The best mud running shoes 2023: for fell running and slippery trails (2024)

When the ground beneath your feet gets particularly gloopy or slippery, the best mud running shoes are an essential purchase to help keep you upright.

There's a lot of choice in terms of design features: tread pattern, heel-to-forefoot drop, cushioning, type of material, lacing system, weight, waterproofing – and that’s all before you consider the price.

For us, the best mud running shoes all round are the Inov-8 X-Talon G 235 thanks to their aggressive tread that gives great grip, and doesn't wear out thanks to the graphene-reinforced rubber material. If you're on a budget, the La Sportiva Mutant also come highly recommended thanks to their integrated gaiter to keep out dirt, and comfortable cushioned midsole.

Our testing ground for the best mud running shoes was the wild, wet and magnificently muddy landscape of the Peak District in northern England, where we put each pair through its paces on long runs, short runs, fast runs, slow runs – across fells and along routes that all had one thing in common: muck.

The best mud running shoes

If you want to race through wet mud then the Inov-8 X-Talon G 235 are a great choice. The aggressive outsole is covered in 8mm lugs that bite into the deepest mud and offer great grip even whilst running fast. A heel to forefoot drop of 6mm brings you close to the ground whist a narrow fit ensures that your feet stay locked into position within the shoe. The revolutionary graphene-enhanced rubber means that the tread will resist wear for longer giving you great grip well into the life of the shoe. There isn’t a great deal of cushioning, however, although a rockplate in the midsole offers protection on harder surfaces. Well suited to racing, the X-Talons are a popular choice with cross country runners and obstacle course racers.

The standout feature on the Salomon Supercross Blast GTX is the Gore-Tex membrane upper designed to keep your feet dry in wet conditions whilst still allowing them to breathe. The Quicklace system means no more struggling to undo muddy laces; a quick pull on the tab and they come loose and adjusting tightness mid run is quick and easy too. Chevron lugs cut into mud to give multi directional grip and a wide, well cushioned sole provides plenty of comfort. A sturdy toe bumper offers protection at the front of the shoe. This is not the lightest of shoes, and having more heel-to-forefoot drop than some others we feel the Supercross Blast are more suited to steady paced runs rather than fast racing.

If something isn’t broke don’t try to fix it! The PB Elite looks pretty much the same as it did 15 years ago, with Walsh sticking to a tried, tested and trusted design. The distinctive sole pattern with aggressive pyramid studs gives superb grip in muddy conditions, even at a fast pace. The heel to forefoot drop is 8mm but the overall ride height is low, giving the shoe a stable feel. The sole is rigid rather than flexible, which can take some getting used to. Fast drying and lightweight materials, and a traditional lacing system make up the upper. One thing that Walsh have changed in line with modern ethics is avoiding animal products in their shoes and this is a vegan design. There are no frills with this shoe, it doesn’t look the most fashionable and while that might not suit everyone, you can’t argue against its performance. The Walsh PB Elite simply still does what it was designed to do years ago.

If you’re looking for a lightweight, minimalist shoe for wet and muddy conditions then the agile Icebug Acceleritas 8 are exactly that. They are lightweight, close fitting and extremely flexible and with a 4mm heel-to-forefoot drop it almost feels like the shoes are part of your feet. The sticky rubber RB9X outsole gives superb traction in mud thanks to the deep, multi directional lugs whilst the fast draining uppers mean that you can run through the deepest puddles without fear of the shoes becoming waterlogged and heavy. These low profile shoes would be a good for anyone wanting to run fast in wet and muddy conditions and would be ideal for obstacle course racers. They’ve also got good environmental creds, with a fully recycled upper and lining, and partially recycled rubber outsoles – all Bluesign approved.

While it might not be the best shoe for tackling full-on deep mud, the Scott Supertrac RC2 can still handle some fairly soggy conditions. The uppers are quick drying thanks to the 3XDRY coating, which repels water from the outside and draws moisture and sweat away from the inside. There is a sturdy rand protecting the toes and a fairly stiff sole provides underfoot protection on firmer ground although we did feel that this compromised the precise feel on uneven terrain that some shoes offer. The sole unit offers enough cushioning to deal with longer distances and firmer surfaces as well as muddy conditions. The low heel-to-forefoot drop of 5mm gives the Supertracs a stable feel, and the radial pattern of the lugs give multi directional grip. With a mix of cushioning and grip, we think the RC2s are best suited to conditions that combine both mud and firmer ground.

At first glance the La Sportiva Mutants look a little odd with their integrated SpyralTongue gaiter and the large loop on the top of the heel cup. This system allows you to stretch open the shoe to get it on and off easily. Once on, the gaiter hugs your foot like a sock, giving a reassuringly comfortable and supportive feel while preventing any mud and debris from entering the shoe. The midsole offers enough cushioning for longer runs or firmer terrain and the sticky-rubber studded outsole gives a good grip on muddy ground. The breathable upper isn’t particularly water repellent but it does allow water to drain freely so we had no problems when running in very wet and muddy conditions. The Mutants are heavier than some of the more stripped down shoes and the 10mm heel-to-forefoot drop might not suit some runners seeking a ‘racier’ feel, but if you want a comfortable shoe offering good grip on a mix of terrain they are hard to beat.

