Speedgoat 7 vs Peregrine 14

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.

Saucony has since moved on to the Peregrine 16, but the 14 is still an easy trail running shoe to recommend if you can find your size. It's low, flexible and grippy, with a rock plate and deep lugs, the kind of shoe you can take down a muddy bridleway on Saturday and up a rocky path on Sunday. Reviewers liked it. RunRepeat rated it highly for value and versatility, and most testers rated the grip well above average. Not everyone agrees on the wet stuff, though: iRunFar found it only adequate in mud and slippery on wet wooden bridges. The bigger catch is a firmish, fairly thin ride that gets tiring on long days. Think of it as a daily trail shoe rather than an ultra shoe. Fewer UK retailers carry it now that it's been replaced, so check sizes before you get attached.