A 100-mile race destroys shoes. The right pair gives you 24+ hours of cushion. The wrong pair gives you bone-bruise toes by mile 60 and a DNF by mile 80. Below: the five we'd actually wear, ranked by overall pick. Carbon plate vs traditional, narrow vs wide, runnable vs technical, answers below.
The picks
Hoka
Hoka Speedgoat 6
The 100-mile shoe more finishers wear than any other model. Vibram Megagrip outsole, 33mm of Hoka cushion, and the most updated last in the line, 6th gen finally got the fit right.
- Vibram Megagrip with Litebase
- 33mm cushion, 5mm drop
- Updated last, wider in the toebox
- Workhorse for 50K to 100M
Speedland
Speedland SG (Slick Grip)
The hand-built premium ultra shoe. Carbon-plated, Michelin Wild Trail outsole, BOA dial closure. Most finishers who try them say they will never go back.
- Michelin Wild Trail outsole, best lugs in class
- BOA Performance Fit System
- Carbon plate (subtle, not road-shoe-stiff)
- Removable insole + drainage ports
Tecnica
Tecnica Magma 2.0
The shoe to take to Hardrock or UTMB. Italian-built, Vibram Megagrip outsole, low drop, durable upper. Survives the technical descents that destroy other shoes.
- Vibram Megagrip aggressive lugs
- 8mm drop, for descending
- Italian construction (long-lasting)
- Best-in-class on wet rock
Salomon
Salomon S/Lab Genesis
The S/Lab tier, what Salomon's elite team races in. Lightweight (245g) and responsive without sacrificing cushion. Better for a 50K to 100K than a 100M unless you're a speed-tier finisher.
- 245g per shoe, lightest on this list
- Salomon Quicklace + Sensifit upper
- Profeel Film for rock protection
- Best for sub-22hr 100-mile attempts
Saucony
Saucony Endorphin Edge
If you're chasing a sub-24 buckle on a runnable 100, the carbon plate matters. Endorphin Edge gives marathon-tier energy return on trail. Not for technical mountain races.
- Carbon plate (true, full-length)
- PWRRUN PB cushioning
- PWRTRAC outsole, best for runnable trail
- For runnable courses (Western States, Leadville flats)
The carbon plate question
Road-running's carbon-plate revolution has only partially come to trail. Carbon plates work best on smooth, flat, predictable surfaces, they convert push-off energy into propulsion. On technical trail, the irregular foot strikes interrupt the geometry that makes them work. The plate doesn't help much on rocks; it can actively reduce ground feel and proprioception.
Use carbon plate trail shoes for: Western States (most of the course is runnable single-track), Leadville flats, road-to-trail crossover races.
Skip carbon plate for: Hardrock, UTMB, anything with serious technical descending or scrambling. Your foot needs to feel the ground.
Two pairs is the right answer for 100s
Most 100-mile finishers do shoe swaps at one or two crew points. The reason is simple: feet swell during ultras, and a shoe that fits at hour 4 will not fit at hour 18. A second pair (often a half-size larger or a wider last) lets you keep moving when the first pair starts to feel like a vise.
Common pairing: Hoka Speedgoat 6 for the runnable miles + Tecnica Magma for the technical sections. Or Speedgoat in your normal size + Speedgoat in a half-size larger for the back half.
Drop, cushion, lugs, what actually matters
- Drop (heel-to-toe height difference): 4–8mm is the sweet spot for trail. Lower drop is fine but biomechanics need to be ready. Higher drop helps in technical descents.
- Cushion: the longer the race, the more cushion you want. 30mm+ for 100-milers; 25–28mm for 50K to 50M.
- Lugs: 4–6mm aggressive lugs for mountain ultras (Hardrock, UTMB). 3–4mm lower-profile lugs for runnable courses (Western States). Vibram Megagrip is the rubber compound to look for.
What we don't recommend (and why)
Hoka Tecton X: the road-version-of-trail. Carbon plate is too aggressive for technical terrain. It'll feel fast for 30 miles, painful for 70.
Altra Lone Peak 9: a beloved zero-drop shoe, but durability is poor. Most finishers blow through midsoles in 300–400 miles. Fine for training, risky for race day.
New Balance Hierro v8: good cushion, fine lugs, but the upper falls apart at the toe box. Re-buy after 200 miles.
Sizing, go up half a size
Always size trail shoes for ultras half a size larger than your road shoe. Feet swell over long efforts; the half-size accommodates without becoming sloppy. Lacing technique fixes any heel slip, most modern uppers (Salomon Quicklace, BOA, Speedgoat traditional) accommodate aggressive lock-down.
Individual shoe reviews
The two shoes that start the most hundred milers are covered in full, including sizing for feet that swell: Hoka Speedgoat 6 review and Altra Lone Peak 9 review.
Black Friday: Black Friday trail running shoe deals
