New Balance - DynaSoft Nitrel v6

Honestly, the best trail shoes I’ve used has to be the New Balance nitrel V6. Especially if you’ve got wide 🦶

I don't mess with any of the barefoot shoes. I have super tender feet my whole life. I do a lot of endurance sports, and have done some long distance hiking, and spend my summer in work boots. Yet my feet very toughened up. I've been playing in some 4E New Balance the Nitrels (sp?). They also don't fit my feet but I can make them work. They are usually on sale for $50-60.

Merrell Nova 4 and New Balance Nitrel V6 are both 4E wide. If you go with either of those, or another soft woven mesh trail runner, do yourself a favor and extend their life by getting some Shoe Goo that you can coat a thin layer over the fabric on inside of your feet where the base of your big toe is. This will prevent the soft mesh fabric from ripping due to abrasions cause by having wide feet. I've started doing this pre-emptively and it's helped extend the shoe's lifespan significantly compared to previously not doing anything. Signed, a Rocksylvanian.

I should have added these two things... The NB Nitrel V6 will need a different insole because the stock one is garbage, I use Superfeet Cushion or Hike. And, experiment with "Box Lacing" or "Window Lacing" to give your midfoot some more breathing room. I couple this with "Heel Lock" lacing at the top of my shoes so there is less lace pressure on my mid foot and more heel stability to prevent my foot from sliding too much.

I saw your edit about trail runners. New Balance Nitel are my favorites!

Black GTX trail runner that +0.5 then my normal size. To be specific it was NB Dynasoft trail runner , pretty stiff by today's standard but I like stable shoes.

I wear my New Balance Nitrel for an everyday shoe. Comfy and they last forever.