The running scene in New York City matches the vibrant and diverse pulse of the area, offering myriad route opportunities, from riverfront runs to city park loops. Tack on the literal hundreds of running clubs and a number of iconic races, and you’ve got a community that matches the hustle of the city.
One such running club is Mile Style Run Club, a Bronx-based club that started with humble roots in 2016 and has grown into a group that hosts upward of 90 runners. The club’s founder Miguel Hernandez saw the health challenges the Bronx faced — ranking as the most unhealthy county in New York state — and felt the pull to do something about it.
The Bronx, New York.
Running started out as a personal love affair for Miguel and turned into a deeper mission to grow a community of runners in his home borough. Watch Miguel’s story in the video below, sponsored by HOKA. Then read on for trail recommendations, run clubs to check out, the best running events in the city, and where to find a fresh pair of HOKA running shoes in the city.
[Editor’s Note:Click here to watch the full film on YouTube.]
Where to Run in New York City
The best thing about running in the city? You can lace up, step out your door, and take off. But if you’re looking for something more specific, check out our AllTrails picks below or head over to AllTrails to see more recommendations.
Central Park Trail
This route on the Central Park Trail starts at the southern end of Central Park and goes through iconic highlights of the area, including the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, East Meadow, and Harlem Meer, before ending at the northern boundary of the park. This trail is a respite from the city where you can run in the trees and through sprawling lawns.
Trail Details
AllTrails Rating:4.6 stars
Level: Easy
Length: 3.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 190 feet
Hudson River Greenway: Battery Park to Riverside Park
The Hudson River Greenway follows the Hudson River and goes by Little Island, the iconic floating park. Enjoy riverside views the entire length of the trail or head over to Little Island and check out the scene from there.
Trail Details
AllTrails Rating: 4.7 stars
Level: Easy
Length: 5.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 75 feet
Prospect Park Loop
If you’re looking for a run that feels social-adjacent, head out on the Prospect Park Loop. This route goes around Prospect Park, which hosts concerts and dance performances in the summer. During the summer months, the park is usually filled with people enjoying the sunshine, and the trail goes through a ravine of the city’s last remaining forest.
Trail Details
AllTrails Rating: 4.7 stars
Level: Easy
Length: 3.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 154 feet
Miguel Recommends: Van Cortlandt Park Trail
This trail gives you a good route through most of this secluded park in the city. Located in The Bronx, the pathway is mostly paved though some sections aren’t. You can trim and adjust this trail based on your mileage needs or pick up different offshoots as you run.
Trail Details
AllTrails Rating: 4.4 stars
Level: Easy
Length: 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 429 feet
New York City Run Clubs to Check Out
The city hosts around 200 running clubs, so there’s no shortage of groups to join up with and get immersed in the community. If you’re looking for a bank of running clubs to check out, head over to the New York Road Runners site for club info. Below are a couple of run club suggestions.
Mile Style Run Club
Every Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m., join Miguel Hernandez at 940 Garrison Ave in the Bronx for an open community run and walk. There’s no membership fee, and Mile Style Run Club is a community-based group with a mission to improve the overall health and well-being of Bronx residents. Find them on Instagram for up-to-date info.
World’s Fair Run Crew
The World’s Fair Run Crew is a HOKA-sponsored club based in Queens. Every Wednesday at 6:45 p.m., they meet at Pong Arena Sports Bar for a 3- to 4-mile, all-pace community run. There’s no membership fee to join.
Running Events in New York City
When you think of races in New York City, the first thing you might think of is the TCSNew York City Marathon, which is among the largest marathons in the world. In 2024, it had 55,646 finishers.
Below are a few lesser known events to sign up for if you want to get a taste of New York City races.
BKLYN MILE
This annual road race runs along Kent Avenue under the Williamsburg Bridge and then through the heart of North Brooklyn. So we ask: How fast can you run a mile? The mile-long race brings in the most competitive runners while also appealing to those of all abilities and experience levels. According to the race’s website, “Running the BKLYN MILE is like getting shot out of a cannon and falling into a mosh pit. But in an exhilarating way.”
Front Runners Pride Run
Since 1982, the FRNY LGBT Pride Run has grown to become the largest LGBTQIA+ sporting event in New York City and one of the largest in the world. The race is four miles long and the course goes through Central Park, starting on East Drive. A portion of the proceeds from the event goes toward donations to New York-based LGBTQIA+ organizations.
Where to Find Your Next Pair of HOKA Shoes
If you’re ready to lace up in a fresh pair of HOKA running shoes to lay down some miles in New York City, head over to the HOKA brand store on 579 5th Ave or the Flat Iron store at 172 5th Ave.
[Editor’s Note: This article is sponsored by HOKA. Thank you to HOKA for its sponsorship of iRunFar, which helps to make iRunFar happen and free for all to enjoy. Learn more about our sponsored articles.]
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
Participants and families raced through the festive course with costumes and high-energy fun
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – SeaWorld San Diego welcomed runners and walkers for the second annual Howl-O-Sprint 5K Run presented by Road Runner Sports on Oct. 19, 2025. Participants experienced a spirited 3.1-mile course winding through the park’s marine life exhibits, complete with Halloween-themed decor, costumed characters, and festive photo opportunities. Families also joined in the fun with the Kids 1K Run, adding to the celebratory atmosphere that blended fitness, community and seasonal excitement.
The men’s 5K division was led by Tim Vail, who finished with a time of 16:23, followed by second and third-place finishers, Shelby Hernandez Jr. and Sergio Estrada. Brigitte Doctor led the women’s division with a time of 19:08. Hollie Sick and Brandi Crown came in shortly after to claim second and third place in the women’s 5K. Manuelita Badachi placed first in the non-binary division, finishing the 3.1 miles in 23:12, with Nolan Michelle and Reina Remigio claiming second and third-place in the non-binary 5K.
“The Howl-O-Sprint is such a highlight for us,” said Sean Daughtery, Vice President of Operations for SeaWorld San Diego. “It combines family, fun, fitness, and a festive Halloween atmosphere, providing participants a unique chance to enjoy the park in an unforgettable way.”
The event featured a lively morning filled with costumes, high-energy music and support from SeaWorld team members and spectators along the route. Participants were awarded a race shirt and one-of-a-kind finisher medal, with top finishers receiving Road Runner Sports gift cards. Many guests extended their day by enjoying SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular and Howl-O-Scream activities, rounding out the experience with trick-or-treating, themed entertainment and nighttime scares.
For more information about the SeaWorld Howl-O-Sprint 5K and all SeaWorld events, visit SeaWorld San Diego’s website.
ABOUT SEAWORLD
SeaWorld is a leading marine life theme park and accredited zoo and aquarium that provides experiences that matter while educating and inspiring guests of all ages to care about marine life. Welcoming millions of guests every year, the parks offer fun and enriching experiences from up-close animal encounters and year-round educational programs to award-winning marine-life themed rides and attractions, special events and exciting entertainment. For more than 60 years SeaWorld has advanced the conservation of marine life in and outside its parks through science, education, and exceptional animal care that is Humane Certified by American Humane and accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. SeaWorld is one of the largest marine animal rescue organizations in the world, helping more than 41,000 animals to date. The SeaWorld Conservation Fund, a non-profit foundation established in 2003, has provided more than $20 million to nearly 1,400 organizations to advance critical research on every continent. A portion of park proceeds goes toward supporting these longstanding conservation commitments. SeaWorld parks are in Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). SeaWorld is part of the United Parks & Resorts (NYSE: PRKS) portfolio of theme park brands. For more information, visit us at SeaWorld.com.
