Trail Running Shoes for Ultras: Salomon, Hoka, La Sportiva

Ultra-distance trail shoes have to do three contradictory things: cushion for 10+ hours of running, grip on varied terrain, and stay under 400g in weight. No shoe does all three perfectly. The good ultra shoes are the ones that compromise intelligently. The bad ones are the ones that try to optimize one axis at the expense of the others.

I've run in Salomon, Hoka, and La Sportiva shoes across various ultras. Each brand has a distinct character. Here's what each does well, what each does poorly, and how to pick the right shoe for your ultra.

Salomon: The Technical Terrain Specialist

Salomon Speedcross is the iconic ultra shoe. It's been the choice for sloppy, technical terrain for 15+ years. Deep lugs (5-6mm) grip in mud and snow. Quicklace system lets you adjust tightness in seconds. The S/Lab Ultra is the racing version, lighter and more aggressive.

The downside: Salomon shoes run narrow. If you have a wide forefoot, you'll be cramped. The 2023 redesigns addressed this somewhat, but narrow-foot is still the Salomon way.

For technical mountain ultras (UTMB, Eiger Ultra, Hardrock), Salomon dominates. The grip is unmatched on snow, mud, and rocky terrain. For smooth desert ultras, the aggressive lugs are overkill.

Salomon picks

• S/Lab Ultra - racing-oriented, lighter, $230
• Speedcross 6 - classic mud shoe, $150
• Sense Ride - more cushioned, $140
• Wildcross - trail training, durable, $130

Hoka: The Maximum Cushion Category

Hoka One One introduced maximum cushion into ultra running. The Speedgoat has become the default choice for longer ultras where you prioritize leg preservation. Stack heights of 30-40mm absorb impact that would destroy runners in minimalist shoes.

The Hoka Stinson and Mafate Speed 4 are even more cushioned. The tradeoff is weight (350-400g per shoe) and a rocker geometry that feels strange at first. Runners either love the Hoka feel or hate it.

For ultras where you'll be on your feet 15+ hours, Hoka makes sense. Your legs thank you at km 70. For shorter ultras (50-75km), the cushion is less critical and the weight penalty more noticeable.

Modern Hoka grip is good but not great. For wet rocky terrain, Salomon still beats Hoka. For dry trails, Hoka's grip is adequate.

La Sportiva: The Alpine Racer's Choice

La Sportiva comes from an alpine climbing background and makes shoes that reflect that. The Bushido 2 is the classic trail ultra shoe - precise fit, protective rock plate, durable upper. The Jackal 2 adds more cushion for longer ultras.

La Sportiva shoes run true to size and accommodate standard-width feet. The fit is less snug than Salomon, more precise than Hoka. Good middle ground for mixed terrain.

The grip is very good on rock and hard surfaces, less aggressive on mud than Salomon. For alpine ultras with rocky terrain (Tor des Géants, Pikes Peak), La Sportiva is a strong choice.

La Sportiva picks

• Bushido 2 - classic alpine, $140
• Jackal 2 - more cushion, $155
• Mutant - technical mountain, $160
• Akyra - road-to-trail crossover, $130

Matching Shoe to Ultra Type

Rocky mountain ultras (UTMB, UTMR, Hardrock): Salomon Speedcross or S/Lab Ultra for grip. La Sportiva Bushido 2 as alternative. Cushioning matters less than grip and precision.

Long runnable ultras (Badwater, Leadville 100, Western States): Hoka Speedgoat or Mafate Speed. Your legs need the cushion more than your feet need grip on these courses.

Mid-distance alpine (50-75km mountain ultras): La Sportiva Jackal 2 or Salomon Sense Ride. Balance of cushion and grip.

Varied terrain (100-miler with roads, trails, mountains): Hoka Speedgoat or Salomon Sense Ride. Cushion for pavement sections, grip for trails.

Fit Considerations

Ultra shoes should fit with 5-10mm of toe room. Your feet swell during long runs - significantly. A shoe that fits perfectly at the start can be painfully tight at km 50.

Fit test: try shoes at the end of the day when your feet are already slightly swollen. Wear the socks you'll race in. Walk around the store for 15 minutes. If the shoe feels tight then, it will feel horrible at km 80.

Most ultra runners go 0.5 to 1 full size larger than their daily shoe. My Salomon Sense Ride is 44.5 in a daily shoe; my ultra Speedcross is 45.5.

Mileage Before Race Day

Never race in new shoes. You need 40-80km of training miles in a pair of ultra shoes before the race. This lets you discover hot spots, test how the shoe behaves when wet, and let the shoe conform to your foot.

Your race shoes should be 2-3 months old with 200-400km on them. New enough that they still have cushion and grip, broken in enough that they're comfortable.

Some ultra runners carry a drop bag with fresh shoes for the second half of a 100-mile race. Others stick with one pair. Depends on terrain and your tolerance for blister prevention.

Sock System Matters

The shoe is half the equation. The sock is the other half. For ultras:

• Merino wool socks (Smartwool Run, Darn Tough) - warm, anti-odor, moderate cushion
• Synthetic blends (Balega, Injinji) - fast-drying, less cushion
• Toe socks (Injinji) - prevent blisters between toes
• Compression socks - support during long runs

Test your sock system before the race. The combination of sock and shoe matters more than either alone. A great shoe with the wrong sock creates blisters. A mediocre shoe with the right sock doesn't.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: buying the racing shoe for training. Racing shoes are lighter and less durable than training shoes. Use a training shoe to train.

Mistake 2: same shoe for every ultra. Different ultras call for different shoes. Own 2-3 pairs for different terrain types.

Mistake 3: running in dead shoes. Trail ultras wear out shoes faster than road running. Replace at 600-800km, not 1,000-1,500km like road shoes.

Mistake 4: not testing in bad conditions. Run in rain, in snow, in mud before race day. Know how your shoes perform in non-ideal conditions because you will encounter them.

The best ultra shoe is the one that fits your foot and matches your race. Salomon for technical, Hoka for cushion, La Sportiva for mountain. Test each category before you commit to a brand. The runners who stick with one brand often do so because they never gave alternatives a fair try.