Salomon - SPEEDCROSS 6 GORE-TEX

Gore-tex Salomon Speed Cross 6’s

Can’t compare the fit but my first (I’m new here) trail shoes are Speedcross 6 goretex by Salomon, they comfy, keep your feet dry when the mud is deeper than expected. In France we get some good price for them (around 100 quids)

I wear xt6, xt4 and acs daily around town and for light hikes. I have some speed cross 6 gtx I wear for slightly more rough trails but prefer boots if I can for ankle stability.

Speedcross (the version changes all the time) for Salomon. I use them and prefer them over hockey shoes just for the grip alone. I will say definitely get the gtx (goretex) version as it’ll keep your feet dry!

I've found the Salomon Speedcross really super. Some folks find them slightly narrow. I have both the standard and Goretex edition and they gave been really super for mud, hills and all a trail can throw at you. My only note is if your route is trails and roads they are quite solid so the road section is not so nice but I suppose it's the flip side of why they are good on trails. I really feel that my foot is in the Speedcross where as my Hoka Tecton X2 are good but in comparison I almost feel like I'm running on them as opposed to feet in them and supported. You're going to get lots of different answers to your question. All the best

FYI: I’m a very wide boy, but the Salomon Speedcross and Genesis both fit very comfortably. None of their other shoes do, but those are both great shoes you might want to try. Hoka also has nice wide options across their lineup. If it‘s grip you want, I find the Speedgoat is second only to VJ Shoes - but VJ run narrow.

Wide boi here - oddly enough the Salomon Speedcross 6 works really really well for me, and not even in the wide size that they do make - just half a size up. Something about the upper design is extremely accommodating. No other Salomon fits me. Maybe worth a try.

Those are great shoes and a typical price. I think you’re going to be happy with them!!

I wear my Salomon Speedcross 6 for hiking and backpacking trips. Very lightweight and works on muddy and rocky terrain.

My favs as well, although my Speedcross 2s felt better than my current 6s, especially in the toe. I think I liked the traditional laces better too

Glad you had a good time. The beast is Get a nice pair of trail runners for your next race. They are way better for OCR. Lots of posts here about shoes, if you just search it. I will plug the Salomon Speedcross 6 or Hoka Speedgoats.

Speedcross are the best that I’ve tried for mud

Salomon speedcross 6, but they're not really cheap

I wear my Salomon Speedcross 6 both with my outfits & while trail running/backpacking. Like another comment I spent a few weeks in Japan and they held up fine, I did replace my insoles with some running insoles though since the stock ones cause my discomfort.

The Solomon speedcross 6’s are one of the most comfortable shoes, just don’t wear them on pavement. The spiked tread wears down quick if you do.

Speedcross 6 is heaven! Very comfortable and the collar lining is amazing sans breathability.

I love my Salomon SpeedCross 6s

Love the Salomon speedcross 6s

I’ve tried several shoes and keep coming back to my Speedcross 6s. Incredible shoe. I run on very rocky terrain mixed with dirt and mud, they hold up incredible. People complaining they wear out quick on rock are dragging their feet or something because I push past 200 miles each pair with a lot of granite slab underfoot.

Oh my god, those look amazing. I was about to ask how the width was in the toe box, but as soon as I checked your post link I saw perfection. The Salomon SX6 is weirdly well fitting in the toe box for me, but it’s much more snug than my road shoes. I think that’s why they work well for me as a technical runner/scrambler the way they do. I’m going to poke around and see what I can find from inov8. You seriously just sold me

I love my Salomon Speedcross 6's, I have them in GTX for winter running, and regular. They're the only trail running shoe I've found that don't bother my tendency toward Achilles/gastroc/soleus issues

I have a Speedcross 6 and used that for ca 1000 km on very rugged terrain (Swiss Jura mountains). It is nearing the lifetime end now but because the grip is starting to lack…rest going strong….