The SG in the name of this shoe refers to soft ground, and the Adidas Terrex Speed Pro certainly handles soft, muddy conditions with ease. The low drop, light weight and aggressive outsole with 7mm lugs make this a great shoe for racing and fast running in muddy terrain. The uppers are very lightweight and almost see through, which means that they drain very quickly making them a good choice for obstacle course racing. The downside of the upper is that they also let water in easily so your feet won’t stay dry for long. The mesh material offers minimal padding and thus less comfort than some other shoes. The racy design means that there isn’t a lot of cushioning to deal with harder surfaces but then that isn’t what these shoes are designed for.

The first thing you notice about the On Cloudventure shoes is the unique outsole design. The tread depth increases from front to back and there is a deep Y shaped groove running down the centre of the sole. The rear lugs are also hollow with holes on two sides. All this gives a good deal of cushioning and grip, particularly when going downhill although the traction in muddy conditions isn’t as good on steep uphills. In wet mud there is a tendency for the hollow lugs to get a little clogged up and the deep groove occasionally got stones lodged in it during our testing. A sturdy toe bumper adds protection and the padded heel gives a comfortable fit around the ankle. The ride height and weight give the feeling that the Cloudventure are more suited to comfort than speed.

The Dynafit Feline SL looks like a shoe designed for fast running, and that impression was backed up when we tested it out. The quick lacing system means you are ready to run within seconds and allows for quick adjustments as you run. The Felines have a precise fit and a tapered toe box, which help ensure that your foot stays securely in place even when running fast. However this might not suit everyone, especially runners with wider feet.

A padded tongue provides comfort and the mesh ‘invisible lacing’ overlay prevents mud and dirt from entering the shoe. A tough toe bumper gives good protection should you want to venture onto rockier trails. The outsole with the 5mm lugs provide good traction in all but the deepest of mud and the 8mm drop will hit the sweet spot for many runners.

How to choose mud running shoes

Fell running, obstacle racing and trail running on predominantly muddy surfaces is a slippery affair, and there are certain features you need to look for in the best mud running shoes.

Grip

We’ll deal with this first, because one quality all the best mud running shoes share is aggressive grip on the outsole. Grip and traction in slippery, muddy conditions is supplied by ‘lugs’, which are like the studs on a football boot or the tread on a mountain-bike tyre. Look at how deep these lugs are, what shape they are, and how they’re arranged. If they are placed too closely together, they’re likely to accumulate mud, which will make your feet heavy and reduce the performance of the shoe. The best mud running shoes will have things like forward-facing lugs at the front to provide traction when you’re pushing off in gloopy conditions, and reverse-angled, chevron-shaped lugs on the heel, to supply braking control during slippery descents. Do bear in mind that the more pronounced these lugs are the better the grip, but the more you will feel them on the soles of your feet when you run on harder-packed surfaces – especially if you go for a shoe with minimal cushioning (see below).

Fit

It might sound obvious, but the most important thing to consider when choosing any trail running shoes is fit. You can get away with a running jacket or a running tee that is too loose, but that’s not the case with shoes. And you can have the most grippy outsole in the world, but if you’re sliding around in a shoe that’s too big, your stability and balance will be compromised massively. Don’t just consider shoe size (length) think about width too, because a shoe that is too tight or too loose across the midfoot can result in pain, blisters and loss of grip on muddy and technical terrain.

Cushioning

Some of the best mud running shoes are very lightweight with little padding or cushioning, making them more suitable for shorter, faster runs or races. If you are planning longer outings where you may be running for several hours then you might want to opt for a little more comfort in terms of cushioning, which comes at the expense of extra weight. Extra cushioning in the midsole is definitely worth considering if you run on mixed terrain but want a shoe with aggressive lugs (see above).

Protection

While mud is soft, it often hides sharp rocks, sticks and other obstacles that can be painful if you stub your toes or tread heavily on them. The best mud running shoes have protective rubber rands with more substantial toe caps, and a rock plate running the length of the sole.

Materials

Most shoes for trail running are made from non-waterproof materials, which allow water to escape quickly instead of trying to keep it out altogether. This means accepting that you are going to get wet feet in certain conditions. Some models use waterproof materials such as Gore-Tex to help keep your feet dry, however such shoes don’t drain very well, so if water does get in you can end up running with heavy, soggy shoes, which will cause a problem.

Lacing

Deep mud can swallow your feet entirely, and can even remove and steal shoes if you don’t have them securely fastened. The best mud running shoes will feature an extra pair of lace holes right at the top of the tongue, which laces are not usually threaded through when you purchase the shoe. Use this extra pair of holes and you will keep hold of your shoe in even the deepest bogs.

Cost

This is an important consideration, but don’t be tempted to buy cheap if the shoes don’t fit or are known not to very durable. Fell running is rough on footwear, so you need a tough pair of the best mud running shoes to deal with it.

• Best road running shoes: for adventures on pavement and tarmac