Best Women's Trail Running Shoes 2026: 5 Models Built on a Women's Last
Our picks by use case
Affiliate links: if you buy through them we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not affect the ranking.
Our top pick#1 · Best OverallHoka Hoka Speedgoat 7 (mujer)View on Amazon (se abre en una pestaña nueva)
#2 · Best for BeginnersMerrell Merrell Antora 4View on Amazon (se abre en una pestaña nueva)
#3 · Best for Long DistanceNike Nike Zegama 2 (mujer)View on Amazon (se abre en una pestaña nueva)
#4 · Best WaterproofSaucony Saucony Peregrine 13 GTX (mujer)View on Amazon (se abre en una pestaña nueva)
How we choose
We compare every model on verified technical specs (weight, materials, price), user reviews and our own experience running and testing gear in races from 21K to 100K+. We update this guide when prices change or new models launch. Some links are affiliate links: if you buy through them, TrailRunTemple earns a commission at no extra cost to you and with no influence on the selection.
All products in this guide
Hoka
Hoka Speedgoat 7 (mujer)
Versión de mujer de la Speedgoat 7: amortiguación máxima y suela Vibram Megagrip.
Merrell
Merrell Antora 4
A trail shoe designed specifically for women, not a rescaled unisex model: a women's last with a narrower heel, a locked-in midfoot and forefoot room for toe splay. FloatPro foam, 8 mm drop, 29/21 mm stack and a Vibram outsole with 3 mm lugs. Built for moderate terrain and distances up to 50K: training runs and non-technical mountain races. Weight: 220 g (US 7).
Nike
Nike Zegama 2 (mujer)
Versión de mujer de la Zegama 2, con espuma ZoomX y suela Vibram Megagrip.
Saucony
Saucony Peregrine 13 GTX (mujer)
Versión de mujer del Peregrine 13 (modelo anterior) con Gore-Tex y tacos de 5 mm.
Quick answer: the best women’s trail running shoe in 2026 is the women’s Hoka Speedgoat 7. Plenty of cushioning, a Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5 mm lugs, and it works as well on technical mountain terrain as in ultras. If you are just starting out, the Merrell Antora 4 is the only shoe here designed for women from scratch. For long distances with a livelier foam, the Nike Zegama 2. And if you run in rain and mud, the Saucony Peregrine 13 GTX.
Every shoe in this guide has a dedicated women’s version, not “the men’s shoe in a smaller size”. The average woman’s foot has a narrower heel relative to the forefoot, and you feel it on descents: if your heel slips, blisters and black toenails follow.
Comparison table
| Shoe | Weight | Drop | Stack | Lugs | Best for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoka Speedgoat 7 (women’s) | 235 g | 4 mm | 35/31 mm | 5 mm | Technical mountains and ultras | Amazon →(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Merrell Antora 4 | 220 g | 8 mm | 29/21 mm | 3 mm | Beginners and trails up to 50K | Amazon →(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Nike Zegama 2 (women’s) | 280 g | 4 mm | 35/31 mm | 4 mm | Long distance with responsive cushioning | Amazon →(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Saucony Peregrine 13 GTX (women’s) | 230 g | 4 mm | 28/24 mm | 5 mm | Rain and mud, lightweight | Amazon →(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
| Merrell Agility Peak 5 Boa GTX (women’s) | 260 g | 6 mm | 31/25 mm | 5 mm | Winter, Boa closure and Gore-Tex | Amazon →(se abre en una pestaña nueva) |
Weights as declared by the brand in women’s sizing; they vary by size.
What to look for in a women’s trail shoe
A genuine women’s last
Look for models with their own women’s last: a narrower heel, a snugger midfoot and room up front for your toes. If your heel lifts on climbs or your foot slides forward on descents, the last is wrong for you even if the size is right.
Lugs for your terrain
- 3 mm: fire roads, paths and dry trails (Antora 4).
- 4-5 mm: mixed mountain terrain, loose rock and mud (Speedgoat 7, Zegama 2, Peregrine 13, Agility Peak 5).
Cushioning for your distance
For short races and training, 25-30 mm of stack is plenty. From mountain marathons upwards, a shoe with more foam (Speedgoat 7 or Zegama 2) cuts leg fatigue in the second half.
Gore-Tex or not?
Only if you often run in cold, rain or snow. In summer the membrane runs hot and, if water gets in over the top, it dries more slowly. For that, see the waterproof trail shoes guide.
The 5 shoes in detail
Hoka Speedgoat 7 (women’s): best overall
The Speedgoat is the best-selling trail shoe for a reason: plenty of cushioning without losing stability, a Vibram Megagrip outsole that grips on wet rock and 5 mm lugs for mud. The women’s version comes in at 235 g. It works for training, technical mountain races and ultras.
Who it’s for: the runner who wants one shoe for almost everything.
Merrell Antora 4: best for beginners
The only shoe here designed for women from scratch, not adapted from a unisex model. FloatPro foam, an 8 mm drop (gentler if you come from the road) and 220 g. Its 3 mm lugs limit it in mud and technical mountains.
Who it’s for: runners new to trail or who mostly run on paths and fire roads.
Nike Zegama 2 (women’s): best for long distance
ZoomX foam, from the same family as Nike’s fastest road shoes, with a Vibram Megagrip outsole. It is the heaviest in the table (280 g), but also the most protective over long races.
Who it’s for: mountain marathons and ultras where comfort matters more than weight.
Saucony Peregrine 13 GTX (women’s): best waterproof
Gore-Tex membrane, 5 mm lugs and only 230 g. It is a previous generation of the Peregrine, which usually shows up as a lower price.
Who it’s for: autumn and winter, rain and mud, without carrying a heavy shoe.
Merrell Agility Peak 5 Boa GTX (women’s): for winter with a Boa closure
Gore-Tex and a Boa closure that tightens with a dial and doesn’t loosen, handy with gloves in the cold. 260 g and 5 mm lugs.
Who it’s for: runners who head out in the cold and want to get shoes on and off quickly.
Which one to buy?
| If you want… | Buy |
|---|---|
| One shoe for almost everything | Hoka Speedgoat 7 (women’s) |
| To start trail running | Merrell Antora 4 |
| A mountain marathon or ultra | Nike Zegama 2 (women’s) or Hoka Speedgoat 7 |
| Rain and mud with little weight | Saucony Peregrine 13 GTX (women’s) |
| Winter and a quick fit | Merrell Agility Peak 5 Boa GTX (women’s) |
If you have wide feet, check the women’s and wide-fit trail shoes guide first, with wide toe box models. And for unisex models too, there is the general trail shoes guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best women’s trail running shoe?
For most runners, the women’s Hoka Speedgoat 7: cushioning, Vibram grip and suitable for almost any distance. If you are starting out, the Merrell Antora 4.
Is there a real difference between men’s and women’s trail shoes?
In good models, yes: the women’s version uses a last with a narrower heel and is usually lighter. In other models only the size and colour change. That’s why this guide only includes shoes with their own women’s version or last.
What size trail shoe should I buy?
Leave a thumb’s width in front of your longest toe. On descents your foot slides forward and, without that margin, black toenails follow. Measure in the afternoon, when your feet are most swollen.
Which women’s trail shoe is best for beginners?
The Merrell Antora 4: 8 mm drop, comfortable from day one and designed only for women. If your first races are on technical mountain terrain, the Speedgoat 7.