Hey guys. I ended up going with the Salomon speed cross 6. I chose them because they felt durable and they had the largest tread out of any shoe. What do you guys think? They were around 150. Think I could have found something similar at a better price? I’m finding the same option on DEPOP for over half the price. Granted they’re used. And I’m not sure how quickly tread wears down over time. 🤔

I frequently look at sierra trading post clearance section for trail shoes. I personally love Salomon speed cross 5/6. I’ve gotten off year, weirdo colors and laces for like 50$. I bought 5 pairs one year for less than 200$. You kind of have to look once a week, and have the discipline to not doom scroll the deals. For 90% of runners shoes are the only specialty item needed. I have heard good things about hoka speed goats as well, but never tried them. Salomon speed cross’ barely have any long term cushion, but I will say it’s like wearing off-road dirt bike tires for socks that ratchet down on the feet. Your feet will get sore the first few times, but the confidence you get from the 6mm lugs on the bottom will turn you into a machine. I tend to bring hiking wool socks, and if I go for longer runs, bring an extra set to refresh my feet.

I’ve had a couple Hoka SG versions, Peregrines, Cascadia were nice… my favorite are Speedcross 5 if you like a structured sturdy feel, rock solid, super durable, fantastic traction, lace system rocks, you really get your money’s worth and they feel “new” even as they age

Zegama 2 for longer chill trail runs. Favorite so far. Speedcross 5 for rougher more technical terrain.

I have the Catamount 2 and I really like it (ran in them today), but actually prefer the Cascadia. Also, another vote for skipping GTX. You probably don't need it (or want it) for most runs.

Nike Pegasus 39 for road. Nike Pegasus trail 4 and Asics Trabuco 10 for trail when its dry, otherwise some gtx Salomons for wet. Just ordered Nike InfinityRN gtx for rainy road season.

I walked the Portuguese trail from Lisbon in Salomon GTX shoes and didn't get any blisters. Definitely helped walking in the rain. The socks are key in whatever shoe you choose.

Salomon Gore Tex sneakers. My second choice are Saucony Gore Tex sneakers.

I have Salomon gore-tek trail runners. I bought these 5 years ago and used them all over Australia and hike regularly with them. If you want a bit of ankle support go for the hiking boots but on the trails around here you will be fine in trail runners. I found the gore-tex to be worthwhile just because the trails can get muddy after winter and you are able to just step thru them. Took them to do the overland trail in Tassie and held up fine as well. Salomon currently have a sale on.

Solomon’s are great. The mud doesn’t pack up op the sole, super waterproof. The tread is ultra durable. $120-$150 but I play 300 days a year and they lasted about 18 months.

I have gortex salomons that I really like. the lace system is pretty great for changing up fit on decents quickly

I hike in waterproof Salomons (Soles are not stiff and flex just enough with the ground) and wear “loose” wool socks and have no problem in single digits on packed or loose snow. Having air pockets is key. Don’t wear tight socks or have boots that are tight, go a half size up if they fit “just right” with thick socks.

I went through three pairs on two back-to-back Caminos (Portuguese Coastal with my Mom then the Frances). First were a pair to Topo that I wore through the back heel a little after Logrono . Second, a pair of Salomon's that I didn't realize were Gore-Tex until it was too late and I abandoned in Leon. Third were Hoka Speedgoats. Those lasted me till I got to Finistere, but the insoles had been destroyed at that point. I will always have replacement insoles in the future and probably change them out every 150-200 miles. Granted, I'm not a light person...250lbs (115kg or so) with a short stride. The Speedgoats were by far the most comfortable. Also, I opted to go a full size up on the Speedgoats.

Speedcross is rather for mud. I would take speedgoats or peregrines. Or something from terrex line. Xodus ultra are also brilliant.

I've owned a few Solomon shoes. The speedcross are great trailrunners but I've regretted every other pair of Solomon's I've bought. Those look like they'd be suitable for walking around a park in the city. I wouldn't stray far from the pavement in them.

I have the S/lab ultra 2 and the speed cross. I don't wear either of them for longer than 50k runs though because my feet get sore with the lack of cushion. The thundercross has been recommended, but I haven't tried it.

speedcross is a great shoe, but it doesn't have much cushion. If you need more cushion, look at the thundercross.

