There is no shortage of stores carrying athletic shoes throughout Singapore but you may prefer online shopping as some brands or models in not available in Singapore. Choose the method that best fits your personal shopping style. Whether you prefer to visit the local stores to try on the shoes or you can’t get enough online shopping, figure out which running shoes work for you and snap them up!
What’s a Trail Running Shoe?
Not sure how these specialty shoes differ from other athletic footwear such as the maximalist running shoes. Keep this in mind: a trail running shoe never met a patch of dirt, mud, grass or gravel it didn’t love, so the most simplistic answer is: it’s an “off-road” shoe that belongs anywhere rather on pavement and hard surfaces. This generation of terrain-specific shoes has become a popular pick for those who love trails best of all.
How Do Runners Benefit from Trail Running Shoes?
Trail running shoes are usually the lightest shoes on the market; some are even categorized as “minimalist.” Runners wear them to attack steep, difficult terrain, wet and muddy roads, which is why train runners with waterproof liners are particularly popular. Look for lightweight, breathable styles in a garden variety of colors when you shop.
How to Choose the Best Trail Running Shoes?
Make your decision based on fit, fit and fit—not reviews! Your need for more depth, width and volume is solely dependent upon your feet, which is why one manufacturer’s trail shoe can differentiate as much as a size from a competitor’s, yet they both fit your feet. Always factor in your foot (high or low instep? straight or curved feet?) when you choose a trail shoe – particularly if you’re shopping online. Ready to shop? Here are our picks of the top and latest trail running shoes.
Top 13 Trail Running Shoes
1. Merrell Bare Access 4
Features: Merrill bills this trail shoe as “freedom” because bonus cushioning means runners can tackle longer distances and harder surfaces thanks to this zero drop style. If you rely upon ground feedback to run your best time, choose this shoe for its responsive insole, said to deliver lightning-fast reaction times. Odour is kept to a minimum thanks to M-Select™ FRESH technology. If you like a funky shoe, check out the Molten Lava colour!
Price: US$95
2. Saucony Peregrine 5
Features: The Peregrine 5 is an unusual bird: Order it in colours that mimic bright parrots or go for conservative black with a hint of yellow. Thanks to engineering and construction innovations, this trail running shoe is popular with marathoners. The foot is protected from impact thanks to compression materials, but the underfoot feel isn’t compromised. Expect this shoe to deliver excellent pronation control and unrivalled support.
Price: US$110
3. Adidas Kanadia Trail 7
Features: Kanadias get lighter with each redesign. The high-grip TRAXION outsole hugs terrain and if you love running in difficult weather, a waterproof mud guard and ventilated upper will win you over. Inside, a comfortable fabric lining and panel fashioned for optimal lateral and linear support make this shoe a stand-out.
Price: US$100
4. Nike Free 5.0
Features: The Nike team spent eight years studying the biomechanics of shoeless running and developed the Nike Free series. This pioneering minimalist runner has a baby brother who’s a leaner, lighter, meaner sibling. Deep cuts in the midsole are replaced by a hexagonal grid for multi-directional flex. The lightly cushioned shoe gets high fit marks and is ideal for runners new to natural running. Picking a color could be your biggest decision.
Price: US$100
5. Puma Faas 300 V4
Features: Is there a perfect performance training shoe? This could be it. Lightweight (220g), deconstructed upper and added reflectivity (360 degrees) appeal to guys who run at night. Other features include flex notches, internal, bonded suede, AirMesh uppers, 8mm heel-to-toe drop and EverTrack durability.
Price: US$90
6. Mizuno Wave Kazan
Features: The Wave Kazan is a stable, colourful shoe with a wide forefoot that’s ideal for long distances and training purposes. The heel-to-toe drop is 12mm and the midsole features “Smoothride Engineering”. Brilliant colour combinations mean this shoe isn’t for those who hate the spotlight. This shoe isn’t known for water-repelling properties so if you train in the rain, remember that.
Price: US$119.99
7. La Sportiva Bushido
Features: For exceptionally fast mountain runs, you couldn’t pick a better trail shoe. These ultra-light, form-fitting shoes hug feet thanks to superior cushioning. The sole is stable so uphill running is a breeze. A high-drain mesh upper keeps the foot cool and the color options are just neutral enough match trending running togs.
Price: US$125
8. North Face Ultra Equity Gore-Tex®
Features: Talk about nimble! Slide on a pair of these trail runners and fly across the terrain. The locked-down mid-foot design and flexible, Vibram outsole engineering add to the sleek performance and look, but it’s the low-profile lugs that get a runner through hazardous weather and ground conditions. This shoe gets high marks from reviewers rating crossover shoes in general.
Price: US$130
9. Brooks Pure Grit 3
Features: Owners of the men’s or women’s PureGrit 2 shoe are celebrating its next iteration. The midsole is snug, it’s amazingly light, there’s a semi-minimalist midsole that proved a favourite feature when tested, and it’s ready to meet every trail condition on the planet. Sadly, this shoe doesn’t like mud, so take that into account if you’re thinking of purchasing a pair.
Price: US$120
10. ASICS GEL-FujiPro
Features: Bursts of colour (lime, raspberry and orange) differentiate this vivid trail runner from the crowd, but features tell the story: The low-profile midsole, spring-loaded ride and heel clutching system that helps runners stop on a dime are all reasons to buy. The introduction of GEL-FujiPro keeps feet moving across myriad terrains.
Price: US$120
11. Hoka One One Mafate Speed
Features: Billed as the trail shoe that shines on flat and rolling hills, the Hoka One One has been called “the plushiest trail shoe on the market” by editors rating 2015 trail shoes. The sexy shoe has a spongy feel that makes it ideal for recovery runs. Testers said the 340g shoe feels so much lighter. With a 4mm drop, Hoka One One testers warn that the foam lugs wear down fast!
Price: US$170
12. New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Trail
Features: New Balance rocks the world of men’s trail shoes with a colourful shoe (blue, yellow and apple green) that’s soundly constructed. Dubbed “the science of soft”, New Balance claims this shoe is impossibly plush, yet runners still enjoy full ground contact. The gusseted tongue repels debris, so if your current shoe collects it, that alone may convince you to buy.
Price: US$99.99
13. Salomon X-Scream 3D
Features: If city trails are your preference, the Salomon X-Scream 3D is the perfect choice for your running adventure. Yes, everything will be in 3D, the 3D Fit, 3D Grip and 3D Ride has made this shoe their most agile CITYTRAIL™ running shoe. Just avoid screaming when you don on this pair of stunners.
Price: US$125
Conclusion
With so many trail running shoes hitting the market, it can be hard to choose just one. Experts insist that fit, fit, fit should be the lone criteria for buying a pair, but we have a hunch there’s more. What attracts you so much about a trail shoe that you would buy it just for that feature, colour or design?
*The price may vary from time to time. Do find out more about the current prices of the featured shoes on the official websites or at your local stores.
