For example: the top section of "Old Rag."
- Stable, wider base
Toe box protection (this trend is declining, opting for lighter shoes similar to traditional road running shoes, but should be considered if you expect exceptionally rugged terrain, e.g. Hard Rock 100, adventure racing, etc...
Increased mid-sole cushioning for running over rocky terrain
- Many have Gore Tex construction for extreme weather conditions (this can lead to over heating during the summer). This is a great feature for sustained snow running (especially wet snow).
- Quick drying--this may be at odds with the feature above
- Summer trail or adventure racing--look for mesh with highly breathable and the ability to drain water for course that feature river crossings and/or swamps
- Shoe weight--If you are primarily competing in shorter races consider a light weight shoe similar to the La Sportiva Slingshot. Many of the 2008 trail shoe models are lighter than their predecessor.
- If you are racing in ultras consider more cushioning, support and stability for the long haul. This also depends on how how light on your feet you be at mile 75--some runners will still want the lighter shoe with more feel for the trail.
Running shoe manufacturers recognize the market potential of trail running shoes and there are now countless styles from both traditional running shoe product companies and climbing shoe manufacturers as well as traditional hiking boot product companies which leads to confusion for the first time running trail shoe buyer. Trail running shoes run the gamut from light hikers to racing flats with very sticky outer sole and little lateral support.
After considering the trail running shoe characteristics listed above, match the trail running shoe to the most likely set of conditions. If your primary trail running use consists of "rails-to-trails" terrain with reasonably smooth and even surface then you might consider a lighter weight trail running model or even a traditional road racing shoe. Having just completed the Deadwood Trail Marathon, most runners did not have traditional trail running shoes, but opted for road running footwear. Given the current vast number of shoes on the market, I recommend at least two different shoes: A light model for the summer and a more weather resistant model for the winter months. Consider Gore Tex shoes if you are using the trail running shoes for snowshoe racing also. Even in the coldest conditions the warmth of your feet melt some of the accumulated snow and over several hours will lead to wet feet. Also, seriously consider using low cut gaiter in snow with or without the snowshoes.
Winter trail running tip : Use short hex shaped head machine screws to provide traction on ice and packed snow. Screw the hex screws into the sole of the running shoe (the hex head provides the traction not the point) being careful not to damage air bladders. More on this technique from Matt Carpenter's Sky Runner's site. I used 1/4 inch screws last year and had absolutely excellent traction on ice and packed snow. This technique does not provide a great deal of traction in deep powder because there is nothing for the head of the screw to bite into.
Bottom Line: Select a trail running shoe to fit the type of terrain (water crossings?), race distance, and weather conditions. I have used a couple different Salomon shoes for adventure racing including the XA series. I have used the La Sportiva Slingshot for shorter trail races and interval training sessions and the Axis Eagle V for the Leadville 100 Trail Race. I have included two on-line stores I have successfully used in the past.
 Chaco Canyonland Low Hiking Shoe - Women's We know nothing can replace your comfy sandals, but for days on the trail when you need more coverage, pull on the Chaco Womens Canyonland Low Hiking Shoes. |  Chaco Canyonland Mid Hiking Shoe - Women's Sometimes you need a bit more ankle support than your sandals can deliver, but you dont want to give up Chacos incredible support and comfort. Thats when you lace up your Womens Canyonland Mid Hiking ... more info. |  Ecco USA, Inc Attack Trail Running Shoe - Women's Tired of smoldering hot feet during your summer runs? Try out the well-ventilated Ecco Womens Attack Trail Running Shoe. |
 GoLite Carbon Fyre Trail Running Shoe - Women's Rough, steep, loose trails call for the extremely aggressive GoLite Womens Carbon Fyre Trail Running Shoe. |  GoLite Spike Tail 2 Trail Running Shoe - Women's Loose, steep, scree-covered trails dont stand a chance against the comfort and protection of the GoLite Womens Spike Tail 2 Trail Running Shoe. |  GoLite Sun Dragon 2 Shoe - Women's Improved fit, support, and ventilation are some of the updates to the successful Womens Sun Dragon 2 Shoe from GoLite. |