Generally I want more than 5mm for mud - I'd reach for salomon speedcross or sportiva mutants.

Same. Light, cushy, and great traction. My go-to for most hikes in CO.

I can only comment on two shoes in the lineup. Over the years I’ve owned about 20 or so pairs of the Speedcross. It was by far my favorite trail running shoe. When I stopped running a few years ago I switched to the XA Pro which I would call a hybrid of a hiking shoe that you can run in. But for pure running nothing beats the Speedcross. But be aware that Salomon shoes have a reputation for lasting about 450-500 miles. Made the mistake of taking out a pair on a sketchy descent after the 500 mile mark and I was slipping and sliding.

Been through almost every major brand - I love the Salomon Speed Cross Vs, but I have narrower feet and need a waterproof and highly durable shoe. It depends on the shape of your foot and your gait. Go to REI or a local running store and they can give you an assessment and some tailored options!

With you. A lot of my running is in Brooks Catamounts, but when it’s muddy and wet the Speedcross come out. They are great shoes. But that is their main use, I wouldn’t use them for anything else.

Speedcross fucking rock

Salomon Speedcross have been my first choice for Northeast monster hikes. Plenty grippy, dry out fast, and I've never had a single problem with blisters or hot spots in those shoes.

my next pair. i had the threes years ago and loved 'em. i have their hiking shoe now and they are terrible to run in. gonna go back to the speedcross.

I love my Thundercross. I like them more than my speedcross. I tried the Hoka Spoedgoat and just couldn't enjoy them.

I hate to be THAT GUY but I remember before the pandemic, you only saw outdoor enthusiast wearing Salomons. Now they are all over various street fashion websites and I always run into trouble getting a second hand pair for a decent price. I was so excited when the S/Lab Sense 6’s came out because I just started to up my mileage after a 2 year hiatus. Great technology at the time and high performance build. I use speed crosses now and the get the job done, I’m not going as fast anymore (for now….)

Yep, I wear these, very good

they're great, i only stopped buying them because the sole wears off very quickly. Although they do work very well on any kind of terrain, a version of the speecross with a harder sole with more lugs designed to run on dry dirt and rocks would be great and a thing i think lots of us would like to see

Personally Salomon fit me quite well. Speedcross has been my go to for most steep/rocky terrain.

Lived there for 5 years. I was plenty happy in Salomon speedcross. My feet being a bit damp was a relatively minor issue compared to the rest of me being proper wet. You could make a case for a goretex pair for hiking with gators, but at a certain point real boots are better.

Salomon Speedcross has the best grip for wet conditions that I've ever owned. They're fairly comfortable for longer miles as well.

I haven't been anything but impressed by the Salomon Speedcross

Shoes like the Saucony Peregrine, Salomon Speedcross, or Brooks Cascadia provide a good balance between road and trail performance. They are comfortable and super durable. All are within your budget, and with a bit of searching, you can likely find them at discounted prices. I’d recommend trying them on before purchasing, as trail shoes often have a specific fit that can vary between brands.

**Salomon Speedcross** has a really aggressive outsole and snug fit. **Hoka Speedgoat 5**, **La Sportive Ultra Raptor**, or **Altra Lone Peak 7** are good options as well. I would also go with a good pair of insoles like **Stride Soles** which have a deeper heel cup to help stabablize the foot. Good luck! Source: I'm a PT and a 4X Ironman who used to have really bad foot pain.

even when you encounter water they dry out much faster, I only use full waterproof when snow hiking and it's important to keep your feet warm and dry. I've actually considered retiring my old hoka speedgoats to be watershoes for kayaking type activities. I also have a lot of boots and shoes. My opinion just on the trail runners I've had: Hoka speedgoat the most breathable but the most fragile, shallower lugs, great on compacted dirt fire roads in the heat but get torn up on rockier trails like gorgonio. Salomon speedcross more durable and less breathable, deeper lugs on the bottom for softer dirt, I probably liked these the most for an all around general purpose if you are going up some of the higher mountains Alta lone peak, probably inbetween the speedgoat and speedcross in most ways including breathability and lug depth. These have a very roomy toe box which makes it a darling for PCT through hikers for those extra long miles, however because of that looser fit they don't feel as secure when scrambling on rocks.