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
[Editor’s Note: This article is part of an occasional series on the unique opportunities and challenges of growing older as a runner.]
This weekend, I will be running the Javelina 100 Mile in my home state of Arizona. This will be my third time toeing the line at this fantastic event. The first time I ran Javelina back in 2007, it was a smaller, more intimate affair than it is now. That year, as a 40-year-old, I competed for the win with my long-time friend and rival Jorge Pacheco, who ultimately prevailed in a winning time of 15:49. I ended up second place in 16:34. Last year, after 17 years away from the race, I returned to Javelina and finished again, this time in 116th place in a time of 22:42.
AJW proudly displays his 2024 Javelina 100 Mile belt buckle.
I have spent a fair bit of time over the last year reflecting on the experience of running the same race 17 years apart. Of course, I cannot help but dwell on the fact that I have slowed by over six hours in those intervening years. On the other hand, I take pride in the fact that I am still going and healthy enough to train for and run 100-mile races, however slow my times may be. Going into this year’s race, I am savoring the fact that running significant races with big challenges is not only a privilege, but also a gift — a gift that we older runners should never take for granted.
This year, my race plan will be simple: Run a little bit faster than last year. In my build-up to the race this year, my training has followed a familiar pattern that I have developed over three decades in ultrarunning: long runs on the course, a three-day training camp, occasional tempo runs, and consistent daily recovery runs. Looking back over a couple of decades of training logs, this familiar pattern emerges as an example of, “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”
The author running the nighttime section of the 2024 Javelina 100 Mile.
Back when I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area in California and trained often on the Western States 100 course, one of my regular training partners was the late Mark Richtman. Mark was always a pleasure to train with as he had a relentlessly positive attitude and seemed to enjoy training almost more than racing. I recall at the end of our last long training run for the Western States 100 back in 2006, he said something that always struck me:
“Well, AJW, we’ve split the bananas, scooped out the ice cream, added the hot fudge sauce and all the toppings, now all that’s left to do is put the cherry on top.”
Mark Richtman on the coastal California trails he loved. Photo courtesy of Gary Wang.
My 2025 Javelina 100 Mile, being the gift that it is, will certainly be the cherry on top of my training. Coming toward the end of a year when I took on a new full-time job, ran my first 250-mile race, and welcomed my first granddaughter into the world, it seems like an entirely fitting gift with which to complete the year. I hope to see some of you out there!
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Marin County, California, where Mark Richtman called home. Fieldwork Brewing Company in Corte Madera, is known for its hazy IPAs, and in my opinion, their best one is Postcards from Fiji. It is a slightly bitter hazy, brewed in the old-school style of classic New England IPAs. It’s a great beer to have with barbecue or a burger, or just on its own as the cherry on top of a perfect run.
Call for Comments
Have you had an experience of returning to a race or route after a long time away? How did it feel?
In what other ways do you mark the passage of time as a runner?
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
Australian ultrarunner Phil Gore has won the 2025 Big’s Backyard Ultra World Championships in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, completing an extraordinary 114 laps of the 6.7-kilometer course, a total of 764 kilometers over nearly five days of continuous running. Britain’s Sarah Perry also made history, setting a new women’s Backyard Ultra world record with 95 laps … Read more
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
Over 10,000 participants will receive their finisher medal in the world-famous Rose Bowl Stadium
PASADENA, Calif. – TheRose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K hasrevealed the medal designs for their 10th anniversary event on Jan. 18, 2026. This year’s design highlights the famous façade of the Rose Bowl Stadium, featuring the iconic “Rose Bowl” signage and stemmed rose, and was created by Badges & Medals, the race’s Official Medal Supplier. Each participant will be awarded their medal after crossing the finish line on the 50-yard line of the Rose Bowl Stadium, making for a fitting memento of their accomplishment.Registration for the event is now open and is expected to sell out.
The Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K is one of four annual running events produced byThe McCourt Foundation, a Los Angeles and Boston-based nonprofit whose mission is to cure neurological diseases while empowering communities to build a healthier world by funding research and programs to advance neurological health, foster community wellness and make a lasting impact. The organization also hosts its Neurological Symposium and Spring Soiree each year. The race provides a one-of-a-kind race experience, touring participants through Pasadena and its notable landmarks like the Colorado Street Bridge, Old Town Pasadena and Caltech. The event is expected to host over 10,000 participants from around the nation and world.
“Our team at The McCourt Foundation looks forward to welcoming thousands of runners to the beautiful city of Pasadena each year, whether they be locals or visitors enjoying a race-cation,” said Brian McCourt, president and chairman of the board of the McCourt Foundation. “To top it off, the event also furthers our mission, allowing us to donate more than $6.7 million to neurology research and to generate more than $76 million forour 125+ nonprofit charity partners.”
The Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K is the second event in the three-raceConquer LA Challenge which begins with theSanta Monica Classic in September, followed by the Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K in January, and wraps up with theASICS Los Angeles Marathon in March. Those who complete the challenge will receive a medal for each completed race, as well as the Conquer LA Challenge medal.
Race day will also feature theRose Bowl Kids Run, which will take kids ages three to eight on a ½ km journey that ends on the Rose Bowl field. This Rose Bowl Kids Run is a part of theKids Run LA Challenge, which also includes the Santa Monica Classic Kids Run and LA Kids Run. Kids who complete all three races will be awarded a Kids Run LA Challenge medal to celebrate their accomplishments.
For more information about the Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K, visit mccourtfoundation.org and follow The McCourt Foundation onFacebook,Instagram andLinkedIn.
ABOUT THE MCCOURT FOUNDATION
The McCourt Foundation (TMF) empowers communities to build a healthier world through research, education, and events. TMF’s mission is to cure neurological diseases while empowering communities to build a healthier world. TMF makes a difference by donating to neurology research, hosting educational forums, and using our events such as the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon, Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K, Santa Monica Classic and Boston Waterfront 5K, as platforms to raise funds for over 125 nonprofit charity partners. Since its inception, TMF has donated more than $6.7 million to neurology research and generated more than $76M for our nonprofit charity partners. Established in 1992, TMF is a 501 (c)(3) with offices in Boston, MA and Los Angeles, CA. For more information, visit mccourtfoundation.org.
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
This year’s edition of the race that started the backyard ultramarathon craze, the 2025 Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra, saw Sarah Perry of the U.K. set a new women’s record of 95 “yards,” totaling 395.8 miles (637.0 kilometers).
Perry exceeded the prior women’s record of 87 yards, or 362 miles (583.3 kilometers), which was set by Megan Eckert (U.S.) at last year’s Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra, by eight laps, or 33.3 miles (53.6 kilometers). Eckert also raced this year and was the second-to-last woman standing with 92 yards, or 383.3 miles (616.8 kilometers). After 95 hours of racing around 4.1667-mile (6.705 kilometers) laps, Perry exited the race, citing an increasingly sore back, with nine men left to continue.
Sarah Perry ending her 2025 Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra after 95 laps, totaling 395.8 miles, a new women’s backyard world record. Photo: INOV8/Jacob Zocherman
For those unfamiliar with the backyard ultra format, which was created by Gary Cantrell, aka Laz, of Barkley Marathons fame, racers complete laps of a 4.1667-mile course, called a yard in backyard ultra speak, starting each lap at the top of the hour. Runners continue until they either miss the one-hour cutoff or choose not to continue on. The format of racing has become popular around the world, and the Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra is considered the world championships of the format. The world championships alternate between crowning a winning team and a winning individual each year. For this particular event, racers switch between running a lap that is part trail during the 11 hours of daylight and a pure road lap for the remaining 13 hours of the day. It doesn’t matter how fast they run each lap; runners just need to be back in the start corral when the next lap starts on the hour.
This year’s race, which is held in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, started at 7:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, October 18, with 75 runners from 40 different countries on the startlist, including the current and a former women’s and men’s world-record holders. Four women lined up for the event this year, including Eckert, who won the 2024 edition of this race with 87 laps, breaking the record set by American Jennifer Russo, who ran 74 yards in 2023. Russo, the oldest competitor at the event this year at 59 years old, was the first woman to stop after completing 52 yards (216.6 miles/335.2 kilometers). Edit Fűrész of Hungary made it 76 laps (316.6 miles/509.6), leaving only Eckert and Perry. Eckert is no stranger to multiday events and is also the current six-day world record holder with 603.155 miles (970.685 kilometers) and was able to exceed her old backyard world record by five laps before stopping after 92 laps (383.3 miles/616.8 kilometers). Perry continued on for three more laps, thereby setting the women’s backyard ultra record at 95 yards.
Perry has several years of experience at this race format. She ran and won the overall of her first backyard ultra in 2021 at the Backyard Ultra Cymru in Wales with 20 laps (83.3 miles/134 kilometers), and then she won the overall at the 2022 Cow Shed Backyard Ultra with 33 laps (137.4 miles/221.2 kilometers). She qualified for Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra by winning the U.K. Backyard Ultra World Team Championships with 59 laps (245.8 miles/395.6 kilometers).
Perry on her way to a new women’s backyard ultra world record. Photo: Jacob Zocherman
While still looking strong and completing laps well under the one-hour time requirement, Perry ultimately decided not to go out on her 96th lap due to issues with her back, leaving nine men still running. In addition to setting a women’s backyard ultra world record, her final distance set a new overall U.K. backyard ultra record, exceeding the 87 laps run by Matt Blackburn in 2023.
Of the remaining men in this year’s race, current world record holder Phil Gore (Australia) came away with the win with 114 laps (475.0 miles/764.4 kilometers) with Ivo Steyaert, who was part of the Belgian team that won the team Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra in 2024, as the “assist,” or second-place finisher with 113 laps (470.8 miles/757.7 kilometers). This was short of the current men’s backyard ultra world record of 119 laps (495.8 miles/797.9 kilometers), currently held by Gore himself.
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
The UltrAspire Alpha 6.0 Race Vest. All photos: iRunFar/Kristin Zosel
The UltrAspire Alpha 6.0 Race Vest ($150) is the most recent in a line of hydration packs that have been around since 2013. The first version of the vest was well-loved, and 12 years later, this one still lands itself in our Best Running Vests buyer’s guide. This unisex hydration pack is a great medium-sized vest with a thoughtful design, a highly flexible six-liter capacity, great overall comfort, and a smooth ride.
I found this to be one of the most stable hydration packs out there, whether you’re only carrying some fluids and your phone for a shorter daily run or you’ve maxed out storage and added poles in a quiver (not included) or to the rear bungees. The ErgoFit design keeps the stress of a fuller pack off the neck and the load centered a bit lower on the body than many other packs out there, and the MaxO2-Sternum lets you breathe freely with the snug-fitting, bounce-free design. This is still one of my favorite design aspects of UltrAspire vests.
I’m absolutely loving the fact that the hydration bottle pockets in the front are now fully compatible with just about any 500-milliliter soft flask you have, including UltrAspire’s proprietary soft flasks — two of which are included with the vest —and the longer cylinder options common with other brands. Regardless of how you count pockets within pockets to get a final number, there are plenty of options on the pack for all your needs and wants, including a sleeve pocket against the back with a bladder hanger that can hold up to a two-liter bladder and route the hose securely over either shoulder. In my experience, having tested two prior versions of this pack, the Alpha 6.0 is the best thus far. It has an actual weight of 8.8 ounces (250 grams) for a size small.
Unfortunately, the Alpha 6.0 still comes in only three unisex sizes — small, medium, and large — and can accommodate chest sizes from 31 inches to 42 inches. In my opinion, there’s still a need for an extra small and an extra large option. My 34A chest size has the bungee closures on the size small about 75% cinched for daily usage.
UltrAspire Alpha 6.0 Race Vest Construction and Fit
The UltrAspire Alpha 6.0 Race Vest.
The UltrAspire Alpha 6.0 Race Vest is constructed from the familiar UltrAcool Light Mesh that helps to move moisture from the skin and reduce heat buildup. It still feels a little abrasive to the touch, but I always run with a shirt, so it’s not a factor for me. It doesn’t cause pilling to any of my shirts or fleeces, so if you like to run with less clothing on top, you may be just fine.
Two honeycomb mesh panels run on either side of the front of the pack against the body to help with comfort, sweat management, and fit in the closure areas. I find it very effective in preventing chafing on the super-hot days. The closures themselves, called the MaxO2 Sternum design, are two fixed hooks to which you attach a looped bungee cord from the opposite side. It’s pretty easy to do once you figure out the angle to approach the hooks, and it can be done with thin gloves. Though the hooks are fixed, the bungees have a lot of adjustability depending on how full you have the pack. An unobtrusive flat routing loop is also present on either shoulder strap to secure a bladder tube in an easy-to-reach place.
Very soft binding covers all edges of the pack, further promoting skin comfort, especially under the arms and around the neck. All pockets are made with a four-way stretch mesh that excels in keeping contents secure yet accessible and reduces the need for compressive bungees or load management cords. This mesh also enhances the overall breathability of the pack, especially if a solid breeze is swirling. Nothing really impedes the airflow through the pack unless you’ve added some extra Ziploc baggies for waterproofing of electronics or extra snacks.
UltAspire’s ErgoFit design is indeed very comfortable. The S-curve angled shoulder straps remove the load from your upper shoulder/neck junction and move it out and down a bit. This keeps the neck and shoulders moving freely and decreases the strain on my upper trapezius muscles. The length of the pack takes the load lower on the body, which can take a little bit of getting used to with how it hugs the mid and lower ribs. I’ve found the design reduces the overall fatigue a pack can cause later in a race or longer adventure. I have perhaps a longer torso, but I find it very easy to wear.
The fabulous MaxO2 Sternum shock cord system allows the bungee closures to stretch every time you take a breath and recoil to the same place. The load stays secure and snug to the body without the need for over tightening or progressive tightening during a run, and it doesn’t hamper breathing even when powering up steep inclines or pushing the pace on a gentle and super runnable downhill. I wish more brands would incorporate this type of technology, as it significantly enhances the overall pack-wearing experience
I do find this pack to be a little heavier and a bit hotter than some of the very lightweight packs from Salomon and Arc’teryx, but it does seem to be more durable — a plus if you find yourself bashing through willows or wedging between rocks and hard places on a scramble. The Alpha 6.0 is also more stable over varying loads, but if you’re looking for a super minimalist feeling pack, you may prefer something different.
The Alpha 6.0 is a sleeker version than past models while maintaining all of the functions and performance.
UltrAspire Alpha 6.0 Race Vest Storage and Hydration Options
The back of the UltrAspire Alpha 6.0 Race Vest.
The UltrAspire Alpha 6.0 Race Vest includes four pockets on the back of the vest and another eight pockets on the front, including the two hydration bottle pouches. Zippers are employed on two front pockets, ideal for keeping smaller items secure, and across the top of the main stuff pocket in the back. The small sweat-proof magnet-closure pocket sitting above the hydration bottle pocket on the right can hold electrolyte tablets and pills securely and can be operated easily with a finger or two.
I like that most of the pockets are stuff pockets and accessible without too much forethought or coordination. The four-way stretch mesh does a great job of providing enough compression without the need for more cumbersome straps.
Speaking of compression, however, I do miss the external X-crossing bungee on the very back of the pack that I used to love for a quick stash of a lightweight jacket. Luckily, UltrAspire made up for it by improving the pass-through pocket at the very bottom of the back of the pack. The opening is slightly more lateral — angling toward the front — on the pack, thus easier to reach without having to take it off. I can easily slide a thin puffy, fleece, or wind layer here and pull it out from either side for quick donning when the weather makes a sudden shift.
The two bungees on either side of the pass-through pocket are perfect for poles, and the improved position makes them secure at the lower back. I found that there was almost no bounce at all. I do typically take my pack off to stow or retrieve the poles, but that’s more so I don’t catch a toe and do a gravity check while my arms are stuck behind me. If you’re a fan of the pole quiver, this pack is compatible with the UltrAspire quiver (purchased separately) and utilizes bungees at the shoulder to offer more pole storage options. At iRunFar, we don’t recommend storing poles on the front of the pack to reduce the chance of serious injury in the case of a fall.
The back of the pack now has a full-length stash pocket accessible from the top that ends in front of the pass-through pocket that swallows layers, a headlamp, or a first aid kit. At the top of this large pocket is a smaller hanging pouch with a key clip that is ideal for a safety blanket, wallet, and keys. A zipper keeps everything in this section secure, but it does mean that you have to remove the pack to access it. The bladder sleeve lying flush against the back can hold up to a two-liter hydration bladder that is very easy to hook to the hanger at the top. It is compatible with an insulating sleeve, should you have one from a prior purchase, as it is not included with this pack.
The front of the pack is where I keep most of the things I need between aid stations or want easy access to on self-guided adventures. The two 500-milliliter soft flask pockets helpfully have shock cords that fit around the bottle tops to hold them securely. I’d say that unless you have a very flexible neck, you might want to consider taller bottles or ones with straws due to the fact that the pack rides a bit lower than some. Opposite the sweat-proof salt-tab sized pocket with a magnetic closure on the right, there is a drop-in, bungee-tightened pocket on the left side of the harness. The drop-in pocket can theoretically hold a phone securely, but my collarbone isn’t a huge fan of that, so I like it for a few gels or a buff and thin gloves.
Beneath each soft flask pocket is a full-hand-sized stuff pocket with a smaller overlying zip pocket with angled entry. The stuff pocket is my favorite, and although others have noted some minor difficulty accessing these when carrying full bottles, I didn’t seem to have an issue. I struggle a bit more with the restricted opening and surprising depth of the zipper pockets with my fairly sturdy fingers, so I tended to use the zipper pockets for items I needed to access less frequently.
All in all, I love the streamlined design of this pack’s storage and am consistently surprised by how much I can cram into it with no bounce and no neck and shoulder discomfort. The lower-riding rib-hugging sensation is very comfortable but does take some getting used to if you’re coming from the higher-sitting packs more common today.
I haven’t seen any wear, tear, or stretching out of any of the pockets after a summer’s worth of use, and previous renditions of this pack have retained their shape and elasticity exceptionally as well, even after years and multiple family members’ use.
UltrAspire Alpha 6.0 Race Vest Overall Impressions
The UltrAspire Alpha 6.0 Race Vest.
The UltrAspire Alpha 6.0 Race Vest is the best version of this pack thus far, particularly now that most brands’ 500-milliliter bottles are compatible. I’ve had the good fortune of wearing and testing the first and third iterations of this pack as well, and I appreciate how streamlined and stable it has become for a six-liter pack while staying comfortable and secure, whether carrying lighter or heavier loads. I’d re-add the X-crossing bungee on the back of the pack if given the option and throw in a small safety whistle, but it is certainly an excellent mid-size pack and has earned its place in our Best Running Vests guide.
It is worth highlighting that if you struggle with neck and shoulder discomfort from hydration packs as the running and hiking hours stack up, the design and fit of the Alpha 6.0 can be a game-changer. It harkens back to the fit of the packs that first came on scene when I began dabbling in ultrarunning in the late 1990s, but with all of the other features improved thanks to 30 years of industry developement and UltrAspire’s keen attention to detail.
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
The 2025 Backyard Ultra World Championships in Bell Buckle, Tennessee have entered uncharted territory. Sarah Perry of the UK and Megan Eckert of the USA have already smashed the women’s world record for the format, completing 87 yards, or 367 miles, and they’re still going. The record fell early Wednesday as the two began Yard … Read more
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
In only her second 24-hour race ever, Webster executed exceptional pacing throughout the event. Averaging 5:11 minutes per kilometer (8:19 minutes per mile), including any breaks needed over the 24-hour period, her pace remained incredibly consistent throughout the event, only slowing in the final hours. As she describes in the following interview, it was all part of her plan.
Webster, who is 46 years old and not a professional runner, was third at both the 2024 IAU 100k World Championships and the 2023 IAU 50k World Championships. She qualified to represent Great Britain at this year’s 24-hour world championships by running 243.393 kilometers (151.237 miles) in 24 hours at the qualifying event this past April, and had to work her training around a dislocated shoulder leading up to the event.
Sarah during the 2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships. Photo: John O’Regan
[Editor’s Note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.]
iRunFar: Congratulations. What an enormous thing that you’ve just done. How do you feel?
Sarah Webster: I don’t think it’s quite sunk in. Yeah, just feeling very tired generally. And obviously, legs are still a little bit sore. But yeah, I can’t quite get my head around it all.
iRunFar: I imagine it’ll take a while. How’s your body feeling?
Webster: Better today. I can now sit down and stand up without thinking too hard about it, so that’s good. But getting down on the floor and getting back up again is still quite hard.
iRunFar: Before we talk about the race, I just wanted to ask a bit about your history with running, where you started out, and what brought you to doing the 24 hours now?
Webster: I ran as a junior, just did club running, mostly track, cross country, because I had to. I did the very occasional road race, but mostly on the track. Then I gave it all up in my final year at university and concentrated on getting my degree. I didn’t go back to running until my daughter was four and she was going to school, and I had time on my hands. My husband was like, “I think you should start running again.” I was like, “Really? You really don’t know what you are asking.” He’s like, “No, it’s fine. I’ll support you.” And yeah, he had no idea what it was going to involve. I did a half marathon, and then I was like, “Oh, actually, I think I’ll go back and do some track.” So I did some track and I represented the Isle of Man in the Ireland Games in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters.
Then I was like, “No, this is too hard. I can’t do this anymore. I’m getting too old.” I went back on the road, did some more half marathons, then I moved up to a marathon, and that was really good. Really started enjoying doing marathons. And then somebody posted, “Oh, the standard for getting a GB [Team Great Britain] vest for the IAU 50k World Championships, you only have to have run a marathon.” And it was 2:45, which is what I had. I was like, “Oh wow, a GB vest. That would be a dream come true.” I didn’t get it then, there were better runners ahead of me, but the fact that I could was what started me thinking about it.
Then everything got a bit delayed because COVID-19 hit. And then I was trying to qualify for the Commonwealth Games Marathon for the Isle of Man, so that delayed the process. Otherwise, I probably would’ve done a 50k sooner. But then I saw that I could get an England vest with my marathon time for the 100k. So I naively applied for 100k place on the England team, and naively informed them that I was going to try and break the British record, and actually exceeded my expectations of the race, and decided that 100ks were quite good fun. I had to do a 50k fairly soon after that, because I had to qualify if I wanted a GB vest for the IAU 50k World Championships, which I managed to do.
So yeah, 50k and then back up to the 100k. I looked at the plan, and the IAU 50k World Championships was back in India. And having run twice in India, France definitely had more appeal. So I thought, “Well, I’ll try and qualify for the IAU 24-Hour World Championships, and if I don’t or I don’t enjoy it, it doesn’t matter, I can go back and try and qualify for the 50k.” So then having qualified for 24 hours, it was like, “Oh, now you’ve got to actually run the championships.”
Left: Sarah running at the 50k world champs 2023. Photo: Archie Jenkins Right: Sarah at a local Isle of Man race a few years ago. Photo courtesy of Sarah Webster.
iRunFar: And that was just this year, wasn’t it? Your first-ever 24-hour race. And at that point, you broke the British record?
Webster: Yeah. Well, broke the British track record. The overall record, Britain distinguishes between track and road. So I didn’t have the road one until Albi, but I broke the British track record, which yeah, that was the aim, and that included walking for four hours. I was utterly determined that I could do better this time.
iRunFar: I suppose with the experience, you were able to plan differently, plan better.
Webster: Yeah. I mean, the aim for the qualifying race was just to still be running after 24 hours. I’d basically still be out on the track unless I was unconscious or the medics had pulled me off. It was an absolute determination just to finish the race. And then this time it was like, “Ok, that’s fine, but that’s not good enough for the championships. You’re going to have to run the race now.” So yeah, that was the sole aim was just to basically run pretty much the whole time.
iRunFar: And just to check in, so your marathon, did you compete in the Commonwealth Games?
Webster: I did. I had a very bad run. I had COVID-19 about two weeks before, and I was still testing positive two days before the race. So yeah, it was an absolute nightmare, slowest marathon I’ve done. So yes, I’ve got unfinished business with the Commonwealth Games, but I’ll never have to go back there because obviously they don’t have one. And now, because I don’t live on the Isle of Man, I won’t be able to represent them anymore, unfortunately.
iRunFar: That was 2022.
Webster: Yeah.
iRunFar: So going properly onto your race now, what was going through your head? Did you separate the race into different phases? Did you have a change of mindset throughout?
Webster: Yeah, the first four hours were pretty horrible. It was like, “Oh God, this is going so slowly. How could I be this knackered while I’m running this slowly?” And then after four hours, it kind of just slipped into place. I got into a rhythm. The rest of the day and night, that was fine. I just carried on going round, and then the last three or four hours were really, really hard. But by that point, I knew all I had to do was keep going even slower than I was already doing, but certainly at the pace I was doing, and I was going to do it.
Sarah Webster on her final lap at the 2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships. Photo: iRunFar/Deki Fourcin
iRunFar: At what point did you realize that the world record was going to be obtainable?
Webster: I think it was with about three hours to go, because I kept trying to work out the laps, and I was thinking, “Well, I’ve got 30k to do, and so long as I keep running at 10k an hour,” which was slower than what I was doing, it was fine. I was going to do it. Then I was more worried that the other two girls were going to catch me because I knew full well they potentially would come through a lot faster in their last few hours. That was more the worry of, yes, I could get the record, but were they going to catch me? I knew after I’d got the record, I couldn’t afford to stop because they were going to catch me. And they were catching me at the end. They were doing very well.
iRunFar: I was standing there just at the point where you came through when there were the announcements, “Ok, next time we see Sarah, she’s going to have beaten the world record.” And I saw you come through, and the whole team, they were so excited, they were there waiting for you.
Webster: They were amazing. Really, really amazing support from everybody. It was absolutely incredible. I couldn’t have done it without them.
iRunFar: I thought maybe you’d slow down, stop for a minute, but you looked so determined, you grabbed the flag and went.
Webster: Thank you. Yeah, I couldn’t put it around me. I dislocated my shoulder six weeks ago, so any movement in my shoulder beyond the basics, that’s why I wasn’t wearing a neck bandana or anything to keep me cool, because I just couldn’t put it around my neck and move my arm properly. So I just had to carry the flag.
iRunFar: Did you have a strategy beforehand that you put in place during the race?
Webster: The idea was I absolutely was not allowed to go off any faster than roughly 7:30 per lap, which worked out at eight-minute mile-ing or five minutes per kilometer. If it was any faster than that for more than a lap, then my team had to tell me to slow down because I knew if I kept that pace up, there was a chance that I would break the world record. Whereas if I went out faster than that, I wasn’t going to break it, I’d have blown up. That was the aim. Didn’t mind if I went slower than that, I just wasn’t allowed to go any faster than that until four hours to go. I hoped I’d have something left for four hours to go and go faster. But no, that was the consistency. Then the idea was just to have a break every four, roughly four to five hours and have a reset, which should have involved me doing some squats, with the team holding me.
iRunFar: I saw that at the end.
Webster: Yeah. That worked really well until about the last hour. Then I was pretty much doing them every lap because I knew my crew weren’t going to allow me to sit down, so it was like, you’re going to have to support me while I do these squats because at least my legs are in a different position, and then yeah, you give me a kick and get me going again. It seemed to help, because my quads were just screaming for the last three, four hours.
My team wanted me to speed up with about three hours to go. I think they wanted me to break the outright British record, but I realized by that point, I was so dizzy and my legs were so knackered that if I’d fallen and re-dislocated my shoulder, the race was going to be over. I couldn’t. So it was like, I can’t actually speed up. I’m just going to have to just keep going at this pace. There’s nothing I can do because to fall and to lose the race because I’d fallen would’ve just been absolutely gutting.
Sarah Webster of Great Britain setting a new world record at the 2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships. Photo: iRunFar/Deki Fourcin
iRunFar: It seemed like a fine balance of knowing how much to push at certain points and not sacrifice everything that you’d previously worked for.
Webster: Right.
iRunFar: I just wanted to know, how did you train for it? How do you juggle? Because you work as well, you’re not a professional.
Webster: Yeah, I work about 30 hours a week, so training generally fits around that. This time’s a bit different. I put a lot more double days into it, and I think that really helped. So even if it meant I did an hour and a half in the morning and finished at work and then got back in the afternoon, run home from work, for instance. Because I dislocated my shoulder, I couldn’t drive for three weeks, so that actually made things a lot better because I had to run to work, I had to run to the gym, so I was ending up doing four runs a day, but doing them a lot slower. So it would be like four miles to work, four miles home, four miles to the gym, four miles back.
But it broke the mileage up a lot, which I think really, really helped rather than concentrating on the more faster runs, which is what I would do for 100k. So I think my mileage already had been about 100 miles a week. And then for about four weeks, it was about 130 miles a week. So yeah, it was a massive jump, but they were a lot slower miles because I had still had a sling on at that point in time, and the dog had to come to work with me. And she doesn’t do quick running, She does 10-minute miles. But yeah, so she made me slow down.
iRunFar: What do you have plans for next?
