If you’ve ever found yourself needing to do a combo run, then you might be wondering how to pick the right shoes. We don’t want to wear down the lugs and yet maybe your daily shoes aren’t right. Let’s look at the best road to trail running shoes right now.
Road-to-trail running shoes are designed to provide the best of both worlds. They offer the cushioning and responsiveness needed for road running while delivering some grip and stability for trails. Nothing here would be a shoe for highly technical trails, but rather for some easy gravel, light climbs or dirt roads.
Today we’ll look at what makes road-to-trail running shoes distinct, highlight the key features, and review some of the top models available right now.
Shoes that Go From Pavement To Dirt
After this section I’ll give you some features to look for when picking out your shoes, but let’s not drag it out. We’re going to get right to the top picks! These shoes have all been tested by different members of our RTTF gear testing team.
#1 Most Cushioned Option – On Cloudsurfer Trail 2
This is the first iteration of this trail shoe and it uses their newest, softest cushion called CloudTec Phase™ and Helion™ superfoam. It feels fabulously cushioned underfoot and like you could take it for a nice long run comfortably (which I have repeatedly!).
If you’re hitting gravel, dirt roads, light trails then these are absolutely going to do the job. It’s a perfect entry level trail running shoe for those who are just starting to test out some off roading, again assuming that doesn’t include tons of big rocks or slippery sections.
I love how lightweight this shoe is as well. It’s a great combo of comfort for daily training from the road to the trail. Many trail shoes are a bit heavier, so this makes for a great option when you aren’t needing a ton of grip or ankle stability.
They do also have a waterproof version and that sounds so perfect for all of you training in say Seattle, through snowy winter runs, or wet spring!
Want a true trail shoe from On? Checkout the On Cloudventure >>
#2 Lightest Option – Merrel ProMorph Hybrid
It’s clear this shoe isn’t trying to be a max-cushioned cruiser or a hardcore mountain grip machine.
The ProMorph Hybrid sits comfortably in the middle—built for comfort, durability, and enough traction to handle shifting surfaces without needing a shoe swap when the trail turns to gravel or pavement.
Compared to other trail hybrids, the ProMorph Hybrid feels incredibly light underfoot. You get the benefit of a trail-capable sole without the clunkiness. And while it’s not built for alpine terrain, it’s ideal for rolling gravel, hard-packed dirt, and your average neighborhood trail loop.
It’s not rugged, it’s not bulky—but it’s one of the best lightweight hybrid trainers we’ve tested for road-to-trail versatility.
Want a true trail shoe from Merrell? Checkout the Merrell Agility Peak 5 >>
#3 Firmest Option – Diadora Nucleo 2 GR
Diadora is an Italian brand known for their super stylish shoes. They’re starting to get more popular here in the US and we couldn’t resist adding the Nucleo 2 GR to this list.
This road to trail shoe is extremely comfortable with its Anima foam midsole. Each step felt supportive and squishy, without overwhelming or feeling heavy.
The tread offers a supportive grip for mixed terrain runs, but not so deep that it interferes when you’re sticking to the roads. When the trails got a little more technical, the firmness underfoot got in the way of truly being able to feel the ground.
It has a similar feel to the Asics Gel Nimbus, a shoe you want to grab when you need a little extra support heading out on tired legs.
This isn’t going to be a shoe you pick up the pace in, it’s missing that snappy responsiveness that you may find in other shoes. If you’re wearing it for easy paced miles, it has you covered but nothing more than that.
#4 Best Grip – Hoka Challenger ATR
The HOKA Challenger ATR is a popular all-terrain running shoe that is designed for both road and trail running. It has a well cushioned midsole that provides a comfortable and stable ride, and a Vibram outsole that delivers excellent traction on a variety of surfaces.
I have put in enough miles running on the roads to local trails that they must now be retired….sniff! But a great sign of a good shoe!
One of the reasons I liked this shoe so much was that it does have slightly bigger lugs than the others listed here and yet not so much that it feels odd on the roads. I also hate to feel like I am wearing down my trail shoes by running on the asphalt, so knowing these are built for both allowed me to feel good about their lifespan.
The breathable upper helps keep your feet cool and dry, and the outsole provides excellent traction on a variety of surfaces. I also like the extended heel, less issues with my foot slipping out.
Weight: 8.7 oz Women’s, 9.7 oz Men’s
Heel drop: 8mm
5 colors available
Available in wide for some colorways
Check it out on Hoka.com for $155 (including low and waterproof GTX)
Want a speedier option? Checkout our review of the Hoka Speedgoat >>
#5 Best for Narrow Feet – Nike Pegasus Trail
This has become my husbands favorite hybrid running shoe for heading out to run the dirt roads or gravel paths near the house. In fact, he also packed them for our 3 weeks in New Zealand covering a variety of terrain.
