New Trail Footwear for 2026
Start the hunt for your next great pair of hiking boots or trail shoes with these noteworthy picks
Your footwear experiences the most use and abuse on the trail, and in our experience, it’s the gear that needs to be replaced most frequently. While that may seem like a daunting task to undertake every other couple of seasons or so (or more often, if you put in a lot of hiking miles or are a dedicated trail runner), the good news is that there are a ton of intriguing new options out there. Here are the new models for 2026 we’re most excited to take on hikes, scrambles, and runs this season.
New Hiking Shoes for 2026
Continuing the trend of trail shoe brands opting for a bit more heft this year, the Timp 6 makes minor tweaks to the Timp 5, adding a few ounces. Altra added a millimeter to the shoe’s already plush stack height (it now measures 30mm) and changed the upper to soft-rolled mesh—we’re not yet sure how the latter compares to the breathable and comfy engineered mesh of the 5, but hopefully it’s a bit more durable. In typical Altra fashion, though, the Timp 6 is a zero-drop shoe with a wide forefoot, and the Vibram Megagrip outsole and cushioned-yet-sturdy midsole carry over from its predecessor. Weighing 1 pound, 6.9 ounces, the 6 veers towards the heavier end of the hiking shoe spectrum, but it should still be on the radar for anyone who wants to hike and backpack fast, without feeling like they’re wearing too insubstantial a shoe. Also available in a mid-cut build.
This is a premium hiking shoe from Danner with an impressive feature set. The MTN45 features a deeply lugged Vibram Megabrip outsole with a full-length TPU rock plate that runs between the outsole and midsole. It's fairly heavy at 2 pounds 1 ounce for a pair, but it is stiff, supportive, protective, and grippy enough for carrying light backpacking loads and traversing rough terrain. The nubuck leather upper should help the MTN45 survive repeated trips off-trail (you can see our full take in our in-depth MTN45 review), and when it starts to feel the effects of hardo hiking, you can get its outsole, midsole, and even the upper repaired by Danner (a courtesy the brand extends to most of its footwear). We also tested its synthetic-upper cousin, the Danner N45, and found that it generally performed well in technical terrain.
Last fall, we reviewed the Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX, which represented an effort by the usually traditional-design-leaning brand to put its imprint on a line of shoes with more low-profile, speed-oriented designs. We found a bunch to like about the shoe, while other elements received more mixed feedback, but the Katabatic RT might be more in Oboz’s wheelhouse. It’s chunkier, more protective, and more supportive than the LT (and the even lighter Katabatic Wind), and has a high-quality Vibram Megagrip outsole that should give folks more confidence than the LT’s proprietary rubber compound. A burly chassis rises from the midfoot up through the heel, and the RT looks like a true blend of a hiking boot and a trail shoe. It also comes in a mid-cut version that leans more in the traditional direction, and which might be the pick for hikers and backpackers who like the build but want more ankle support.
You might know Scarpa from its technical climbing and mountaineering footwear, but the Italian brand has been churning out trail shoes with wider appeal for a long time. The Ribelle Cross 2 is an all-rounder that bridges the gap between nimble, speed-oriented designs (like Scarpa’s Rush 2) and heavier hiking shoes that have some oomph. It has a sleek build, with a nicely rockered forefoot and mesh upper that nod to some trail-running DNA, but a beefy, aggressive outsole and a thick frame at the heel add backbone. At 1 pound, 11.6 ounces, the Ribelle is on the heavier side for a trail shoe, but it doesn’t look overbuilt at all and could provide a nice balance between precision and support under a loaded pack.
The Ultra Raptor II was a capable, relatively minimalist model that felt more like a trail runner with a bit more substance rather than a hiking shoe built for all-day comfort. However, the third iteration of the Ultra Raptor features a bulked-up design with a more substantial synthetic upper and beefier sole architecture. The cushier platform, a roomier fit than the last-gen shoe, and a knit collar should up the comfort factor, if perhaps not increase your speed—it’s telling that La Sportiva moved the Ultra Raptor from its “mountain running” line to “hiking.” What does return, though, is the brand’s FriXion XF 2.0 outsole, one of the grippiest compounds around, and a build that should call to slow-paced scenery seekers and fastpackers alike. Backpackers and fans of mid-cut boots should also check out the Ultra Raptor 3 Mid; both it and the low version come in Gore-Tex and non-Gore-Tex versions.
New Hiking Boots for 2026
The Targhee Apex is a head-turner, especially if you’re used to Keen’s burly, meat-and-potatoes models, such as the venerable Targhee IV Mid and its ancestors. The Apex isn’t your father’s hiking boot, though. Instead of stiff-yet-supportive PU, it boasts a foam midsole that should feel much bouncier and more responsive than the leather Targhee, as well as a sneaker-esque forefoot and a heel counter that extends past the back of the boot, echoing Hoka’s recent designs. The Apex uses Keen’s proprietary tech for both its outsole and its waterproofing, which helps keep the cost from skyrocketing (it retails for $190). We currently have the mid- and low-cut versions out for testing, and will share our thoughts fully after we put this intriguing boot through its paces.
