Shoes reviewers recommend for ultramarathons: cushioned enough for hours on your feet, with the grip and protection to match the ground.
17 current models, ranked by their average score from published reviews (how we rank). Updated October 2026. Want a personal pick? Try the shoe finder.
Over an ultra, comfort beats speed. Pick a shoe with enough cushioning that your legs still feel fresh after many hours, and a toe box with room for your feet to swell.
Match the outsole to the course: deep lugs for mud and mountains, shallower ones for groomed trails and towpaths. And train in the shoe you'll race in, so you know it won't rub at mile 40.
A cushioned ultra and long-day trail shoe with bouncy PWRRUN PB foam and, for the first time, a Vibram Megagrip outsole. Stable and protective, but heavy and narrow in the toe.
Nike's long-distance trail shoe gets more ZoomX, a wider base and a fresh Vibram Megagrip outsole. Very stable and grippy for long days on mixed ground, but it is one of the heavier trail shoes around.
A carbon-plated trail racer with a highly rockered, snappy ride for fast running on smooth trails and fire roads. It is stable and light for its stack, but the snug fit and modest lugs keep it off muddy, rugged terrain.
A carbon-plated trail racer with FF Leap foam that rewards fast running on runnable dirt. Lower and more trail-friendly than the original, but still happiest at race effort.
Brooks' first PEBA trail racer, combining DNA Gold foam, a carbon-infused Pebax plate and Vibram Megagrip Elite. Fast and stable over long, runnable trail races, at a steep price.
275 g6 mm dropPlate / rodspropulsivestable£225 RRP
adidas's trail super-shoe: soft Lightstrike Pro, plastic EnergyRods and an aggressive rocker for quick running on smooth, buffed trails up to ultra distance. Thrilling when the ground is runnable, less sure-footed when it gets technical.
A full-Lightstrike Pro everyday trail trainer that borrows the Speed Ultra 2's rocker but adds a forefoot shank and wider base for stability. Grippy, durable and comfortable on runnable trails, though heel strikers may not gel with it.
A maximal mountain trainer with a firmer heel, more cushioning and a forefoot stiffener for a smooth rocker. Vibram Megagrip and deep protection make it a long-day ultra shoe, at the cost of weight.
A trail super shoe with twin parallel carbon plates in dual-density PEBA and a Vibram Megagrip outsole. It is fast, smooth and stable over long distances on mild to moderate terrain.
A max-cushioned, rockered trail cruiser for long days, easy miles and ultras on mixed terrain. Comfortable and stable for its height, though the ride is more cushy than lively.
A rebuilt long-distance trail shoe with Helion HF foam, a forked Speedboard rock plate and new Missiongrip rubber. It is stable, protective and durable, but the ride is firm rather than cushy.
A max-cushion, zero-drop trail shoe with a built-in scree gaiter, EGO MAX foam and Vibram Megagrip. Made for long days and ultras where comfort and debris protection matter.
Saucony
Nike
On
HOKA
ASICS
Brooks
adidas
Salomon
Kiprun
Altra
