Pounding the pavement or the treadmill can get monotonous so why not try running off-road on a mix of varied and challenging terrain for a welcome break! It's an easy sport to get into and requires minimal gear. We have come up with our top 5 trail shoes which are suitable for everything from smooth trails to mountainous terrain and the shoes offer everything from technical and lightweight to stable and tough designs.

Anya's top shoe for spending time on the trails is this max-cushioned carbon fibre-plated shoe by Saucony. The PWRRUN PB foam is designed to reduce the impact on the body, while the ultra-grippy PWRTRAC outsole gives you stability on rough terrain. The carbon plate will propel you forward on those faster runs which is why Anya believes "it is the fastest trail shoe I own!"

Steph's favourite trail shoe for off road running and was developed by one of the world's fastest ultra trail runners, Ekaterina Mityaeva. A key feature is the bio-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) plate, which is made out of 90% renewable carbon and runs the entire length of the sole. The TPE bio-based plate is sandwiched between the midsole and outsole, and offers durable protection over long-distance rocky trails.​ Combine this with the responsive Boost and ultra-lightweight Lightstrike, the shoe gives a high-energy return and cushions every step to help you keep your pace over technical trails.​

Katie’s trail shoe pick is the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra, featuring a Lightstrike Pro midsole, the same foam used in the Adizero line of road racing shoes like the Adios Pro and Takumi Sen 9. As with those models, the Agravic Speed Ultra utilizes integrated Energy Rods, designed for extra propulsion and a dynamic ride across any terrain. For traction, the shoe features the Continental Rubber compound that provides exceptional grip in its other models, both road and trail. Additionally, the shoe features a rocker geometry for a smooth and seamless transition through each stride.

A great feeling and light trail shoe with plenty of grip making it feel super nice to run in straight out the box. You can tell HOKA have made extra effort to keep the toe box wide to allow for nice functional toe position. It feels fast too with what they call 'Carbon fiber plates' and I have to admit it feels hard not to get excited and speed up in them! A plus is that I think they look the part too!

Hayden’s trail shoe pick is the Nike Ultrafly, offering peak performance, sleek speed and endurance for those who want to summit nature's playground. For the first time in Nike Trail Running, a carbon Flyplate has been implemented, layered between ZoomX foam and a knit fabric-wrapped midsole, giving you propulsive energy and a springy feel. It helps you stay fresh to continue pushing the limits of speed, whether you're at mile 1 or mile 50. Slimmer and lighter than a traditional outsole, the Vibram outsole has a sticky rubber that works with a chevron lug pattern to provide grip on both uphill climbs and downhill descents, even in wet weather. A flat bottom and minimized cross rocker give you optimal stability on trail terrain while the heel-to-toe rocker provides a smooth transition. Specifically engineered zones of support in the midfoot give you a secure yet lightweight feel, while weaving through the trail at a rapid pace.