Top 5 Running Shoes of the Year So Far: Road and Trail Picks That Earned Their Place

Introduction

With plenty of miles logged in both road and trail shoes this year, it felt like a good moment to pull together a mid-year shortlist. These five picks earned their spots through real-world running: wet British trails, long ultra-distance routes, hot weather hill sessions, and everyday road miles. The list runs in reverse order, so the top spot comes last.

5. inov-8 X-Talon Ultra 260 v2

The X-Talon Ultra 260 v2 was tested in exactly the conditions it was built for: super wet, slippery, and muddy trails. inov-8 trail shoes have historically been hit and miss, with stripped-back uppers, minimal padding around the ankle collar, and thin tongues that sometimes caused discomfort. The X-Talon Ultra addresses much of that, with good padding around the ankle and heel while still feeling locked in, and the thinner tongue caused no issues during testing.

The main selling point is the tractor-like outsole. In boggy, muddy conditions, the 8mm lugs deliver huge traction and confidence, yet the rubber also performs surprisingly well on rock and wet rock, which is rare in a deep-lug shoe. The midsole is minimal, and longer tarmac sections felt aggressive, but adding a pair of inov-8 Boomerang footbeds transformed the shoe into something that bounces along comfortably on road too. At a pretty reasonable £125, it is an easy call to keep it in the winter rotation.

4. Hoka Speedgoat 5

The Speedgoat 5 marks a return to form for a shoe that had drifted away from some runners. The Speedgoat 4 did not work for one tester’s foot shape, with lateral and medial slippage in the upper even with the laces pulled tight, which made the shoe feel unstable on technical trails. The 5 feels much more like the excellent Speedgoat 3, fitting better and holding the midfoot well once the lacing was dialed in.

Hoka has stripped some weight out, so it feels light and nimble for a deeply cushioned trail shoe. The new midsole is comfortable over distance and returns a good level of energy, and the flared heel design, initially looking a bit gimmicky, turns out to be pretty comfortable. There have been reports of grit and small stones getting into the upper, though that was not experienced during testing. Then there is the Vibram Megagrip outsole, one of the main reasons the Speedgoat is so popular with ultra-distance runners: superb on rock, wet rock, tarmac, and wet tarmac, and even slightly improved in mud compared to the previous version. It still struggles in super boggy conditions, but for everything else it never lets you down.

3. Saucony Endorphin Edge

Saucony’s first ever carbon-plated trail running shoe arrived in a bold, wacky pink colorway that will not be to everyone’s taste but certainly stands out. Carbon plates in trail shoes have often been disappointing, making the midsole too stiff and robbing the runner of ground feel on technical terrain. Saucony claims the Carbitex X plate is different: stiff when driving uphill for propulsion, then flexible on the descent. On a challenging hill session with steep climbs and technical downs, it genuinely seemed to work that way, offering assistance uphill without ever feeling too rigid.

The PWRRUN PB midsole feels lively and exciting, encouraging you to up the tempo, and it was actually preferred over the newer Endorphin Speed 3 road midsole. The upper proved very breathable on hot days around 29 to 30 degrees, a big improvement over the original Endorphin Trail, which ran uncomfortably hot. The PWRTRAC outsole bites confidently on rock and wet rock, and the 4mm lugs should handle mixed terrain and mud. After 35 to 40 miles, the only real negative is the £200 price point, which will understandably put a lot of people off.

2. Saucony Ride 15

The Ride 15 is the biggest positive transformation in this list. The Ride has always been the daily workhorse trainer, dependable but never exciting. That changes here. The upper feels super plush straight out of the box, with just the right padding around the ankle and heel and in the gusseted tongue, while still feeling well connected at the midfoot and locked in at the heel.

The new blended PWRRUN midsole compound is a revelation and arguably the best blend to date: well balanced, lightweight, energizing, and high energy returning. Words that never used to describe a Ride. Saucony has turned a one-trick pony into a genuinely versatile shoe that can handle steady recovery runs, interval sessions, and even race day mileage. Two Saucony shoes in this top five says a lot about how well the brand fits and how good its current lineup is.

1. Saucony Xodus Ultra

Taking the top spot is the Saucony Xodus Ultra, and it is not hard to see why. On a first run of 80 miles over 24 hours, straight out of the box, there were no hot spots, no blisters, no black toenails, and no issues of any kind. The original plan was to swap shoes after 10 miles, but there was simply no reason to stop.

The upper fits beautifully, well held around the midfoot with the gusseted tongue and locked into the heel, while the toe box offers generous volume that matters over long distances when feet swell. The clever dual-compound midsole pairs a slightly firmer, more stable PWRRUN compound on the outside with a performance-focused PWRRUN PB core, making the shoe feel very stable, very connected, and remarkably responsive. It stayed comfortable across tarmac, loose gravel, and rooty woodland over the full 24-hour loop.

Around 150 miles in, including the Serpent Trail 50k, the performance is still impressive. Some owners have reported the outsole shredding quickly, in some cases after only 10 miles, but at 150 miles this pair shows very little wear, so terrain choice may play a role. On the durability shown here, the Xodus Ultra stays at the top of the list for upcoming mountain races.

Buying Advice

Match the shoe to the conditions you actually run in. The X-Talon Ultra 260 v2 is the clear pick for boggy, muddy winter trails, especially with a cushioned footbed swap for mixed terrain. The Speedgoat 5 suits ultra-distance trail runners who want deep cushioning and dependable grip on rock. The Endorphin Edge is for those wanting carbon-plated speed on the trails, if the premium price fits the budget. The Ride 15 is the best all-round road trainer of the group, and the Xodus Ultra is the standout choice for long-distance trail running where comfort and stability over many hours matter most.

Conclusion

Five very different shoes, one common thread: each one was a genuine pleasure to run in. The Xodus Ultra will take something special to knock off the top spot, but with new releases still to come this year, the door is not closed. Whichever route you run, road or trail, there is something in this list worth lacing up.