Gear Review: Trail runners

Hoka Speedgoat 4

I love this shoe. It has great cushioning, and is a personal good fit. There’s enough space in the toe box to prevent compression down hill, and I had less knee pain on longer hikes compared to the Altras. My sole complaint (get it?) is that the tread wears out fairly quickly, though the rest of the shoe holds up well.

Comfort 5/5

Grip 5/5

Cushion 5/5

Durability 4/5

Altra Lone Peak (4.5 pictured)

I found this another solid performer: comfortable, with enough toe box room. Tread durability is better than the Hoka Speedgoats, but more pain on longer hikes. If you’re not pushing 50 like me, that may not be an issue.

Comfort 5/5

Grip 5/5

Cushion 4/5

Durability 5/5

Altra Superior

I tried this as a cheaper alternative to the Lone Peak and was…underwhelmed. The fit was fair, toe box excessively large, and cushioning was minimal (by design). Not a great shoe for rocky, difficult terrain but good enough for a smooth trail. The burrito style tongue (attached on one side) takes a little getting used to.

Comfort 4/5

Grip 4/5

Cushion 3/5

Durability: incomplete assessment

The best shoe is one that fits well. I’ve heard people rave about the Altra Timps, but they didn’t make it past trying them on in the store.