In fact the Pegasus Trail 3 was rated one of the best trail shoes by a few magazines for it’s comfortable fit and easy transition from road-to-trail! And the Pegasus Trail 5 is living up to its namesake.
I told David nothing about the shoe before having him join me on the trail for a run. His first comment was “these feel so much softer and flexible, more like a road shoe than a trail shoe. It’s really comfortable.”
The 5 has even more cushioning that previous models, so again another thing that makes it really feel nice from road to trail.
The big thing he was noticing is the lack of a rock plate, which does make the shoe more flexible and allows it to feel softer.
Weight: 10.5 oz men’s, 8.5 oz women’s
Heel drop: 9.5mm
Available in 4 colors
Available in waterproof
Not available in wide
Available from Nike.com for $150
Want a true trail shoe from Nike? Checkout the Nike Zegma >>
#6 Best Wide Toebox- Altra Experience Wild 2
If you’re not too sure that you want to go all in on a zero drop shoe, that’s okay! You can still get the wide toebox but with a 4mm heel drop.
Altra has continued this Experience line-up and made it even better (at least we think so!).
It strikes that perfect balance between lightweight and cushioned….all while still giving you some of that ground feel like you would in a traditional zero drop. 
You will find lugs on the bottom of these to help with traction but they’re not going to be super noticeable if you’re running a mix of roads and trails.
Want a more rugged Altra trail shoe? Checkout our review of the Altra Lone Peak >>
#7 Best Daily Trainer- Craft Nordlite Ultra 2
Craft is making some noice with it’s recent release of shoes this year. It’s listening to the feedback from runners and making some great updates to their shoes.
This shoe 100% fulfills its promise by being somewhere between a daily trainer and a trail shoe, without the excessive lugs or weight that can make dedicated trail shoes feel clunky on pavement.
The HyperGrip outsole provides a good grip across surfaces – whether you’re running on wet pavement, light trails, or grass you won’t find yourself slipping or falling.
The Cr Foam midsole is cushioned enough for longer efforts but responsive enough to pick up the pace when needed.
These may not look like trail shoes at first glance because they have a clean, athletic aesthetic that looks good both on runs and with athleisure.
Heads up, even though they’re working on the overall fit, Craft shoes still tend to run small, so make sure to size up if you’re going to give them a try!
#8 Runner-up Best Daily Trainer- Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL
Firs things first, what’s the GRVl mean at the end of this shoe’s name?
A gravel running shoe, a category Salomon is finding a niche in, is a running shoe category that blends a lighter weight, versatile shoe with an outsole that can offer heavier traction on light trails, mixed surfaces, and dirt roads while still being able to ride on paved roads and concrete.
This shoe from Salomon took everything runners were raving about in the Aero Glide 3 and added some extra tech to make it just as good on the trails as is it on the roads.
It’s light weight, perfectly cushioned and just the right amount of bounce. 
The TPU foam in the midsole also means that the shoe will be extremely durable, which makes sense for an outdoor lifestyle brand that focuses so highly on mountain adventures. This foam packs a lot of punch while keeping the shoe’s overall weight down.
It’s ready for whatever kind of miles you throw at it.
What are Road to Trail Running Shoes?
Road-to-trail running shoes are a specialized type of footwear designed to seamlessly transition between road and trail running environments. These hybrid shoes combine the best features of road running shoes and trail running shoes, offering versatility for runners who encounter a variety of terrains during a run.
We don’t want to use our trail shoes on the roads because it wears down those lugs that you paid extra for!
One of the biggest areas where you’ll see a change is going to be the outsole.
A true trail shoe is going to have deeper, multi-directional lugs which will help to provide more grip and stability on rocky terrain or slick areas. Additionally, the rubber used in the outsoles is durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of both hard and soft surfaces, ensuring longevity and reliable performance across different terrains.
The next area that is often different is going to be a rock plate.
This plate as you might expect is designed to protect your toes and forefoot, but can make the shoe feel a bit stiffer and uncomfortable when you hit the roads.
Any more you’re going to find plenty of good cushion in trail shoes and plenty of those that are waterproof or not, so the differences have shrunk over time.
In the end, it comes down to where you’ll be spending the majority of your miles. I like having specific trail running shoes for when we head out to the mountains and then my road to trail shoes for heading straight out my front door.
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