 GoLite Trail Fly Trail Running Shoes - Women's GoLite made the Trail Fly Womens Trail Running Shoes for runners who consider ten-miles in the woods to be a morning jog. |  GoLite Versa Force Shoe - Women's On the trail itself or on the way there, the GoLite Womens Versa Force Shoe provides exceptional cushioning, support, and traction. |  Icebug MR BUGrip Shoes - Women's The Icebug Womens MR BUGrip Trail Running Shoe grips the ground in a whole new way. Dont rely on rubber alone to keep you upright on slick surfacesthese trail shoes soles feature dynamic carbide ... more info. |
 Inov 8 FlyRoc 310 Trail Running Shoes - Women's Trail runners and adventure racers alike have found a dependable, supportive companion in the Inov 8 Womens FlyRoc 310 Trail Running Shoes. |  Inov 8 FlyRoc 345 GTX Trail Running Shoes - Women's Slip into the waterproof breathable protection of the Inov 8 Womens FlyRoc 345 GTX Trail Running Shoes when wet, muddy trails threaten to end your day in the hills. |  Inov 8 Mudclaw 270 Trail Running Shoe - Women's Inov 8 outfitted the Womens Mudclaw 270 Trail Running Shoe with one of the most-aggressive outsoles available to give you confidence on steep, loose, rugged terrain. |
 Inov 8 Roclite 282 Trail Running Shoe - Women's Train for the 50- or 100-mile Grand Teton Race while wearing the Inov 8 Womens Roclite 282 Trail Running Shoe. Inov 8 built this rugged shoe for off-trail ultra distance runs. |  Inov 8 Roclite 312 GTX Trail Running Shoe - Women's The Inov 8 Womens Roclite 312 GTX Trail Running Shoe includes Fascia-band support to aid your stride and reduce foot fatigue over long distances. |  Inov 8 Terroc 308 Trail Running Shoes - Women's With Metaflex technology that allows a natural forefoot flex, the Invo-8 Womens Terroc 308 Trail Running Shoe performs well on hard-surface track and trails. |
 Inov 8 TerRoc 330 Trail Running Shoes - Women's Inov 8 created the Womens TerRoc 330 Trail Running Shoes to give you excellent performance on loose, steep trails as well as harder paved terrain. |  KEEN Shellrock Trail Run Shoes - Women's The seamless softshell uppers on the Keen Womens Shellrock Trail Running Shoes battle spring conditions without suffocating your feet, while the lightweight design takes a load off your legs. |  KEEN Wasatch Crest Trail Running Shoe - Women's Support your feet sufficiently on your next trail run with the Keen Womens Wasatch Crest Trail Running Shoes. They have an S3 heel support structure that supports your foot on impact, which lowers ... more info. |
 KEEN Wasatch Crest WP Trail Run Shoes - Women's eVent fabric on the Keen Womens Wasatch Crest WP Trail Run Shoes provides waterproof breathable protection for your endurance trail runs. |  La Sportiva Crosslite Racing Shoe - Women's Though the La Sportiva Womens Crosslite Racing Shoe weighs next to nothing, that doesnt mean it cant have a well-cushioned, mud-shedding outsole. |  La Sportiva Exum Ridge Running Shoe - Women's The La Sportiva Womens Exum Ridge is the go-to running shoe for steep mountain trails. |
 La Sportiva Fireblade Trail Running Shoes - Women's A triple-density midsole makes the La Sportiva Fireblade Womens Trail Running Shoes a comfortable choice for long distances whether you run on pavement or dirt. |  La Sportiva Imogene Trail Running Shoe - Women's As the most cushioned trail running shoe in La Sportivas line, the Womens Imogene provides first-class comfort on the longest runs of the season. |  La Sportiva Ultranord GTX-XCR Trail Running Shoes - Women's Sloppy, snowy trails dont have anything on the traction and water-resistance of the La Sportiva Ultranord Womens GTX-XCR Trail Running Shoes. |
 Lafuma Lady Elektron Trail Running Shoe Wear the Lafuma Womens Lady Elektron Trail Running Shoes, and enjoy the dialed fit you get from Lafumas Twin Lace system. |  Lowa Celeste Trail Running Shoe - Women's Lowa took the softshell fabric that makes your spring jacket so comfy and practical and incorporated it into the Lowa Womens Celeste Trail Running Shoes. |  Merrell Cruise Control Trail Running Shoe - Women's You can actually see the medial cushioning tubes on the Merrell Womens Cruise Control Trail Running Shoes, so you know Merrell isnt just spraying about their TrailSpring support for over-pronators. |
 Merrell Overdrive Gore-Tex XCR Shoe - Women's Waterproof breathable protection is just the tip of the iceberg with the Merrell Womens Overdrive Gore-Tex XCR Shoes. Thanks to womens-specific cushioning and lateral and medial support tubes, these ... more info. |  Merrell Overdrive ll Trail Running Shoe - Women's Airmesh on the Merrell Womens Overdrive II Trail Running Shoes bless your feet with cool air, while the low-profile uppers and trail-balanced lasts provide support for fast runs over challenging ... more info. |  Merrell Siren Sport Trail Running Shoe - Women's Four-way-stretch mesh uppers decrease foot sweat in the Merrell Womens Siren Sport Trail Running Shoes, while rubber bumpers at the toes and heels and leather straps across the tops increase ... more info. |
