Spring showers (and mountain snowmelt) might bring May flowers, but they can also bring slippery, sloppy mud.
It depends on where you live, but springtime running often means running on muddy trails. That’s OK if you’re wearing the right pair of shoes, specifically a pair of toothy trail runners with an outsole that boasts sizable lugs.
We’ve picked out 12 of the best mud-eating trail runners available this spring.
Adidas Agravic TT
Price: $185
Approximate Weights: 9.4 oz. (women’s 8); 10.8 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 39mm (heel), 31mm (forefoot)
The Adidas Agravic TT is a trail running shoe designed for quick movement across rugged terrain, combining lively cushioning with a stable feel that inspires confidence on uneven ground. Its Continental rubber outsole uses 4.5mm multi-directional lugs that dig into mud, loose dirt, gravel, and steep slopes to provide dependable grip. The lug depth strikes a smart balance between traction and adaptability, providing a solid hold on technical trails without feeling overly harsh or bulky underfoot.
Check it out → Adidas Agravic TT (Women’s/Men’s)
Altra Lone Peak 9+
Price: $160
Approximate Weights: 9.3 oz. (women’s 8); 11.5 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 0mm; 25mm (heel), 25mm (forefoot)
The Altra Lone Peak 9+ is a versatile trail running shoe built for long days on varied terrain, pairing balanced cushioning with Altra’s natural-footshape fit. Its outsole features a grippy Vibram Megagrip rubber compound with widely spaced, multi-directional 3.5mm lugs that help maintain traction on loose dirt, rocky paths, and muddy sections of trail. The moderately deep lugs are designed to shed debris efficiently while delivering dependable grip without sacrificing flexibility or ground feel.
Check it out → Altra Lone Peak 9+ (Women’s/Men’s)
ASICS Trabuco 14
Price: $145
Approximate Weights: 8.8 oz. (women’s 8); 9.9 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 36mm (heel), 28mm (forefoot)
The ASICS Trabuco 14 is a durable trail running shoe built for stability and protection on rugged terrain. Its outsole uses ASICSGRIP rubber, a sticky compound designed to provide dependable traction on wet rocks, loose dirt, and technical trails. The outsole features approximately 4.5 mm multi-directional lugs, offering strong bite on climbs and confident braking on descents while still allowing the shoe to roll smoothly on mixed surfaces.
Check it out → ASICS Trabuco 14 (Women’s/Men’s)
Brooks Cascadia 19
Price: $140
Approximate Weights: 9.8 oz. (women’s 8); 10.7 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm; 35mm (heel), 29mm (forefoot)
The Brooks Cascadia 19 is a reliable trail running shoe built to deliver stability and long-lasting performance across varied terrain. Its outsole features TrailTack Green rubber, a sticky compound designed to grip confidently on muddy trails, wet rocks, loose dirt, and uneven surfaces. Multi-directional lugs measuring about 3.5–4 mm deep provide solid traction for climbing and descending while still allowing for smooth transitions on packed trails and mixed terrain.
Check it out → Brooks Cascadia 19 (Women’s/Men’s)
Hoka Zinal 3
Price: $150
Approximate Weights: 7.7 oz. (women’s 8); 8.9 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 5mm; 30mm (heel), 25mm (forefoot)
The Hoka Zinal 3 is a lightweight trail running shoe built for fast running on moderately technical trails. Its toothy outsole features Vibram Megagrip rubber, a sticky compound that delivers reliable traction on both dry and damp surfaces. An arrangement of 4mm multi-directional lugs serve up confident grip for running in sloppy conditions while climbing, cornering, and descending while also offering great traction on firmer dirt paths, too.
Check it out → Hoka Zinal 3 (Women’s/Men’s)
Nike Zegama 2
Price: $190 Sale Price: $115
Approximate Weights: 9.3 oz. (women’s 8); 10.8 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 4mm; 36mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
The Nike Zegama 2 is a long-distance trail running shoe designed to combine deep cushioning with confident traction on rugged terrain. Its outsole uses Vibram Megagrip rubber, a high-friction compound that helps maintain grip on wet rocks, loose dirt, and technical trails. The outsole is equipped with approximately 4 mm multi-directional lugs, giving runners dependable bite on climbs and descents while still allowing the shoe to move efficiently over mixed surfaces.
