I use Altra Outroad as my daily shoe since most of my running is a mix of light trail and road. Other than a little extra weight, it’s a perfectly serviceable road shoe, with a little extra traction and sole durability.
Altra Outroad is specifically designed for this type of running if you can tolerate the zero drop. If you need some drop, check out Brooks Divide, Hoka Challenger, and Solomon Sense Ride. Others have mentioned the Pegs and Saucony Rides. I've run in Hoka and Saucony and loved both for their versatility. Great for running in sloppy conditions in the fall and winter.
I am on the opposite side of the spectrum but in my search I have found a couple of things that might suit you.Altra has a hybrid shoe named the Outroad that has good cushion. Mount to Coast is also coming out with a road to trial show named H1 in September. That looks like it checks all your boxes. I would also recommend the Norda 03. It is really a good Road to Trail show. That is what Inise in the winter betweny road and local trail
I personally wear non-waterproof Altra trail runners for hiking in the snow, with a pair of Kahtoola micro spikes for icy conditions.
It’s been ages since I’ve been on to San Jacinto, so I can’t advise on that specifically.
For *most* hiking in NorCal, trail runners are great. We are rarely hiking in mud, snow, sand or rain. Most trains are hard packed dirt or granite, and at least during three seasons, it can stay pretty warm except in the highest of locations.
Ymmv but if you haven’t tried them, I would suggest doing so for a summer, but avoid Altra unless you know for a fact you like zero drop. Those broke me.
I have hobbit feet (hella wide with high arches) so finding non-Altra shoes that fit is hell. But I’ve had good luck with New Balance Hierros, Saucony Peregrines, and Brooks Cascadias.
Hokas are far too narrow for me but they’re probably the most common shoe you’ll see in the backcountry nowadays. Topo are def coming up and seem to be well built.
And if you want something with some features of more robust hiking shoe but with a trail runner profile, look at Scarpa, La Sportiva, VJ, or Inov8
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.
berniethecar
