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The Top Ultramarathon Shoes in 2024

Have you just signed up for your first Ultra X event? Or are you a seasoned ultramarathon runner? I’m sure you will or have quickly discovered that when it comes to running ultras, success comes to those who have not only physically and mentally prepared themselves, but it is also as much as about having the right kit.

Picture this, you are on mile 50 of your ultramarathon, the sun is setting in the horizon and what stands between you and the finish line is the rugged terrain. What’s on your feet matters and that’s where the magic of ultramarathon shoes comes into play. So, one could say that the most important piece of gear is the right pair of running shoes. However, finding the right pair can be a daunting task as there are now over 200 trail running shoes on the market! Even though this means you are spoiled for choice, it makes the quest for the perfect pair to become an exhilarating and exhausting journey in itself! Sometimes it might feel like learning a new language due to the number of different specifications.

Choosing the right ultramarathon running shoes is crucial to your performance and when it comes to ultramarathons, shoes need to offer a bit of everything – ability to cope with all types of terrain thrown at you, supportive, cushioning, a great fit and lastly, they need to be comfortable.

I do hate to be a bearer of bad news, but the truth is that there is no such thing as the “best ultramarathon shoes”. As what might be perfect for one person may be too tight or too wide for another. Ultimately the best ultramarathon shoes on the market in 2024 are ones that;

• Fit YOU, and
• Meet the specific ultramarathon course terrain which you are running on

We at Ultra X want to make your ultramarathon experience as memorable and stress free as ever. So, Ultra X have decided to create a list of the top contenders competing for the coveted title of the best ultramarathon shoes in 2024.

*PLEASE NOTE: THE FOLLOWING SHOES ARE NOT LISTED IN RANK ORDER*

Salomon Speedcross 6 (Best on Muddy Terrain)

Key Features;

• The aggressive 5-6mm arrow-shaped lugs make it a trail-eating shoe! Even the muddiest trails will feel like a breeze due to the top-notch traction these lugs provide.
• Wide spaced lugs helping the protrusion on the sole of the shoe shed accumulating muck, so it won’t add any more weight onto the shoe.
• Mesh panelling in the upper portion of the shoe making it breathable.
• The midsole has enough cushioning to keep you comfortable, while still having a responsive forefoot which keeps you connected to the trail.

Overall, you can count on the Salomon Speedcross 6 to carry you to the finish line no matter the terrain or the conditions, due to its well lugged outsoles and bombproof durable upper. This shoe is your ticket to off-road bliss, due to the grippy outsole which bites into any terrain. However, this shoe is slightly on the heavier side in weight, weighing 298 grams and costs £140. If you are wanting to use these shoes on easy trails or gravel roads, then you may want to think again as the tooth like lugs are an overkill and will feel too aggressive. Not to mention that it will wear them down quicker, reducing traction.

Hoka Tecton x 2 (The Lightest)

Key Features;

• These shoes are as light as a feather only weighing 252 grams. Making it one of the lightest if not the lightest ultramarathon shoe.
• It has a ProFlyX dual layer midsole construction with a carbon fibre plate and an early-stage meta rocker, which provides exceptional responsiveness, efficiency and control on the trails allowing for propulsive toe offs.
• It is also incredibly durable due to the upper being made from Matryx material, so you will be able to overcome anything that comes your way.
• Gusseted tongue adds to the comfort factor and helps mitigate trail debris, ensuring the shoe stays as light as possible.

Overall, imagine running on clouds, well it will almost feel like it in these shoes. The Hoka Tecton x 2 offers an ethereal experience with its feather-light build and yet packs a punch in durability. It is a carbon-plated, cushioned high end shoe that is perfect for ultramarathons as it is breathable yet sturdy and comfortable. Your feet will be thanking you at the end of your ultramarathon in these shoes. However, it comes at a price of £185 and has a narrow toe box meaning it is not suitable for people with wide feet or be advised to size up. Another downside is that the lugs tread are not as deep as other shoes, meaning on muddier trails they might not be as practical. We would not suggest using these as everyday training shoes but rather as the PR Race Day shoes.

Saucony Peregrine 13 (Best on a Budget)

Key Features;

• Another light shoe only weighing 260 grams.
• The midsole has a protective rock plate and has PWRRUN foam, making this shoe cushioned and feel extremely comfortable.
• It has a PWRTRAC rubber outsole and a rock guard to ensure maximum traction and grip on rugged terrain, which will help to keep you upright!

