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If you’ve ever found yourself needing to do a combo run, then you might be wondering how to pick the right shoes. We don’t want to wear down the lugs and yet maybe your daily shoes aren’t right. Let’s look at the best road to trail running shoes from testing over the last 5 years!
Road-to-trail running shoes are designed to provide the best of both worlds. They offer the cushioning and responsiveness needed for road running while delivering some grip and stability for trails. Nothing here would be a shoe for highly technical trails, but rather for some easy gravel, light climbs or dirt roads.
Today we’ll look at what makes road-to-trail running shoes distinct, highlight the key features, and review some of the top models available right now.
Best Road To Trail Running Shoes
After this section I’ll give you some features to look for when picking out your shoes, but let’s not drag it out. We’re going to get right to the top picks! These shoes have been tested around the roads and trails of the front range of Colorado by myself, my husband and fellow RTTF running coach Stacey.
#1 Most Cushioned Option – On Cloudsurfer Trail
This is the first iteration of this trail shoe and it uses their newest, softest cushion called CloudTec Phase™ and Helion™ superfoam. It feels fabulously cushioned underfoot and like you could take it for a nice long run comfortably (which I have repeatedly!).
If you’re hitting gravel, dirt roads, light trails then these are absolutely going to do the job. It’s a perfect entry level trail running shoe for those who are just starting to test out some off roading, again assuming that doesn’t include tons of big rocks or slippery sections.
I love how lightweight this shoe is as well. It’s a great combo of comfort for daily training from the road to the trail. Many trail shoes are a bit heavier, so this makes for a great option when you aren’t needing a ton of grip or ankle stability.
They do also have a waterproof version and that sounds so perfect for all of you training in say Seattle, through snowy winter runs, or wet spring!
Want a true trail shoe from On? Checkout the On Cloudventure >>
#2 Lightest Option – Merrell Morphlite
Coach Stacey is jumping in with her thoughts on this new shoe! When I first put on the Morphlite I couldn’t believe how lightweight the shoe felt.
I first wore these for an easy 3 mile run on a route that varied from road, to gravel and even some rockier parts of the trail. I sometimes will run in the Saucony Peregrines for trail runs, but they never feel great when transitioning to the road/sidewalks.
Running in the Morphlite’s, I could never feel a difference when going between the different terrains which was really nice. The run overall felt really smooth. Sometimes running in other road to trail or even trail shoes my PF would flare up after. But I did not notice discomfort post-run with the Morphlite shoes.
The wildly affordable price tag on this shoe is also really appealing. It’s got a good moderate cushion and plenty of support to be a shoe that should last for many miles. Of course, it won’t be a great fit for big Colorado trail days, but all the local gravel sections it will handle just fine.
I wore an 11 which is my typical running shoe size. I felt that there was enough room in the toe box and my foot did not move around during the run.
- Drop: 6.5 mm
- Weight: 7.5 oz women’s, 8.4 oz men’s
- Not available in waterproof
- Available in siz colors
- Available in wide
- Available at Merrell, REI and retail stores for $100
Want a true trail shoe from Merrell? Checkout the Merrell Agility Peak 5 >>
I’ve put some miles in on that shoe and it’s probably the best grip I’ve found on any trail!
#3 Best Grip – Hoka Challenger ATR
The HOKA Challenger ATR is a popular all-terrain running shoe that is designed for both road and trail running. It has a well cushioned midsole that provides a comfortable and stable ride, and a Vibram outsole that delivers excellent traction on a variety of surfaces.
I have put in enough miles running on the roads to local trails that they must now be retired….sniff! But a great sign of a good shoe!
One of the reasons I liked this shoe so much was that it does have slightly bigger lugs than the others listed here and yet not so much that it feels odd on the roads. I also hate to feel like I am wearing down my trail shoes by running on the asphalt, so knowing these are built for both allowed me to feel good about their lifespan.
The breathable upper helps keep your feet cool and dry, and the outsole provides excellent traction on a variety of surfaces. I also like the extended heel, less issues with my foot slipping out.
- Drop: 5 mm
- Weight: 7.7 oz women’s, 8.9 oz men’s
- Available in 6 colors
- Available in Wide in some colors
- Available in waterproof
- $145
- See all HOKA Challenger models(including low and waterproof GTX)
#4 Best for Narrow Feet – Nike Pegasus Trail
This has become my husbands favorite hybrid running shoe for heading out to run the dirt roads or gravel paths near the house. In fact, he also packed them for our 3 weeks in New Zealand covering a variety of terrain.
In fact the Pegasus Trail 3 was rated one of the best trail shoes by a few magazines for it’s comfortable fit and easy transition from road-to-trail! And the Pegasus Trail 5 is living up to its namesake.
I told David nothing about the shoe before having him join me on the trail for a run. His first comment was “these feel so much softer and flexible, more like a road shoe than a trail shoe. It’s really comfortable.”
The 5 has even more cushioning that previous models, so again another thing that makes it really feel nice from road to trail.
The big thing he was noticing is the lack of a rock plate, which does make the shoe more flexible and allows it to feel softer.
Want a true trail shoe from Nike? Checkout the Nike Zegma >>
#5 Best Wide Toebox – Altra Outroad 2
Using the well known Altra Ego Foam, you’ll find a ride super comparable to many of their other shoes like the popular max cushion Altra Torrin, though the fit is a little slimmer than the original style of Altra running shoes. This means it’s going to be a shoe that you can comfortably use for some big distance runs.
Of the shoes listed here, this one has some bigger lugs which can help you to take it on to a little more technical trails and feel secure. That makes it a nice option if you’re doing a lot of hiking!
A number of folks have said it did well in the rain, not so much because it’s waterproof but that it drained well and the grip kept them feeling stable.
In terms of sizing, this one seems like you need to go up a half size. This could simply be because it’s their slimmer style, hard to say.
What are Road to Trail Running Shoes?
Road-to-trail running shoes are a specialized type of footwear designed to seamlessly transition between road and trail running environments. These hybrid shoes combine the best features of road running shoes and trail running shoes, offering versatility for runners who encounter a variety of terrains during a run.
We don’t want to use our trail shoes on the roads because it wears down those lugs that you paid extra for!
One of the biggest areas where you’ll see a change is going to be the outsole.
A true trail shoe is going to have deeper, multi-directional lugs which will help to provide more grip and stability on rocky terrain or slick areas. Additionally, the rubber used in the outsoles is durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of both hard and soft surfaces, ensuring longevity and reliable performance across different terrains.
The next area that is often different is going to be a rock plate.
This plate as you might expect is designed to protect your toes and forefoot, but can make the shoe feel a bit stiffer and uncomfortable when you hit the roads.
Any more you’re going to find plenty of good cushion in trail shoes and plenty of those that are waterproof or not, so the differences have shrunk over time.
In the end, it comes down to where you’ll be spending the majority of your miles. I like having specific trail running shoes for when we head out to the mountains and then my road to trail shoes for heading straight out my front door.
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