Various Altra models. Lone peak series are pretty decent. However, for comfort for 50ks and longer, I have been using the Altra Mont Blanc Carbons. More response and better all day comfort. The Exoerience series are pretty decent, my boys run trails races those and love them.
I've found four advantages to using plated trail shoes:
* Improved running economy.
* Forward propulsion when you’re running strong.
* Reduced muscle fatigue later in the race.
* Steady pacing and consistent turnover on long, runnable sections.
That said, plated trail shoes are not always better. On highly technical trails with rocks, roots, and sharp turns, the stiffness can reduce ground feel and stability. You lose some precision, which can increase the risk of missteps. They also tend to be less forgiving when you’re hiking steep climbs, where the plate doesn’t offer much benefit.
As for midsole comfort, there isn't much tradeoff here since the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra has a heel stack height of 38mm. Read critical reviews about this shoe before purchasing, as we've seen repeated complaints about the comfort of the upper and poor traction on wet terrain.
Assuming you're not running in soft mud where deeper lugs are necessary and assuming it fits your foot, the Hoka Tecton X 3 is one of the best designs for wet trails. The parallel plate setup improves stability, which matters when footing is sketchy. It’s widely used in technical ultras because it handles uneven, wet terrain better than most plated shoes. Other options are the Nike Ultrafly Trail (Vibram Megagrip), Altra Mont Blanc Carbon (Vibram Megagrip with a wide toe box for extra ground contact), and lesser known shoes such as the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trail and Saucony Endorphin Edge.
Sleeper shoe that is super versatile is the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon … can do it all and it’s a much snugger fit then most altras and durable … I run east coast terrain and 100k ultras in them. They have a new Mont Blanc Speed without carbon that’s a bit softer but not as propulsive…
Ive been running Altra Lone Peaks for years. I bought Altra Olympus 275 and Altra Carbon Mont Bloc. Those two shoes are game changers. The 275s are awesome. The Mont Blocs are noticeably lighter than the 275. But the 275 just feel perfect
I went from lone peaks to Altra Mont Blanc carbon and it was amazing. I also like the olympus 275. Highly recommend the both. The Mont Blanc are noticeably lighter than the Olympus 275.
If you’re a fast runner, max cushion shoes almost never offer any benefit during races. If you’re confident that you won’t roll your ankle 10 miles in on the course, then go for any top plated shoe. All depends on the terrain and how comfortable you are with the shoes. Personally I like the Altra Mont Blanc carbons bc it’s a do it all fast trail shoe with medium cushioning
I switched over to these and the MB Speed (the tempo companion for the carbons) in November of last year. I typically 5mm for running but walk in zero drops and haven’t had any issues! The rocker is quite nice on the carbons and doesn’t feel too different than what I’m used to on the trail. They run large though and I had to size down half a size.
I’ve found that other altras have too flat of a rocker or aren’t stiff enough when toeing off, but the plate for the carbons does well on both those
You’d be hard pressed to find another shoe that is faster and as wide. Best suggestion would be to get the FKT insoles from Topo for a bit more energy return and get faster ™️
Or potentially the Altra Mont Blanc speed/carbon. They’re pricy though and potentially not enough volume. They do run faster than anything Topo has atm
Top Trail Running Shoes on Reddit
1
Mount to Coast
H1
85% positive of 177 users
Versatile road-to-trail, but struggles on wet, technical downhills.
B00MSTlCK