Overall, the Saucony Peregrine 13 won’t blow you away, but if you are looking for a lightweight, grippy and balanced ultramarathon shoe that fits the budget. Then it is the perfect shoe for you. It is one of the most affordable shoes on the market, only costing £93, it definitely won’t leave your wallet weeping like other ultramarathon shoes. Again, this shoe does not have an overly wide toe box and the narrowness in the midfoot makes it very stable but might not feel great for those with wider feet. If you are a PR chaser, then we recommend exploring other options for races as this shoe lacks the explosive energy, but if you are a newbie to ultras then this could be the shoe for you.

Altra Lone Peak 8 (0 Drop)

Key Features;

• It has a dual natural midsole compound and an Altra EGO midsole foam which gives this shoe a responsive, yet soft feel for increased energy.
• It has grippy MaxTrac outsoles and trailclaw canted lugs design to provide the perfect amount of traction and durability on all terrain.
• This shoe has a roomy toe box and a zero to low drop, built to keep you comfortable.

Overall, Altra Lone Peak 8 is popularized by the barefoot running movement due to its zero drop, making it arguably the most efficient, ergonomic and comfortable trail shoe on the market. The Altra Lone Peak 8 is a perfect shoe for wide footed runners due to its extra roomy toe box, allowing your toes to breath. This wider style shoe also means that your foot can stay in its naturally prone and splayed position, keeping your stride natural and your joints happy mile after mile. However, all praise aside it has been critiqued for being too roomy and it is important to keep in mind that the zero-drop design is not for everyone and takes some time to get used to (especially your Achilles and calves!). This shoe is also one of the heaviest shoes weighing 303 grams and is mid-market for its price, costing £130.

Nike Pegasus Trail 4 (Best Waterproof Shoes)

Key Features;

• It has flywire technology integrated in the midfoot band for support, helping keep your foot in place.
• Nike react foam technology in the midsole makes this shoe come to live and have a springy feel to it, delivering a smooth and responsive ride.
• An extra skin overlay for durability with a mesh upper for a sturdy and breathable feel.
• GTX waterproofness shielding against rain filled potholes. No more soggy wet feet!

Overall, the Nike Pegasus Trail 4 calls all speed demons, due to its 9mm drop, creating a more forward leaning stance for the runners giving you that forward momentum. So, it is the perfect option for those wanting to run faster over longer distances on mixed trails. However, the Nike Pegasus Trail 4 shouldn’t be your top choice for slippery or extreme rocky terrain as the traction isn’t quite aggressive enough and it doesn’t have an underfoot rock plate. They are also one of the heavier shoes weighing 289 grams and mid to high end on pricing costing £145.

Brooks Catamount 3 (Best Versatile Shoe)

Key Features;

• It has a trailtack green runner outsole which is made with 25% recycled materials and offers superior traction on both wet and dry terrain.
• The propulsive SkyVault trail plates provide the responsive drive you need to summit peaks and the efficiency to push your pace especially on the uphill sections. It also protects your feet from rocks.
• It has nitrogen-infusted DNA FLASH midsole technology which delivers the perfect blend of responsiveness and adaptive cushioning for a faster ride and precision on tricky sections of the trails.

Overall, whether you are crushing gravel roads or going to battle on technical terrain, the Catamount 3 is one speedy and breathable shoe to have on your side. Weighing only 266.5 grams, making it one of the lighter shoes as well. However, the extra cushioning from the propulsive plates takes away the ground feel which some runners may not like. They also have 3.5mm lugs which again some runners might want deeper lugs to conquer muddier courses. They are also on the higher end of the budget costing £160.

Innov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max (The Longest Lasting)

Key Features;

• It is one of the world’s first Graphene-enhanced foam shoes. This G-FLY foam delivers 25% greater energy return while retaining its optimum levels of underfoot rebound and comfort for longer.
• It has an ADAPTER-FLEX groove, which allows the shoe to adapt and react to uneven terrain like no other.
• It has GRAPHENE-GRIP rubber which delivers the world’s toughest grip, making it excellent on every surface the trails could throw your way.

