I need help finding new trail running shoes. My feet have two major issues:
1. I have a very prominent heel with the heel bone "bulge" being a bit higher than perhaps normal, and many shoes give me heel blisters - especially when running/walking on a steep incline.
2. While my feet themselves aren't exactly wide, I have a massive big toe and in a lot of trail runners I get blisters on the edge of it.
The shoes I tried:
* Saucony Peregrine 14 and 15: these shoes came the closest to being a perfect trail running fit - except for the heel. While not an issue on flat trail runs, after I had to do a steep run/walk I would start getting heel blisters.
* Asics Fuji Lite 6: perfect heel fit, very comfortable even on long ascents. But my big toe would develop painful hot spots and eventually blisters even on a 10 km run.
* La Sportiva Prodigio: Flawless heel fit, pretty good big toe space - on a 15 km run, I get a hot spot, not a blister. So they are still not perfect. I also notice that the outer side of the shoe opening digs into my ankle bone when I tighten them for descents, which is a new annoyance (but not a deal breaker by itself).
Note: the shoes I use for hiking are the La Sportiva Wildcat. They fit absolutely flawlessly, I've done 16 hours hiking days in them and never had a single foot comfort issue. They just don't run very well.
I live in Squamish, BC and run in the local mountains, so the shoes should have good scramble ability.
Any suggestions on what shoes to try next?
I have a pair of Saucony Peregrine 15s which at first I found uncomfortable, before I realised that my real issue was my socks rather than my shoes. They're optimised for mud but resilient enough to run along the roads at a fair lick between trails, and comfortable enough for rocky terrain. Great at letting water back out too. I've worn them for the Seventh Seal 50k and the Ranger Ultras Peak District North with no complaints
I agree with what @eastsidegrind said.
And I think maybe you mean “a stable shoe” rather than “a stability shoe.”
Stability running shoes provide structured support for runners who overpronate (feet roll inward excessively), to guide the foot into a more neutral, aligned stride, using features like firmer foam, guide rails, or extra arch support in the midsole. They offer a more balanced, supportive ride for those with flexible arches or who experience form breakdown when tired, unlike neutral shoes, which lack this built-in correction.
It seems you are looking for something that is simply more stable under your feet so you don’t turn your ankle, etc.
In the last few years, I had a pretty decent roll of my ankle, and now it keeps happening. I’ve noticed that it happens more often on a flat road with my Saucony Triumph 20s than it does on trails with my Saucony Peregrine 15s. The Peregrines are 10-13mm lower overall than the Triumphs, with a 4mm drop vs 10mm. Not trying to sell you on Saucony, but you get the general idea.
I really honk I was rolling my ankle because of the Triumph’s overall height, and I feel really “stable” in the Peregrines, even though I use the Peregrines in much more uneven terrain.
So, IMO, you should look at shoes with a lower overall height for a more stable run.
(Unless, of course, I was wrong and you actually are wanting a true “stability shoe”)
I strongly disagree.
I wear Saucony pretty much exclusively (Kinvara, Ride, Speed, Peregrine) and I CAN'T wear Salomon at all. They don't work with my feet. I've tried several times and I get blisters within 5 km with every model I've tried.
So if Salomon works for you, great, but as a Kinvara lover, Peregrine is my only answer. They're both 4mm drop and minimally cushioned and I like them both a lot.
I have different setups for different températures. 0 to -5, -5 to -10, -10 to - 15 (celcius). Rarely go out below that because I need to be dressed too warm not to freeze my extremities and then my body overheats. Most important is the feet. Merino wool socks with Saucony Peregrine Ice's.
You have to forget pace, distances, times. Just plow through at the pace you can. I find it harder on the knees and ankles though. Cannot go out for long runs.
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.
Anagram6226
