Best Hiking and Trail Running Shoes for the Backcountry 2025

Welcome to a new Best of Hiking and Trail Running Shoes at Backcountry Skiing Canada. This is an exciting new summer season addition at Backcountry Skiing Canada! We're launching a comprehensive review series on the best backcountry hiking and trail running shoes.

The lines between lightweight hiking and trail running shoes have become increasingly blurred. Many hikers now prefer the lighter, more agile feel of trail runners, while some trail runners appreciate the added support and durability of hiking shoes. To address this evolution in outdoor footwear, we've decided to throw them all together.

Our reviews will categorize, and rate shoes based on the following criteria:

• Trail Type: From well-maintained single tracks to rugged, off-trail alpine terrain.
• Activity: Whether you're on a multi-day backpacking trip, a fast-and-light day hike, or a challenging trail run.
• Experience Level: From novice hikers to seasoned trail runners.

Our goal is to provide you with the most detailed and practical information to help you choose the perfect footwear for your backcountry adventures. Rather than wait until we review all the shoes, we have decided to bring you along in the process. This summer we have about 6 dozen different shoes to review and rate. However, since this is a new feature, we likely will be tweaking our criteria and evaluation of shoes as we go along.

Additionally, we would also like to get your feedback on what trail types you are on, what activities you enjoy and what features you look for in your backcountry trail shoes. Please feel free to fill out our hiking and trail running survey and also enter your email for a chance to win a MEC.ca or Backcountry.com gift card.

Click here to fill out our survey here.

The Backcountry Shoes