In this product guide:
- 1. Our top waterproof trail shoe pick: Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX
- 2. Waterproof road-to-trail crossover: New Balance Hierro V8 GTX
- 3. Versatile waterproof trail runner: Brooks Cascadia 18 GTX
- 4. Waterproof road-trail hybrid: Nike Pegasus Trail 5 GTX
- 5. Cushioned waterproof trail shoe: Hoka Challenger 7 GTX
- 6. Low-profile waterproof trail shoe: Saucony Peregrine 15 GTX
- 7. Waterproof shoe for iced-over trails: Salomon Spikecross 6 GTX
- How we selected
At the time of writing this review, we view the Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX as the best all-around waterproof trail running shoe. The Speedcross’s capabilities extend far beyond its waterproofing.
The double-lasted construction is unique to the Speedcross 6, and results in a compact design.
It’s the only shoe on this guide to have a double-lasted construction. Unlike most running shoes, the midsole isn’t visible from the outside; it’s wrapped inside the upper.
This allows the EVA foam midsole to be slimmer and flush with the upper edge, which in turn, improves the stability and fit security.
We say the $20 price upcharge for the Gore-Tex Speedcross 6 is worth it.
We’re glad to see that Salomon Speedcross 6 has retained most of the features from the SpeedCross 5. Even with a new midsole and outsole, the Speedcross 6 is nearly identical to the Speedcross 5 because of the very similar construction and design approach.
The Ortholite insole has a prominent arch flare.
There’s a separate heel midsole that cups the foot on both sides, and an Ortholite insole creates a softer cushioning layer. This creates a ride character that’s cushioned yet speed-friendly.
Though the midsole lacks a traditional rock shield, a TPU film offers protection from the rocks and roots. The widely spaced lugs have excellent traction and minimize clogging.
The upper is generously layered with synthetic – a design that makes the exterior protective, waterproof, and easy to wipe.
The full gusset keeps the moisture and debris out; the bungee cord lacing is quick to cinch. Like the Speedcross 5, a D-Ring is missing on the forefoot, so it’s not gaiter-compatible.
We’ve also featured the Pegasus Trail 5 GTX in this guide, so why did rank the Hierro V8 higher? Both are capable road-to-trail shoes that can switch between surfaces, depending on where the run takes you.
While Nike scores over the Hierro with its reinforced upper and faux heel gaiter, the Hierro V8 has the better outsole. The Vibram outsole offers a larger coverage area than the Pegasus Trail, so it offers better grip and protection.
The Fresh Foam midsole is firmer than a road running shoe of comparable thickness.
For instance, the foam density is firmer than the 1080V14 or even the 860V14 uses. The firmness makes the ride stable but doesn’t compromise ride comfort. There’s still plenty of cushioning for everyday miles. On a related note, if you want a softer ride, get the Pegasus Trail 5 GTX instead of the Hierro.
The layered upper fits snug and a mite short in the standard version, so there’s an optional 2E (wide) size for runners with wide feet.
(Note: The Hierro V9 has been released, but the Gore-Tex variant is yet to arrive.)
The Cascadia 18 is nearly identical to the 17 because of the shared midsole and the articulated plate.
The ‘Trail Adapt’ plate is shaped like a fork under the forefoot. This design offers protection and better toe-offs while allowing the foot to do the work. In the rear, the same plate forms a ‘wing’ on the sides for support.
A two-layer midsole made of Brooks’s DNA Loft (an EVA blend) foam makes the ride comfortable for long trail miles. Its wide footprint, flexible rock plate, and grippy outsole make the ride supportive and safe on most trails.
However, running on wet terrain requires an abundance of caution, no matter how good the outsole is. That said, the Cascadia 18 is versatile enough to be a regular trail runner as well as a long-distance workhorse.
The spacious and secure interiors are very smooth due to the seamless design. A 2E (wide) sizing is optional.
