No. 1 trail running shoe to double for hiking is the Merrell Agility Peak 5. At about 290g per shoe and ¥19,800, its official page gives even the lug depth of 5mm and the sole thickness as numbers. For mostly dirt trails and a lower price, I put the ¥18,700 Salomon Speedcross 6 at No. 2.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
Waterproofing on trail running shoes is usually something you buy with extra weight and price. In all 5 pairs that come in waterproof and regular versions, the waterproof one was 10–35g heavier and ¥3,300 or more expensive. So I first choose a shoe whose non-waterproof version publishes its sole numbers, and treat waterproofing as an add-on only for people with many wet paths after rain.
Key points
- The 6 ranked weigh 281–328g per shoe, a 47g spread. The sizes weighed don't match: 27.0cm for Merrell and 28.5cm for Altra. Weight alone can't decide the order
- The waterproof extra ranges from 10g for the Merrell and Salomon Genesis 2 to 35g for the New Balance, and ¥3,300–¥7,700 in price
- Only two pairs have lug depth (the studs on the outsole) given as a number on the official page: the Merrell at 5mm and the La Sportiva at 4mm
Can trail running shoes double for hiking? No. 1 is the Merrell with 5mm lugs
Sirio, a hiking boot maker, explains that soft shoes put little strain on your feet on gentle slopes and flat paths. The range I choose to double them for is hiking trails and walks within that.
No. 1 is the Merrell Agility Peak 5. It's about 290g per shoe and ¥19,800, with a 5mm lug depth, and the numbers line up.
The ranking is of 6 low-cut pairs (men's), with numbers from each maker's Japanese official listing.
How I chose
The first thing I looked at was weight per shoe. But the 6 fall within 281–328g, and the sizes weighed don't match. So I looked at these three things in order.
- How much weight and price you add by choosing the waterproof version.
- Whether the official page gives drop and lug depth as numbers.
- The official price and the price per gram.
This ranking is made from what you can buy on Rakuten. mont-bell, sold only through its official shop, is shown as out of ranking, with its numbers listed.
Quick table of the 6 trail running shoes for hiking
Scroll the table sideways →
| Model | Weight per boot | Drop | Official price | Price per gram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Merrell Agility Peak 5 | About 290g (27.0cm) | 6mm | ¥19,800 | ¥68.3 |
| No. 2 Salomon Speedcross 6 | 298g | 10mm | ¥18,700 | ¥62.8 |
| No. 3 New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 | 310g | 4mm | ¥19,800 | ¥63.9 |
| No. 4 Salomon Genesis 2 | 281g | 8mm | ¥23,100 | ¥82.2 |
| No. 5 Altra Lone Peak 9+ | 328g (28.5cm) | 0mm | ¥24,200 | ¥73.8 |
| No. 6 La Sportiva Bushido III | 300g | 6mm | ¥26,400 | ¥88.0 |
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Merrell Agility Peak 5 (men's)
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥15,840 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥19,800, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhy this order
| Rank | Model | Why it's ranked here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merrell Agility Peak 5 | 5mm lugs grip even on wet downhill dirt, and about 290g is the second lightest of the six |
| 2 | Salomon Speedcross 6 | The lowest price at ¥18,700, but the lug depth isn't given as a number |
| 3 | New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 | Close to No. 2, ¥1.1 apart per gram, and the waterproof version's 35g extra is the largest of the 5 pairs |
| 4 | Salomon Genesis 2 | The lightest at 281g, but ¥3,300 more than No. 1 |
| 5 | Altra Lone Peak 9+ | The only one with a 0mm drop, but the heaviest of the six and second most expensive |
| 6 | La Sportiva Bushido III | 4mm lugs are strong on dirt, but ¥88.0 per gram is the highest |
No. 1 Merrell Agility Peak 5 | 5mm lugs
I'll say this with some heat. The numbers line up even to the 5mm lug depth and a thickness of 31mm at the heel and 25mm at the toe, the most careful presentation of the six. About 290g is also the second lightest of the six. What to watch is the waterproof version: weight rises just 10g, but the price goes up ¥7,700.
A shoe for people who mostly walk on fine days and want to check the sole by the numbers before choosing.
No. 2 Salomon Speedcross 6 | ¥18,700
¥18,700 is the lowest of the 6 pairs, and ¥62.8 per gram is also the lowest number. The lugs are deep enough to bite into mud, but that depth isn't given in mm. Here's the weak spot.
It suits people who walk mostly dirt trails and want to keep the price down.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Salomon Speedcross 6 (men's)
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥18,700 (as of 10/14). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 3 New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 | 4mm drop
A 4mm drop with a Vibram Megagrip outsole. The midsole is billed as the most cushioned the company makes. What to watch is the waterproof version: the weight extra is 35g, the largest of the 5 pairs that come in both versions.
