Best winter trail running shoes of 2024 | Our picks for tackling any trail, in any conditions

La Sportiva’s Cyklon Cross GTX (read our full review) looks rather overkill – almost daunting – in profile. But in truth, it’s a very comfortable and versatile winter trail running shoe that blends in and doesn’t look outrageous at all when you’re wearing leggings.

Its built-in gaiter does a fantastic job of keep out dirt, snow, and puddle splashes. And although I was suspicious of a gimmick at first, the BOA lacing system is great for a shoe like this. It provides a snug clamp around your foot that’s easily adjustable and fast to do-up or undo.

The outsole on the Cyklon Cross GTX is magnificent. It’s made from La Sportiva’s Frixion White compound, which is moderately durable and super sticky. Combined with an aggressive lug pattern, the Cyklon Cross GTX is easily one of the best trail running shoes for mud and snow. But the Frixion White sole is also compatible with La Sportiva’s AT Grip spikes, so the shoe instantly becomes an ice champion too.

In addition to ample debris protection, the Cyklon Cross GTX has a lot of spongy cushioning underfoot. Although, there’s mediocre toe protection – just a minimal TPU toe cap. It's something to consider if your routes involve a lot of rock too.

Check out the women's version here

Inov-8 calls its Oroc Ultra 290 the ‘world’s first long-distance orienteering shoe’. I did orienteering at school but Inov-8 is referring to the adult version, which takes place over very harsh terrain.

As such, the Oroc Ultra 290 is tooled up to take you across wilderness that wants to stop you. Up top, the upper is a single piece of hardy ballistic nylon and a rand that runs around the entire toe box, almost to the heel. Underneath, each 5mm lug has a pair of spikes. Over frozen ground and mud, no other trail running shoe offers as much grip. This design works on rock too but it scrapes and sounds horrendous.

The extra armour and grip ups the weight a bit but 290g is still lightweight, and considerably lighter than the La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX. The shoe feels stiffer than what you might be used to, simply because of that tougher upper. Ample protection is also supplied by the shoe’s midsole, which is great for long distances.

Check out the women's version here

Designed for wet conditions dover alpine trails, the Scarpa Ribelle Run GTX is an agile trail running shoe ideal for shorter to moderate distances.

The Ribelle showcases a sturdy design for trail running, featuring an easy-to-use fastening system that evenly disperses pressure across the foot, and locks in the heel well. Its robust build provides comprehensive defence against rugged terrain, although this rigidity can also limit flexibility and propulsion.

We appreciate the strategic cushioning, thoughtfully positioned at the upper heel and tongue, while the comfortable sock liner wraps the foot securely, guarding against water infiltration.

The 4mm lugs and tread patterns may not be the most aggressive for traversing deep, muddy terrain, but they perform admirably across a diverse range of surfaces, and best of all, the feet stay dry when splashing through muddles and wet grass!

Check out the men's version here

Similarities between this and the La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX are immediately obvious: built-in gaiter, BOA lacing system. Indeed, the two are certainly direct competitors, intended to provide the best possible protection while running in snow, mud, and general cold conditions.

The gaiter on the Ribelle Run Kalibra G is taller than the one on the La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX. It also differs slightly, being made from Polartec Windbloc. It’s therefore a bit better in terms of debris protection and battling against the cold.

La Sportiva’s Cyklon Cross GTX has the same outsole as the standard Cyklon, but Scarpa’s Ribelle Run Kalibra G outsole is different to the standard Ribelle Run. The one on the Ribelle Run Kalibra G is better suited for snow and ice.

As an alpine running shoe, the Scarpa Ribelle Run Kalibra G is hard to fault in terms of performance. It’d be ideal if you lived in Liechtenstein, but it’s a bit overkill for the UK unless you live in the Highlands. And it’s quite expensive.

Check out the women's version here

This is the most comfortable trail running shoe I’ve tested. Scott has done an incredible job here, designing a wonderful model for mountain running.

The outsole is very clever. Deep arrow-shaped lugs provide huge amounts of grip on soft ground, but the designers have also managed to keep plenty of rubber in contact with the ground when rock hopping too. It’s also super stable, thanks to the lug pattern around the edge of the forefoot.

The upper fabric is from Schoeller. Like the Inov-8 Oroc Ultra 290, it’s a single piece for durability. It’s also stretchy, breathable, and highly water resistant. Scott’s Supertrac Ultra RC also has a stiffer, more protective toecap than the La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX.

Coming back to comfort, the stretchy Scholler fabric is key. But so too is the stiff heel counter and cleverly padded and shaped heel collar. They lock the heel in place beautifully and the fit over the rest of the foot is on the right side of snug.

Check out the women's version here

Merrell's Agility Peak 4 GTX is quite a versatile trail running shoe for winter. Its Vibram sole doesn't offer quite the same levels of grip as the Scott Supertrac Ultra RC, but it's still very good over wet and damp surfaces.

We like the firm toe cap and beefy midsole. It's not a shoe with much feel but plenty of foot protection. Somewhat inevitably, the Agility Peak 4 GTX isn't the lightest trail running shoe around. So while it's not for PBs, its traits make it a wonderful companion for exploring new trails.

The fit is cosy, borderline intimate. As you might with Salomon's, for example, don't be afraid to go up half a size here. Read our full review of the Merrell Agility Peak 4 GTX.

Check out the women's version here

Nortec claims these are the world's lightest quick-fit crampon, at 180g per pair. And while they're not cheap, they're still less expensive than a new pair of shoes.

The Trail 2.1 micro crampons are specifically for trail running shoes, not a general model for all off-road shoes. They provide 14 8mm steel spikes underfoot. The silicon brace and stainless steel spikes and wire are durable as well as effective.

We like how easy they are to fit too, just pull one end over the toe, then stretch the rear over the heel.

Edging towards half the price of the Nortec 2.1, the EXOspikes are immediately appealing. They have a dozen tough tungsten carbide studs that, while not quite as grippy on ice as the Nortec 2.1 spikes, are a fantastic traction boost for standard trail running shoes.

Nortec's 2.1 crampons might be the lightest option, but the EXOspikes are pretty close, weighing 188g-230g depending on what size you get. The EXOspikes are equally easy to fit, and are hard to beat in terms of value.

Made with a stretchy nylon with a PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR) coating, these tall gaiters are great for alpine runs and muddy runs. It's very easy to fit and secure, thanks to an underfoot strap and front lace hook. A spare stap is also supplied. These are gaiters made to a really high standard, so stand as good value too.

Despite being the higher cut of the two running gaiters Salomon offers, the Trail Gaiters High the ideal option for runners after a mid-cut gaiter. Like the Montane gaiters, these have an underfoot strap, but secure around the ankle with Velcro. It's a great system, and one that incorporates ankle protection too.

In terms of value, it's hard to go past Alpkit's Kantju gaiters. They're made from stretchy, durable fabric and do a great job of keeping debris out of your shoes. Other options, such as Salomon's Trail Gaiters, do provide better ankle protection through, with the addition of light padding. But with the Kantju, we like the simple Velcro adjustment at the top, and tough steel lace hook.

Waterproof running shoes can't always keep your feet dry because they still have a big hole at the rear where water and muck can get in. Using a waterproof sock can solve the problem of wet feet. We've tested the Waterproof All Weather Mid Length Sock, and while it didn't make our roundup of the best running socks, it's unquestionably the best waterproof running sock.

The triple layer construction feels stiffer than regular socks. But it's breathability and waterproofing are remarkable.