This trail running isn’t meant for the hardcore trail stuff because of its ‘soft-roader’ design. In other words, the Pegasus Trail 5 performs equally well on roads, flat gravel, and chip trails, as well as mild gradients.
Besides the obvious Gore-Tex waterproofing, several features make this shoe an excellent dual-purpose trail runner.
The ReactX midsole has a soft cushioning that wouldn’t feel out of place on a road shoe, and that’s what makes the Pegasus Trail so comfortable. The rubber outsole has well-defined lugs with a flat surface – thus reducing the wear and tear on harder surfaces.
The Pegasus Trail 5’s protective rubber bumper is modeled on the Pegasus Trail 3 rather than the Pegasus Trail 4. The updated exterior gets more protective layering over the midfoot as well as debris-resisting flaps under the tongue.
The GTX upper has the faux heel gaiter, whereas the non-waterproof Pegasus Trail does not. As a result, the GTX upper fits slightly shorter as the heel gaiter design pushes the foot forward by a few millimeters.
Mind you, there’s no gaiter attachment on the forefoot. For that, you’d want to check out the Peregrine 14 Gore-Tex.
- Nike’s marketing pitch: Helps you comfortably take on the elements.
- Upper: Waterproof mesh, Faux gaiter, Gore-Tex membrane.
- Upper fit: Fits shorter than regular Pegasus Trail 5.
- Midsole: React X foam. 9.5 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: All-terrain rubber with shallow lugs.
- Weight: 300 gms/ 10.5 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 36 mm (heel), 26.5 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: Single – D (regular).
- Recommended use: Everyday runs on road, flat and mild trails.
- Footstrike orientation: All types (heel/midfoot/forefoot).
- Median lifespan: 400 miles.
- Recommended paces: 4:30 min/km (7:00 min/mile) and slower.
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -10° C/14° F.
Pros
- Cushioned and neutral ride
- Effective wind and water blocking
- Faux gaiter keeps debris out
- Protective rubber bumper
- Grip on wet roads
Cons
- No optional widths
- Inconsistent fit versus non-GTX Pegasus Trail
- Not for serious trail performance
The Challenger 7 is a road-trail ‘soft-roader’ with a higher level of cushioning that works better for high-mileage trail runs.
The outsole lugs aren’t aggressive, so they work on roads and packed trails without accelerated wear and tear. A good way to view the Challenger would be to do so as the off-road version of the Clifton 9.
The upper design makes it obvious that the Challenger 7 prioritizes comfort over protection. Except for the TPU-reinforced toe box, there’s barely any layering – it’s all mesh. So even with the Gore-Tex membrane, the waterproof upper is secure yet supple.
The Challenger 7 is best used as a road-trail hybrid, a distance trainer for flat trails, or a hiking shoe.
The Peregrine 15 GTX is a low-profile trail runner with high levels of versatility. Despite its brand-new midsole and upper, the Peregrine’s ride character feels familiar.
For 2025, Saucony has softened the Pwrrun foam (an EVA blend) for improved comfort. The updated outsole fully covers the rearfoot; the Peregrine 14 partially exposed the midsole.
The 4 mm drop Pwrrun (EVA foam) midsole absorbs impact and works with the flexible rock shield to create a protective barrier.
The firm and low-profile midsole is good for speed trail runs. The Peregrine 15 also offers a healthy level of ground feedback and proprioception. We miss the better-defined lugs of the Peregrine 14, though.
The waterproof upper has a gaiter hook (no longer metal though), fused splash guards, and a padded interior that elevates interior comfort. The Gore-Tex lining is the ‘Invisible fit’ variant, meaning the waterproofing does not make the upper stiff or narrow.
It’s very easy to understand the Spikecross 6 GTX – it’s a Speedcross 6 with metal outsole spikes. That means that the Spikecross 6 is the only shoe on this list capable of taking on icy surfaces.
The metal studs on the Salomon Spikecross are mounted on the lugs, thus allowing them to grip deeper.
Besides the Tungten spikes on the soft rubber outsole, the Snowspike has a waterproof gaiter, a secure fit, an easy-to-use cinching system, and a cushioned midsole that works equally well across different speed and distance ranges.
The firm midsole and unique ‘double-lasted’ construction also make the Spikecross very stable. Just know that the Spikecross 6 cannot be worn indoors. Not only will the metal cleats damage the flooring, but it will also slip due to the lack of traction.
How we selected: What to look for
Trail runs can be messy, so a waterproof upper helps.
Running on wet trails is a messy business. It becomes a veritable sludge fest, with each footstrike splashing mud everywhere. On the legs, running pants, socks, and anything that’s within a meter’s vicinity of the ground.
The shoes take the brunt of it. Even a 30-minute trail run following a rain shower changes how the shoe looks; the midsole and upper are caked over with clay.
But that’s not the real problem. Any trail running shoe gets dirty very quickly – that comes with the territory. However, if water enters the shoe, that’s when things turn unpleasant. The socks will absorb the water, and there’s nothing worse than wet feet during a run.
Though most trail running shoes offer a reasonable level of protection against dust and debris, the same cannot be said of waterproofing.
Trail running shoe uppers have closed, yet non-waterproof mesh to keep the feet ventilated. Sure, a waterproof gaiter helps, but it doesn’t cover the forefoot which happens to be the primary entry point for water.
Therefore, the only option is to buy a trail running shoe with a waterproof membrane. Most brands use Gore-Tex, while some brands provide waterproofing through other suppliers.
Here’s a quick overview of the features that make a waterproof shoe better.
Look for a Gore-Tex label
Gore-Tex is the gold standard of waterproofing. There’s something to be said about a company that exists solely to produce waterproof textiles for the footwear and sportswear industry.
That’s their specialty, and they’ve perfected it into an art form since the 70s. The waterproof membrane is also breathable to let the condensation escape. In other words, the pores on the membrane are too small to let the water in, but large enough for the water vapor to exit.
In the old days, a Gore-Tex membrane was relatively thick and usually made the upper fit narrow. Today, that’s no longer true. We’ve reviewed several shoes on this site with Gore-Tex waterproofing, and none of them had a narrow or stiff fit.
For example, both the Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX and Nike Pegasus Trail 4 GTX have a waterproof upper that’s thin and pliable. That’s the Gore-Tex ‘Invisible Fit’ for you.
The Gore-Tex Active Shakedry fabric is incredibly thin and lightweight.
As a side note, some of the other Gore-Tex variants are incredibly thin. Pictured here is the GTX Active Shakedry on a bike jacket; this ultra-thin and hyper-lightweight jacket can be folded to fit inside an adult palm.
An outsole with wet-grip traction and geometry
With wet trails comes slippery terrain. So running on a muddy or puddle-filled trail isn’t just about a waterproof upper. The outsole needs to have the right kind of compound and lug geometry.
Fortunately, many waterproof trail running shoes are shod with wet surface-friendly outsoles and deep lugs. Our guide only includes outsole designs that have an advantage on wet terrain.
For example, Saucony uses soft Pwrtac lugs, and Salomon also uses a similar material for the SpeedCross 6 GTX. Brooks and Nike also do well here.
Most rubber outsoles have zero traction over frozen ground and road ice.
However, the traction – no matter how good – will suffer on slushy clay, hard ice, or algae-coated rocks.
Lastly, use a gaiter if the weather allows
Unless the trail running shoe has an in-built gaiter that’s also waterproof, attaching an aftermarket gaiter vastly increases the chances of the feet staying dry.
It can get warm with a gaiter, so using a waterproof cover during the summer may not be a good idea. We recommend the Kahtoola Levagaiter Mid GTX for running shoes.
The thin strap makes it easy to wrap around the midsole, and the TPU hook attaches to the D-Ring on the shoe. Not all trail shoes are gaiter compatible; the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 and Salomon Speedcross 6 do not have a D-ring.