Best Cushioned Trail Running Shoes of 2022
Whatever your motivation for using cushioned trail running shoes, be it aiding in injury prevention and recovery, reducing fatigue in your legs from day to day, or because you mainly run hard-packed, non-technical trails, the choices right now are plentiful and much more varied than in the past. The stalwarts like Altra and Hoka are having to compete with newcomers to the cushioned space like Scarpa, Salomon, and La Sportiva — with some of these brands producing some of the very best of the bunch.
Many elements we love in a highly cushioned shoe, like the plush ride, are finally being rounded out with features that cushioned shoes typically lack, such as lightness, ground feel, and stability, so we no longer have to choose cushion over all else.
With so many options to choose from, many factors can come into play: How do the shoes hold up over time? Will a single pair of cushioned shoes be useful over a variety of surface types and over short and long distances? How much cushion is too much? Too little?
We rounded up and tested the best moderately and maximally cushioned trail running shoes, and you can click on any of the links below to jump straight to a certain shoe. To learn more about how to choose the right cushioned trail running shoe for you, scroll down to Hey Dudes Shoes our recommendations for how to choose, as well as our frequently asked questions. Finally, learn more about our research and testing methodology.
Best Cushioned Trail Shoe: Salomon Ultra Glide
Other Great Cushioned Trail Shoes: La Sportiva Akasha II, Scarpa Spin Infinity, and adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra
Best Maximal Trail Shoe: Hoka Tecton X
Other Great Maximal Cushioned Trail Shoes: New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6, Brooks Caldera 6, and Hoka Speedgoat 5
For a look at more generalist trail shoes, check out our best trail running shoes guide.
Best Cushioned Trail Shoe: Salomon Ultra Glide ($140)
With the Salomon Ultra Glide, we get the legendary brand’s first foray into the cushioned trail running category, featuring 38 millimeters of Energy Surge midsole foam and staying under 10 ounces. Offering a gentler ride than the Salomon Sense Ride 4 — read our Salomon Sense Ride 4 review — this shoe finds the right mix of cushioning — copious but not spongy — which has helped manage fatigue during runs of three to five hours. When compared to Salomon’s previous shoes, the overall cushioning of this shoe is reminiscent of the forefoot cushioning in the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 — check out our Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 review as well. This is the softest Salomon shoe we’ve tested, and unlike the S/Lab range, it offers a palatable price tag of $140.
Expect the same durability and form-fit feel from the SensiFit technology, but with a wider toebox that should accommodate many more runners who have traditionally found Salomon trail shoes to be too firm and too narrow. One of our testers was nursing foot tendinitis while testing this shoe and found it to be the one shoe where her foot pain was undetectable.
The soft Energy Surge midsole is paired with a modern rocker design, which we found very responsive and not overdone; it still feels comfortable when the trail tilts up or down steeply.
The outsole of the Ultra Glide has Salomon’s typical 4-millimeter lug with short cutouts and performs really well on slickrock in Moab, Utah, soft snow, and across the dusty trails of the Colorado Front Range. Icy conditions are not a natural habitat for this shoe.
Read our full Salomon Ultra Glide review.
Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 9.7 ounces (274g)
Stack Height: 38/32 millimeters heel/toe
Drop: 6 millimeters
Pro: The best mix of cushion in a lightweight responsive design
Con: Minimal arch support from the OrthoLite liner
Shop the Men’s Salomon Ultra GlideShop the Women’s Salomon Ultra Glide
Other Great Cushioned Trail Shoes
La Sportiva Akasha II ($150)
Our expectations were high with the release of the La Sportiva Akasha II and fortunately, it delivers. The first La Sportiva Akasha felt like a runaway hit — it was wider, more cushioned, and more comfortable over long distances than anything La Sportiva had previously produced. Except for the wildly inconsistent sizing, the original Akasha was a shoe many of us bought and re-bought over the couple of years it was available.
Read our full La Sportiva Akasha II review.
Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 11.5 ounces (325g)
Stack Height: 31/25 millimeters heel/toe
Drop: 6 millimeters
Pro: The only cushioned shoe that can truly stand up to rugged mountain running
Cons: Uninspiring midsole, poofy tongue
Shop the Men’s La Sportiva Akasha IIShop the Women’s La Sportiva Akasha II
Scarpa Spin Infinity ($159)
The Scarpa Spin Infinity joins two other “Spins” — the Scarpa Spin 2.0 and Scarpa Spin Ultra — in Scarpa’s growing trail running shoe selection and is the first dedicated to longer distances. Here’s our Scarpa Spin Ultra review, if you like. It has a firmer midsole than we were expecting for the substantial stack height — 35 to 31 millimeters heel/toe. The laces are excellent and the unique lace garage itself is a wonderful feature.
- Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 10.7 ounces (303g)
- Stack Height: 35/31 millimeters heel/toe
- Drop: 4 millimeters
- Pro: Provides outstanding protection and confidence during long mountain runs
- Con: The upper is so protective that it lacks breathability
Read our full Scarpa Spin Infinity review.
Shop the Men’s Scarpa Spin InfinityShop the Women’s Scarpa Spin Infinity
adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra ($160)
The adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra has one of the longest break-in periods we’ve experienced in some time. But patient runners will be rewarded. One tester had never had such a 180-degree change in opinion on a gear item in her life.
- Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 11.6 ounces (328g)
- Stack Height: 38/30 millimeters heel/toe
- Drop: 8 millimeters
- Pro: The break-in period produces a very comfortable and high-performing midsole
- Con: Some might still find this shoe too stiff even after it’s broken in
Best Maximal Trail Shoe: Hoka Tecton X ($200)
- Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 8.7 ounces (248g)
- Stack Height: 33/28 millimeters heel/toe for men’s, 32/27 for women’s
- Drop: 5 millimeters
- Pro: One of the best uppers on any trail shoe in years
- Con: Fast, technical descents may feel more unpredictable than other shoes due to the carbon plates
Other Great Maximal Cushioned Trail Shoes
New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6 ($135)
Read our full New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6 review.
Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 11.4 ounces (323g)
Stack Height: 28/20 millimeters heel/toe
Drop: 8 millimeters
Pro: For a highly cushioned shoe, downhill running stability is excellent
Con: Amazing from a pure cushioned perspective but can be hard to keep turning over
Shop the Men’s New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6Shop the Women’s New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6
Brooks Caldera 6 ($150)
Longtime fans of the Brooks Caldera line might be taken aback by the new Brooks Caldera 6. Cushioning is maximal but several testers found it capable of delivering more than just a super soft ride. The huge surface area of the outsole can make the shoe feel clunky and give the runner a feeling of discoordination on technical or rocky terrain, but with some consistent miles in the shoes, we adapted to it well. The very quick transition from a high stack height at the metatarsals to no stack at the tip of your toes is very noticeable on the first couple runs, but our feet adapted quickly.
The upper reminds us of the Hoka Zinal — learn more in our Hoka Zinal review — and keeps debris out very well. In Moab, Utah, one tester’s feet were completely protected from incoming debris by the Caldera 6 during a 33-mile run through dry and deep sand, while their running partner had 1.5 teaspoons of sand come out of each of their shoes when they were finished. The upper fits really nicely, with plenty of room to really lock down your foot, and the tongue shape and thickness are perfect.
Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 11 ounces (313g)
Stack Height: 35/29 millimeters heel/toe
Drop: 6 millimeters
Pro: Fantastic upper with excellent protection and lockdown
Con: Fans of the fit of previous Calderas will notice a much different ride in the Caldera 6
Shop the Men’s Brooks Caldera 6Shop the Women’s Brooks Caldera 6
Hoka Speedgoat 5 ($155)
The Hoka Speedgoat 5 brings the most amount of change from one version to the next since the Speedgoat 2 replaced the Speedgoat 1. A new upper, a borrowed midsole, and updated traction on the outsole make it less constrictive and lighter than any Speedgoat model to date.
Read our full Hoka Speedgoat 5 review.
Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 10 ounces (284g)
Stack Height: 33/29 millimeters heel/toe for men’s, 31/27 for women’s
Drop: 4 millimeters
Pro: The new upper and different midsole are a step up from previous Speedgoats
Con: The shoe is not for narrow-footed runners
Shop the Men’s Hoka Speedgoat 5Shop the Women’s Hoka Speedgoat 5
Anatomy of the Trail Shoe
- Heel-to-Toe Drop (Or Just Drop): Heel-to-toe drop refers to the difference in height from the heel to the toe of a shoe. Currently, heel-to-toe drop in trail shoes varies from none to 12 millimeters. Some runners prefer the natural movement of no drop, while the same can irritate the lower legs of runners used to traditional running shoes with drops of 8 to 12 millimeters. Plenty of trail shoe models offer moderate drops of 4 to 8 millimeters.
- Lugs: Lugs refer to the protrusions of material on the bottom of an outsole (see below). While road running shoes often have minimal lugs, trail shoes generally have lugs that are 3 to 6 millimeters deep. Some trail shoes designed specifically for muddy conditions can have lugs as deep as 8 millimeters!
- Midsole: This is the spongy component between an outsole (see below) and your foot. These days, midsoles are made from a wide variety of “foams” and range from minimal thickness to nearly 3 centimeters of material.
- Outsole: This is the bottommost layer of a shoe that contacts the ground. It’s generally made of a rubber or rubber-like compound.
- Rock Plate: The rock plate is a layer of deformation-resistant material, whether a plastic sheet, carbon plate, or other material, that sits somewhere between the outsole and the sock liner. The rock plate’s purpose is to prevent injury to the bottom of the foot as rocks or roots push through the shoe from below. Rock plates vary in length from the full length of a shoe to the forefoot only.
- Toebox: The toebox is the forward cavity of a shoe where your toes fit. Toeboxes tend to be narrower in trail shoes aimed at faster or more technical running, while many runners prefer roomier toeboxes as the length of their runs increases to multiple hours.
Buying Advice: How to Choose a Cushioned Trail Running Shoe
Why You Should Trust Us
Frequently Asked Questions About Cushioned Trail Running Shoes
Where to Buy Cushioned Trail Running Shoes
Many local outdoor stores also carry a selection of trail running shoes (as they often double as great hiking shoes) that would, once again, be suited for the local environment.
If you know what you’re looking for, online outdoor retailers like REI and Backcountry carry a huge selection of cushioned trail running shoes from a multitude of manufacturers. These days, you’re likely to find just as many or more trail shoes on Amazon, with free two-day shipping if you’re a Prime member.
If you’ve still not found a trail shoe that strikes your fancy, you could keep poking around Road Runner Sports, Running Warehouse, and even smaller specialty sites like Skyrun until you find your match.
Call for Comments
- Do you like more or less cushion in a trail running shoe?
- Do you have any favorite cushioned trail running shoes that we didn’t include in this guide?
- Have you tried any of the ones we did include and what was your experience like?
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