This review appears in the 2025 Trail Special Issue of Canadian Running magazine, on sale now.
The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4
Men’s 287 g (10.1 oz.)
Women’s 254 g (9.0 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 32 mm/26 mm
Lug Depth 4 mm
$220
The North Face’s flagship trail shoe is a versatile trainer that works well for daily use and long trail runs—and you can absolutely race in it, since it shares a number of performance features found in the other shoes in the Vectiv line. In particular: a TPU plate that extends width-wise to the midsole at the front (on both sides) and nitrogen-infused TPU midsole cushioning. If you’re looking for one shoe to do it all, this could be the one.
The shoe’s been given a brand-new seamless mesh upper that’s both beautiful and very breathable (plus it’s made from 57 per cent recycled content), with a gussetted tongue. The shoe fits very securely through the midfoot and heel, and you really notice that rocker as soon as you take a step, meaning it’s more comfortavble for running than for walking. The plate, in combination with the cushioning, makes for a very responsive but stable ride, and it’s not as stiff as a plated shoe (nor as expensive). The cushioning is on the firmer side, and the shoe will put some pep in your step on your next long run or race. This version of the shoe is slightly higher than the previous one.
The lugged outsole performs well on a variety of terrain and conditions.
Asics Gel-Sonoma 8 GTX
Men’s 300 g (10.6 oz.)
Women’s 260 g (9.2 oz.)
Offset/Drop 8 mm
Stack Height 36 mm/28 mm (men’s), 35 mm/27 mm (women’s)
Lug Depth 3 mm
$150
This is a sturdy, all-around trail shoe that’s also great for running or walking on snowy/icy roads, with a lot to recommend it—it’s reliable, decently cushioned, durable and waterproof, and fits well, not to mention it’s one of the most affordable shoes in our lineup. It’s a great shoe to have around when you want something warm and waterproof for general mucking about; it’s not designed for trail racing in warm weather, so choose something else for that.
The shoe has a moderate drop to suit a variety of runners and multi-directional lugs appropriate for moderate trails. Our tester appreciated the shoe’s single-density EVA cushioning (it’s not Flyte Foam) in the midfoot and the gel cushioning in the heel. The fit is accurate—snug in the right places and comfortable, with a generous toe box and plenty of cushioning in the collar and tongue. The sturdy outsole is designed to last, and the toe bumper provides good protection. The cushioning is less fancy than what you’ll find in the brand’s most popular road shoes, but this is not a performance shoe, so it doesn’t have to be.
Brooks Caldera 8
Men’s 301 g (10.6 oz.)
Women’s 264 g (9.3 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 38.5 mm/32.5 mm
Lug Depth 4 mm|$190
The Caldera is a well-cushioned shoe for long runs and ultra-trail races. There aren’t many changes from the 7, which was given a very effective and durable new outsole (the 8’s is the same). It still has a chunky midsole made of nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 (which is also used in several of the brand’s road trainers). When you step into it and take a few steps, what you notice first is the shoe’s comfort, flexibility and the stability given by its wide base and high sidewalls. It has a very breathable, quick-drying mesh-and-TPEE upper (which will be very welcome in summer) and plenty of room for your toes to swell and splay. The ghillie lacing system is angled toward the medial side—something we see more often in road-racing shoes; it’s assumed to lessen pressure and friction on the top of the foot, but we’re a little skeptical whether it makes much difference.
The fit is accurate when it comes to length, but it will appeal most to runners with wider feet.
We’re pleased to see the brand keep the shoe under $200, which represents excellent value.
Altra Lone Peak 9
Men’s 316 g (11.2 oz.)
Women’s 264 g (9.3 oz.)
Offset/Drop 0 mm
Stack Height 25 mm
Lug Depth 3.5 mm
$180
Customer feedback on the Lone Peak 8 was that it was a great shoe (Lone Peak is the brand’s bestselling trail shoe), except when it came to the durability of the upper and the outsole. With this update, Altra has focused on improving lifespan throughout the shoe—and it appears they’ve succeeded. Everything you loved about the Lone Peak is still here, and the improvements make it better than ever.
