The best ultra trail running shoes reviewed (2023)

Comfort is king when it comes to ultra trail running shoes. These are the shoes you should be able to rely on over long and arduous miles. The right shoe should make you feel like you can keep going forever, offering a blister-proof, supportive and lightweight ride.

First thing's first when you're looking to invest in any trail running shoe, you must have a good understanding of your own feet's anatomy and what structure of shoe works best for them. Consider the width of your feet, if they're narrower than average then you'll want to look for brands who are known for a narrower fit, like Salomon.

Or, for those with wider feet, a wider toe splay, or suffering with bunions, you'll probably want to reach for a shoe with more room in the toe-box to give your feet space to breathe. If your arches are high, you'll want to look at shoes with extra arch support, or even a stability shoe if you need some gait correction.

Once you understand what your feet need, you'll also need to consider features that optimise a trail running shoe for long distances. The first thing is comfort, but you should also consider the level of support, breathability, quality of the outsole and the terrain it's aimed at, and the fit. We expand on these below.

Our shortlist

Scarpa Spin Infinity – Best in Test

Decathlon Evadict MT2 – Best Value

Craft CTM Ultra Carbon – Fastest ultra shoe

Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 – Best lightweight ultra shoe

Saucony Endorphin Edge – Best carbon-plated ultra shoe

Altra Olympus 5 – Recommended for zero drop

Dynafit Ultra 100 – Recommended for stability

UA HOVR Ridge Trail Running Shoes – Recommended

Inov-8 Trailfly G 270 V2 – Recommended

Scott Ultra Carbon RC - Recommended

Arc'teryx Norvan LD 3 – Recommended

We asked trail running's top shoe brands to submit their best long-distance trail running shoes. In this article we thoroughly test a range of them, including ones with max cushioning, with carbon-fibre plates, and with zero drop, and share our honest and unbridled opinion on each.

Here, we take a look at the merits of a range of long-distance trail running shoes and test their features across different terrain and distances. This will help you decide on the best ultra running shoe for you. We've also explained key features to look out for in a pair of ultra trail running shoes.

Best ultra trail running shoes

What to look for in a long-distance running shoe

The first thing is comfort, this can be seen in the level of cushioning, the materials used, and those little features that make your run smoother.

You should also think about how supportive the shoe is, does it offer good support in the arches (if you need that), heel, and overlays? What is the density and durability of the midsole foam?

Most of all, the fit needs to be right for you. Fit could depend on many aspects such as: placement of cushioning, height of the heel collar, how the tongue sits, the width of the shoe, the size of the toe-box, and more. If these terms are confusing, take a look at our trail running shoe buyer's guide to better understand key features of a run shoe and how they fit.

We recommend you wear your shoes around the house before getting them muddy, to see whether the fit and level of support is right for you. Most shoe retailers will have a refund policy, so if you don't get on with them, you can send them back and find a pair that works for you.

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