Speedcross are the Salomon trail shoe commonly used. I have used them, but their grip tends not to be as good for sideways movements in hockey. Also, they quickly wear the tread out and also split through the sides by my little toe from sideways pressure that they're not designed for.

They're a great dry trail running shoe, but not great for Spartan. Drainage is bad, there's shoes with much better traction out there, and they're heavier than most. Inov-8 and Altra completely outclass them with almost every offering. Solomon even makes better shoes, but they're rarely recommended because they're more expensive.

I'm seeing Lone Peak 8s for $105-140. I'd be pretty happy with 450 miles out of trail runners at that price point, especially if the upper is the only issue so far. If you only have those holes at the front, and the soles are still in good or even decent condition, they still have plenty of life left in them. You can look into other brands like NNormal or Norda, which should be more durable, but you'll be looking at spending anywhere from an extra $50 or even $200 to get them. I've had really good experiences with the Salomon Speed Cross line, and I've heard good things about the longevity of Topo Athletics, as well. Both of which fall more into the same price point as the Altras. Altras aren't known for their durability, but everything comes down to the specific model, the actual pair you get, and your own use cases. Some people will get the lemon of any given shoe, and some people will get a surprise miracle pair that never dies as well.

Agreed. They were my first Spartan shoe and they were ok to start. But they stay wet and they’re heavy compared to a lot of other shoes. I can do them for a sprint if need be. Anything beyond a sprint and those are a solid no for me.

I prefer the Solomon brand. They got good options that are stylish as well. Solomon speedcross, cross hike 2, or x ultra are all great options depending on what kind of shoe type your looking for. I personally really like their no tie system that uses an adjustable press button and straps for easy on and off.

My local course is pretty frequently muddy so I use a waterproof trail running shoe. My current favorite is the Salomon Speedcross. Really comfortable and always dry. Love them.

I use Salomon Speedcross in Rocksylvania.

Did the first 550+ miles of the PCT this year in the Salomon Speedcross and they worked pretty well without major issues. However, I always had to be careful about how tight I could cinch them down (barely at all) or I’d get blisters on my pink toes as they got pinched in. I’m switching to Topo MTN Racers for my next pair, with a lower drop and a wider toe box. I found that the Topos locked my ankle in better than Altras, though I only tried on the non-zero drop Altras since the Speedcrosses have a very high 10mm drop and I didn’t want to transition right to zero drop.

If you have narrow feet I really love salmon speedcross. They are super grippy, but I was constantly buying them because they would wear down.

I spent a ton of time in the speedcross line and they were down so fast. I guess that's how they all are. I moved over to the evo speedgoat and really like them.

Those are great! I started with the 3s and ended up buying two of each version after that. Eventually, I switched to the Hoka Evo Speedgoats for some extra cushioning. I think the only issue I really had with the Speedcross was that the lugs would wear out pretty quickly.

I alternate between the thundercross and speedcross. I’ve run marathons in the speedcross and also wore them to do the GR54 even although it wasn’t muddy (apart from 2 wet days) and they were fine for 190km.

Speedcrosses or a similar "mud" shoe are my go to for dry, packed snow. For icy or deep snow conditions I use La Sportiva cyclon cross GTX's with 1/4 hex washer head screws screwed into the lugs for traction. Works great.

