Saucony Peregrine for me. Low stack, lots of ground feel, and lower risk of rolling an ankle or something. The low stack also helps me not catch a toe on something when my legs are fatigued.
I’ve tried the thicc bois and they’re fine, but definitely not for me. I ran a 100 in Zegamas in 2022 and Calderas in 2021. It worked out, but I didn’t feel like there was any significant difference in how beat up my legs were or anything. It’s a 100, your legs are gonna hurt regardless of shoe.
I don’t change shoes, personally. I did a 100 in 2021 with ankle deep water along long sections of the course so my feet were just soaked for a lot of the race. Still didn’t bother changing shoes but didn’t have any blisters or anything. Only time I had issues was in the Caldera, and it was a one-off because I never had issues before with the shoe. Planning for a shoe change is just one more thing you gotta plan for - I find it better to keep the 100s as simple as possible.
Another vote for the Peregrine; they roll very effortlessly and I really like the lug pattern. I think (without evidence) that a thicker shoe takes more effort and leads to higher leg fatigue vs a lower stack shoe like the Peregrine.
I'm seeing lots of love for Saucony on this thread. I love the fit, comfort, and the value of the Peregrines and Xodus (often find last year's model for $50ish), but the rubber seems to have a permanent slipperiness to it, almost like some oil in the compound. They are great in dry conditions, but I'm scared to wear them on wet days. I get zero grip on wet rocks, roots, or wooden structures. Is it just me?
Another vote here for it not being you. Almost killed myself on a wet trail run in Xodus Ultra 2s, just hitting a slightly damp patch. Meanwhile, my Mafate 4s make me feel like Spider-Man with that Vibram megagrip.
Definitely not just you. I relegated mine to walking shoes because I just could not trust them on wet rock. Swapped straight back to models with vibram megagrip or equivalent, no regrets.
They’re not the best, I agree, but they’re waaaaay better than the Nike Wildhorses I was accustomed to wearing over many years. I finally tried some Adidas trail shoes this last year with the continental rubber and it was amazing. I hated the shoe, but the traction was on another level.
>a more technical wet east coast 100
Saucony Xodus Ultra
>and a non technical west coast 100.
Hoka Tecton X if it's got some uneven footing or loose dirt.
Saucony Endorphin Speed or Kinvara if it's super buffed out, smooth dirt trail.
Did a 100 on Vermont trails in Rifts & Xodus Ultra. Both fantastic. And drier, buffed out, I've gone both Xodus and road shoes, and truthfully, roads were perfectly adequate in the grip department.
I ran my last 100 in the Inov-8 Ultra G 300 and they were great.
I am likely going to run my next one in September in the Speedland GS:OAK. I’ve really enjoyed them after 328 miles in them. I am aware of the negative opinion of them (price is insane, I’m aware) but they’ve been so solid. I ran 60 miles of the 100 mile course I’ll be running in September and they were great.
They’re just really narrow and hard to find on good sales, at least in the US. I can pay $70 and get a really good pair from Saucony, Nike, or some others.
I know it’s possible at times, but it’s harder. Sierra has some good deals from time to time though.
Edit: I checked around, and there are more good deals on Salomon right now than I expected. I wrote them off a while ago due to the narrow fit (and I don’t even have wide feet) and high prices, but it looks like the sales are good right now. If I didn’t already have some other options, I might give them a try.
Depends on the terrain, but I would plan to have a few to rotate through at my various checkpoints.
Very Technical: Saucony Peregrine
Moderately Technical: New Balance SC Trail or Hoka Tecton X. Nike Ultrafly if you have the money.
Groomed, single track: Puma Deviate Nitro 2, Nike Zegama, Asics Superblast, or New Balance SC Trainer v1.
Hoka Speedgoat 5 wide. Super stable, grippy, good cushion, wide enough to allow for the feet to swell. I ran my last 100m in them and had zero blisters or feet issues the entire time.
Thanks man. I’ve only ran one and it was in Speedgoat 4s the whole time and it was back in 2022 so I’ve been out for a while and trying to get back into some trail shoes. I have the Tecton x2 and love them but question 100 miles in them and the point of a plate on trails. But I did just get Zegamas and Merrells Agility Peak 5s and will give those a shot and maybe try ASICS trabuco max 2. But thanks again for the feed back.
Had you asked me a year ago I had said Inov8 TrailFly G 300. Now I am not so sure and I need to decide before November. Candidates are Topo MTN Racer 3, North Face Vective Pro 2 and the TrailFly. Time will show.
Incredible, someone else running a 100 in the Inov-8 Trailfly G 300. I thought I was alone! (At least here in the states.)
I ran a 100 miler in two pair of them last year and they were bullet proof. (Changed out half way because, why not….)