Overall, the Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max could be the dream shoe for long distance trail runners, due to its foam insole making you feel fresher and go faster for longer. Imagine running on fluffy clouds while being propelled forward with every stride, well this shoe does just that. Not to mention that the outsole being made from graphene which makes this shoe last some serious ultra mileage on the most challenging terrains. The supportive upper fit adapts to the natural changes of your foot when running big miles, resulting in more comfort. However, it has a hefty price tag of £165 which is near the top of the pile when it comes to price. They are also one of the heavier shoes out their weighing 300 grams and do tend to fit people with wider feet better. So, if you are okay with the weight and the width of these shoes then you can’t go too far wrong using these shoes to cross the finish line at your next ultramarathon.

On Cloudultra 2 (Best for Easy Runs)

Key Features;

• It has softer Helion super foam which delivers a smooth and comfortable ride on tough terrain.
• The missiongrip outsoles provide 50% more ground contact from their previous model to enhance traction on tricky terrain.
• The TPU speedboard provides loads of energy every time your feet land, while the signature CloudTec cushioning protects your feet against impact. This combination propels you forward step after step, mile after mile.

Overall, the On Cloudultra 2 can handle uneven terrain and remain comfortable, yet responsive for many miles on a variety of trails. If you are looking for a do it all shoe and are curious about running some trail segments, then this is the perfect shoe for you. It is also a good shoe for an easy run due to the fit. As they are wider some people may find their feet sliding around too much in these shoes and they are not as grippy as other shoes for them to be your top choice for an ultramarathon race. It is again one of the heavier shoes in the market weighing 295 grams and is a mid-budget shoe costing £141.62, which could be considered quite steep considering it does not have the grip to handle muddy courses.

La Sportiva Akasha 2 (Best for Rocky Ultramarathons)

Key Features;

• The cushion platform footbed inserts provides comfort and cushioning to help complete the gruelling miles which you will cover in an ultramarathon race.
• The Dynamic ProtechTion active front reinforcements provide protection and structure following the movements of the foot dynamically without constriction.
• The gripping, dual compound FriXion Red sole is equipped with the exclusive Trail Rocker which provides natural external heel to internal toe movement of the foot during running.

Overall, La Sportiva Akasha II was born from a mountaineering heritage, so they have a deep understanding of getting the best out of a shoe to perform well in rocky terrain. It is a technical super cushioned endurance shoe with plenty of protection. Underfoot this shoe provides plenty of traction and is comfy offering a ton of durability. However, it is the heaviest shoe on the market weighing 310 grams, but many suggest it feels lighter on the foot than its weight would suggest. Sure, there are lighter and snappier race day shoes out there, but none provide the all-mountain, long-ultra comfort, durability and protection like this shoe does. It only costs £147.14 which is middle of the row, considering the durability of these shoes.

Hoka Speedgoat 5 (Best All-Rounder)

Key Features;

• This trail beast eats up any course with its Vibram Megagrip and its 5mm Traction Lugs for enhanced grip on loose soil and terrain.
• The late stage MetaRocker provides a smooth ride on the trails, easing you onwards.
• A protective toe cap designed to protect your feet from rocks and trail debris.

Overall, the Hoka Speedgoat 5, is a workhorse designed for technical routes and can go the distances. The traction on these shoes makes them feel “goat-like” on uphill’s, able to conquer anything. The compression-moulded EVA foam midsole protects the joints from repetitive stress, keeping the legs fresher for longer. The thick midsole of these shoes also offers maximum long-distance comfort and underfoot protection. However, this leads to a slower response time making it feel unwieldy when maintaining precise footwork. This shoe weighs 291 grams again making it one of the heavier shoes on the market. But it is only £140 which is very reasonable considering all its specifications.

To conclude

Nowadays, there are more and more brands producing excellent ultramarathon trail running shoes, wanting to be the best. But the honest truth is that one brand might work well for some ultramarathon runners, while the same brand might not work for others…..it’s all about personal preferences and the anatomy of your foot. There is a shoe out there to suit every runner’s needs and preferences.

This being said Ultra X have tried to narrow the market down for you by providing 10 shoes which all perform well in different ways, hoping that they sprinkle a little magic on your next Ultramarathon, guiding you through the finish line. As investing in the right pair of shoes is key to success for completing an ultramarathon. Now what’s stopping you from booking your next Ultra X experience.