Trail Running Shoes

Blister Brand Guide: Scott Running Shoe Lineup, 2023

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Scott has quietly been making a wide range of performance footwear for both roads and trails since 2006, when they contracted a research and development lab in Portland, Oregon to help them design a lineup of shoes to meet the diverse demands of their athletes. Now over 15 years old, Scott’s trail and road running lines continue to offer innovative options for all sorts of runners. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more.

Scott Ultra Carbon RC

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The Ultra Carbon RC feels like the end product of a meticulously conceived concept. Scott pours an indulgent amount of resources into the shoe, but it’s headlined by an innovative carbon plate designed to prevent the stability issues that have sunk plated trail models in the past. Check out our full review to learn more.

Nike Pegasus Trail 4

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The Pegasus Trail 4 feels like Nike is bringing one of their most popular off-road models full circle. Updates introduce new technology to a shoe that’s reverted to its original identity as a fairly lightweight road-to-trail hybrid after spending a few iterations masquerading as a burly ultra-distance option. Check out our full review to learn more.

New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 GTX

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The Gore-Tex version of New Balance’s updated Hierro v7 could be a popular model in North America this spring and summer, considering the Mountain West’s unprecedented snowpack. We’ve just begun testing, but so far the shoe’s off to an auspicious start, drawing comparison to models we've reviewed favorably in the past. Check out our initial impressions to learn more.

Brooks Catamount 2

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After some wide-ranging testing, the Brooks Catamount 2 has all of the makings of a dynamic mid-distance trail shoe that draws comparisons to models we’ve been quite fond of in the past. Check out our full review to learn more.

Blister Brand Guide: Altra Running Shoe Lineup, 2023

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While all Altra shoes share their signature zero-drop platform and "FootShape" fit, there’s still a ton of variation within both their road and trail lineups, including several new models for 2023. Check out our Brand Guide for a full breakdown of what sets each shoe apart from the others, and which ones best match your running style.

Hoka Challenger 7

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With the Challenger 7, Hoka attempts to do more with less. The latest iteration of the brand’s longstanding road-to-trail model benefits from a top-to-bottom overhaul that sees its weight decrease significantly despite adding 2 mm of stack height to a midsole that feels sprightly out of the box. Check out our full review to learn more.

La Sportiva Jackal II BOA 

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When La Sportiva and BOA collaborate, you can generally expect good things. With the recently released Jackal II BOA, an update to a model we crowned as La Sportiva’s best long-distance specific trail option to date at the time of writing, both brands hope to continue their track record of turning out some of the industry’s best high-performance mountain shoes. Check out our initial impressions to learn more.

Blister Brand Guide: The North Face Trail Running Shoe Lineup, 2023

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With the addition of several new and updated models, The North Face’s 2023 trail lineup continues to build on “VECTIV,” the patented technology system driving their footwear design process. Check out our Brand Guide to learn more about VECTIV 2.0, how it’s expressed in The North Face’s shoes, and which one might make the most sense for how and where you run.

Nnormal Kjerag

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Positioned as Nnormal’s max-performance model, the Kjerag (pronounced: sche-rak) is already an early front-runner for standout shoe of the year. It offers an implausible amount of energy return and cushioning for how light it is, often feeling like it disappears on foot in the best way possible. After nearly 200 miles of testing, the Kjerag has exceeded the lofty expectations we set for it after our initial impressions. Check out our full review to learn more.

Inov-8 TrailFly G 270 V2

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The recently released TrailFly G 270 V2 serves as an updated version of Inov-8’s celebrated zero-drop trail running shoe — a highly capable option for tackling long distances at speed. While the changes the brand made are subtle in nature, we think they help elevate the shoe’s performance without subtracting from what already works. Check out our full review for the full story.

New Balance FuelCell Summit Unknown v3

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New Balance continues to make inroads into the trail space in 2023 and the recently updated FuelCell Summit Unknown v3 marks an auspicious start to their year. As one of the most versatile and affordable options in the brand’s catalog, the shoe benefits from a bevy of features that prepare it for just about every type of run and trail condition. Check out our full review for the whole story.

Nnormal Tomir

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Even though Nnormal is just a few models old, any product with mountain runner Kilian Jornet’s fingerprints on it deserves to be met with high expectations. After spending some time in the Tomir, the brand’s handsomely cushioned, wider-fitting, do-it-all trail trainer, we think the shoe is well on its way to exceeding them. Check out our full review to learn more.

Hoka Mafate Speed 4

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While it may not yet have the same name recognition as the Speedgoat, Hoka’s Mafate line has steadily worked its way into being considered one of the brand’s principal models over the last couple of years. Now in its 4th iteration, the Mafate Speed 4 introduces some exciting new technology and design concepts to Hoka’s trail side, correcting many of the aspects we felt fell short on the latest Speedgoat 5. Check out our full review for the whole story.

Karhu Ikoni Trail 1.0

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The Karhu Ikoni Trail 1.0 comes from a heritage brand with over a century of experience crafting performance footwear for long distance running. As a trail take on an already established model, its myriad features seem smartly positioned to meet the demands of varied off-road terrain. Check out our full review for a better idea of what to expect from Karhu's latest trail shoe.

Altra Mont Blanc BOA

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Despite its seemingly niche design, the Altra Mont Blanc BOA does a lot of things really, really well. The incorporation of BOA’s Fit System and PerformFit Wrap correct some of the issues we felt hampered the standard version of the shoe, adding a level of precision and efficiency to a model primed for performance on just about every type of trail. Check out our full review to hear why we think the Mont Blanc BOA is a shoe worth getting excited about.

Naked T/r

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Naked Sports Innovations’ design approach is driven by the concept of “simplexity” — using simple design aspects to improve the utility of complex products. With the Naked T/r, a laceless trail running shoe intended for racing, the brand offers a rethinking of high-performance footwear through subtraction instead of addition. Check out our First Look for our early impressions.

Altra Olympus 5

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Altra demonstrated a level of self-control in the updates they made to the Olympus 5, smoothing out its predecessor’s imperfections but otherwise keeping the shoe mostly the same. Check out our full review to learn how the latest version of the Olympus stays true to the model’s identity as one of the best ultra-cushioned, maximalist trail shoes on the market.
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