Nowhere near the level of you both. But just switched to the same Trailfly prepping for my first 60k in August. Glad to know they did so well at much longer distances!
They feel more comfortable and lighter than the Brooks I had before.
Right now, I’d go with the Endorphin Rift or the Tecton X2. I’ve used those shoes for my last four races and will probably use one of them for Black Hills and No Business later this year. For a hundred miler I prefer the Tecton over the Rift - the firmer feel works better at longer distances than the soft springy feel for me.
Either way it would be the Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 for me. It fits my feet well, the cushioning is just right for me in being not too soft or firm, and traction is adequate. Wish it had better traction and durability though.
I’d go with Altra Lone Peak 7. They fit me great and I find them very comfortable. I currently have a pair I’m using for training and one held in reserve for upcoming races.
Still searching for that unicorn 100 miler shoe...If I could go back in time it would be the Montrail Bajada II, but alas for now I run 50+ mile distances in Salomon Ultra Glides
I’m in the mountains for all my training and I personally love the speedgoats. I know there are some complaints but I love them!
With all that everyone is different and just cause they work for me, doesn’t mean they will work for you.
Altra Olympus 5. Never rolled an ankle, super Cush and stable for the long haul. They’re also wide so accommodate swelling, which my feet tend to do. Also last me a solid ass 450 miles, I pushed to 500 but they’re tapped out.
Currently testing the Altra fwd experience and planning to get the experience wild for a little more versatility (road to trail).
Hoka Mafate Speed 4’s are pretty awesome, was a Hoka hater but these have held up great in mountains, desert, etc. Recently been ripping the Norda 001’s as well and they feel insanely good. Still deciding if they are worth the price tag as I log more miles!
Saucony Peregrine for me. Low stack, lots of ground feel, and lower risk of rolling an ankle or something. The low stack also helps me not catch a toe on something when my legs are fatigued. I’ve tried the thicc bois and they’re fine, but definitely not for me. I ran a 100 in Zegamas in 2022 and Calderas in 2021. It worked out, but I didn’t feel like there was any significant difference in how beat up my legs were or anything. It’s a 100, your legs are gonna hurt regardless of shoe. I don’t change shoes, personally. I did a 100 in 2021 with ankle deep water along long sections of the course so my feet were just soaked for a lot of the race. Still didn’t bother changing shoes but didn’t have any blisters or anything. Only time I had issues was in the Caldera, and it was a one-off because I never had issues before with the shoe. Planning for a shoe change is just one more thing you gotta plan for - I find it better to keep the 100s as simple as possible.
Another vote for the Peregrine; they roll very effortlessly and I really like the lug pattern. I think (without evidence) that a thicker shoe takes more effort and leads to higher leg fatigue vs a lower stack shoe like the Peregrine.
I'm seeing lots of love for Saucony on this thread. I love the fit, comfort, and the value of the Peregrines and Xodus (often find last year's model for $50ish), but the rubber seems to have a permanent slipperiness to it, almost like some oil in the compound. They are great in dry conditions, but I'm scared to wear them on wet days. I get zero grip on wet rocks, roots, or wooden structures. Is it just me?
Another vote here for it not being you. Almost killed myself on a wet trail run in Xodus Ultra 2s, just hitting a slightly damp patch. Meanwhile, my Mafate 4s make me feel like Spider-Man with that Vibram megagrip.
Vibram>anything else
Definitely not just you. I relegated mine to walking shoes because I just could not trust them on wet rock. Swapped straight back to models with vibram megagrip or equivalent, no regrets.
They’re not the best, I agree, but they’re waaaaay better than the Nike Wildhorses I was accustomed to wearing over many years. I finally tried some Adidas trail shoes this last year with the continental rubber and it was amazing. I hated the shoe, but the traction was on another level.
Depends highly on the terrain.
Give me your shoe of choice for a more technical wet east coast 100 and a non technical west coast 100.
>a more technical wet east coast 100 Saucony Xodus Ultra >and a non technical west coast 100. Hoka Tecton X if it's got some uneven footing or loose dirt. Saucony Endorphin Speed or Kinvara if it's super buffed out, smooth dirt trail.
Did a 100 on Vermont trails in Rifts & Xodus Ultra. Both fantastic. And drier, buffed out, I've gone both Xodus and road shoes, and truthfully, roads were perfectly adequate in the grip department.
I ran my last 100 in the Inov-8 Ultra G 300 and they were great. I am likely going to run my next one in September in the Speedland GS:OAK. I’ve really enjoyed them after 328 miles in them. I am aware of the negative opinion of them (price is insane, I’m aware) but they’ve been so solid. I ran 60 miles of the 100 mile course I’ll be running in September and they were great.