 Montrail Continental Divide Trail Running Shoe - Women's Move mountains under your Gryptonite soles with the Montrail Womens Continental Divide Trail Running Shoes. Montrail made the wide-fitting shoes for athletes who aggressively trail run. |  Montrail Hardrock Trail Running Shoe - Women's Inspired by the Hardrock 100 ultra race, the Montrail Hardrock Trail Running Shoe excels on the rough, rocky terrain of its namesake. |  Montrail Highlander Trail Running Shoes - Women's Lace up the Montrail Womens Highlander for a close-fitting trail runner that will keep your feet super comfy all day long. |
 Montrail Hurricane Ridge XCR Trail Running Shoe - Women's The Montrail Hurricane XCR is a waterproof-breathable bootie made with GoreTex XCR barrier and high-performance trail running features. Chosen training shoe of ultramarathon legend David Horton, it ... more info. |  Montrail Streak Trail Running Shoe - Women's Shock absorption in trail shoes is important. So is underfoot protection, traction on wet and dry surfaces, and lightweight, breathable uppers. The Montrail Womens Streak Trail Running Shoes have ... more info. |  Montrail Vitesse Trail Running Shoe - Women's The Montrail Vitesse Trail Running Shoe is a hardcore shoe whose unique design has earned it a rabid following amongst runners who dont care much for pavement. |
 Oboz Ignition Trail Running Shoe - Women's The Oboz Womens Ignition Trail Running Shoes provide a snug fit and protect your feet from trail debris as you run. |  Pearl Izumi Peak XC Trail Running Shoes - Women's Running for miles over rocky terrain can be hard on the bottoms of your feet. Thank goodness for the Pearl Izumi Womens Peak XC Trail Running Shoes. |  Pearl Izumi Syncro Seek 2 Trail Running Shoes - Women's If youre a fan of both trail and road running, youll be a fan of the Pearl Izumi Womens Syncro Seek 2 Trail Running Shoes. |
 Pearl Izumi SyncroFloat 2 Trail Running Shoes - Women's The Pearl Izumi Womens Syncro Float 2 Running Shoes are ideal for runners who run about three miles a day. |  Pearl Izumi SyncroSeek 2 GTX Trail Running Shoes - Women's Lace up the Pearl Izumi Womens syncroSeek 2 GTX Trail Running Shoes and head out to log some miles on the road less traveledthen continue on to the trail less traveled. |  Salomon Trail Pro 2 Trail Running Shoes - Women's Mile after mile, the Salomon Trail Pro 2 Trail Running shoes advanced cushioning system and womens-specific last keep your stride smooth, cushioned, and under control. |
 Salomon XA Pro 3D Trail Running Shoe - Women's Salomon made the lightweight, shock-absorbing XA Pro 3D Womens Trail Running Shoes for your morning run up mountain trails. |  Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra Trail Running Shoe - Women's Salomon made the lightweight, shock-absorbing Womens XA Pro 3D Ultra Trail Run Shoe for everything from your morning run in the foothills to your trail running excursion along the Appalachian Trail. |  Salomon XA Pro 3D XCR Trail Running Shoe - Women's The Salomon Womens XA Pro 3D XCR Trail Running Shoe gives you a killer combination of agility and stability for fast trail runs, then adds a Gore-Tex XCR membrane for increased weather protection. |
 Salomon XT Wings Trail Running Shoe - Women's The Salomon Womens XT Wings Shoe boasts the rugged strength and durability for any trail run, but the comfort alone will have you looking for every chance to wear them. |  Salomon XT Wings WP Shoe - Women's As the newest incarnation from Salomons well-loved trail running line, the waterproof and ridiculously comfortable Womens XT Wings WP Shoe tackles the trails wet or dry and keeps the comfort going ... more info. |  The North Face Arnuva 100 TR GTX Trail Running Shoe - Women's Train for the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run with The North Face Womens Arnuva 100 TR GTX Trail Running Shoe. The North Face added extra support, stability, and traction to the Arnuva 100 TR GTX to ... more info. |
 The North Face Arnuva 100 Trail Running Shoes - Women's Improve your running season by leaps and bounds this year with The North Face Womens Arnuva 100 Trail Running Shoes. Impact cushioning and a molded midsole reduce leg soreness and support your ... more info. |  The North Face Arnuva 50 Boa Trail Running Shoe - Women's The North Face Womens 50 Boa Trail Running Shoe is the womens-specific version of the shoe ultra runner Dean Karnazes wore to complete 50 marathons in 50 states over 50 days. |  The North Face Arnuva 50 BoaTrail Running Shoes - Women's The North Face Womens E50 Boa Trail Running Shoe is the womens-specific version of the revolutionary shoe Dean Karnazes will wear on his journey to complete 50 marathons in 50 states over 50 days. |
Other gear for adventure racing and backcountry travel: