Lone Peak 8 vs Ultra Glide 3

The Lone Peak 8 is Altra at its most recognisable: a zero-drop, wide-fitting trail running shoe built for long days on mixed terrain rather than podium chasing. With a 0mm drop and a natural, foot-shaped platform, it asks your feet and calves to do the work, and rewards you with a low, grounded connection to the trail that few cushioned shoes match. At 298g it is not the lightest trail shoe out there, but it carries that weight well thanks to a balanced, moderate stack that soaks up rock and root without feeling boaty. This is a do-everything trail shoe for hikers, thru-hikers and ultra runners who value comfort, ground feel and a roomy toe box over pop and speed. If you want a stable, dependable companion for all-day miles and you are happy with a firm, honest ride, the Lone Peak 8 is one of the easiest trail shoes to recommend. The newer Lone Peak 9 refines the same recipe if you want the latest version.

The Salomon Ultra Glide 3 is a soft, high-cushion trail running shoe built for one thing: keeping you comfortable when the miles stack up. This is not a nimble mountain racer. It is a long-day cruiser for runners who want to switch off and let the shoe soak up the ground on runnable trails, canal paths and gentle single track. At 285g with a 6mm drop, it sits in that easygoing daily-trail zone, closer in spirit to a road-to-trail shoe than a technical fell weapon. The Contagrip outsole handles dry hardpack and light mud well, though it is not built for deep bog or scrambling. We rate it as one of the more forgiving ultra-distance trail shoes going, a shoe you reach for on tired legs and back-to-back weekends. If you want protection, softness and a relaxed ride over big distances, and you are not chasing course records on gnarly ground, the Ultra Glide 3 is an easy shoe to recommend.