Check it out → Nike Zegama 2 (Women’s)
NNormal Kierag Brut
Price: $225
Approximate Weights: 7.2 oz. (women’s 8); 8.1 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm; 28.5mm (heel), 22.5mm (forefoot)
The NNormal Kjerag Brut is a mountain-focused trail running shoe built for steep, muddy, and highly technical terrain where maximum traction is essential. Its outsole uses Vibram Megagrip Litebase rubber, a lightweight yet highly grippy compound that maintains strong hold on wet rock, loose soil, and slick mountain surfaces. Deep, aggressive 6.5mm lugs dig firmly into soft ground and mud, giving runners powerful climbing traction and confident braking on steep descents.
Check it out → NNormal Kierag Brut (Unisex sizing)
Puma Voyage Nitro 4
Price: $160
Approximate Weights: 8.4 oz. (women’s 8); 9.6 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm; 38mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
The Puma Voyage Nitro 4 is a versatile trail running shoe designed to handle a wide range of off-road conditions with a balance of cushioning and agility. Its outsole uses PUMAGRIP ATR rubber, a durable compound formulated to maintain traction on dirt, gravel, and rocky trails in both wet and dry conditions. The Voyage Nitro has an array of 4mm multi-directional lugs that provide dependable bite for climbing and descending while still allowing the shoe to move efficiently over mixed terrain.
Check it out → Puma Voyage Nitro 4 (Women’s/Men’s)
Salomon S/Lab Genesis
Price: $200
Approximate Weights: 8.3 oz. (women’s 8); 9.1 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 34mm (heel), 26mm (forefoot)
The Salomon S/Lab Genesis is a performance trail running shoe built for precision and control on rugged, technical terrain. Its outsole uses Contagrip rubber, a durable compound designed to maintain traction on rocky, loose, and uneven surfaces. Aggressive 4.5 mm lugs provide strong grip for climbing and descending while helping runners stay stable and confident on demanding trails.
Check it out → Salomon S/Lab Genesis (Unisex sizing)
Salomon Ultra Glide 4
Price: $160
Approximate Weights: 9.0 oz. (women’s 8); 10.0 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm; 41mm (heel), 35mm (forefoot)
The Salomon Ultra Glide 4 is a highly cushioned trail running shoe designed to keep runners comfortable and confident over long distances. Its outsole features All Terrain Contagrip rubber, a durable compound engineered to maintain traction on everything from hard-packed dirt to loose gravel and rocky trails. The shoe’s 4mm multi-directional lugs provide dependable grip for steady climbing and descending while still allowing smooth, efficient movement on mixed terrain.
Check it out → Salomon Ultra Glide 4 (Women’s/Men’s)
Saucony Xodus Ultra 4
Price: $170
Approximate Weights: 9.9 oz. (women’s 8); 10.9 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm; 36mm (heel), 30mm (forefoot)
The Saucony Xodus Ultra 4 is a long-distance trail running shoe built to provide protection, cushioning, and confident footing across rugged terrain. Its outsole features PWRTRAC rubber, a durable compound designed to grip effectively on loose dirt, rocks, and varied trail surfaces. Multi-directional 4mm lugs help deliver reliable traction for climbing, cornering, and descending while maintaining smooth transitions on mixed trails.
Check it out → Saucony Xodus Ultra 4 (Women’s/Men’s)
Speedland GL:SVT
Price: $299
Approximate Weights: 9.8 oz. (women’s 8); 10.7 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 5mm; 33mm (heel), 28mm (forefoot)
The Speedland GL:SVT is a high-performance trail running shoe designed for long, demanding efforts on rugged terrain. Its outsole uses Vibram Megagrip rubber with Litebase technology, delivering strong traction while keeping weight to a minimum. Deep, 6.5mm multi-directional lugs provide aggressive grip on loose dirt, mud, and steep mountain trails, helping runners maintain control on both climbs and descents.
Check it out → Speedland GL:SVT (Unisex sizing)
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