It's close to No. 2. If you're looking for a shoe with a lower heel and thick cushioning, this one comes out on top.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 (men's)
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥13,999 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥19,800, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it at L-BreathSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 4 Salomon Genesis 2 | 281g
281g is the lightest of the 6 pairs, and even the GORE-TEX version is 291g. Here's the weak spot. At ¥23,100 for the regular version, it's ¥3,300 more than the No. 1 Merrell.
It suits people who put lightness ahead of price.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Salomon Genesis 2 (men's)
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥23,100 (as of 10/14). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 5 Altra Lone Peak 9+ | 0mm drop
Heel and toe are the same 25mm thick, so the drop is 0mm. Of the six, this is the only pair built this way. 328g is the heaviest number, but I discounted it because the size weighed was a large 28.5cm. What to watch is the price of ¥24,200.
If you've decided on shoes that don't raise your heel, this is the one regardless of rank.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Altra Lone Peak 9+ (men's)
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥23,474 (as of 10/14). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 6 La Sportiva Bushido III | 4mm lugs
The numbers line up even to the 4mm lug height and 30mm heel and 24mm forefoot. It's a speed model for advanced runners who value ground feel. Here's the weak spot. ¥26,400 is the highest of the 6 pairs.
If you spend more time running than walking, this is a shoe that would rank much higher.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
La Sportiva Bushido III
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥26,400 (as of 10/14). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanOut of ranking: mont-bell Trail Lander (bought at the official online shop)
With a GORE-TEX lining, it's 289g per shoe (25.5cm) and ¥19,900. It's about 1g lighter and ¥100 more than the No. 1 Merrell's regular version. Compared with the Merrell's waterproof version, it's about 11g lighter and ¥7,600 cheaper. The label says the sole can't be replaced.
Do trail running shoes need to be waterproof? The extra is 10–35g
For the 5 pairs that come in both versions, the GORE-TEX version was heavier and pricier in every case.
| Model | Waterproof weight | Waterproof price | The extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out of ranking: mont-bell Trail Lander | 289g | ¥19,900 | Waterproof from the start |
| Merrell Agility Peak 5 | About 300g | ¥27,500 | 10g · ¥7,700 |
| Salomon Speedcross 6 | 328g | ¥22,000 | 30g · ¥3,300 |
| Salomon Genesis 2 | 291g | ¥26,400 | 10g · ¥3,300 |
| Altra Lone Peak 9+ | 352g | ¥27,500 | 24g · ¥3,300 |
| New Balance Hierro v9 | 345g | ¥23,980 | 35g · ¥4,180 |
Trail running shoes vs. hiking boots: ankle height and sole stiffness
Every shoe here is low-cut and doesn't cover the ankle. The soles are on the soft side too. Sirio explains that soft shoes can become unstable underfoot on steep slopes, heavy loads and rough ground.
The same page also says that climbing high mountains in low-cuts carries risks such as rolling an ankle. I compared the numbers for ankle-high boots in hiking boot rankings.
Drop is found by subtraction
Drop is the heel thickness minus the toe thickness. Salomon lists both the 32mm heel and 22mm forefoot of the Speedcross 6, so you can check it: 32 − 22 = 10mm.
New Balance notes that 4mm is approximate because of manufacturing variation. I read that as: don't choose shoes on a 1–2mm difference.
Who is it for?
This suits people who want to walk day hikes with a light load in shoes lighter than hiking boots.
For heavy tent-camping loads, rocky sections or snow season, you could choose hiking boots with the stiffness and ankle height for that. For fine days only, the non-waterproof version is enough.
FAQ
Can I hike in trail running shoes?
Sirio explains that on gentle slopes and flat paths, soft shoes put little strain on your feet. Steep slopes, heavy loads and rough ground are cases where they're said to become unstable.
Do I need waterproof for hiking?
I decide this way: if there are many paths wet after rain or with morning dew, go waterproof. The extra is 10–35g per shoe and ¥3,300–¥7,700.
Which should I choose if I have wide feet?
The only one where the official page offers a wide version at the same price is the out-of-ranking mont-bell Trail Lander.
Gear in this article
Ad · Images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- mont-bell official online store: Trail Lander Men's
- Merrell official online store: Agility Peak 5 [men's]
- Merrell official online store: Agility Peak 5 GORE-TEX [men's]
- Salomon official online store: Speedcross 6
- Salomon official online store: Speedcross 6 GORE-TEX
- Salomon official online store: Genesis 2
- Salomon official online store: Genesis 2 GORE-TEX
- New Balance official online store: Fresh Foam X Hierro v9
- New Balance official online store: Hierro v9 GORE-TEX
- Altra official: Lone Peak 9+ Men's
- Altra official: Lone Peak 9+ GTX Men's
- La Sportiva Japan official: Bushido III
- Sirio official: Choose shoes for the purpose (explaining sole stiffness)
