Here are 12 of the most breathable trail shoes for your summer and fall training.
Depending on where you live—for example, just about anywhere in North America—you might be sick of the sweltering hot weather that’s been covering us like a blanket all summer.
We’re now officially in the dog days of summer, which means there is at least another month of this madness. However, if you’re in the market for new running shoes, we have some suggestions about which models are the most breathable.
We polled runners, shoe designers and running store shoe fitters to come up with a good list of options.
Here are 12 trail running shoes with well-ventilated mesh uppers that will go a long way at keeping your feet as cool and dry as possible on hot summer runs.
Altra Lone Peak 9
Price: $145 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 9.1 oz. (women’s size 8); 10.8 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 0mm, 25mm (heel), 25mm (forefoot)
Tougher ripstop mesh and reinforced overlays give the upper more durability this year, without sacrificing Altra’s signature roomy, foot-shaped toe box. The zero-drop EGO foam midsole stays low-profile, prioritizing a natural, ground-connected feel over plush cushioning. Multi-directional lugs handle varied terrain well, and extra heel rubber aids control on descents—though several testers noted the lugs flatten out relatively quickly under heavy mileage.
Altra Olympus 7
Price: $195 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 9.6 oz. (women’s size 8); 11.4 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 0mm, 33mm (heel), 23mm (forefoot)
An airy, well-ventilated engineered mesh keeps foot temperature and moisture in check on long efforts, while still standing up to brush and rock abrasion. Underfoot, the soft, plush EGO MAX foam gives this shoe a cushioned, high-stack feel suited to all-day mileage, though the softness costs it some precision on technical ground. Vibram Megagrip on the outsole grips confidently in wet or dry conditions, holding up even as terrain turns loose or rocky.
ASICS Trabuco 14
Price: $145 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 8.5 oz. (women’s size 8); 9.8 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm, 28mm (heel), 36mm (forefoot)
A redesigned mesh upper breathes well and resists wear from rough trail debris, keeping the foot cool on long efforts. Underfoot, the FF Blast Max midsole balances softness with responsiveness for a comfortable, energetic ride and reliable protection against rock strikes. Traction comes from a proprietary rubber compound with multi-directional lugs—dependable on hardpack and mixed terrain, though it tapers off on very muddy, wet, or loose surfaces compared to stickier rivals.
Saucony Peregrine 16
Price: $150 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 8.6 oz. (women’s size 8); 10.0 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 4mm, 33mm (heel), 29mm (forefoot)
The light and air mesh upper of the Peregrine 16 vents heat and moisture quickly, keeping feet cool during hot, sweaty efforts. The PWRRUN midsole opts for moderate cushioning over a plush, maximalist ride, delivering a stable, ground-connected feel that still absorbs enough impact for long days on rough terrain. This year’s addition of a Vibram Megagrip outsole is a significant traction upgrade over prior versions, biting confidently into wet rock and technical climbs and descents—though very deep mud or slick grass can still overwhelm its shallow lugs.
Hoka Challenger 8
Price: $155 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 8.2 oz. (women’s size 8); 9.7 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 7mm, 44mm (heel), 37mm (forefoot)
Highly ventilated engineered mesh keeps things cool in hot or humid conditions, though its open construction is a bit more prone to snags and abrasion on rough obstacles. A compression-molded EVA midsole leans soft and plush, better suited to smoother trails, gravel, and road-to-trail miles than aggressive technical terrain. Shallow rubber lugs on the outsole handle packed dirt and mixed surfaces reasonably well, but confidence drops once things get wet, steep, or loose.
Hoka Speedgoat 7
Price: $165 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 8.6 oz. (women’s size 8); 9.6 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 5mm, 38mm (heel), 33mm (forefoot)
The woven textile upper of the Speegoat 7 is lightweight and well-ventilated, offering strong airflow that most testers found effective for warm-weather running. Its new supercritical foam midsole is more responsive and lively than the older EVA compound, giving a protective yet snappy ride while keeping the platform low and stable on uneven ground. The Vibram Megagrip outsole, with roughly 5mm multi-directional lugs, delivers dependable, versatile grip across gravel, rock, and moderately technical terrain, though very deep mud or extreme mountain conditions can still call for something more aggressive.
