Catamount 3 vs Tecton X 3

The Brooks Catamount 3 is a lightweight trail running shoe built to be raced, not just run. At 269g with a 6mm drop, it sits at the fast end of Brooks' trail range: a nimble, propulsive shoe for runners who want to hold a hard effort over technical ground. This is not a plush ultra cruiser and it is not a rugged tank. It is a trail racer, tuned for tempo efforts, short-to-medium trail races and fast days on rolling singletrack. You get an energetic, connected ride that rewards a quick cadence, with enough underfoot protection to keep the sharp stuff at bay without deadening the trail. It is a neutral shoe at a race-day price, so it asks something of your legs and your wallet. In our view the Catamount 3 earns its keep if you actually race trails or push the pace on them. If you mostly plod easy miles, a softer, cheaper daily trail shoe will serve you better. As a fast trail shoe, we rate it highly.

The Tecton X 3 is Hoka's carbon-plated trail racing shoe, built for runners who want road-race pop on rough ground. At 252g it is remarkably light for a shoe with this much cushion under the foot, and the carbon plate gives you a real snap through toe-off when you are moving well. With a 5mm drop and an RRP of £220 it sits at the sharp, premium end of the trail market, squarely aimed at long-distance and ultra racing rather than everyday miles. This is a specialist. It rewards a runner who wants to hold pace over technical terrain and carry that efficiency deep into a race, when tired legs need every bit of help they can get. If you race trail ultras or fast half and full marathon distances off-road, it belongs on your shortlist. The nearest rival in our catalogue is the Nike Ultrafly, another plated trail racer chasing the same runner.