Best Trail Running Shoes 2023: Seven Exciting Releases Worth Watching

Introduction

Trail running has quietly become one of the most competitive corners of the running market, and this year’s lineup proves it. Brands that historically focused on road running are making serious pushes onto the dirt, while established trail players are refining proven designs. The seven shoes here cover the full range: carbon-plated racers, max-cushion cruisers, and versatile all-rounders. Here is what makes each one worth a closer look.

The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro

The North Face has spent years trying to break into trail racing, and the Summit Vectiv Pro shows the effort finally paying off, with strong race performances behind it. This is the top-tier shoe in the Summit Vectiv line and comes in at $220. It features a carbon fiber plate, an integrated tongue, and side wings designed to stabilize the foot on uneven trails, some early fit quirks of which appear to have been resolved in the production model. Alphafly-style laces keep the foot locked down over the plate.

Early testing has been so strong that one trail reviewer suggested the prototype might have been a trail shoe of the year contender. If you want a genuine racing shoe rather than a trainer, this is one of the more exciting options on the list.

Speedland GS:Tam

Arguably the most talked-about release on this list, the Speedland GS:Tam is a signature model designed in partnership with Free Trail athlete Dylan Bowman, named for Mount Tamalpais in California. The bright orange colorway alone gets people talking, but the details back it up. Dual Boa LR2 dials, which can tighten in both directions, let you fine-tune lockdown with unusual precision, and a generous toe box still manages to dial in cleanly thanks to the fit system.

It is a max-stack shoe: 37 millimeters in the heel and 30 in the forefoot, but with a wide, stable base that offsets the height, so it feels more like a fat-tire platform than a tippy racer. Despite that, it weighs just 10.7 ounces, with plenty of mesh and light, durable Michelin rubber on the outsole. The drop-in midsole blends PEBAX, and the carbon plate is optional rather than built in; you can add the Carbitex plate for around $35 extra, or transplant one from earlier Speedland models.

The $295 price is high, but notably lower than the $375 of previous Speedland versions. Speedland is a small boutique operation producing limited runs with premium components, so once a shoe sells out, it is gone. Pre-orders were already open ahead of the March 2023 release.

New Balance More Trail v3

New Balance is not traditionally known for trail running, but the More Trail v3 is turning heads anyway, partly because it simply looks good. More importantly, it delivers serious cushion: a 40-millimeter heel stack height, which is remarkable for a trail shoe. The foam on the underside uses a firmer density to improve stability, and a cutout in the middle of the sole, similar to what you see on the SC Trainer, adds a distinctive midsole character.

Traction comes from aggressive Vibram lugs with real teeth, so this is a cushioned cruiser that can still bite into soft ground. It is scheduled for an April release at $160, and a Gore-Tex version feels like an easy fit for the line.

New Balance SuperComp Trail

Taking two of New Balance’s most popular road concepts and pushing them onto the trail, the SuperComp Trail is the racing counterpart to the More Trail v3. It features a forked carbon fiber plate, sits on the lightweight side of the lineup, and is built to bring road racing elements to trail racing.

New Balance rarely makes a loud push for its trail shoes, so the arrival of a legit carbon racer is a clear signal. With ultrarunning and trail racing attracting serious investment across the industry, this summer 2023 release at $200 lands right in the middle of a rapidly growing segment.

Hoka Tecton X2

The Tecton X2 returns as the sequel to one of last year’s favorite trail shoes, a shoe so versatile it worked as a road option for some testers. Hoka’s carbon plate design is split into two parts, which the brand describes as dual suspension, giving the ride a distinct feel from single-plate competitors.

The main complaint with the original was the upper: the heel lockdown was imperfect and the forefoot felt slightly baggy. Hoka has refined all of that for version two, tightening the fit without touching the core ride. The Tecton has carved out a genuine place for itself alongside the Speedgoat in Hoka’s trail range. It arrives in April at $225, up from last year’s $200.

Puma Voyage Nitro 3

Puma is making a concerted move into the trail segment, and the Voyage Nitro 3 is a strong example of that push. Positioned as a do-it-all trail shoe, not a dedicated racer and not a long-distance specialist, it offers a full Nitro midsole at 35 millimeters in the heel and 27 in the forefoot.

The outsole uses Puma Grip ATR, an all-terrain version of the rubber that has earned praise on the brand’s road shoes, but with a more aggressive tread. Landing in July at $140, it is one of the more approachable entries here, and it is worth watching how Puma’s trail ambitions develop alongside its growing roster of endurance athletes.

Brooks Catamount 2

Brooks has quietly been doing well on the trails, with the Caldera earning plenty of goodwill last season. The Catamount 2, arriving in February at $170, continues the momentum. The first version had known upper issues, and Brooks appears to have addressed them with a new air mesh upper that improves lockdown. The DNA Flash midsole carries over largely unchanged, and a SkyVault propulsion plate is designed to help protect the foot, though the aggressive toe-off pop the plate is marketed around is modest in practice.

The standout stat is weight: just 8.5 ounces, making this a genuinely fast trail shoe. Traction is solid, the fit is better secured than before, and the design is one of the sharper-looking Brooks releases in recent memory.

Overall Buying Advice

The right pick depends on how you run. If you race and want maximum technology, the Vectiv Pro, SuperComp Trail, and Tecton X2 all bring carbon-plated performance to the dirt. If you favor cushion and stability over long miles, the More Trail v3 and Speedland GS:Tam offer enormous stack heights with very different philosophies. For versatile everyday trail use at friendlier prices, the Voyage Nitro 3 and Catamount 2 are the sensible value plays. Availability dates also matter here: the Catamount 2 lands first in February, with most of the rest arriving between March and July, and Speedland’s limited-run model may not wait around.

Conclusion

This year’s trail lineup shows how much the category has matured: carbon plates, premium fit systems, and serious cushion are now standard fare rather than experiments. Match the shoe to your terrain and racing goals, watch the release windows, and there is a strong option here for nearly every kind of trail runner.