A 100-mile race destroys shoes. The right pair gives you 24+ hours of cushion. The wrong pair gives you bone-bruise toes by mile 60 and a DNF by mile 80. Below: the five we'd actually wear, ranked by overall pick. Carbon plate vs traditional, narrow vs wide, runnable vs technical — answers below.
The picks
Hoka
Hoka Speedgoat 6
The 100-mile shoe more finishers wear than any other model. Vibram Megagrip outsole, 33mm of Hoka cushion, and the most updated last in the line — 6th gen finally got the fit right.
- Vibram Megagrip with Litebase
- 33mm cushion, 5mm drop
- Updated last — wider in the toebox
- Workhorse for 50K to 100M
Speedland
Speedland SG (Slick Grip)
The hand-built premium ultra shoe. Carbon-plated, Michelin Wild Trail outsole, BOA dial closure. Most finishers who try them say they will never go back.
- Michelin Wild Trail outsole — best lugs in class
- BOA Performance Fit System
- Carbon plate (subtle, not road-shoe-stiff)
- Removable insole + drainage ports
Tecnica
Tecnica Magma 2.0
The shoe to take to Hardrock or UTMB. Italian-built, Vibram Megagrip outsole, low drop, durable upper. Survives the technical descents that destroy other shoes.
- Vibram Megagrip aggressive lugs
- 8mm drop — for descending
- Italian construction (long-lasting)
- Best-in-class on wet rock
Salomon
Salomon S/Lab Genesis
The S/Lab tier — what Salomon's elite team races in. Lightweight (245g) and responsive without sacrificing cushion. Better for a 50K to 100K than a 100M unless you're a speed-tier finisher.
- 245g per shoe — lightest on this list
- Salomon Quicklace + Sensifit upper
- Profeel Film for rock protection
- Best for sub-22hr 100-mile attempts
Saucony
Saucony Endorphin Edge
If you're chasing a sub-24 buckle on a runnable 100, the carbon plate matters. Endorphin Edge gives marathon-tier energy return on trail. Not for technical mountain races.
- Carbon plate (true, full-length)
- PWRRUN PB cushioning
- PWRTRAC outsole — best for runnable trail
- For runnable courses (Western States, Leadville flats)
The carbon plate question
Road-running's carbon-plate revolution has only partially come to trail. Carbon plates work best on smooth, flat, predictable surfaces — they convert push-off energy into propulsion. On technical trail, the irregular foot strikes interrupt the geometry that makes them work. The plate doesn't help much on rocks; it can actively reduce ground feel and proprioception.
Use carbon plate trail shoes for: Western States (most of the course is runnable single-track), Leadville flats, road-to-trail crossover races.
Skip carbon plate for: Hardrock, UTMB, anything with serious technical descending or scrambling. Your foot needs to feel the ground.
Two pairs is the right answer for 100s
Most 100-mile finishers do shoe swaps at one or two crew points. The reason is simple: feet swell during ultras, and a shoe that fits at hour 4 will not fit at hour 18. A second pair (often a half-size larger or a wider last) lets you keep moving when the first pair starts to feel like a vise.
Common pairing: Hoka Speedgoat 6 for the runnable miles + Tecnica Magma for the technical sections. Or Speedgoat in your normal size + Speedgoat in a half-size larger for the back half.
Drop, cushion, lugs — what actually matters
- Drop (heel-to-toe height difference): 4–8mm is the sweet spot for trail. Lower drop is fine but biomechanics need to be ready. Higher drop helps in technical descents.
- Cushion: the longer the race, the more cushion you want. 30mm+ for 100-milers; 25–28mm for 50K to 50M.
- Lugs: 4–6mm aggressive lugs for mountain ultras (Hardrock, UTMB). 3–4mm lower-profile lugs for runnable courses (Western States). Vibram Megagrip is the rubber compound to look for.
What we don't recommend (and why)
Hoka Tecton X: the road-version-of-trail. Carbon plate is too aggressive for technical terrain. It'll feel fast for 30 miles, painful for 70.
Altra Lone Peak 9: a beloved zero-drop shoe, but durability is poor. Most finishers blow through midsoles in 300–400 miles. Fine for training, risky for race day.
New Balance Hierro v8: good cushion, fine lugs, but the upper falls apart at the toe box. Re-buy after 200 miles.
Sizing — go up half a size
Always size trail shoes for ultras half a size larger than your road shoe. Feet swell over long efforts; the half-size accommodates without becoming sloppy. Lacing technique fixes any heel slip — most modern uppers (Salomon Quicklace, BOA, Speedgoat traditional) accommodate aggressive lock-down.