There’s still a place in the hiking boot ecosystem for leather-clad warhorses, and the Salomon Quest 4 was one of our favorites. Its successor, the new Quest 5, will feel a little lighter on your feet while delivering a familiarly high level of stiffness, support, traction, and durability. Designers tweaked the Quest’s formula to give it a redesigned lace and eyelet pattern, a rejiggered cuff, and a ripstop nylon material to complement the mostly nubuck leather upper. The changes result in the Quest 5 coming in at 1 pound, 10 ounces—4 ounces lighter than the 4—but the latter boot’s highlights remain. Gore-Tex waterproofing, the leather build, and lots of armor around the midfoot make this boot ultra-protective, and its stiffness can help you shoulder expedition-worthy pack loads. The Quest 5’s single-minded design might not be for casual hikers, but for its target audience, it looks like another heavy-duty winner.
Sometimes, all a boot needs is a few key material changes to inject new life into a tried-and-true design. That’s the case with the Sawtooth X Pro, which takes Oboz’s Sawtooth X model—a mostly leather hiking boot with a silhouette that falls just on the modern side of classic, with a focus on support thanks to a nylon shank and a stiff heel chassis—and adds some pizzazz. We're not just talking colorways, although the X Pro has some vibrant ones; this new boot features a Vibram Megagrip outsole and a Gore-Tex Invisible Fit membrane, both of which are clear upgrades over the regular Sawtooth X’s proprietary versions. The X Pro’s premium makeover comes with a $30 price increase, but its new build should be worth it.
New Trail Running Shoes for 2026
Our trail running editor has put over 200 miles on the Altamesa 500 V2 already, and she deems it a fantastic update to the already impressive original Altamesa 500. The V2 has a souped-up midsole that feels more energetic than the first-generation Altamesa’s, courtesy of nitrogen-infused TPU. Its outsole, made from The North Face’s proprietary Surface Cntrl rubber, is also noticeably stickier and adheres much better to wet trails, a weak point on the previous model. Race laces with serrated edges and a new upper layout complete the redesign, and, as a bonus, the V2 is 20 grams lighter. As our editor notes, this is a great daily training shoe made even better.
The Speedgoat is one of the few shoes to have achieved escape velocity from the trail-running community, becoming well known among dedicated hikers and more casual outdoor enthusiasts alike. We weren’t huge fans of the Speedgoat 6, though, which didn’t offer enough traction, stability, or durability to tackle the shoe’s intended terrain. But that’s all the more reason to get excited about the Speedgoat 7, which benefits from tougher upper construction (relatively; this is still a very light shoe), a supercritical EVA foam midsole that makes it feel much livelier, and an updated lug pattern on the Vibram Megagrip outsole. Both of our testers are singing the 7’s praises, but they also said to make sure size up—the new Speedgoat runs snug.
When it comes to the Sylan 2, Arc’teryx’s approach seems to be that the more tech you can pack in, the better. This shoe features many of the buzzy features you see in the category today: a carbon fiber plate, a supercritical foam midsole, an outsole built with tacky Vibram Megagrip, and a knit collar. Our experience with the brand’s running shoes in the past has been hit-or-miss due to rigid uppers and inconsistent sizing, but we’re still keen to test the Sylan 2 and its kitchen-sink design. It’s worth noting that carbon fiber plates in trail running shoes might not be for everyone and could possibly increase injury risk, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on how the Sylan 2 feels over time.
As you’ve seen throughout this article, Vibram Megagrip is a popular and premium outsole compound used on hiking boots, trail shoes, and trail runners. We’re unabashed fans of its grippiness, and until now, it’s been hard to imagine a better outsole material—but the Cascadia Elite is breaking new ground. This robust, highly cushioned shoe is built with Megagrip Elite, which Vibram specifically designed to hold fast to wet and dry surfaces even when you’re running at speed. We’re curious about how it compares to regular Megagrip in terms of traction and durability, and we’re also stoked to see how the Cascadia Elite’s PEBA foam midsole and flexible, sock-like upper feel on the trail. A 30-millimeter heel stack should help this shoe feel cushy, and it’s pretty light, at 1 pound, 3 ounces for a pair.
No, you don’t need to run like Killian Jornet to wear this new shoe from his brand, NNormal. The Cadí’s focus is on providing accessible comfort for daily runs, rather than engineered performance for technical trails (like the brand’s Tomir model) or PR attempts. A 35-millimeter stack height at the heel makes this NNormal’s most cushioned shoe, and its roomy toe box will help keep your feet happy as you go back to the Cadí outing after outing. The full-coverage Vibram Megagrip outsole should easily handle all of the surfaces this shoe is designed for, and its supercritical EVA midsole provides some pop. While its stretch-woven upper isn’t the super-tough Matryx material found on some other Nnormal shoes, the brand’s build quality is usually top-notch.
Find your footing
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