Hoka Tecton X4
Price: $275 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 8.2 oz. (women’s size 8); 9.2 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 5mm, 38mm (heel), 33mm (forefoot)
The Tecton X 4 has a woven textile upper that is airy and well-ventilated, giving strong breathability for hard efforts while also resisting water absorption better than its predecessor. Its dual-carbon-plate midsole, built with layered PEBA foam, delivers a propulsive, energetic feel that favors fast, aggressive trail running over relaxed, easy miles. The Vibram Megagrip outsole grips confidently on dry ground, gravel, and rock, though its shallow lugs and limited rubber coverage can leave it feeling less secure in deep mud or on very slick, technical terrain.
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro
Price: $225 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 8.3 oz. (women’s size 8); 9.3 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: women’s: 6mm, 33mm (heel), 27mm (forefoot);
men’s: 6mm, 34mm (heel), 28mm (forefoot)
The woven, bootie-style Power Wire upper has a snug, sock-like feel but ventilates and dries quickly, staying comfortable in hot, humid conditions. Nitrogen-infused midsole foam brings a light, springy, well-cushioned ride that absorbs impact on rocky, uneven terrain without feeling unstable. FriXion rubber with 4mm lugs grips confidently across rocky, technical, hard-packed trails, though its smoother-trail-oriented tread wants more bite in deep mud.
Nike ACG Pegasus Trail
Price: $155 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 9.0 oz. (women’s size 8); 10.1 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm, 35mm (heel), 27mm (forefoot)
Good airflow and a secure, locked-in fit define the well-ventilated mesh upper of the ACG Pegasus Trail. The ReactX foam midsole cushioning leans toward a protective, more forgiving ride over liveliness or responsiveness. The updated All Terrain Compound outsole grips confidently across dirt, gravel, and wet surfaces as a road-to-trail hybrid, though shallow lugs mean it’s happier on moderate terrain than steep, loose, or highly technical trails.
Nike ACG Zegama Trail
Price: $180 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 9.6 oz. (women’s size 8); 11.1 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 4mm, 36mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
The open, perforated mesh upper of the ACG Zegama allows solid airflow and ventilation, though several testers found it fairly average for breathability compared to other trail shoes and somewhat exposed to abrasion on rough terrain. Its ZoomX and Cushlon foam midsole combination is soft and protective without collapsing into a sinking, unstable feel, giving a smooth, cushioned ride that holds up well over rocks and roots. The Vibram Megagrip outsole delivers strong, versatile grip across a wide range of surfaces, from loose scree to packed singletrack, though its partial rubber coverage leaves it best suited to moderately technical trails rather than the most extreme terrain.
Norda 005
Price: $325 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 6.2 oz. (women’s size 8), 7.9 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 7mm; 28.5mm (heel), 21.5mm (forefoot)
Norda broke new ground as the first brand to use bio-based Dyneema—an exceptionally strong, lightweight fiber made from waste byproducts of the timber and wood pulp industries—building a breathable and highly durable for its original 001 shoe while keeping sustainability front and center. The 005 also includes a Dyneema upper and pushes that innovation further with two more industry firsts: a supercritical Arnitel TPEE midsole, a first-of-its-kind foam compound, and Vibram’s new Megagrip Elite sticky rubber outsole, making Norda the first brand to use it.
Salomon Ultra Glide 4
Price: $160 (women / men)
Approximate Weights: 8.9 oz. (women’s size 8); 9.7 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm, 39mm (heel), 33mm (forefoot)
A reworked mesh upper is notably light and well-ventilated for warm-weather runs, though a couple of testers found it ran a bit hotter than expected. The high-stack midsole foam stays soft, protective, and forgiving over long distances, staying composed even on moderately technical singletrack for an energetic, comfortable ride. All-terrain rubber lugs, around 4.5mm, provide dependable, versatile grip across hardpack, loose dirt, and mixed conditions, though it can still lose bite on slick, wet rock or deep mud.
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