7 Best Running Shoes For Hiking in 2024

The Nike Pegasus Trail 5 emerged as an exceptional road-to-trail hybrid shoe in our tests, prized for its versatility and reliability. Cushioned, grippy, and durable, our lab agrees it's the ideal choice for outdoor explorations and off-road adventures, earning our top spot for hiking.

The Peg’s trail version excels in traction with its 3.2 mm lugs, providing reliable grip across diverse terrain, including wet conditions. Designed for durability, the outsole utilizes an 87.9 HC All Terrain Compound that showed minimal abrasion even after extensive use. Our Dremel test confirmed its impressive resistance, revealing only a minimal 0.8 mm dent.

With a heel stack of 34.6 mm, the Pegasus Trail 5 impressively feels cushioned without losing its agility and energy, adding a spring to our every step. This generous ReactX cushioning provided much comfort through long hikes, and our durometer shows it’s 51.1% softer than average.

Not only is it a shield underfoot, but also on top! It’s well-structured upper looked new after outdoor use. Testing it further in the lab, our Dremel was no match for its resistance, earning a remarkable 5/5 toebox durability score. However, the layers of protection inhibited airflow, resulting in a dismal 2/5 rating. We recommend another pair for summer hikes.

Fresh Foam X More Trail v3 is a reliable hybrid shoe with plenty of cloud-like cushion. It boasts a thick, buttery-soft stack, a grippy outsole, and a flexible midsole. It delivers consistent support and protection — from roads to mountains — making it our best cushioned hiking-running shoe.

It has a thick slab of dual-density Fresh Foam X that provides exceptional comfort and protection from landing impact and rocky terrains. It rises 6.8/7.3 mm above average in the heel and forefoot and measures 45.6% softer than average. It’s one of the trail shoes that spoiled our feet the most with its bouncy ride.

Armed with a grippy outsole and 5.0 mm lugs, it clings with grit onto soft dirt, mild mud, and wet roads. We can confidently cruise through most paths, knowing we won’t slip or fall.

Its midsole gives a good amount of flexibility, allowing us to maneuver through light to moderate trails. Our flex test confirms it's 11.4% more malleable than average, promoting a more natural running feel.

More foam means more weight. At 10.6 oz (301g), it’s heavier than the 9.5 oz (268g) average of running shoes.

The Olympus 5 from Altra is a premium shoe all around. It provides comfort for days with its spacious toe box, amazing cushioning, and excellent breathability. The Altra Olympus 5 is the best running shoe for hiking for runners with wide feet.

We measured the toe box of the Altra Olympus 5 at 103.4 mm, which is 4.7 mm more spacious than the average trail running shoe. The width, in combination with the squared shape of the shoe, kept our feet splayed out and kept blisters and black toenails at bay.

At the heel, it is just above the average stack height (33 mm vs 31.7 mm). But having a forefoot stack height of 31 mm, it massively eclipses the average forefoot stack height of 24.1 mm. The shoe definitely gives a cushioned and comfortable ride on the trails.

Airflow is admirable in the Altra Olympus 5. Ventilation throughout the shoe’s upper is present and provides a lovely amount of breeze on the feet, especially in hotter conditions. We gave it a respectable 3 out of 5 in our breathability test.

Durability is the main issue with the Olympus 5. It is not very well built, as the outsole started peeling away after only a few runs.

Our top waterproof running shoe for hiking is none other than the Nike Pegasus Trail 4 GTX. Its outstanding React foam, reliable grip, and superb flexibility — wrapped in the protective Gore-Tex fabric — make it a top-of-the-line water-resistant shoe.

The upper has several TPU layers and a Gore-Tex membrane for protection from unwanted elements. It incredibly resisted the force of our Dremel, receiving a remarkable 4/5 durability rating.

The React foam is a star as it blends lasting comfort and energy return. In the lab, we measured it at 37.7 mm, 5.5 mm higher than the average heel stack of trail-running shoes. It is 29.0% softer than average. This heavenly combination of a tall and soft midsole protects our legs during trail runs and hikes. 