Webster: I don’t know is the honest answer. I sort of had a plan, but it depends on what championships are available next year, I think, and what I have to do to qualify for them, if you see what I mean, and I’d like to be brave enough to do a bit of off-road running.
I did a 50k trail run and I loved it, but the only reason I did that one was because it was basically home territory. So I was able to recce the course multiple times. Still went wrong, so I’ve got to find a course that I can recce at least some of, or have somebody who knows where they’re going to pace me some of the time, or be extremely well sign-posted. And I’m not really very good at mud either. So yeah, it’s definitely going to have to be a very easy trail run. But I do like getting off-road as well as the on-road stuff, so yeah, it’s less pressure.
iRunFar: You don’t look at your pace all the time and like that.
Webster: No, and if you need to walk up a hill, my general rule with the hills is, well, if I can walk faster than I can run, then I’ll walk up the hill. That’s the basic answer. But I’m not very good at downhill either, so yeah.
iRunFar: That’d be exciting to try out.
Webster: Yeah, yeah. Just more have a bit of fun.
iRunFar: Congratulations and thanks very much for taking the time.
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
An iRunFar tester running fast in a pair of lightweight Hokas. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
When finding the best lightweight trail running shoes, you want one that strikes a balance between being nimble, durable, and cushioned enough to be comfortable but light enough to let you fly. This guide shares the best lightweight trail shoes with an aim to keep the weight for a U.S. men’s 9 under 9 ounces, although two pairs snuck in just over that weight. Because the shoes here are very light, generally narrow, and with low-volume midsoles, many — but not all(!) — are not well suited for ultramarathon distances but are perfect for zooming up, down, and across everything from buttery singletrack to buttressed mountains.
We tested the shoes across various conditions and distances to determine which were best when speed was of the essence.
You can also learn more about finding the right lightweight trail shoes by jumping to our how-to-choose section.
Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 8.4 oz (238 g) | Stack Height: 28/22 mm heel/toe | Drop: 6 mm
Pros:
Soft but poppy midsole
“Just enough” lug pattern provides great ground feel while descending
Cons:
Midfoot lockdown could be improved
Ridiculously long laces
Though it launched with less fanfare than the hyper-stacked, super-shoe counterpart Vectiv Pro 3 ($250), The North Face Vectiv Sky 2 ($200) is arguably the stronger all-around trail racing shoe between the brand’s two premium options at the moment. That’s a bit ironic, considering the Pro line has historically been the more enjoyable option, while the original Sky fell short of expectations.
With the Sky 2, The North Face made two major changes to the upper. The tongue system has been improved and replaced with a thinner, more traditional gusseted tongue, resulting in a more secure and comfortable fit. The midsole also feels faster and more forgiving, elevating the ride quality compared to the first version.
The Sky 2’s midsole is constructed entirely from Dream foam, a nitrogen-infused TPU that delivers a smooth, propulsive sensation underfoot. It softens the ride noticeably while also reducing weight compared to the original. The shoe also features a forked Vectiv 3.0 carbon plate with three prongs that run independently along the left, center, and right through the forefoot. These prongs merge at the midfoot and extend as a single plate through the heel. The left and right arms even wrap slightly upward, forming stabilizing “wings” along the medial and lateral sides.
With a 6-millimeter drop (28 millimeter heel/22 millimeter forefoot stack height), the Sky 2 avoids the stability issues that plague higher-stacked models like the Vectiv Pro 3, which sits on a 40 millimeter heel. Despite being lighter than the original, the Sky 2 actually gained traction with deeper outsole lugs — now 5 millimeters, up from 3.5 millimeters — and a redesigned Surface Control rubber compound.
This shoe stands out from the pack for one simple reason — it’s fun, extremely fast, and highly effective to run in.
The midsole foam delivers an energetic ride, while the overall weight remains impressively competitive. Add in a remarkably capable outsole, and you’ve got a combination that makes this model hard to beat. A U.S. men’s 9 in the The North Face Vectiv Sky 2 has an actual weight of just 8.4 ounces (238 gram).
Watch out for our forthcoming full review of The North Face Vectic Sky 2.
Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 8.0 oz (226 g) | Stack Height: 16/10 mm heel/toe | Drop: 6 mm
Pros:
Great close-to-ground feeling while descending
Substantial lugs for a low-profile shoe
Cons:
Forefoot too narrow for some runners
Midsole unforgiving for distances over a half marathon
According to its maker, the Brooks Catamount Agil is its “fastest trail shoe, ever,” and after testing it on short, technical courses with steep climbs and descents, we couldn’t agree more. This isn’t a Caldera built for 100-mile ultras — it simply doesn’t have the weight or cushioning to protect your legs for that kind of pounding. But for shorter, punchy trail races where speed and agility matter most, it’s one of the best options out there.
What sets the Catamount Agil apart right away is how low it sits to the ground. With a stack height of just 16 millimeters in the heel and 10 millimeters in the forefoot — making for a 6 millimeter drop — it offers exceptional trail feel.
Instead of the familiar SkyVault carbon plate found in the Catamount 3, Brooks opted for a Pebax SpeedVault Trail Plate paired with their nitrogen-infused DNA FLASH v2 foam. This combination delivers a lively, propulsive ride with a surprising level of forgiveness for a plated shoe. Pebax, a polymer derived from castor beans, is lighter and more supportive than carbon, offering a smoother, more comfortable experience without sacrificing responsiveness.
Brooks also made a bold choice with the outsole. The Catamount Agil features 4.5-millimeter deep lugs — deeper than many lightweight trail shoes. While you might feel a slight rocking sensation standing still, once you’re moving downhill, those lugs provide exceptional grip and confidence. This outsole design gives it a major advantage over rivals like the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 2, which skimps on traction in the name of weight savings.
Another reason the Catamount Agil excels in short-distance racing is its agility. Unlike many rigid-plated shoes that feel locked in one direction, the Agil naturally flexes and bends with quick side-to-side movements, perfect for technical trails with tight switchbacks or root-filled sections.
Fit-wise, the Agil strikes a great balance. The one-piece mesh upper wraps the foot precisely without being restrictive, and the lacing system locks in securely. For wide feet, the upper accommodates without feeling tight, though I’d recommend sizing up if you’re between sizes, as the overall fit leans narrow. Unfortunately, Brooks doesn’t offer this shoe in the half size between 12 and 13. Still, if in doubt, size up.
We have raced the Catamount Agil in trail races up to 12 kilometers, and it truly shines when the course is shorter but elevation gain and technical challenge are high — think vertical kilometers or fast trail half marathons. We often joke about low-stack, low-weight trail racing shoes that are like track spikes with lugs (remember the original Arc’teryx Norvan SL?). Well, in this guide, the Catamount Agil is that shoe. It would take an extremely nimble runner to use these comfortably on anything longer than 20- to 30-kilometer races.
Most Comfortable Lightweight Trail Running Shoe: Norda 005 ($325)
The Norda 005.
Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9.5): 8.1 o (230 g) | Stack Height: 28.5/21.5 mm heel/toe | Drop: 7 mm
Pros:
Midsole might be the most comfortable of any current trail shoe, lightweight or not!
Vibram Megagrip Elite, currently exclusive to this shoe, is great on dirt roads
Cons:
So damn expensive
Less nimble descender than some other shoes in this guide
The Norda 005 ($325) is a standout in the lightweight trail racing category because it blends comfort, durability, and speed like few others. Unlike most super shoes, the 005 skips the carbon plate and opts for innovative materials that deliver a smooth, cushy ride without sacrificing responsiveness.
