This review appears in the 2025 Trail Special Issue of Canadian Running, on newsstands now.
Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx
Men’s 288 g (10.2 oz.)
Women’s 231 g (8.2 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 36 mm/30 mm
Lug Depth 4 mm
$260
This new max-cushioned trail shoe from Merrell definitely stands out on the trail for its unusual upper and midsole designs, and firmly establishes the brand in the trail-running space. It’s intended for long days (or races) on the trail, for runners who want a high-quality shoe with premium cushioning, a high stack and an upper that won’t let them down.
The shoe’s breathable Matryx upper contains Kevlar, along with 3D-printed and TPU overlays, for top-of-the-line abrasion resistance. The EVA-based FloatPro midsole feels very plush and comfortable; the fit is very snug through the midfoot, with a roomy toe box.
Our tester found the upper a little stiff and felt it did not fully come through in the promised “ground feel” (facilitated, in theory, by the grooves in the midsole, intended to lend flexibility); admittedly, this is a tough line to walk in a max-cushioned shoe. They praised the Vibram Megagrip outsole’s grippiness and trustworthiness, even on ice. We’re impressed with the shoe’s relative lightness, considering all the protective elements in the upper, midsole and outsole.
Arc’teryx Vertex Speed
Unisex 240 g (8.5 oz.)
Offset/Drop 7 mm
Stack Height 23 mm/16 mm
Lug Depth 3 mm
$230
The latest entry in Arc’teryx’s Vertex collection, the Vertex Speed delivers the best features of the original Vertex, with features specific to climbing on technical mountain terrain. It’s much lighter than the original model, with a gossamer-like, very breathable and highly abrasion-resistant mesh Matryx upper, and still a decent amount of rubber protecting the toes and on the sides and heel. The reshaped high, stretchy ankle collar/gaiter is one piece with the integrated tongue, and does a good job of keeping debris out of the shoe (which is also available in a low-cut version, without the gaiter). The shoe’s Vibram Litebase outsole also contributes to the reduction in weight (plus, there is no rock plate in this model), and the lug pattern is designed for grip at the front for climbing, with good traction under the midfoot and heel. The dual-density midsole, which is softer at the heel and firmer under the forefoot, has been lowered just a touch, as has the drop. As we’ve found with other Arc’teryx models, the fit is long.
Norda 005
Unisex 214 g (7.5 oz.)
Offset/Drop 7 mm
Stack Height 28.5 mm/21.5 mm
Lug Depth 4 mm
$325
We’re excited about this much-anticipated new race-day shoe from Norda, which has a similar shape to its more rugged 001 and 002 models. It’s extremely light, with the new Vibram Megagrip Elite sole plate (a soft, grippy compound co-developed by Vibram and Norda) and T-shaped lugs, and a highly durable, bio-based and recycled Dyneema upper that resembles linen; if it weren’t for the shoe’s chunky midsole, it would look almost like a summery dress shoe. The toe box, like that of other Norda models, is wide and accommodating. Jason Schlarb was wearing the shoe when he finished on the podium at Hardrock 100 in 2024, and again a few weeks later, when he finished in the top 10 at TDS in Chamonix.
The midsole is 100 per cent Arnitel TPEE—a very bouncy, resilient foam; Martire says the stack doesn’t need to be outrageously high because the foam is so responsive and resilient. Our tester loved the bouncy, cushy and responsive feeling of the midsole. Norda shoes fit small; you’ll need to go up at least a half size. The shoe is not cheap, but it is built to last.
Columbia Konos Featherweight
Men’s 262 g (9.2 oz.)
Women’s 220 g (7.8 oz.)
Offset/Drop 10 mm
Stack Height 27.5 mm/17.5 mm
$130
Columbia has entered the running shoe space, with a novel assertion: that “every surface is a trail.” Here’s the rationale, as we interpret it: most road shoes perform best on smooth, dry pavement, and are therefore optimized for durability (rather than grip). In trail shoes, the traction comes from lugs, which must be made from rubber that’s hard enough not to wear off easily, but soft enough that it doesn’t feel like you’re running on a brick. Columbia’s answer to this dilemma is to produce shoes with soft, contoured and textured outsoles (but no lugs) that work well on any surface, rain or shine. (We tested the Konos Featherweight on several kilometres of road that was a combination of wet, dry, rutted and crunchy with snow and ice, and were impressed. And if it ends up wearing out quickly, it’s still the least expensive shoe in our lineup to replace.)
The Featherweight lives up to its name, is well-cushioned and flexible, with a breathable, supportive upper. The ride is plush and reasonably responsive (and the drop feels lower than 10 mm). While very comfortable, the fit is large—consider going down a half (or full) size. Our tester particularly liked the seven-hole lacing system and the attractive styling, which is also appropriate for casual wear.
Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide
Unisex 280 g (9.9 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 41 mm/35 mm
Lug Depth 4 mm
$300
This new high-stack, high-performance long-distance racer from Salomon, introduced at UTMB last year, looks fantastic, and our enthusiasm has (mostly) continued after taking the shoe to the trails.
The shoe combines high cushioning with premium durable materials in an efficient and dependable ultra-trail racing shoe. It has a two-piece EnergyFOAM midsole that strikes a good balance between cush and responsiveness (but tending to the firmer side), and the shoe feels very stable, despite the height of the stack. It performs just as well for climbing as it does over rolling terrain—a big ask. The shoe has high, protective sidewalls, which lend stability, and a sturdy toe bumper. The stretchy mesh upper has the brand’s much-loved Quicklace system and is very breathable, with some thin padding around the collar and lots of protective overlays. The upper is designed to expand to accommodate swelling during long races, but our tester found the toe box a little cramped.