We find Peg’s grip effective on uneven terrains and slippery surfaces. Its lug depth of 3.5 mm latches on any surface, helping us stay in control on steep ascents/descents and fast corners. 

We felt free in our runs as the midsole offers non-intrusive flexibility for a natural feel. Our lab test verifies that it’s 29.0% more flexible than the average trail running shoe.

The tall heel is paired with a modest forefoot, leading to a 12.8 mm drop. Those of us who are mid-to-forefoot strikers found this too steep.

Endorphin Edge is a lightweight marvel that is super fast, super grippy, and super comfy. It delivers all the support needed to take on the mountains with confidence. This pair feels like a breath of fresh air, making it our top lightweight hiking-running shoe.

It boasts a 9.5 oz (269g) build, 9.1% lighter than the average trail shoe. It’s as light as a road-running shoe but holds the traction of a trail shoe. With lugs 3.4 mm deep and a rubber outsole that our durometer measured to be 13.0% softer than average, it clings to almost any type of terrain. We can easily maneuver the shoe on loose dirt, muddy puddles, and rocky paths.

Endorphin Edge surprisingly has generous cushioning for its airy weight. Its stack rises above the average, measuring 27.7% softer than the average trail shoe, as per our durometer. This mutes the landing impact on our legs.

Its stiff carbon plate provides high energy return with every step and its rockered structure launches us off smoothly. It consistently shows high performance on any distance and terrain. Our flex test in the lab confirms it’s 76.9% more resilient than average.

We don’t recommend this pair for easy runs as it may feel unstable. Endorphin Edge performs best at high speeds.

Staying true to Altra’s core, Lone Peak 8 delivered the most seamless zero-drop experience among hiking running shoes. Even our lab proves its minimalist build drives an agile yet stable ride, allowing us to maneuver through unpredictable trails with ease and control.

We have a heightened sense of the surface we’re tackling thanks to the low configuration of the shoe. Other than its below-average 22.7/21.3 mm build, it has a minimal 1.4 mm heel drop that essentially feels like none. The cushion feels protective enough and allows for more longitudinal flexibility. It was easy for us to be in control since the midsole barely fought back, showing 27.1% less resistance than average in our bend test.

The platform is composed of a dense EGO foam which gives a nice rebound and a hint of stability in our strides. Our durometer reveals it’s 11.4% firmer than average, ensuring it won’t bottom out even as we’re loaded with heavy backpacks. There are even raised sidewalls on the sides of the midsole, further contributing to a well-planted feeling.

Unfortunately, the weak spot we found is the lack of grip in wet and muddy conditions. For treks over tricky terrain, it's wise to swap out for a better-equipped shoe.

Salomon XA Pro 3D v9 epitomizes protection, standing out as a heavy-duty option. Its solid midsole, 3D chassis technology, and sturdy yet breathable upper collectively deliver exceptional protection throughout. Extensive lab testing confirms it's the most durable hiking running shoe.

The midsole strikes a perfect balance between cushioning and ground feel, boasting a 31.7/19.2 mm stack. This design effectively absorbs impact upon landing and shields the foot from potential debris thanks to its dense foam composition, which proves to be 17.9% more resilient than the average. This firm cushioning promotes confident strides, even when carrying heavy loads, as it remains resistant to bottoming out.

Adding to its stability is the 3D chassis, a rigid TPU layer between the midsole and outsole, reducing excessive lateral movements on demanding terrains. This feature ensures our safety on rocky and uneven ground. Moreover, the shoe's longitudinal flexibility enhances comfort, surpassing average flexibility by 18.8% in our 90-degree test.

When it comes to the upper, our lab tests affirm its impressive breathability and toebox durability, earning ratings of 4/5 and 5/5 respectively. This combination of airflow and protective features is truly remarkable.

However, the XA Pro 3D's robust design is better suited for hiking than fast and technical trail running, as it may feel too stiff and heavy for those activities.