The key to its comfort is the midsole’s Arnitel TPEE foam, which offers great energy return while staying softer and more forgiving than typical trail super shoe foams. This creates a plush yet lively platform that cushions your feet on technical terrain and long efforts without feeling harsh or dead underfoot.
The shoe’s stack height is moderate — 28 millimeters in the heel and 21 millimeters in the forefoot for a 7-millimeter drop — which strikes the right balance between protection and ground feel. Unlike many bulky trail super shoes that feel unstable on descents, the Norda 005 stays nimble and confident on rocky, rooty downhills.
Up top, the Dyneema bio-based upper is both ultralight and incredibly durable. It’s breathable, sheds water well, and offers a glove-like fit that keeps your foot secure but comfortable. This combination of a protective upper and plush midsole makes the 005 a shoe you can wear all day, whether racing or training.
Outsole traction is another highlight. Vibram’s Megagrip Elite rubber, with a Tetris-like lug pattern, provides sticky, reliable grip across varied terrain, from fast fire roads to technical singletrack. The lugs are deep enough to bite but not so aggressive that they punish your calves on longer runs.
For runners who prioritize comfort without sacrificing weight or performance, the Norda 005 is an exceptional choice. It’s durable, supportive, and cushioned enough to tackle tough terrain with confidence, all while weighing less than many traditional trail shoes. The step-in feel is unlike any shoe in this guide, the perfect plushness with efficiency.
Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 8.4 oz (238 g) | Stack Height: 29/23 mm heel/toe | Drop: 6 mm
Pros:
Perfect midsole mix of foam and plate makes for a very propulsive ride
Excellent lockdown
Cons:
Requires more skill to descend confidently (even with great grip)
Narrow upper for some runners
The VJ Lightspeed ($200) is one of the lightest trail shoes available for runners who like very technical terrain. The underfoot sensations are light, bouncy, and fast — and at just 8.4 ounces (238 grams) for a U.S. men’s size 9, the weight backs up that feeling. But like most of the shoes in this guide, the Lightspeed demands keen proprioceptive awareness and strong ankle and foot control to maximize the experience. It is a very narrow shoe designed for mid-to-forefoot runners who aim for quick and minimal ground contact time.
What really sets the Lightspeed apart on technical trails is its exceptional outsole traction. VJ’s proprietary butyl-rubber outsole delivers some of the stickiest grip you’ll find on any trail shoe, holding firm on wet rocks, loose gravel, and roots. The 3.5-millimeter square lugs are a smart balance — not overly aggressive but enough to bite into loose and uneven surfaces without packing mud. Narrow outsole slits provide natural flexibility, allowing the shoe to adapt to quick directional changes and maintain contact with the trail.
Underfoot, the shoe combines a nitrogen-infused SuperFOAMance midsole with a Y-shaped Pebax propulsion plate. This setup offers a springy ride with the right mix of cushioning and stability. The plate adds torsional support, helping your foot stay steady and responsive. Together, they promote the fast and agile footwork needed for fast running on technical terrain.
The fit is another critical factor. The snug upper is made of a thick Kevlar-based material that wraps the foot very securely. The FitLock midsole wrap enhances midfoot lockdown, preventing unwanted foot movement during sharp turns or sudden balance shifts.
In races, we’ve noticed the shoe’s superior grip and responsive support allow you to attack technical descents confidently. For experienced trail runners seeking a lightweight, precise racer that thrives on technical terrain, the VJ Lightspeed is hard to beat. Overall, the Lightspeed offers an exceptional blend of speed and control for runners with the foot strength and skill to maximize its technical running potential.
Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9.5): 9.4 oz (267 g) | Stack Height: 34/28 mm heel/toe | Drop: 6 mm
Pros:
Similar but more stable ride than carbon-plated shoes
Great rockered design
Cons:
Bulkier and heavier than other shoes in this guide
Longtime La Sportiva acolytes were caught off guard with the launch of the original Prodigio and even more so by the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro. Never before has La Sportiva offered such a soft midsole foam, an exaggerated rocker, and its signature sticky rubber in the same package. And on top of all that, the fit was even a bit forgiving, offering non-narrow-footed folks a chance to slip into its glove-like upper without consternation.
This shoe really hits a sweet spot between cushioning, responsiveness, and durability — while still feeling light enough to keep you quick and agile on technical terrain.
Alongside the Hoka Tecton X 3, the Prodigio Pro is about as “maximal” as things get in this guide. With a 34-millimeter stack height under the heel and 28 millimeters at the toe for a 6-millimeter drop, it’s got more stack and a burlier build than most of the svelte racers out there, which makes it all the more surprising that it tips the scales at just 9.4 ounces actual weight for a U.S. men’s 9.5 (equivalent in size to our standard U.S. men’s 9). You wouldn’t immediately peg it as a lightweight option, but it absolutely belongs in that conversation. While it can hang on steep, technical courses, the Prodigio Pro really comes alive on smooth, rolling trails where the rocker geometry lets you flow. And thanks to the FriXion XF 2.0 outsole, you still get that signature La Sportiva bite over pretty much any surface.
The midsole is where things get really interesting. At the heart of the Prodigio Pro is La Sportiva’s XFlow Speed, which ditches the usual carbon plate in favor of a nitrogen-infused TPU core wrapped in an EVA+NITRO cage. The result is a ride that feels springy and propulsive but without the stiffness or instability you sometimes get in plated shoes. It’s responsive enough to race fast, yet forgiving enough to keep your legs intact deep into a 50k.
Up top, the Power Wire knit-looking upper locks your foot down securely, while the knit collar adds both ankle comfort and debris protection. The fit stays snug and supportive, but — rare for La Sportiva — the toebox gives you room to splay out and swell a bit on longer days.
The Prodigio Pro has been described as feeling like a “super shoe” without the plate. It delivers real energy return and protection without beating you up. True to La Sportiva form, durability is a strength: This is a shoe built to last through many racing seasons.
Actual Weight (U.S. men’s 9): 9.3 oz (265 g) | Stack Height: 40/35 mm heel/toe | Drop: 5 mm
Pros:
Enjoyable midsole bounce at speed
Deep Vibram lugs provide great grip over many conditions
Cons:
Built-in gaiter can be a deal breaker for many runners
Midsole provides the tippiest ride of any shoe in the guide
The Hoka Tecton X 3 is built for speed on smooth, flowing singletrack, offering the rare combination of light weight, plush cushioning, and reliable protection. Now in its third version, the shoe benefits from refinements shaped by elite athlete feedback, and it feels more polished and versatile than ever.
With an actual weight of 9.3 ounces for a U.S. men’s 9, the Tecton X 3 balances a 5-millimeter drop and generous 40-millimeter heel stack height and 35-millimeter forefoot stack with surprising agility. The PEBA midsole layers provide a cushioned, energetic feel, while two parallel carbon plates add a snappy, propulsive response. Unlike many plated shoes that can feel overly stiff or unstable, the plates here flex independently, giving the shoe both drive and stability when the trails get uneven. It feels powerful without being demanding, and smooth without being dull — a rare balance in the plated trail category.
The biggest update is the Matryx upper, which now includes a knit gaiter that wraps around the ankle and tongue. This detail keeps grit and pebbles out, a small but meaningful improvement for anyone who’s had to stop mid-run to shake out debris, although any integrated gaiter is a drawback for some users. The upper offers a snug and secure fit through the midfoot while leaving enough room for comfort on longer days. Some testers found it a touch less precise on highly technical terrain, but on its intended surface — smooth, rolling singletrack — it hits the mark.
