Olympus 6 vs Peregrine 16

The Altra Olympus 6 is a maximum cushioned trail running shoe built for going long and staying comfortable when the miles pile up. It pairs a deep, plush platform with Altra's signature zero drop geometry, so your heel and forefoot sit at the same height and your foot spreads naturally over rough ground. At 345g it is a substantial shoe, and you notice the weight on faster efforts, but that heft buys you real protection underfoot on rocky, root strewn trails. This is an ultra shoe first and foremost. It is happiest on all day adventures, long training loops and technical terrain where a wide, grippy outsole and a stack of soft foam keep your legs fresher for longer. If you want a lighter, nimbler trail tool the Altra Lone Peak 9 or the Hoka Speedgoat 7 make more sense. For runners who prize comfort and a natural foot position over speed, we rate the Olympus 6 highly.

The Peregrine 16 is Saucony's do-everything trail running shoe, and the version most people should start with if they want one pair for the trails. It is an aggressive all-rounder built for grip first: a full Vibram Megagrip outsole with deep lugs that bites into wet rock, mud and loose gravel with real confidence. With a 4mm drop and a moderate 32mm heel stack it sits between a nimble racer and a plush max-cushion trail shoe, so it stays quick and connected to the ground without beating up your legs on longer efforts. Saucony has made this one softer and grippier than the Peregrine 15, which nudges it toward comfort over a wider range of distances. In our view it is the natural rival to the Hoka Speedgoat and Brooks Cascadia at this price. If you run mixed, muddy UK trails and want a dependable shoe that handles almost anything, this is an easy shoe to recommend.