I have the non-GTX version of the Gel Trabuco 13. Excellent shoe. I'm sure the GTX model is great too. Since you like the brand already, you'll probably love these. I'm on my second pair of the Trabuco line. I wore the 11's tread down too much for serious trail use, but they are still in great shape for casual wear.
Lowish stack, good grip outsole and not too soft.
I have a quite difficult foot and not much shoes fit me well. I use to take for this kind of races trabuco 11 and 13. I would try tomir 2.0, akasha 2, trabuco, mafate speed 4/speedgoat, slab genesis, Topo MTN racer.
This year im running 45km +4.000m in high mountain very technical terrain and im thinking to try the mount to coast T1. Last year I did a similar one, 43km +3.700m/-4.000m with the trabuco 13s and quite happy with them, i ended with "fresh" legs.
I went from trabuco 11, to 12 and now 13. They feel wide and roomy, and too squishy what I like when power hiking a lot. The outsole and the shoe itself is more running oriented than in 12 and 11, but still confortable. Haven't try the 14s, but they keep doing it less and less technical and more running oriented.
With this fit I also liked agility peak 5, zegama 2s (they are very soft), Sportiva akasha 2.
Topos MTN racer 3 if the arch fits you looks nice, too narrow for me.
I know, but haven't tried myself, Inov8 fit is quite wide and confortable.
Asics trabucos are wide and roomy.
The speedgoats 2E are actually very narrow and low volume. Even the mafate speed 4 in normal width are roomier.
I tried topo MTN racer 3. They are wide in the forefoot, but narrow in the arch/midfoot. Can't wear them
Agility peak 5 is also wide and high volume.
Have a look at Asics line up. Trabuco and trabuco max. They are plenty wide.
I tried speedgoats 2E, they are not any wide. Mafate 4s are actually wider, but still not enough for me if I'm going long.
The ones that fit me well. I really enjoyed the old NB hierro V5 and V6, then they made them narrower and not using them anymore.
Asics shoes fit me really well, used lots of pairs of trabuco and some Fuji lite for speedwork and short racing.
Deciding between mount to coast T1 and Sportiva prodigio pro for this year's long objetive in high mountain technical terrain, 10 hours or so. If anyone has both, will appreciate an insight.
I really don't find the trabuco to be wide shoes (not sure if in other regions they sell these in 2E but I can only get normal width here). I have the 11 which are basically the 12, and find that the logo on the outside is causing me problems as they use it as a stiffening to give support to the shoe. But I have 2E midfoot and this logo is pushing into my feet causing quite some discomfort over longer distances. Otherwise a fantastic shoe I think, gives a lot of confidence on trail
The midsole is a modified version of the Novablast, to render a firmer ride in the trail shoe. Still it is bouncier and more energetic than the older foam in Trabuco 13. Trabuco 14 is a HUGE improvement on the Trabuco 9, 10, 11!
Not enough information!
What does light nature mean? Are you looking for road running shoes? Road to trail? proper trail runner with medium to deep lugs? Do you need a rock plate?
Also note that Runrepeat publishes detailed reviews on things like toebox width, stability, shock absorption. It's a great resource.
Are you a man or a woman?
Do you have narrow / medium / wide feet?
How much cushioning do you want? Do you want barefoot(ish) type of shoes? Maximalist cushioning? Something in between?
Without this information, it's hard to recommend much.
If "light nature" means gravel and dirt roads, not climbing the Alps with crampons, in your case I would go for road to trail or trail runner shoes.
I like the Asics Trabuco gore-tex and the Hoka Speedgoat GTX (they come in standard and wide).
Merrell Moab and Keen Targhee (both come in boots and shoe versions) are popular choices, too. They will be less cushioned than Asics or Hoka.
I find the New Balance Hierro too squishy and unstable - but other people love them
If you have wide feet, the Topo have a wide toebox. The TerraVenture 4 WP have less cushioning than other Topos but still more than Moab or Keen.
If you have narrow feet, look into Salomon, or Italian brands like Scarpa or La Sportiva.
RunRepeat reviewed the Cascadia [https://runrepeat.com/uk/brooks-cascadia-19](https://runrepeat.com/uk/brooks-cascadia-19)
and the Lone Peak [https://runrepeat.com/uk/altra-lone-peak-9](https://runrepeat.com/uk/altra-lone-peak-9)
Are you looking for the waterproof or non-waterproof version?
By ballistic plate you mean rock plate? Any specific requirement other than a rock plate?
What is the shape of your feet? Narrow, medium, wide, wide toebox but narrow midfoot, etc?
What brands are available near you? You said Topo isn't.
How about La Sportiva, Meindle, Merrell, Hoka?
Would you consider hiking shoes or prefer trail runners?
How much cushioning are you looking for?
I like the Asics Trabuco, which have a rock plate, but what works for me may not work for you
You can have a look at Runrepeat's reviews of trail runners [https://runrepeat.com/uk/catalog/trail-running-shoes](https://runrepeat.com/uk/catalog/trail-running-shoes)
or other reviews by [https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/shoes-and-boots/best-trail-running-shoes](https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/shoes-and-boots/best-trail-running-shoes) or [https://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/trail-running/shoes/best-waterproof-trail-running-shoes/](https://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/trail-running/shoes/best-waterproof-trail-running-shoes/)
Not all reviewers agree: eg the Asics Trabuco were praised by Runrepeat but not by GearLab. I think gearLab's review was too harsh, especially on the grip, but make of this what you will
I'd like to get some thoughts on breathable trail runners.
I plan to use them on short breaks or holidays, in hot humid places (think Greece or Spain in July); the use case would be a trail run or hike in the morning, then walking around town the rest of the day.
My feet are widish but not gigantic; Salomon, On, La Sportiva are too tight
My thoughts:
* Asics Trabuco. I have the goretex version - one of my best waterproof shoes. The non-waterproof fit me well but they're not the most breathable (RunRepeat rates them 3/5 for breathability)
* Topo Vista. Breathable, you can see the light through the mesh, but too much cushioning
* Hoka Challenger 8 wide: very breathable, 5/5 in RunRepeat's test. The wide version fits me well. Less technical than the Trabuco. Initially they felt like the Vista, bur retrying them I prefer the Challenger
* Topo MTN Racer 4: the 3 scores 4/5 for breathability (the 4 I'd guess the same). The standard version is too tight in the midfoot. The wide version fits me well but it's only available in a retina-burning electric blue, which I find too much "in your face" to use around town
* Saucony Peregrine: a bit narrow
* Brooks Cascadia: can't find the wide version anywhere
* Altra: zero drop is not for me
Basically my ideal show would be the upper of the Challenger with the sole of the Trabuco or MTN Racer!
I think my two best options are:
* I get the Challenger and hope the terrain won't be too technical to need the Trabuco
* I give up the idea of just one shoe, use the Trabuco for running and hiking, and some open sandals around town
Thoughts? Thanks!
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.
Antipolemic
