The 7 Best Men’s Waterproof Trail Running Shoes

Ever wonder where they got the name ‘Speedgoat’ for these shoes? These shoes are named after a HOKA athlete, nicknamed Speedgoat, who holds the record for the most 100-mile trail race wins. Therefore, you can trust that these speedgoats will take you far and over all sorts of off-trail terrain in especially bad weather conditions. These men’s waterproof trail running shoes is like the king of stability with a wider toe box and midsole for a roomy cushy feel. You get enhanced heel support with a midfoot seatbelt to keep your feet firmly fixed. The VibramMegaGrip lugs that are 5 mm high will give you the high traction grip that you need to run confidently downhill over rocks and uneven and wet surfaces. Tons of midsole support made with CMEVA foam to absorb impact, then another cushy EVA midsole for the cushioning, plus a layer of reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane midsole wraps your feet in pillows to allow you to run for literally hundreds of miles. The waterproofness is promised by HOKA’s own SKYSHELL, which is completely waterproof and constructed into a full bootie so you’ll never have to schedule your trail running training sessions around the weather, but maybe specifically during bad weather just for the fun of it.

What’s not to love about anything Swiss-made. On was founded by serious trail runners and their Cloudventure waterproof trail running shoes for men were designed with one thing in mind: to make the runner feel like he’s running on clouds. Really. They patented Zero Gravity Cloud and CloudTech cushioning for a “soft landing followed by an explosive takeoff.”  These shoes even have ‘heel clouds’ to absorb hard heel strikes. On’s founders really want their shoes to be different from the rest, to feel different as soon as you put them on. These shoes do just that. They have a sleek and smooth lightweight fit singing with high-quality elegance. The shoes are equipped with Missiongrip outsoles with multiple grip patterns so you won’t have to slow your pace when you choose to go down a rocky decent in wintery conditions. You can also jump in puddles if that rocks your boat because the shoe has On’s 100% waterproof membrane that’s so stretchy and breathable that you might even forget you’re wearing these shoes because of nasty weather. The design of the shoe ensures support and mobility for all the technical terrain we know you love to tackle.

If you go on any trail around the world where you meet lots of other people on the trail, you’ll see how popular the Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX Men’s Trail Running Shoes are. Hikers love it just as much as runners do because it’s an all-around sturdy practically all-purpose shoe. It has protective toe caps and heel caps so you don’t stub your toe on a rock if you’re running in slush and your feet will stay extra dry with the seam-sealed GORE-TEX XCR inner bootie. It’s a tad bit stiff because of these protective toe and heel caps but that’s why they are great for off-trail running. Of course you won’t have to worry when you’re running on wet terrain because of Salomon’s full Premium Wet Traction Grip. It’s still fairly light at 1 lb 9.2 oz considering all the protection and stability you get. It has a 10 mm heel-to-toe drop and no rock plate but it’s an incredibly sturdy and durable shoe that you won’t feel a thing under them. You can see that this ever so popular pair doubles (or even triples) as travel shoes and working shoes, not just for running or hiking because of the durability, great treads, and of course, the cool factor. The XA Pro 3D GTX Men’s Trail Running Shoe just looks so darn cool.

Is it freezing cold outside? Great. You can trust these men’s waterproof winter trail running shoes to deliver everything you need to enjoy a fun run through rough weather conditions. After all, why should you stop just because of a little rain, snow, or ice. The Tempesta is lightweight at 1 lb 8 oz, especially considering that it’s a winter trail running shoe and is cushioned with a 4 mm OrthoLite Mountain Running Ergonomic footbed and a midsole injected with MEMlex EVA and stabilizer. Its waterproofness comes from the GORE-TEX Flex Construction rendering it the most flexible shoe ever. Run with confidence even in icy conditions because the Tempesta has sticky outsoles that are even compatible with AT Grip Spikes. There’s the Sock-Shield cuff that keeps debris and snow from entering the shoes and provides that glove-fit feel that we all love so much in shoes. The drop is 10 mm and the upper is an abrasion resistant mesh with a sublimation print and seamless construction. It’s so comfortable and durable that you might even consider wearing it around for everyday use.

Now here’s a superlight super comfy men’s waterproof trail running shoe that boasts the new GORE-TEX Invisible Fit Technology that gives your feet that soft stretchy and airy feeling plus it’s integrated on the outer material so you only feel the cushy mesh on the inside. It’s nice and roomy for those of you with wide feet but still light at 1 lb 6.4 oz. This new version of the Sense Ride has improved flexion in the toe area to give you the mobility for all-day comfort and has an 8 mm heel-to-toe drop. Ever wonder why they named this shoe the Sense Ride? It’s because it’s equipped with Vibe Technology that works to attenuate vibrations, giving you that comfortable and responsive ride. The outsoles are made with Premium Wet Traction Contagrip, which is just a fancy way to say that these shoes will grip on wet surfaces so you don’t have to worry about running in the rain. When you put the shoe on, you’ll get that ‘ahh’ feeling because of the OrthoLite molded footbeds that’s really soft. Then when you run over stones and roots, you’ll still feel comfortable and supported because the Sense Ride2 has decoupled thermoplastic polyurethane in the outsole for that sturdy protection. Esthetically, this men’s waterproof trail running shoe has that girl-next-door look, nothing fancy, nothing loud, but nice and comfortable, great for light trails.

Don’t get to enjoy sunny and dry southern California weather when you go trail running? Who cares, Salomon thought of the Spikecross 5 GTX just for you. This pair of Salomon men’s waterproof trail running shoe takes our favorite Speedcross and turns it into Hulk. It’s got a complete GORE-TEX bootie so you’re totally shielded from snow and water. The famous Contagrip outsole with the lugs of the Speedcross is turned into something even more aggressive with a winter compound plus 12 tungsten spikes at the bottom of the sole so you can grip at an ice skating rink (don’t really try it, please). We like to think of the Spikecross as the lovechild of the Speedcross and the XA Pro 3D GTX. You get the fit, cushioning, and the “I’m-really-a-trail-runner” tread with the teethy lugs of the Speedcross and then the protective aspects of the XA Pro 3D GTX to give you a pair of totally waterproof trail running shoes to run on wet, snowy, and icy conditions. One other great thing about these shoes is the weight. At 1 lb 9.7 oz, it’s a lightweight considering the protection, cushioning, and waterproofness you get.