Before I answer, please be aware that you don’t need to spend a fortune. That being said, I work to feed my mountaineering addiction and spend the majority of my spare time outdoors. At the moment, this is what I use. They cover almost every condition you will face in the UK (and below 3000m in Europe). The only thing I don’t do, is climb vertical ice. La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II They do both a low trail runner (more of a fast hike-I wouldn’t run in them) and a mid-boot. Amazingly comfortable and the grip is excellent on both rock and wet grass. La Sportiva TX4 The best scrambling boot you can buy. Grip on rock is outstanding. Rubbish on wet grass in my opinion. They have been replaced with the TX4 EVO which I haven’t tried. La Sportiva Aequilibrium Trek Super comfortable, light leather boot. Grip on all surfaces is good. My go to boot if conditions are bad in the warmer months. La Sportiva Aequilibrium LT Leather winter mountaineering boot for ice and snow. Take crampons and will cope with relatively steep ice. Salomon Speedcross (I have used 3 and 6-both outstanding). I love these. Amazingly comfortable, grip is good but there is limited foot protection. My favourite for trail running over muddy terrain or well worn paths. I wouldn’t take these up a mountain but I have friends that do. All of the footwear I use has a technical fit so they won’t suit everyone. I hope this helps you.

Puma MagMax Nitro would be a good option off the top of my head. Grippier outsole than you’d get out of the Novablast or Rebels. Though the thing you have to consider is grass tends to hold on to water and get dewy, so even with the best outsole rubber, most traditional running shoes will still give you slippage issues. Closest thing as far as what you’re looking for is a road shoe with Gore-Tex. Nike Pegasus 41 Gore-Tex (Pegasus Trail 5 is similar but not the same), Brooks Ghost 16 GTX, Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 GTX, or Hoka Clifton 9 GTX. Many of these are listed as waterproof/winterproof road shoes, but they’re the same road shoe models, just with Gore-Tex outsole material to better deal with wet surfaces and light mud. A mud running shoe would be best though. Hoka Speedgoat, Salomon Speedcross, Merrill Agility Peak, or Saucony Peregrine. I tried running on wet grass in regular road shoes once many years ago, and it was traumatizing to say the least. You only need one split lip and concussion to let you know it’s not a good idea.

I have Speedcrosses, they are tight and very grippy. Like baseball cleats with a running shoe fetish. They have a 10m drop which exaggerates (my) forward pitch too much, so the really fast downhills can get out of control. I do use them in the soft mud/snow conditions when I want my heels to bury a little for traction. I don’t have enough experience in the Hokas to have an opinion, sorry.

salomon speed cross: unmatched traction and high cushion, not super stable though saucony peregrine: great grip with deep lugs similar to the speecross, not as cushioned but more stable hoka speedgoats: good balance of stability, traction, and cushion, but if you’re running consistently on sharp rocky terrain they are gonna fall apart. their foam is notoriously easy to break down and tear altra experience wild: great cushion and stability, tread isn’t as aggressive but still grips on a wide range of surfaces, doesn’t run quite as wide as some other altras which may be a good thing for you to get a more secure fit la sportiva bushido ii/iii: my personal fav of the shoes mentioned, universally grippy on all surfaces, best lateral stability and rigid support, cushion is a bit lacking but not the worst

I go through 3 to 4 pairs of Solomon speed cross a year. I really like the fit but they wear out way too fast.

done it 4 times and each time wore trail runners (Speedcross). as someone else already said, if new make sure you break them in! if you already have trail runners and you are comfortable in them just go for it. have a windbreaker with you as it gets windy up there and you want to spend some time and not rush.

Salomon Speedcross or Alpha Cross? Bigger lugs but a bit more cushion than my Peregrines. I never liked Hokas, they do not fit me.

Salomon Alphacross or Saucony Peregrine for snow where I know there isn't ice on any spots yet. Where there is ice, I have an old pair of Salomon Speedcross with Yaktraks already attached. When it's snow and ice I will opt for trails (or treadmill) rather than inconsistent pavement/sidewalk but that's just me.

Salomon Speed cross. So much traction.

Is there any reason OP can’t buy a second pair once/if the first pair dies? He mentions U.S. parks so is there a reason he can’t stop at a nearby REI to replace the first pair? (I get packing light and only taking one pair at a time but seems like it would be replaceable…) So absolutely trail runners. I like Salomon Speedcross, which I’ve worn for city walking and running (in addition to hiking and trail running). That makes the lugs wear off faster, obviously, but I’ve still gotten 500+ miles from each pair.

