Best waterproof trail running shoes 2024 | Tested and reviewed

Now in its 14th iteration, the Saucony Peregrine has been honed and refined over many years. And it shows that it’s not only been able to keep up with the times, but fight its way to a podium position, in our opinion.

We like the Saucony Peregrine 14 so much because it’s smart simplicity. It’s not overengineered or overcomplicated – it sticks to a remit and delivers on it.

At well under 300g, it’s one of the lightest waterproof trail running shoes around, with only a small selection of models like the Arc’teryx Norvan LD 3 GTX to rival it. But it feels so secure to wear, thanks to a confident heel cup, secure lacing, and decent underfoot construction.

Intended for speedy runs, we found the Peregrine 14 GTX’s outsole offered the best grip over more hard-packed ground. It can handle sludgy stuff, but its sibling, the Peregrine 14 ST, has the outsole tailored for mud.

The Gore-Tex membrane used here is Invisible Fit, and it’s a pretty apt name. It’s still not as breathable as a shoe with no waterproof lining, but certainly feels much more like one.

View women's version here

Read our full Saucony Peregrine 14 review

Let’s start with some numbers. The Roclite G 315 GTX V2 features 6mm lugs for grip and an 8mm drop for comfort. So, we’re looking at comfortable, grippy shoes. In fact, Inov-8 say these shoes are good for hiking as well as trail running. But we say you will not be disappointed with these for trail running, even in a race.

They’re out of the Inov-8 school of competitive fitting shoes that feel good at pace. Of course, they feature everything you’d expect from a long-distance shoe such as graphene soles for durability and a rock plate for protection. But let’s not forget the Powerflow max foam cushioning, which makes for a very comfortable outing.

We did, believe it or not, venture out in a cross-country race in these. Put simply, if it’s wet, muddy and you’re looking for a comfortable hour or so you can’t fault them. Indeed, you can only praise them.

Check out the women's version here

On first glance, you could mistake this for the very well-known Salomon Speedcross shoe. Indeed, it is quite similar in many respects but overall, is our pick for soft, muddy terrain.

We liked the Traverse GTX so much because its upper is a lot tougher than what you see on many trail running shoes. The weight inevitably increases but for us, the trade-off increase in toughness is worthwhile.

That upper has a Gore-Tex lining, which provides reliable waterproofing and the Traverse GTX even has Salomon Quicklace-style lacing.

Underfoot, the 5mm lugs are aggressive and widely spaced, which gave us impressive traction on sloppy terrain. The rubber compound used for the outsole felt quite hard, and offers good durability as a result. The midsole isn't especially cushioned, but is very responsive, which is an approach that works well on soft terrain.

In terms of sizing, the shoe runs small. Our tester is usually an EU43 but an EU44 was his best fit for this shoe. It's quite narrow too, which won't suit everyone.

View women's version here

Having tested its predecessor and found it to be a sturdy and reliable, if not slightly heavy, trail running shoe, Merrell has made some noticeable tweaks to the Agility Peak 5 GTX.

We found it’s noticeably lighter than the Agility Peak 4 GTX, bringing the weight down to about 300g. It’s also a fraction taller, too, packing in a more cushioned midsole.

The upshot is that the Agility Peak 5 GTX is even more versatile than its already highly versatile predecessor. We liked its heel-hugging fit, and decent foot protection – both underfoot and with a wraparound TPU band on the upper. Grip from the Vibram MegaGrip outsole is superb over most surfaces, too.

The reduced weight and increased cushioning make it more suitable for longer runs than the Agility Peak 4. However, with its generous stack height, the Agility Peak 5 GTX isn’t the most responsive trail running shoe – favouring cushioning over feel.

On test, the Gore-Tex waterproofing was predictably reliable, but we really liked the effectiveness of the shoe’s anti-odour treatment, and other touches such as the gaiter D-ring.

Check out the women's version here

There are a lot of trail running shoes that claim to be versatile, but in our experience, Salomon’s Sense Ride 5 (GTX or non GTX) is one of the few that truly is.

We’ve used the Sense Ride 5 for running long and short distances over a mixture of terrain and found it to be very impressive. What impressed us most was the Contragrip outsole, which grips far better than the modest 3.5mm lugs lead you to believe on first glance.

Its 8mm drop may not suit everyone, but beyond that it’s a hard shoe of this type to fault. By no means is it a cheap shoe, but given its ability to be used for everything from daily road-to-trail runs to long distance hill routes, the value isn’t too bad.

Check out the women's version here

Read our full Salomon Sense Ride 5 review here

With its built-in gaiter and BOA lacing, the Cyklon Cross GTX looks like overkill for most trail runners. Indeed, if your routes are reasonably tame, it’s not a shoe worth your time. But if you relish winter mountain trail runs, pay attention.

The Cyklon Cross GTX won a Trail Running Gear of the Year award from us in 2023 because of its ability to rip fearlessly across touch terrain, be it rocky, muddy, or icy. The gaiter is great for debris protection, yes, but what impressed us most was the sole.

The sole is all La Sportiva’s own work, and offers a cushioned ride and magnificent grip. The lugs can be used with La Sportiva’s AT Grip Spikes when it’s snowy or icy.

A BOA lacing system makes for a fast, customised fit. And we were pleased to see the BOA dial could cope happily with moisture and mud.

View women's version here

Read our full La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX review

Designed for wet weather running on alpine trails, the Scarpa Ribelle Run GTX is made to be a lightweight trail running shoe best suited to short to medium distances.

The Ribelle is a well-structured trail running shoe with a convenient quick-lace system which distributes pressure well across the foot and draws in the overlays as little or as snugly as required. There's a good deal of structure and rigidity to the shoe, which results in pretty complete protection from rocky alpine paths, though, of course, with that comes less flex and, for us, less propulsion.

We liked the zonal padding, which is nicely placed around the top of the heel and tongue, with the comfy sock liner wrapping the foot well and guarding from water ingress. The 4mm lugs aren't the most aggressive for running on deep and wet mud, but they manage well across a good variety of terrain, making the Ribelle Run GTX a competitive pick for a good all-rounder Gore-Tex trail running shoe.

Check out the men's version here

For many years, when we looked for a shoe that prioritised grip, cushioning, and comfort, we consistently chose the Speedcross as our preferred shoe – especially during the wet seasons, which dominate much of the year in Yorkshire.

Somewhere around the release of the Speedcross 3, Salomon made some changes that caused the shoe and I to lose our synergy. After nearly a decade of trying out other brands' competitive shoes, I eagerly anticipated testing iteration 6. To my delight, even with a 10mm drop (ideal for me), the combination of the shoe and my foot felt remarkably stable on inclines and slippery terrain.

The renowned lug design continues to excel in delivering exceptional grip, and the cushioning makes it a breeze to handle sections of road or firm paths. In a time when we're encouraged to be more mindful of consumption if you're seeking a versatile waterproof trail shoe suitable for both stretches of road and off-road use, as well as racing, speed workouts, and trail steady runs, the Speedcross 6 is certainly worth considering.

Find women's version here

Eco-friendly, PFC-free footwear and gear spray-on spot cleaner. It's versatile and can be used on almost all your gear, for those smaller stains and marks.

Eco-friendly, PFC-free footwear spray-on reproofer. The Footwear Repel Plus from Grangers is our pick for a cleaning spray that can cover a wide range of fabrics and membranes, including Gore-Tex.

Leather and fabric footwear care kit including brush and dry bag. The sustainability credentials on this care kit are great, and the included dry bag becomes a big help on multi-day hikes or camping trips.