Speedgoat 7 vs Fast-Trac Nitro 3

The Speedgoat 7 is Hoka's do-everything trail running shoe, the one most runners reach for when the ground turns rough. It is a max-cushion daily trail trainer built for long days, technical footing and steep descents, not a stripped-back racer. The headline change this year is the switch to a supercritical EVA midsole, which gives a livelier, more resilient feel underfoot than older Speedgoats without adding weight. At 257g it stays reasonable for a shoe with this much stack. Underneath sits a full Vibram Megagrip outsole, still the benchmark for grip on wet rock, mud and loose gravel. With a 5mm drop and 37mm of heel stack it plants you in a cushioned, stable trail platform rather than a snappy one. If you want one trail shoe for everything from muddy local loops to an ultra, this is the safe pick. The step up from the Speedgoat 6 is the new foam more than anything dramatic.

The Puma Fast-Trac Nitro 3 is a lightweight, do-it-all trail running shoe built for runners who want one pair to cover most of what the UK throws at them. It is not an ultra cruiser and it is not a stripped-out racer. It sits in the sweet spot between the two: agile enough to feel fast on rolling singletrack, cushioned enough to hold up on a longer day out. At 290g with an 8mm drop, it is nicely balanced, and the nitrogen-infused Nitro foam gives you a lively, springy return that keeps tired legs turning over. The grippy outsole is the real story here, biting confidently into wet grass, mud and loose gravel where plenty of rivals slither. If you want a versatile, well-priced trail shoe for training, mixed terrain and the odd race, we rate it highly. The closest rival is the Saucony Peregrine 16, and the Puma holds its own.