The shoe is built with the brand’s Original Footshape, which has the roomiest toe box and a relaxed, but secure, fit through the midfoot. Its updated ripstop mesh upper is still very breathable, and has seamless overlays in areas of high wear (which should help extend its lifespan) and grippy laces that stay done up well.
Our tester (a Lone Peak fan) found the updated MaxTrac outsole significantly grippier than in the past, yet it somehow also feels sturdier, without compromising flexibility (they’ve had an issue in the past with lugs peeling off the shoe, and with tears to the upper). The shoe still has the brand’s Original Footshape, with a roomy toe box and space for your toes to splay on downhills; the heel cup feels comfortable and secure without digging in. The shoe gives excellent ground contact because of that relatively thin layer of Altra EGO foam in the midsole (whose resiliency has outlasted the other parts of the shoe in the past).
The shoe, which is also available in waterproof low and mid heights, has a rock plate and gaiter attachments.
Arc’teryx Norvan LD 4
Unisex 270 g (9.5 oz.)
Offset/Drop 6 mm
Stack Height 25 mm/19 mm
Lug Depth 4 mm
$200
The Norvan LD is a great shoe for cruisy long runs in the mountains, and it’s lighter than a lot of other long-run shoes. With this update, the focus was on trimming the stack height to make the shoe more stable and to improve ground contact and stability, in accordance with feedback from athletes and customers—and it succeeds well on both counts. Other improvements include a more durable upper and narrower shape at the heel for a more secure fit (and less mashing of the toes on descents) and a new footbed and sockliner to make it more comfortable, as well as giving the feeling of greater responsiveness—something our tester noticed in particular. They also enjoyed the shoe’s stretchy, integrated tongue and the snug fit across the midfoot. They did find the lace pocket somewhat ineffectual, since it’s under the laces when the shoe is done up, and therefore difficult to access.
Like all Arc’teryx shoes, the shoe is sleek and premium-looking and provides excellent value. The shoe also comes in a Gore-Tex (waterproof) version.
New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro V9
Men’s 292 g (10.3 oz.)
Women’s 232 g (8.2 oz.)
Offset/Drop 4 mm
Stack Height 42 mm/38 mm
Lug Depth 4.5 mm
$190
After a fairly minor update from v7 to v8, New Balance has jacked up the stack, lowered the drop and beefed up the outsole lugs on their all-around trail shoe in a hybridization of the brand’s Hierro and More Trail models. This follows the demand for a higher midsole for longer outings—and the brand’s Fresh Foam X has proven itself to be a winner among midsole cushioning materials across both trail and road disciplines; this update has a dual-density midsole that’s firmer on the bottom and softer next to the foot. Our tester enjoyed the cushy midsole and smooth transitions on the trail. (The shoe will obviously appeal most to runners who like a lot of cushioning.)
The shoe has the brand’s standard heel and toe box fit and is designed to hug the arch, creating a feeling of security across the midfoot. The loosely-woven upper is highly breathable, with plenty of rubber in high-wear areas and a comfortably padded collar and a gussetted tongue. The shoe retains the 30 per cent recycled Vibram outsole but with new and deeper lugs (which retain the tiny prongs from the More Trail, which which are designed to enhance traction).
Asics Gel-Trabuco 13
Men’s 295g (10.4 oz.)
Women’s 260 g (9.2 oz.)
Offset/Drop 8 mm
Stack Height 35.5 mm/27.5 mm (men’s), 34.5 mm/26.5 mm (women’s)
Lug Depth 4 mm
$190
This is a significant update to the Trabuco, which has been a trusted, all-around daily trail trainer for Asics for a long time. It now has a full-length Flyte Foam Blast Plus Eco midsole, which is also used in some of the brand’s most popular road shoes, as well as some gel cushioning in the heel. It’s not max-stack, exactly (the term now denoting something approaching 40 mm), but it’s definitely a generous amount of plush cushioning, and it’s slightly more built up on the medial side for support.
The shoe has a nylon plate in the midsole, which works in concert with the AsicsGrip outsole—but it’s really more about protection than doing anything to enhance a runner’s performance; protection is also provided by the substantial rubber toe bumper.
The upper is light and breathable, with a gussetted tongue and a very attractive design, in our opinion. This is a solid choice for an all-terrain shoe for any level of runner.