Salomon Speedcross for me. I'm on my 4th or 5th pair. I have a couple New Balance as well but I primarily use the Speedcross.

I'm also a big Speedcross fan and my go-to shoe for hikes in the Whites.

Anything except Solomon speedcross What else ya gonna use ‘em for and what shoes are you wearing now? Challengers will get you through except for super muddy stuff and will be a good everyday training shoe. Any of the Hoka trail shoes will probably fit the role of being a good first race shoe and something you can use everyday. If you’re set on Hoka I would probably spend a little more and get a model with a Vibram outsole. It will provide a little better traction on some obstacles and wet rocks.

I used to use Salomon Speedcross. Been wearing them since the OG all the way to the 6. They worked amazing up until my distances started increasing over 10-15 miles. I then switched to the Thundercross which was amazing up to 26.2. When I ran my 1st 50k and my feet started barking I knew I needed more. I now have hundreds of training miles and several races ranging from 50 to 100 miles on the SLab Genesis and they are absolute perfection!

As some have already said the Speedcross is amazing. I've been using them since the OG and use it for races up to 26 2. Just an awesome shoe that gets better with every new release. I wear mine down on the trails and when the lugs are down a bit use them for road/gravel/smooth trails. The 6 is amazing and I try something new I always regret it and they are moved to everyday/work in hospital use. That said I liked the Sense Ride but above 10 miles I could feel it in my feet. I race ultras in SLab Genesis and train in the regular Genesis. For your terrain and preference I would look at the less aggressive lines. Another option outside of Salomon would be Hoka Speedgoats. Super cushy and lower lug height that Speedcross.

Speedcross handles mud really well, dry rocks are ok, wet rocks though you got to be a little more careful.

Speedcross are crazy good in mud and snow. But on dry trails you will just destroy the outsole too fast. I only use them in snow and mild ice for the grip. For everything else from Salomon line Ultra glide 2 are super comfortable and quite cheap.

Salomon Speed Cross trail runners are my go to!

Salomon speedcross can take a beaten on the trails. Two pairs in 3 years with about 800 miles each pair. Goodluck.

I love my speedcrossrs in snow but would warn OP about trying a new shoe on a marathon race day 

My feet hurt just thinking about running in speedcross on pavement, ha ha. Those lugs would kill. But such a fun shoe for inclines and MUD!

Speed cross design is really nice for super high arches and the tread is nice a deep so you can add kathoolas for really sketch stuff without losing the benefit of the chunky rubber if you are doing mixed surface

If they fit, (which is key) I find the Salomon SpeedCross and Supercross trail shoes are excellent. They do run a bit narrow and would consider a wider footprint. The soles are excellent and are Vibram sole compatible with Contagrip. They have a Boca type lacing system and great heel cup design. Plenty of elite trail runners use Salomon trail shoes. They are durable and long lasting and affordable. They are non zero flat which I prefer. French mountaineering company. Quality. Their sizes can run a bit small. Size up.

Thanks for the rec. I am 5’8” 240 meatball that occasionally competes in race ruck events hauling 30 additional pounds lol. My feet are a little dead feeling from this past weekend (placed 3rd in Ozark Foothills) and wearing Salomon Speed Crosses. Having options is always great. 

I have Salomon Speedcross and La Sportiva Bushido trail runners I got from Boulder goodwill. Both are great for summer

Salomon Speedcrosses are great for mud and other soft surfaces. The rubber compound is pretty soft though and the lugs are very pronounced, so they will wear down fairly quickly if you wear them often on harder surfaces.