Traction comes from a Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole with redesigned 4-millimeter lugs. The pattern provides confident grip on both wet and dry trails, with better braking on descents compared to earlier versions, yet never feels overly aggressive on firm ground.
Over the long term, the Tecton X 3 feels fast, springy, and stable — an ideal combination for runners who want to push the pace without sacrificing comfort over long distances. It’s equally at home in race scenarios and long training runs, offering the durability to handle heavy mileage while still feeling like a true performance shoe. For smooth singletrack where speed is the goal, this is Hoka at its best.
Our full review of the Hoka Tecton X 3 is on its way.
Ragna Debats racing the Transvulcania Ultramarathon. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Why and How to Choose a Lightweight Trail Racing Shoe
The shoes in this guide are best for shorter trail runs and races, such as vertical kilometers, half marathons, marathons, 50-kilometer races, and most skyrunning-style races where speed is more important than comfort. Stack height and heel-to-toe drop in lightweight shoes tend to be lower since ground feel is very important for moving fast over technical trails. The innovations that have poured over into trail running shoes from its cousins on the road — like super foams and carbon plates — can work in lightweight trail racing shoes, but there are fairly limited standouts to date.
For some of these shoes, their relative lack of comfort and cushion limits them to particular course lengths and types of terrain. Know your shoe’s characteristics and the race course terrain, and choose accordingly. A shoe like the Brooks Catamount Agil would provide quite a beating if worn for distances longer than a marathon or 50k.
Also, remember that these lightweight trail shoes aren’t just for races! For those of us whose daily run doesn’t often exceed 10 miles, you could log many or even most of your runs in these shoes. Even if you are not looking for the best trail racing shoes, consider the shoes in this guide perfect for daily training runs when you prefer faster-feeling shoes with a more streamlined design. For example, you would be hard pressed to find a more fun and faster shoe for virtually any run than the Norda 005, though its extremely high cost may have you from saving it just for race day. Testers found the Hoka Tecton X 3 comfortable enough for day-to-day running.
If you’re looking for more information on trail running shoes that provide more comfort and are better suited to everyday running, check out our Best Trail Running Shoes guide. If you’re looking for even more comfort, take a look at our Best Cushioned Trail Running Shoes guide for shoes that will put plenty of bounce in your step.
Weight
How low should you go when choosing the best lightweight trail running shoes for your feet? All the shoes in this guide are 9.5 ounces or less, but their degrees of lightness vary greatly. If the average ultrarunning shoe is around 10 ounces, then the eight-ounce Brooks Catamount Agil will feel like an entirely different shoe class.
While all the shoes in this guide are very light, they have different enough characteristics to make them feel significantly different. You might opt for a slightly heavier shoe, such as the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, because of preferences for the midsole or the more aggressive outsole, or you might opt for the very lightest option because that’s what’s important to you.
A weight limit is a good benchmark when selecting a lightweight trail racing shoe, but there are many more elements to consider, and we chose a good cross-section of shoes with multiple features besides being light.
Some of the shoes in this guide are almost 50% lighter than normal trail running shoes. Does that make the best lightweight trail shoes minimalist? Not at all. These lightweight trail running shoes are indeed light, but that’s where the minimalist comparisons end. Many of these shoes are cushioned, grippy, durable, and robust. In fact, the Hoka Tecton X 3and La Sportiva Prodigio Pro are fully maximal shoes at fairly minimal weights.
Comfort
Are any of these shoes actually comfortable? Unfortunately, many of this guide’s best lightweight trail running shoes will not win a “most comfortable” competition if you compare them to shoes made for going super long, whether in ultramarathons or all-day adventure runs.
Most of these shoes are narrow and wide-footed runners, or those with bunions, may question which is least uncomfortable rather than choosing something particularly enjoyable to wear. The shoes here aren’t minimalist in the vein of barefoot trail running shoes, and many are actually very neutral in gait, but all are generally narrow and tough on runners with wide feet and feet prone to swelling during a long run. This is more of an issue regarding the upper and shape of these shoes rather than the midsole feel, the latter of which is fairly outstanding in all the shoes in this guide.
All that being said, The North Face Vectiv Sky 2 is a reasonably comfortable shoe, especially for a lightweight one, and the La Sportiva Prodigio Prohas a wider and more comfortable fit than many other shoes from the brand.
Durability
While durability for short trail races and quick training isn’t as important as for a 100-mile race, it is still something to consider. All the shoes tested proved nearly as durable as their heavier counterparts.
The real innovation here is that so many brands can merge cushy midsoles into lightweight shoes. To our delight, the shoes in this guide maintained the midsole ride as much as heavier shoes we’ve tested.
In general, upper durability is not as important as the midsole and outsole when choosing the best lightweight trail running shoes, but it is still a factor. The uppers of these shoes are excellent, and we didn’t find any to wear excessively quickly. Still, because they are lightweight shoes, most of the uppers will wear out more quickly than your normal running shoes, save for the Dyneema upper on the Norda 005, as Dyneema is purportedly one of the most durable modern textiles for the weight. The updated upper of the Hoka Tecton X 3 is made of Matryx mesh and held up well on trails, and the VJ Lightspeed, even with its propensity for technical trail running and the inevitable damage that brings, has proven to be highly abrasion-resistant in rough terrain.
Andreu Blanes wears lightweight shoes during the 2022 World Mountain Running Championships Up and Down race. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Outsole and Midsole Characteristics
The type of trail race you’re running or the terrain you train on will likely influence the type of outsole and midsole you want.
The outsole on the Hoka Tecton X 3 is fairly low profile, but the midsole stack height is too extreme to move with reliable stability over technical terrain. The North Face Vectiv Sky 2 has an aggressive lug pattern and is excellent for descending on all terrain, but the low stack and midsole may leave you hurting after a 1,000-foot descent.
The solution is to choose a shoe with outsole and midsole characteristics that match the course you’re running. When selecting a shoe, pay attention to the midsole density, midsole stack height, lug pattern, and the type of outsole rubber compound.
Why You Should Trust Us
Don’t worry; despite creating this guide for the best lightweight trail running shoes that are more appropriate for sub-ultramarathon-distance racing, we haven’t changed our name to iRunShort! Even if we are named iRunFar, we have years of experience on trails and in races of every distance.
Many runners can and will push these shoes beyond a marathon or 50-kilometer distance, but we wanted to test shoes that would be most inviting for short and steep trail running and mountain running. This is like wearing a pair of road shoes versus spikes at a track workout — different tools for different running.
To create this guide, we researched hundreds of shoes in the trail running space, narrowed our potential shoes to those weighing 9.5 ounces or less, and took a couple of dozen shoes into the field. We tested these shoes across the U.S.’s mountain west, primarily in Boulder and Silverton, Colorado, and Bend, Oregon.
Please note that product models are routinely discontinued in the running world, while new ones frequently come to market. At the same time, we here at iRunFar often keep using our top picks in our daily running they’re our top picks, after all! Sometimes, that continued use results in uncovering product failures. With all this — product discontinuations, product introductions, and product failures — in mind, we routinely update our buyer’s guides based on past and ongoing testing and research by our authors and editorial team. While these updates can appear to be us pushing the newest product, it’s anything but that. Most products will likely remain the same when we update any buyer’s guide. That matches our goal: to get you in the best gear you’ll use for a long time.
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
