Best Cushioned Trail Running Shoes of 2025
A look at some of the best cushioned trail running shoes out there today.
Bryon Powell
Title: Founding Editor
Location: Silverton, Colorado
Social Media Links:
Linkedin | Twitter | Instagram
Expertise
- Topics of Expertise: Trail running, ultrarunning, running gear, run coaching
- Amount of Expertise: Over 30 years of trail running, over 20 years of ultrarunning, nearly 20 years of reviewing running gear, and 3 years coaching runners. More than 2,000 articles and interviews published on iRunFar. The author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a co-author of Where the Road Ends: A Guide to Trail Running.
Education & Certifications
- Education: Bachelor of Arts, History, Haverford College; Juris Doctorate, George Mason University
- Years of Professional Experience Relevant to iRunFar: 18
- Certifications: Inactive Member, DC and Utah Bars
- Club or Association Memberships: Running Rivers (conservation non-profit) board vice president , Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited, Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity
- Awards or Recognitions: George Mason University Law Review
- Other Relevant Positions, Current or Past: Former Contributing Editor at Trail Runner magazine, former freelancer with publications such as Outside, Sierra Magazine, Running Times, and GearJunkie
A Word from Bryon Powell
I aim to inform and inspire others about and through trail running and ultrarunning. My personal interests include trail running, ultrarunning, fly fishing, gardening, and skiing (both Nordic and Alpine).
Collecting Strength: May Your Cookie Jar Overfloweth
Bryon Powell reflects on how two concepts in David Goggins’ book “Can’t Hurt Me” — the calloused mind and the cookie jar — mesh with his own concept of collecting strength in overcoming adversity.
Avoiding Icarus’ Fate: When to Rein in Your Running
A look at some signs that you might be getting carried away with your training.
Best Trail Running Shoes of 2025
iRunFar’s experts share their best trail running shoe selections from the more than 300 available trail shoe models, with picks from Altra, Brooks, Hoka, La Sportiva, Nike, Salomon, Saucony, and Topo.
Alex Pashley: A Light Extinguished Too Soon
As tribute to Alex Pashley, an ultrarunner and outdoor industry stalwart, who died in an avalanche at age 45 in March 2025.
Delighting in the Details: Bryon Powell’s 2024 Ultra Gobi 400k Gear
Bryon Powell takes a deep dive into the logistics — gear, nutrition, hydration, and sleep — that got him to the finish of the 2024 Ultra Gobi 400k.
Best Trail Running Shoe Brands of 2025
From global sports super brands to hyper niche trail running specialists, we break down some of the best trail running shoe brands out there.
Best Websites to Buy Running Gear Online in 2025
If you need to buy running gear online, here are the best stores with the biggest selection.
Best Mountain Running Gear of 2025
Here’s the iRunFar editorial team’s favorite mountain running gear.
A Lifetime of Learning, Lived in Three Days: Bryon Powell’s 2024 Ultra Gobi 400k Report
iRunFar founder Bryon Powell shares his course-record-setting win of the 2024 Ultra Gobi 400k.
Best Winter Running Traction Devices of 2025
The best winter running traction devices of 2024. Get a grip and stay safe running on ice and snow with products from Black Diamond, Kahtoola, and Yaktrax.
A Look Back at My 2024 and Ahead to 2025
Founding editor Bryon Powell reflects on his 2024 in running while thinking about 2025.
Best Running Rain Jackets of 2025
After many miles and a multiple years of testing, here’s our guide to the best running rain jackets on the market today.
In Praise of (Ultrarunning) Experience
Bryon Powell recounts some of the benefits of years of experience in ultrarunning, which stood him in good stead in the recent Ultra Gobi 250 Mile.
Best Running Shirts for Men of 2025
We tested dozens of running shirts for men for hundreds of hours, and created this guide for you.
Ultra Gobi: Looking Back to Move Forward
How looking at notes from a 2015 race helped shaped plans in returning to the race in 2024.
What I Did on My Summer Vacation: San Juan Seven Troutman InFINity Loop
Bryon Powell captures some wins and losses from a recent seven-day, 237-mile outing through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains.
Renewed Priority: Highlighting My Running
How highlighting running — or other life aspects — can keep them from getting lost to busy-ness.
Sophia Laukli: From Skis to Trails
Defending Sierre-Zinal champion Sophia Laukli talks about her ski career, her appreciation for trail running culture, and training.
Jason Schlarb Post-2024 Hardrock 100 Interview
A video interview (with transcript) with Jason Schlarb after his third-place finish at the 2024 Hardrock 100.
Diego Pazos Post-2024 Hardrock 100 Interview
A video interview with Diego Pazos after his second-place finish at the 2024 Hardrock 100.
Courtney Dauwalter, 2024 Hardrock 100 Champion, Interview
A video interview (with transcript) with Courtney Dauwalter after her win at the 2024 Hardrock 100.
Ludovic Pommeret, 2024 Hardrock 100 Champion, Interview
A video interview (with transcript) with Ludovic Pommeret after his win at the 2024 Hardrock 100.
‘A Team Sport’: A Short Film on Courtney Dauwalter’s Historic 2023 Season
A 15-minute video looking into Courtney Dauwalter’s historic 2023 season in which she won the Western States 100, Hardrock 100, and UTMB.