I have worn every trail shoe that anyone could think of. I have a weird sickness around buying shoes. The stiffness and stack height of the midsole is going to affect the traction strongly. A squishy shoe will remove itself from edges when weighted. I have had the most luck with shoes having the Vibram Megagrip outsole. Speedgoats are great, but they’re too stacky and cushioned to provide top level traction in super technical terrain. My current favorite shoe for technical runs is a Dynafit Alpine. I have the DNA version which has a ridiculous amount of support and lockdown from the upper. Shoes for super technical terrain are highly specialized since most trail runners are on relatively easy trails (I live in Colorado and do miles of off-trail scrambling in my shoes). The Sportiva Bushidos are great when you’re doing a lot of scrambling and a little running, but they’re not the best shoes for actual trail miles. If you’re not on rocks for miles and you have to negotiate snow, mud, and soft dirt, the Solomon Speedcross are great due to the height of the lugs. People like the Mutants for super technical stuff, too. If you want to go all in on traction, get into a pair of La Sportiva TX2’s and cry when your 170 dollar shoes don’t have a midsole anymore after 7 big days out. I used to also really like the Altra King Mountains before the Alpines took over.

I can't confirm that La sportiva is bad in muddy conditions. It totally depends on the shoe. The bushido is definitively an allrounder that can handle muddy conditions very well. It clogs less than most of my other shoes. I also have the cyklon cross gtx which is a beast in snow and mud. The only shoe on par with it was a Salomon speedcross - but the latter is much worse on all other conditions. However I use the cyklon only in winter.

I had a pair of L Sportivas and found them very narrow in the toebox and loose in the heel. Perhaps you should try Salomon shoes? Great grip, their heel lock is great, they have 8-9mm drop and they are durable. I wear XA Pro 3D and speedcross. Their fit can be narrow in the midfoot, though.

I run Speedcross in mud, rain/slipery conditions, snow. If there's any ice involved I put on spikes.

The best ones are the ones that fit!! I have wide toes and wore Solomon trail runners for a long time. I switched to Merrell Moab hikers a couple of years ago. Both are 13 Wide (EEE).

The downside of trail runners to me (Solomans) was I would sometimes get foot bruises on sharp rocky ground. I switched to hiking shoes (Merrell's) and I feel it's a better compromise between trail runners and boots. Pretty light and more comfortable.

My Solomans had a rock plate (thank you for pointing out my omission), but I feel a big difference with my Murrell Moab's. To each there own, I know trail runners are the favorite, the Moab works better for me (I have dainty feet, I guess).

What do you want to do? I love my Solomon trail runners but if I'm sliding down shale I'll take the Keens all day long. Both are good brands in my experience.

I like Oboz boots. I also like my Solomon trail runners. I've done massive days in both, totally depends what you are more comfortable in. I do personally find benefit in some ankle protection and waterproofness. Some folks poopoo that... but I bet they have wet feet.

I just ordered a pair from my local running store, only commenting to suggest you try them on first. I'm a 12 in Salomons and a 12 to 12.5 in Hokas, and I had to size up to a 13 in the 001s.

Physical protection from pokes and rocks aside, my experience, and others have shared similarly, that boots do not really do much to prevent ankle sprains. Boots generally have higher/thicker soles, so if you do turn your ankle, it's a higher fulcrum point and you could turn your ankle even more than if you were on a thinner sole of a trail runner. The only time I turned my ankle significantly was when I was wearing big, heavy, think leather-upper Vasque St. Elias boots. The firmness of the ankle wrap on those meant I couldn't 'get out of it' by turning forward or any other split-second reaction. Once it started over sideways, there was no getting out of it. Contrast that with trail-runners; I currently have Speedgoats, but have hiked with Altras, Salomons, Oboz, and others, and it's the same. If I turn my ankle, I seem to be able to quickly compensate and prevent myself from putting all my weight over on a completely turned ankle. I do that on every hike, sometimes twice. Never injured myself that way.

Over the years I’ve worn trail runners from Merrill and Salomon, or standard running shoes from Nike and NB. A comfortable fit was the main criteria. Even on wet ground I’d rather have fast drying sneakers than boots.

Salomon trail runners. They’re my goat shoes - the only thing they don’t get a grip on is wet wood.

Did 6 days / 72 miles in the Winds last year, lots of off-trail, pretty much all above 10k feet in Salomon trail runners. Sold my Asolo boots.