The fit of the heel is unusually snug, and our tester had no issues with slippage, even climbing steep, slippery rock. They were impressed with the grip and overall durability of the ContaGRIP outsole.
The innovative new contoured midsole and outsole are unlike anything you’ve ever seen, and are designed to relieve pressure and redistribute repetitive stress on the foot.
NNormal Kjerag Brut
Unisex 230 g (8.1 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 28.5 mm/22.5 mm
Lug Depth: 6.5 mm
$280
A more rugged version of the brand’s Kjerag shoe (there will be an update to the regular Kjerag this summer), with outsole lugs that are almost twice as deep, the Brut is really designed for soft, unstable terrain and poor conditions (i.e., deep mud, water, snow or scree). It underwent extensive testing in Europe, and will be welcomed as eagerly by trail runners in the Pacific Northwest as in Britain, where runners often find themselves ankle-deep in boggy marsh while approaching or departing from the fells.
The Brut has a Vibram Litebase outsole, and (did we mention this?) very aggressive, deep lugs. The breathable, woven Matryx Micro upper has an integrated neoprene tongue and drainage holes to shed water; there is also less padding around the collar, so less material to become saturated with moisture in sloppy conditions—an identified weakness of the original Kjerag. The shoe’s supercritical EVA Eexpure midsole is unchanged, and performs well. The shoe has an external moulded heel counter to keep you locked and loaded.
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro
Men’s 255 g (8.9 oz.)
Women’s 225 g (7.9 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 34 mm/28 mm
Lug Depth 4 mm
$235
The Prodigio Pro is a new racing shoe based on the design of the Prodigio, which was introduced last year. With significant enhancements to the upper and the midsole cushioning, an increased rocker profile and higher sidewalls for stability, this is an excellent shoe for trail racing.
The XFlow Speed cushioning (supercritical nitrogen-infused TPU and EVA) is soft, light and very responsive, allowing the brand to trim the weight slightly; it feels plush and responsive on the trail. The striking TPU and nylon-reinforced mesh upper is highly durable and wraps the midfoot snugly. The well-padded tongue is integrated into a knit collar that does a decent job of keeping debris out of the shoe. The rocker is quite noticeable; landings feel stable and transitions smooth. The fit is snug across the midfoot, but with plenty of width in the toe box for splay on the downhills. This is one of the most comfortable and well-fitting shoes we tested.
The shoe has the brand’s softer, tackier rubber compound on the outsole, and gives the shoe excellent traction and grip, but it will be interesting to see how it holds up with repeated use; probably best to keep it for race-day wear only. Also, it kept our tester’s feet comfortably warm in snow, which may not bode well for running in warm weather.
Lowa Madrix
Men’s 290 g (10.2 oz.)
Women’s 250 g (8.8 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 30.5 mm/24.5 mm
Lug Depth 4 mm
$240
This is a rugged, moderately-stacked and plated trail shoe from the popular European brand, Lowa, that’s designed for both training and racing over long distances. It shines on technical terrain, and has energy return to burn. The carbon-reinforced, forked plate (which is 80 per cent nylon) is less stiff and more forgiving than the carbon-fibre plates in road racing models, but works in concert with the relatively firm, nitrogen-infused TPEE midsole and the pronounced toe rocker to give you plenty of oomph to conquer the trails. (It may also provide some rock protection.)
The shoe’s sturdy reinforced upper and TPU toe cap provide plenty of protection from trail debris. The thoughtfully designed, asymmetrical tongue follows the anatomy of the ankle, reducing friction and chafing, and the toe box is appropriately roomy, allowing plenty of space for toe splay on descents.
The shoe has a sturdy Vibram outsole, and the lugs are configured in a forward-facing arrow orientation at the front (for grip while ascending) and rear-facing at the back (for descending).
Hoka Tecton X 3
Men’s 286 g (10.0 oz.)
Women’s 223 g (7.9 oz.)
Offset/Drop 5 mm
Stack Height 40 mm/35 mm (men’s), 39 mm/34 mm (women’s)
Lug Depth 4 mm
$300
X marks the spot—and for Hoka, X denotes “this is a carbon supershoe.” It’s a significant update to the Tecton X 2 and the original Tecton X, which appeared in 2022; Jim Walmsley wore a prototype of an earlier version when he won UTMB in 2023, and he and Vincent Couillard wore updated prototypes when they won Western States and UTMB in 2024, respectively. No expense has been spared to make this one of the fastest, highest-quality and most durable trail racers we’ve seen in a while—and you don’t need to be a pro to reap the benefits (though pros get it for free—lucky them).
The shoe is max-stack, with a carbon-fibre plate that’s split down the middle, allowing each side to move independently (it’s generally agreed that this works better on trails than a single plate), with side panels that are designed to improve stability—and it is a very stable shoe, due also to its wide, forgiving platform, which extends beyond the heel for stability on descents. The midsole is brand-new, very responsive double-density peba foam that feels comfortably cushioned without being overly soft. The shoe has a water-resistant Matryx upper with a bootie construction, featuring an integrated tongue and knitted, sock-like gaiter that fits tightly (but feels very comfortable once it’s on). The Vibram Megagrip/Litebase outsole has tiny prongs on the side of the lugs for traction and grip. The shoe is more than an ounce heavier than the 2, but still relatively light.