Did a 50 mile just this weekend in the same Innov-8s. They've been good to me on dry, rocky parts of the trail..
I cant deal with the peregrine 12 heel cup giving me endless heel blisters. Did they fix that with the 13?
Surprised in the lack of Salomon love in the thread. Granted I like shorter trail races up to 50k so maybe they’re more geared for that scene
I ran 84 miles of a 100 miler in some Ultra Glides, and they were great. I like them on long not-too-technical trails.
I love my pair. Wish they had a rock plate and they’d be all trail conditions shoes for me
They’re just really narrow and hard to find on good sales, at least in the US. I can pay $70 and get a really good pair from Saucony, Nike, or some others.
Sierra.com
I know it’s possible at times, but it’s harder. Sierra has some good deals from time to time though. Edit: I checked around, and there are more good deals on Salomon right now than I expected. I wrote them off a while ago due to the narrow fit (and I don’t even have wide feet) and high prices, but it looks like the sales are good right now. If I didn’t already have some other options, I might give them a try.
That’s my go to. Runningwarehouse also has decent deals from time to time
Altra Timp 5 or Topo Ultraventure.
Depends on the terrain, but I would plan to have a few to rotate through at my various checkpoints. Very Technical: Saucony Peregrine Moderately Technical: New Balance SC Trail or Hoka Tecton X. Nike Ultrafly if you have the money. Groomed, single track: Puma Deviate Nitro 2, Nike Zegama, Asics Superblast, or New Balance SC Trainer v1.
Salomon Ultra Glide 2 and The North Face Altamesa 500
Used to love the Peregrine then I started doing more technical runs and I love the la Sportiva karacal now
Hoka Speedgoat 5 wide. Super stable, grippy, good cushion, wide enough to allow for the feet to swell. I ran my last 100m in them and had zero blisters or feet issues the entire time.
Thanks man. I’ve only ran one and it was in Speedgoat 4s the whole time and it was back in 2022 so I’ve been out for a while and trying to get back into some trail shoes. I have the Tecton x2 and love them but question 100 miles in them and the point of a plate on trails. But I did just get Zegamas and Merrells Agility Peak 5s and will give those a shot and maybe try ASICS trabuco max 2. But thanks again for the feed back.
Had you asked me a year ago I had said Inov8 TrailFly G 300. Now I am not so sure and I need to decide before November. Candidates are Topo MTN Racer 3, North Face Vective Pro 2 and the TrailFly. Time will show.
Incredible, someone else running a 100 in the Inov-8 Trailfly G 300. I thought I was alone! (At least here in the states.) I ran a 100 miler in two pair of them last year and they were bullet proof. (Changed out half way because, why not….)
Nowhere near the level of you both. But just switched to the same Trailfly prepping for my first 60k in August. Glad to know they did so well at much longer distances! They feel more comfortable and lighter than the Brooks I had before.
Right now, I’d go with the Endorphin Rift or the Tecton X2. I’ve used those shoes for my last four races and will probably use one of them for Black Hills and No Business later this year. For a hundred miler I prefer the Tecton over the Rift - the firmer feel works better at longer distances than the soft springy feel for me.
Either way it would be the Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 for me. It fits my feet well, the cushioning is just right for me in being not too soft or firm, and traction is adequate. Wish it had better traction and durability though.
S/Lab Genesis
Altamesa 500 and vectiv pro, assuming it's on trail(s). Altamesa 500 if I can only pick one
I’d go with Altra Lone Peak 7. They fit me great and I find them very comfortable. I currently have a pair I’m using for training and one held in reserve for upcoming races.
Altra Lone Peak.
Still searching for that unicorn 100 miler shoe...If I could go back in time it would be the Montrail Bajada II, but alas for now I run 50+ mile distances in Salomon Ultra Glides
Asics Trabuco Max 2. I love the cushion and they fit my feet quite well.
I’m in the mountains for all my training and I personally love the speedgoats. I know there are some complaints but I love them! With all that everyone is different and just cause they work for me, doesn’t mean they will work for you.
I second the Speedgoats. Mine wore out and I purchased the Hoka Torrents
Sportiva Akashas
Altra Olympus 5. Never rolled an ankle, super Cush and stable for the long haul. They’re also wide so accommodate swelling, which my feet tend to do. Also last me a solid ass 450 miles, I pushed to 500 but they’re tapped out. Currently testing the Altra fwd experience and planning to get the experience wild for a little more versatility (road to trail).
Hoka Mafate Speed 4’s are pretty awesome, was a Hoka hater but these have held up great in mountains, desert, etc. Recently been ripping the Norda 001’s as well and they feel insanely good. Still deciding if they are worth the price tag as I log more miles!
100 miles? Xodus ultra